Sturl Hryn 1II/1 — Vilhjálmr ‘William’
Frægjan réð þik Vilhjálmr vígja,
varrbáls hötuðr, kardináli;
engi valdiz jafngóðr hingat
aldar gramr af páfa valdi.
Kórónu lét kristni stýrir,
kynprýddr jöfurr, yðr of skrýdda;
ramri grund hafið, ríkisvandar
reiðivaldr, með frægðum haldit.
Vilhjálmr kardináli réð vígja þik, frægjan, hötuðr varrbáls; engi jafngóðr valdiz hingat af valdi páfa, gramr aldar. Stýrir kristni lét yðr, kynprýddr jöfurr, of skrýdda kórónu; reiðivaldr ríkisvandar, hafið haldit ramri grund með frægðum.
Cardinal William consecrated you, renowned one, hater of the sea-flame [GOLD > GENEROUS MAN]; none as good was sent here by the Pope’s power, ruler of men [KING]. The leader of Christianity [CARDINAL] had you, high-born prince, adorned with a crown; swinger of the royal sceptre [KING], you have held the mighty land with renown.
notes
[1] Vilhjálmr ‘William’: Cardinal William of Sabina (Vilhjálmr) was a special emissary of Pope Innocent IV, sent to Norway in 1246 (see Notes to Sturl Hákkv 25/15 and 25/16). Hákon was the illegitimate son of King Hákon Sverrisson and needed the Church’s recognition to secure his claim to the throne. He had been trying to get the Pope’s approval since the 1220s, first through the Norw. bishops, and then by writing directly to Innocent IV. He was the third king of Norway who was crowned by a representative of the Church. The first one was Magnús Erlingsson, who was crowned in 1163 or 1164, the second Sverrir Siguðarson, Hákon’s grandfather, who forced the Norw. bishops to crown him in 1194 (Lunden 1976, 98-9).