biography
| name: |
Skallagrímsson, Egill
|
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (c.910–990)
|
| biography:
| Poet and warrior, born in Iceland. His father had emigrated to Iceland after falling foul of King Harald of Norway, and Egill became a professional Viking and court-poet. He fought in the service of King Athelstan of England at the Battle of Brunanburh (937), fell out with King Erik Blood-Axe Haraldsson of Norway, but visited him when he was king in the city of York in 948. There he only escaped execution by composing a eulogy in Erik's honour, the Höfuðlausn (Head Ransom). In 960 he lost two young sons, and composed the greatest lament in Old Icelandic poetry, Sonatorrek (On the Loss of Sons). He is the hero of Egils saga, probably written by his descendant, Snorri Sturluson. |
|
|
