Sigvatr Þórðarson
Encyclopedia
Sigvatr Þórðarson or Sigvat the Skald (995-1045) was an Iceland
ic skald
. He was a court poet to King Olaf II of Norway
, as well as Canute the Great
, Magnus the Good
and Anund Jacob, by whose reigns his floruit can be dated to the earlier eleventh century.
Sigvatr was the best known of the court skalds of King Olaf and also served as his marshal (stallare). Most of his poems were texts that praised King Olaf. Many of the poems from St. Olaf's saga in Heimskringla
are by Sigvatr. Víkingarvísur is the oldest of the surviving long poems attributed to him. The poem tallies King Olaf’s battles on his Viking expeditions until 1015, when he returned to Norway to carve out a kingdom for himself.
In Nesjavísur, the next oldest poem by Sigvatr, the skald describes the naval battle between Olaf and Sveinn Hákonarson
at the Battle of Nesjar
outside Brunlanes
in 1016, the key moment in Olaf's ascent to power in Norway
Approximately 160 verses of Sigvatr's poetry have been preserved, more than any for other poet from this period. The style of Sigvat's poems is simpler and clearer than that which generally characterises older compositions. Although his verse is still dense, he uses fewer complex poetic circumlocutions than many of his predecessors, and as a Christian poet, he by and large avoids allusions to pagan mythology.
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...
ic skald
Skald
The skald was a member of a group of poets, whose courtly poetry is associated with the courts of Scandinavian and Icelandic leaders during the Viking Age, who composed and performed renditions of aspects of what we now characterise as Old Norse poetry .The most prevalent metre of skaldic poetry is...
. He was a court poet to King Olaf II of Norway
Olaf II of Norway
Olaf II Haraldsson was King of Norway from 1015 to 1028. He was posthumously given the title Rex Perpetuus Norvegiae and canonised in Nidaros by Bishop Grimkell, one year after his death in the Battle of Stiklestad on 29 July 1030. Enshrined in Nidaros Cathedral...
, as well as Canute the Great
Canute the Great
Cnut the Great , also known as Canute, was a king of Denmark, England, Norway and parts of Sweden. Though after the death of his heirs within a decade of his own and the Norman conquest of England in 1066, his legacy was largely lost to history, historian Norman F...
, Magnus the Good
Magnus I of Norway
Magnus I , known as the Good or the Noble, was the King of Norway from 1035 to 1047 and the King of Denmark from 1042 to 1047. He was an illegitimate son of king Olaf II of Norway, but fled with his mother in 1028 when his father was dethroned. In 1035 he returned to Norway and was crowned king at...
and Anund Jacob, by whose reigns his floruit can be dated to the earlier eleventh century.
Sigvatr was the best known of the court skalds of King Olaf and also served as his marshal (stallare). Most of his poems were texts that praised King Olaf. Many of the poems from St. Olaf's saga in Heimskringla
Heimskringla
Heimskringla is the best known of the Old Norse kings' sagas. It was written in Old Norse in Iceland by the poet and historian Snorri Sturluson ca. 1230...
are by Sigvatr. Víkingarvísur is the oldest of the surviving long poems attributed to him. The poem tallies King Olaf’s battles on his Viking expeditions until 1015, when he returned to Norway to carve out a kingdom for himself.
In Nesjavísur, the next oldest poem by Sigvatr, the skald describes the naval battle between Olaf and Sveinn Hákonarson
Sveinn Hákonarson
Sveinn Hákonarson was an earl of the house of Hlaðir and co-ruler of Norway from 1000 to c. 1015. He was the son of earl Hákon Sigurðarson. He is first mentioned in connection with the battle of Hjörungavágr, where the Heimskringla says he commanded 60 ships...
at the Battle of Nesjar
Battle of Nesjar
Battle of Nesjar was a sea battle off the coast of Norway in 1016. It was a primary event in the reign of King Olav Haraldsson . Sigvatr Þórðarson composed the poem Nesjavísur in memory of the battle....
outside Brunlanes
Brunlanes
Brunlanes is a parish and former municipality within Larvik municipality in Vestfold county, Norway.-History:The parish of Brunlagnæs was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . Small parts of Brunlanes were moved to Larvik in 1875 and to the neighboring municipality Stavern in 1883,...
in 1016, the key moment in Olaf's ascent to power in Norway
Approximately 160 verses of Sigvatr's poetry have been preserved, more than any for other poet from this period. The style of Sigvat's poems is simpler and clearer than that which generally characterises older compositions. Although his verse is still dense, he uses fewer complex poetic circumlocutions than many of his predecessors, and as a Christian poet, he by and large avoids allusions to pagan mythology.
Poems
- Víkingarvísur, composed c. 1014-15. On the early deeds of king OlafOlaf II of NorwayOlaf II Haraldsson was King of Norway from 1015 to 1028. He was posthumously given the title Rex Perpetuus Norvegiae and canonised in Nidaros by Bishop Grimkell, one year after his death in the Battle of Stiklestad on 29 July 1030. Enshrined in Nidaros Cathedral...
- Nesjavísur. On the battle of NesjarBattle of NesjarBattle of Nesjar was a sea battle off the coast of Norway in 1016. It was a primary event in the reign of King Olav Haraldsson . Sigvatr Þórðarson composed the poem Nesjavísur in memory of the battle....
- AustrfararvísurAustrfararvísurAustrfararvísur "East Journey Verses" is a skaldic poem composed by the Icelandic skald Sigvatr Þórðarson in the 1020s. Sigvatr was visiting the Norwegian king Olaf and was sent on a delegation to the Swedish king Olaf....
. On a journey to Sweden - Drápa um Óláf Konung.
- Vestrfararvísur ("Western travel verses"). On a journey to Britain
- KvæðiKvæðiKvæði are the old ballads of the Faroe Islands, accompanied by the Faroese dance....
um Erling Skjalgsson. On Erlingr Skjalgsson - Flokkr um Erling Skjalgsson. On Erlingr Skjalgsson
- Tryggvaflokkr
- Kvæði um Ástríði Dróttningu. Poem about Queen Ástríðr.
- Knútsdrápa. In memory of King KnútCanute the GreatCnut the Great , also known as Canute, was a king of Denmark, England, Norway and parts of Sweden. Though after the death of his heirs within a decade of his own and the Norman conquest of England in 1066, his legacy was largely lost to history, historian Norman F...
- Bersöglisvísur. A reprimand to king Magnus
- Erfidrápa Óláfs helga. In memory of king Olaf
- Lausavísur ("The lausavísur").
- Brot. Fragments.