Born: 1179 in Hvammur í Dölum, Dalasýsla, Icelandic Commonwealth
Parents: Sturla Þórðarson and Guðný Böðvarsdóttir
Spouse: Herdís Bersadóttir (married 1199; estranged 1206)
Occupations: Lawspeaker, Author, Poet, Historian, Politician
Notable Work: Prose Edda, Heimskringla
Died: 22 September 1241 (aged 62) in Reykholt, Iceland
Snorri Sturluson was an Icelandic poet, historian, chieftain, and author of the Prose Edda and the Heimskringla.
From the age of three, Snorri, a descendant of the great poet Egill Skallagrímsson, was brought up at Oddi in the home of Jón Loptsson, the most influential chieftain in Iceland at the time. Thanks to him, Snorri acquired a deep knowledge of European history and Iceland traditions.
After marrying Herdís Bersadóttir in 1199, Snorri began to gain power, influence, and lands. The marriage wasn’t happy and didn’t last long. In 1206, he settled at Reykholt, where he also wrote most of his famous works between 1223 and 1235.
During his time as lawspeaker of the Icelandic high court, Snorri was invited to Norway by King Haakon IV in 1218. There, he really became involved in politics and tried to convince Haakon to help him become King of Iceland.
After returning to his home country in 1220, Snorri’s relations with Haakon slowly deteriorated, and so, in 1241, by the King’s order, Snorri Sturluson was assassinated at the age of 62 in his beloved Reykholt.
What remains are Snorri’s remarkable writings, like the Prose Edda, a handbook on poetics and the legends of Norse mythology.
Snorri Society New Zealand 