Jón Loftsson was chieftain at Oddi

Oddi

Oddi at Rangárvellir was a center of learning in South Iceland during the Middle Ages.For centuries it was the central home of the powerful family, Oddaverjar. The two best known leaders in Oddi were Sæmundur Sigfússon the Learned and his grandson Jón Loftsson . The famous historian Snorri...

 in the county of Rangá in the south part of Iceland

Iceland

Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...

, and of the Oddaverjar

Oddaverjar

The Oddaverjar were among the most powerful family clans in the medieval Icelandic Commonwealth. They were based in Oddi at Rangárvellir in South Iceland. Their ascendancy was during the second half of the 12th century, but their power subsequently waned. They play only a minor role in the...

 family clan. He was one of the most popular chieftains and politician of his age in the country. He participated in the so-called Staðarmál, in 1179, against the Roman-Catholic Church and was victorious. After Jón died the family at Oddi was still the most powerful family in Iceland but their power soon began to go downhill after his death. His parents were Loftr Sæmundsson

Loftur Sæmundsson

Loftur Sæmundsson was the son of Sæmundur fróði. Loftur was the father of Jón Loftsson who adopted Snorri Sturluson. Loftur was a priest and a chieftain at Oddi in the county of Rangá in the south part of Iceland. He was married to Þóra Magnúsdóttir, daughter of Magnus III of Norway....

 and Þóra Magnúsdóttir

Þóra Magnúsdóttir

Þóra Magnúsdóttir was a daughter of Magnus III of Norway a direct descendant of Harald Fairhair the first Norwegian King. The Fairhair dynasty is traditionally regarded as the first royal dynasty of the united Norway, a branch of the Ynglings.Þóra Magnusdóttir married an Icelander and moved to...

. At a young age the great scholar Snorri Sturluson

Snorri Sturluson

Snorri Sturluson was an Icelandic historian, poet, and politician. He was twice elected lawspeaker at the Icelandic parliament, the Althing...

 was adopted by Jón Loftsson.

The poem Nóregs konungatal

Nóregs konungatal

Nóregs konungatal is an Icelandic skaldic poem. Composed around 1190 the poem is preserved in the 14th century Flateyjarbók manuscript. It is based on the lost historical work of Sæmundr fróði and is the best extant testimony on the scope of Sæmundr's work...

was composed in Jón's honour, tracing his ancestry to the Norwegian royal line.