Born: Unknown (1200s), Iceland
Died: 17 October 1271
Country most active: Iceland
Also known as: NA
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
Steinvǫr Sighvatsdóttir was a remarkable figure in Icelandic history during the Age of the Sturlungs. She was both a pivotal political player and a celebrated skald, officially recognized in Skáldatal. Our knowledge of Steinvǫr’s life comes from sagas, particularly the “Íslendinga saga,” “Þórðar saga kakala,” and “Þorgils saga skarða,” part of the “Sturlunga Saga.”
In 1230, Steinvǫr married Hálfdan Sæmundsson, a farmer who favored a quiet life at the Keldur estate. Steinvǫr, on the other hand, was a staunch supporter of the Sturlungs, a powerful political faction in Iceland.
In 1238, the Sturlungs suffered a devastating defeat at the Battle of Örlygsstaðir, leading to the death of Steinvǫr’s father and four brothers. Four years later, her brother Þórðr kakali returned, seeking her support in seeking revenge and restoring the Sturlungs’ power. After some persuasion, her husband, Hálfdan, joined the conflict.
Steinvǫr’s influence was significant, particularly during the 1242 conflict between Þórðr kakali and the Southern Region’s peasants. She and Bishop Sigvarðr Þéttmarsson mediated the conflict, with the peasants placing more trust in Steinvǫr.
After Þórðr kakali’s death in 1256, Steinvǫr became the sole heir and entrusted the Grund estate to her son-in-law Þorvarðr Þórarinsson. This decision led to a conflict with Þorgils skarði, another Sturlung, resulting in Þorgils’ death and Þorvarðr’s expulsion from Eyjafjörður.
Steinvǫr and Hálfdan had three sons. Her influence as a court poet, though her poems haven’t survived, remains a testament to her role in Icelandic history and culture.