Óláfr Þórðarson
Encyclopedia
Óláfr Þórðarson was an Iceland
ic skald
and scholar who was born about 1210 and died in 1259. He is usually called Óláfr hvítaskáld ("Olaf the white skald") in contrast to a contemporary skald called Óláfr svartaskáld
("Olaf the black skald"). Óláfr was the paternal nephew of Snorri Sturluson
and spent his youth in Snorri's home where he had an important part of his scholarly education. Particular important is his Grammatical Treatise.
After his father's death in 1237, he travelled to Norway
, where he stayed with king Haakon IV of Norway
and Jarl Skule, before he went to Denmark
and its king Valdemar II of Denmark
. He probably also visited king Eric XI of Sweden
. In 1240, he served as king Haakon's housecarl
in the Battle of Oslo.
Back in Iceland
, he was the island's lawspeaker
from 1252 to 1256. He became a famous skald and composed poems about the three Scandinavian kings, which are partially included in the Knýtlinga saga
, which he probably made from material he collected in Denmark.
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...
and scholar who was born about 1210 and died in 1259. He is usually called Óláfr hvítaskáld ("Olaf the white skald") in contrast to a contemporary skald called Óláfr svartaskáld
Óláfr Leggsson
Olafr Leggson was a 13th-century Icelandic skald. He is usually referred to as Olafr Svartaskald to distinguish him from his contemporary, Olafr Thordarson, "hvitaskald" ....
("Olaf the black skald"). Óláfr was the paternal nephew of Snorri Sturluson
Snorri Sturluson
Snorri Sturluson was an Icelandic historian, poet, and politician. He was twice elected lawspeaker at the Icelandic parliament, the Althing...
and spent his youth in Snorri's home where he had an important part of his scholarly education. Particular important is his Grammatical Treatise.
After his father's death in 1237, he travelled to Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, where he stayed with king 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....
and Jarl Skule, before he went to Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and its king Valdemar II of Denmark
Valdemar II of Denmark
Valdemar II , called Valdemar the Victorious or Valdemar the Conqueror , was the King of Denmark from 1202 until his death in 1241. The nickname Sejr is a later invention and was not used during the King's own lifetime...
. He probably also visited king Eric XI of Sweden
Eric XI of Sweden
Eric "XI" of Sweden, or Eric the Lisp and Lame Swedish: Erik Eriksson läspe och halte; Old Norse: Eiríkr Eiríksson was king of Sweden in 1222–1229 and 1234–1250.-Background:...
. In 1240, he served as king Haakon's housecarl
Housecarl
In medieval Scandinavia, housecarls and sometimes spelled huscarle or houscarl) were either non-servile manservants, or household troops in personal service of someone, equivalent to a bodyguard to Scandinavian lords and kings. This institution also existed in Anglo-Saxon England after its...
in the Battle of Oslo.
Back in 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...
, he was the island's lawspeaker
Lawspeaker
A lawspeaker is a unique Scandinavian legal office. It has its basis in a common Germanic oral tradition, where wise men were asked to recite the law, but it was only in Scandinavia that the function evolved into an office...
from 1252 to 1256. He became a famous skald and composed poems about the three Scandinavian kings, which are partially included in the Knýtlinga saga
Knýtlinga saga
Knýtlinga saga is an Icelandic kings' saga written in the 1250s, which deals with the kings who ruled Denmark since the early 10th century....
, which he probably made from material he collected in Denmark.