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Sigurðr slembir/slembidjákn ‘Fortuitous-deacon’ (?) Magnússon, son of Magnús berfœttr, Norw. king (r. 1136-8) -- Ív Sig 3/2, 6/1, 9/7, 11/8, 16/8, 19/3, 33/2, 34/2, 35/6, 40/3, 43/5 44/2, Kolli Ingdr 4/8, Balti Sigdr 1/8

Sagas: MbHg, Hsona (Fsk, H-Hr, Hkr, Mork).

Sigurðr slembidjákn ‘Fortuitous-deacon’ (?) (for a discussion of his nickname, see Finlay 2004, 262 n. 766) was the son of Magnús berfœttr and Þóra Saxadóttir, although his paternity was disputed (see Genealogy II.3 in ÍF 28).  He was one of the royal pretenders contending for power in Norway during the turbulent period 1135-9. Sigurðr was executed on 12 November 1139 after the battle of Holmengrå (Hvaler, outside Strömstad in present-day Sweden) against the forces of the sons of Haraldr gilli, Ingi and Sigurðr. His life was chronicled in Eiríkr Oddsson’s no longer extant *Hryggjarstykki (see Bjarni Guðnason 1978; Andersson and Gade 2000, 14-15), which was used for the narratives in Mork (Mork 1928-32, 405-39; Andersson and Gade 2000, 367-88), Fsk (ÍF 29, 326-34; Finlay 2004, 262-69) and Hkr (ÍF 28, 297-320; Hollander 1991, 731-49). See also H-Hr (Fms 7, 199-228), Orkn (ÍF 34, 115-17; Hermann Pálsson and Edwards 1987, 98-9).

Events documented in poetry: Sigurðr’s life and death (Ív Sig); his final battle at Holmengrå (Kolli Ingdr 4-5; Balti Sigdr 1-3; ESk Ingdr 1). See also Anon (Hsona) 1-2. One lausavísa attributed to Sigurðr survives (Slembir Lv).

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