Hallveig Ormsdóttir (d. 1241) was an Icelandic heiress who became entangled in the feuds of Iceland’s Age of the Sturlungs, as told by Sturlunga saga. Her status as the richest woman in Iceland increased the standing of Snorri Sturluson when she became his financial partner in 1224; she was also his wife or mistress.
Life
editEarly life
editShe was the daughter of the chieftain Ormr Jónsson, foster-brother of Snorri Sturluson, and his concubine Þóra Eiríksdóttir. She had a brother, Jón, and they had several half-siblings from Ormr’s relationship with his other concubine, Borghildr.[1]
In 1218, her father and brother were killed in a dispute over timber. She inherited a large share of her father’s property.[2]
She married Björn son of Þorvaldr Gizurarson, who is described in the saga as generous but impetuous. They had two sons, Ormr and Klængr.[3] Björn sought compensation for the death of Hallveig’s father, killing one man whom he had heard was a relative of his slayer and clashing with Snorri Sturluson over the matter. He was killed by Loftr biskupssonr and Sæmundr Jónsson (Hallveig’s uncle) in a land dispute in 1221.[4]
Relationship with Snorri Sturluson
editThe saga depicts Hallveig’s first meeting with Snorri Sturluson as an unpromising one: Snorri laughed at the way she had her hood sewn over her head to protect her from the rain. [5] At the time, Snorri was hoping to marry Hallveig's cousin Solveig Sæmundardóttir.[6]
However, in 1224, when Solveig had married Snorri’s nephew Sturla Sighvatsson, Hallveig became the richest woman in Iceland on the death of her wealthy uncle Kolskeggr.[7][8] Snorri recruited Hallveig’s father-in-law to persuade her to enter into an equal financial partnership with him. She did so, entering his household. This partnership secured Snorri’s status as the wealthiest and most influential person in Iceland.[9]
The saga is ambiguous as to whether Snorri and Hallveig married.[10][11] Some scholars treat her as Snorri’s second wife[12][13][14] or as having a relationship 'equivalent to a marriage.'[15] They had children together, who did not survive to adulthood, and the saga notes that Snorri considered her death in 1241 a great loss.[16]
Inheritance dispute
editSnorri disputed with Ormr and Klængr, Hallveig’s sons by her first marriage, over the division of her assets. This led to Klængr conspiring to kill him. Snorri’s illegitimate son, Órækja Snorrason, killed Klængr in revenge.[14]
References
edit- ^ Sturlunga saga. Vol. 1. Translated by McGrew, Julia H. 1970. p. 132.
- ^ Ricketts, Philadelphia (2010-09-24). High-Ranking Widows in Medieval Iceland and Yorkshire: Property, Power, Marriage and Identity in the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries. BRILL. pp. 96–7. ISBN 978-90-04-18947-8.
- ^ Egilsdóttir, Ásdís (2022-10-27), "Contemporary Sagas (Bishops' sagas and Sturlunga saga)", Medieval Studies, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/obo/9780195396584-0303, ISBN 978-0-19-539658-4, retrieved 2024-07-22
- ^ Sturlunga saga (trans. McGrew), p. 173.
- ^ Sturlunga saga (trans. McGrew), p. 195.
- ^ Bandlien, Bjørn (2005). Strategies of Passion: Love and Marriage in Medieval Iceland and Norway. Brepols. pp. 274–5. ISBN 978-2-503-52163-3.
- ^ Wolf, Kirsten; Denzin, Johanna (2008). Romance and Love in Late Medieval and Early Modern Iceland: Essays in Honor of Marianne Kalinke. Cornell University Library. p. 124. ISBN 978-0-935995-15-2.
- ^ Nordal, Guðrún (1998). Ethics and Action in Thirteenth Century Iceland. Odense University Press. p. 137. ISBN 978-87-7838-419-5.
- ^ Sturlunga saga (trans. McGrew), pp. 199–201.
- ^ Brink, Stefan; Price, Neil (2008-10-31). The Viking World. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-31825-4.
it is not said that they ever married.
- ^ Nordal (1998): '...Hallveig Ormsdóttir does not marry Snorri Sturluson.' p. 137.
- ^ Holman, Katherine (2003-09-29). Historical Dictionary of the Vikings. Scarecrow Press. p. 254. ISBN 978-0-8108-6589-1.
- ^ Callow, Chris (2020-08-03). Landscape, Tradition and Power in Medieval Iceland: Dalir and the Eyjafjörður region c.870-c.1265. BRILL. p. 51. ISBN 978-90-04-33160-0.
- ^ a b Sturla Þórðarson: Skald, Chieftain and Lawman. BRILL. 2017-03-06. p. 175. ISBN 978-90-04-34236-1.
- ^ Ricketts, Philadelphia (2010-09-24). High-Ranking Widows in Medieval Iceland and Yorkshire: Property, Power, Marriage and Identity in the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries. BRILL. pp. 226–7. ISBN 978-90-04-18947-8.
- ^ Sturlunga saga (trans. McGrew), p. 357–8.