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Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

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Skapti Þóroddsson — SkaptiIII

skalds

Vol. 3, 355 —  — ed. Diana Whaley

Poetry

Biography

Though credited with the fragment below and further compositions, the distinguished Icelander Skapti Þóroddson (Skapti) is better known for his legal expertise. He held the position of lǫgsǫgumaðr ‘lawspeaker’ from 1004 until his death in 1030, is credited with legal reforms (Íslendingabók ch. 8, ÍF 1, 19) and was sometimes known as Lǫg-Skapti ‘Law-Skapti’ (Landnámabók, ÍF 1, 381). He is thought to have lived about sixty years (SnE 1848-87, III, 549). Skapti features in several of the Sagas of Icelanders, including Njáls saga (where he is named in a stanza, Snorri LvV (Nj)), Flóamanna saga, Grettis saga and Gunnlaugs saga, as well as in Ǫlkofra þáttr, Landnámabók, Heimskringla and other sources. He is named in Skáldatal among the poets of Hákon jarl Sigurðarson (SnE 1848-87, III, 256, 266), King Óláfr Haraldsson (ibid., III, 253) and Magnús góði ‘the Good’ (ibid., III, 262). There is no further evidence for contact with Hákon, and since Skapti died in 1030 he cannot have composed for Magnús. A drápa for Óláfr by Skapti is mentioned in ÓHHkr ch. 138 (ÍF 27, 243), which relates how, during a time of friction between Óláfr and the Icelanders (in the mid 1020s), Skapti’s son Steinn represents his father at the court of Óláfr Haraldsson and, himself a poet with a sharp tongue, offers to recite a drápa which Skapti has taught him. The king, suspicious of Steinn, demands to hear his composition first, but Steinn makes an excuse and leaves, then later makes his way to Knútr inn ríki ‘Cnut the Great’ in England, where he is well received (ÍF 27, 249). He is listed among Knútr’s poets (SnE 1848-87, III, 258, 267), though no poetry by him is preserved. Skapti is also accused, in Ǫlkǫfra þáttr ch. 3 (ÍF 11, 91), of composing a mansǫngsdrápa ‘love poem’ for the wife of his relative Ormr.

References

  1. Bibliography
  2. SnE 1848-87 = Snorri Sturluson. 1848-87. Edda Snorra Sturlusonar: Edda Snorronis Sturlaei. Ed. Jón Sigurðsson et al. 3 vols. Copenhagen: Legatum Arnamagnaeanum. Rpt. Osnabrück: Zeller, 1966.
  3. ÍF 1 (parts 1 and 2) = Íslendingabók; Landnámabók. Ed. Jakob Benediktsson. 1968. Rpt. as one volume 1986.
  4. ÍF 26-8 = Heimskringla. Ed. Bjarni Aðalbjarnarson. 1941-51.
  5. ÍF 11 = Austfirðinga sǫgur. Ed. Jón Jóhannesson. 1950.
  6. Internal references
  7. (forthcoming), ‘ Unattributed, Heimskringla’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, p. . <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=4> (accessed 29 March 2024)
  8. (forthcoming), ‘ Anonymous, Landnámabók’ in Guðrún Nordal (ed.), Poetry on Icelandic History. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 4. Turnhout: Brepols, p. . <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=25> (accessed 29 March 2024)
  9. (forthcoming), ‘ Unattributed, Íslendingabók’ in Guðrún Nordal (ed.), Poetry on Icelandic History. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 4. Turnhout: Brepols, p. . <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=26> (accessed 29 March 2024)
  10. 2022, ‘ Anonymous, Njáls saga’ in Margaret Clunies Ross, Kari Ellen Gade and Tarrin Wills (eds), Poetry in Sagas of Icelanders. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 5. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 1220-1313. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=55> (accessed 29 March 2024)
  11. 2022, ‘ Anonymous, Flóamanna saga’ in Margaret Clunies Ross, Kari Ellen Gade and Tarrin Wills (eds), Poetry in Sagas of Icelanders. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 5. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 476-476. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=61> (accessed 29 March 2024)
  12. (forthcoming), ‘ Heimskringla, Óláfs saga helga (in Heimskringla)’ in Diana Whaley (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 1: From Mythical Times to c. 1035. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 1. Turnhout: Brepols, p. . <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=152> (accessed 29 March 2024)
  13. R. D. Fulk (forthcoming), ‘ Snorri goði Þorgrímsson, Lausavísa’ in Margaret Clunies Ross, Kari Ellen Gade and Tarrin Wills (eds), Poetry in Sagas of Icelanders. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 5. Turnhout: Brepols, p. . <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=1383> (accessed 29 March 2024)
  14. Not published: do not cite ()

other information

Skapti Þóroddsson (Skapti)

11th century

Skj AI, 314; BI, 291

volume 3

main editor: Diana Whaley

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