Klœingr Þorsteinsson (Klœ)

12th century; volume 3; ed. Kari Ellen Gade;

Lausavísa (Lv) - 1

Klœingr Þorsteinsson (Klœ) was bishop of Skálholt in Iceland (1152-76; for his life, see Hungrvaka chs 9-11, Byskupa sögur 1953, I, 24-31). He hailed from northern Iceland, and was the son of Þorsteinn and Halldóra Eyjólfsdóttir. He is described as ‘the greatest poet’ (ít mesta skáld) and very learned, and he succeeded Magnús Einarsson to the see of Skálholt in 1151. The same summer Klœingr went to Lund, where he was consecrated bishop by Archbishop Áskell, and he sailed back to Iceland in 1152. Upon his return, he erected the church at Skálholt which is commemorated in RKet Lv^IV. Klœingr died after a long illness on 27 February 1176, and he was buried at Skálholt. Only the helmingr edited below survives of his poetry.