Snorri Sturluson

1179 – 23 September 1241

Snorri Sturluson was an Icelandic historian, poet, and chieftain, the most important medieval author on Norse mythology and Norwegian royal history. He wrote the Prose Edda and Heimskringla and twice held the office of lawspeaker of the Icelandic Althing. Entangled in the power struggles of the Sturlung Age, he was killed at his estate at Reykholt in 1241 on the orders of the Norwegian king.

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Life events

Born at Hvammur in Iceland
1179

Snorri was born in 1179 at Hvammur í Dölum in western Iceland, into the powerful Sturlungar family.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Fostered at Oddi by Jón Loftsson
c. 1181

From about 1181 Snorri was raised at Oddi, a major center of learning in southern Iceland, in the household of the chieftain Jón Loftsson.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Married Herdís Bersadóttir
1199

In 1199 Snorri married Herdís, daughter of the wealthy priest Bersi Vermundarson, gaining substantial property.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Settled at Reykholt
c. 1206

Around 1206 Snorri moved to the estate of Reykholt in Borgarfjörður, which became his principal residence and the center of his literary activity.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Relocation ✓
First term as lawspeaker of the Althing
1215 – 1218

Snorri served his first term as lawspeaker, the highest office of the Icelandic commonwealth, from 1215 to 1218.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Visited Norway and the Norwegian court
1218 – 1220

From 1218 to 1220 Snorri traveled to Norway, where he became a retainer of King Haakon IV and Earl Skúli and promised to promote Norwegian interests in Iceland.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Relocation ✓
Wrote the Prose Edda
c. 1220

Around 1220 Snorri composed the Prose Edda, the fullest medieval account of Norse mythology and a handbook of skaldic poetics.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Second term as lawspeaker
1222 – 1231

Snorri held the office of lawspeaker for a second time from 1222 to 1231, during a period of growing power for his family.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Wrote Heimskringla
c. 1230

Around 1230 Snorri composed Heimskringla, his monumental saga history of the kings of Norway.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Killed at Reykholt
23 September 1241

On 23 September 1241 Snorri was assassinated in his home at Reykholt by men under Gissur Þorvaldsson, acting on orders of King Haakon IV of Norway.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓