Sturla Þórðarson
Encyclopedia
Sturla Þórðarson was an Iceland
ic politician/chieftain and writer of sagas and contemporary history during the 13th century.
Sturla was the son of Þórður Sturluson and his mistress Þóra. He was a nephew and pupil of the famous saga-writer Snorri Sturluson
. He fought alongside Þórður kakali Sighvatsson during the Age of the Sturlungs.
He is best known for writing Íslendinga saga
, the longest saga within Sturlunga saga
, and Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar
, the story of Haakon IV of Norway
. He also wrote a saga of Haakon's son, Magnus the lawmender
(Magnúss saga lagabœtis
), of which only fragments have survived. Some scholars also believe him to have written Kristni saga and Sturlubók, a transcript of Landnáma. He is moreover listed in Skáldatal
as the court skald
of the Swedish ruler Birger Jarl
.
Sturla was appointed law speaker over all of Iceland
for a brief period after the dissolution of the Icelandic Commonwealth
, and wrote the law book Járnsíða
.
His brother was Ólafur Þórðarson hvítaskáld
.
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 politician/chieftain and writer of sagas and contemporary history during the 13th century.
Sturla was the son of Þórður Sturluson and his mistress Þóra. He was a nephew and pupil of the famous saga-writer Snorri Sturluson
Snorri Sturluson
Snorri Sturluson was an Icelandic historian, poet, and politician. He was twice elected lawspeaker at the Icelandic parliament, the Althing...
. He fought alongside Þórður kakali Sighvatsson during the Age of the Sturlungs.
He is best known for writing Íslendinga saga
Íslendinga saga
Íslendinga saga makes up a large part of Sturlunga, a compilation of medieval Icelandic skin manuscripts dating back to around AD 1300.Íslendinga saga has been a major source of material for historians concerning events in early 13th century Iceland. The author is commonly believed to have been...
, the longest saga within Sturlunga saga
Sturlunga saga
Sturlunga saga is a collection of Icelandic sagas by various authors from the 12th and 13th centuries; it was assembled ca. 1300...
, and Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar
Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar
Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar is an Old Norse kings' saga, telling the story of the life and reign of King Haakon Haakonarson of Norway. The saga was written by the Icelandic historian and chieftain Sturla Þórðarson, in the 1260s...
, the story of Haakon IV of Norway
Haakon IV of Norway
Haakon Haakonarson , also called Haakon the Old, was king of Norway from 1217 to 1263. Under his rule, medieval Norway reached its peak....
. He also wrote a saga of Haakon's son, Magnus the lawmender
Magnus VI of Norway
Magnus VI Lagabøte or Magnus Håkonsson , was king of Norway from 1263 until 1280.-Early life:...
(Magnúss saga lagabœtis
Magnúss saga lagabœtis
Magnúss saga lagabœtis is an Old Norse kings' saga, concerning the life and reign of King Magnus VI the Lawmender of Norway. Only fragments of it survive today....
), of which only fragments have survived. Some scholars also believe him to have written Kristni saga and Sturlubók, a transcript of Landnáma. He is moreover listed in Skáldatal
Skáldatal
Skáldatal is a short prose work in Old Norse. It is preserved in two manuscripts: DG 11, or Codex Uppsaliensis, which is one of the four main manuscripts of the Prose Edda , and AM 761 a 4to , which also contains Skaldic poems...
as the court 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...
of the Swedish ruler Birger Jarl
Birger jarl
, or Birger Magnusson, was a Swedish statesman, Jarl of Sweden and a member of the House of Bjelbo, who played a pivotal role in the consolidation of Sweden. Birger also led the Second Swedish Crusade, which established Swedish rule in Finland. Additionally, he is traditionally attributed to have...
.
Sturla was appointed law speaker over all 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...
for a brief period after the dissolution of the Icelandic Commonwealth
Icelandic Commonwealth
The Icelandic Commonwealth, Icelandic Free State, or Republic of Iceland was the state existing in Iceland between the establishment of the Althing in 930 and the pledge of fealty to the Norwegian king in 1262...
, and wrote the law book Járnsíða
Járnsíða
Járnsíða was a law-code which Magnus VI of Norway had composed for Iceland, which came formally under Norwegian control during 1262-64. Járnsíða was introduced over 1271-74, superseding the previous law-code Grágás. Amongst other things, Járnsíða formally put all legislative powers in the hands of...
.
His brother was Ólafur Þórðarson hvítaskáld
Óláfr Þórðarson
Óláfr Þórðarson was an Icelandic skald and scholar who was born about 1210 and died in 1259. He is usually called Óláfr hvítaskáld in contrast to a contemporary skald called Óláfr svartaskáld...
.