Skapti Þóroddsson

Ármann Jakobsson (University of Iceland)

Ed. by Ármann Jakobsson, University of Iceland
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.3.4: Icelandic Writing and Culture.
Vol. editors: Ármann Jakobsson (University of Iceland), Nicole Kennedy (University of Newcastle), Sven Hakon Rossel (Universitat Wien), Herbert Rowland (Purdue University), Jakob Stougaard-Nielsen (University College London)

Dates

Born c. 1000
Died 1030

Places

Active in Iceland

Activities

Primary

Poet

Resources

Þóroddsson's Works

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Skapti Þóroddsson (d. 1030) was the lawspeaker of Iceland for 27 summers, from 1004 to his death, succeeding his uncle Grímr Svertingsson when the latter lost his voice. Skapti is first mentioned in the

Íslendingabók

of Ari Þorgilsson (from c. 1125) as a powerful authority figure, a reformer and peacekeeper. He and his father Þóroddr are oft-mentioned and clearly regarded as important figures in the oldest historical writing of Iceland, composed before 1250. Their family connections with Gizurr the White meant that they were linked with the bishops of Skálaholt, the Christianization narratives and bishops‘ sagas stress their Christianity and Þóroddr is mentioned as one of the four main magnates of Iceland connected with the landvættir that drive the emissary of the king of…

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763 words

Citation: Jakobsson, Ármann. "Skapti Þóroddsson". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 17 April 2023 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=14959, accessed 16 May 2025.]