Sigurðr jórsalafari Magnússon — Sjórs^II

See ‘Royal Biographies’ in Introduction to this volume.

References

Vol. II. Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: from c. 1035 to c. 1300 > 8. Introduction > 5. Biographies > 1. Royal Biographies > 1. Kings of Norway > p. Sigurðr I jórsalafari Magnússon (Sjórs) (r. 1103-30)

Sagas: Mberf, Msona (Ágr, Fsk, H-Hr, Hkr, Mork, Theodoricus).

Sigurðr, the second eldest son of Magnús berfœttr (see Genealogy II.3 in ÍF 28), became king of Norway upon his father’s death in 1103. He ruled jointly with his half-brothers, Óláfr (d. 1115) and Eysteinn (d. 1122). Sigurðr died of an illness in Oslo on 26 March 1130. He got his nickname, jórsalafari ‘Jerusalem-farer’, from his famous journey to Palestine (1108-11). Three lausavísur are attributed to Sigurðr (Sjórs Lv 1-3). For his life, see Anon Nkt 45, 49-52, Theodoricus (MHN 63-7; McDougall and McDougall 1998, 51-3), Ágr (ÍF 29, 47-51; Ágr 1995, 70-7), Mork (Mork 1928-32, 323, 336-99; Andersson and Gade 2000, 303, 312-58), Fsk (ÍF 29, 309, 315-21; Finlay 2004, 248, 252-8), Hkr (ÍF 28, 224, 237-77; Hollander 1991, 678, 686, 688-714), H-Hr (Fms 7, 49-50, 73-174). See also Knýtl (ÍF 35, 237; Hermann Pálsson and Edwards 1986, 122), Orkn (ÍF 34, 94-5, 100, 102-3, 139-40, 312, 315-16, 346, 348; Hermann Pálsson and Edwards 1987, 87-9, 116-17).

Events documented in poetry: Sigurðr’s journey to Palestine and Byzantium and his battles against the heathens 1108-11 (Sjórs Lv 3; Hskv Útkv; Hskv Útdr; Þstf Stuttdr; ESk Sigdr I); an amorous affair with the wife of one of his retainers (ESk Lv 1); his progressive insanity (ESk Lv 2); his dealings with the poet Þórarinn stuttfeldr (Sjórs Lv 2; Þstf Lv 1-3).