SNORRI STUBLESSON, a learned historian, and a distinguished Icelandic politician, was b. in 1178 at Eva/mint, in Iceland, where his family, who traced their descent to the ancient kings of Norway and Sweden, had been settled since the early colonization of the island. Snorri Sturlesson• was placed at an early age under the care of Jon Loptson, the grandson of Smmund Sigfusson, the learned, compiler of the old Edda, by whom he was instructed in the history, mythology, and poetry of the n., as well as in classical literature. By his marriage, at the age of 26, with a rich heiress, and the speedy death of his father, Snorri Sturlesson early attained a position of wealth and influence, and by the free choice of the people, was elected supreme judge, or chief magistrate of the island. In this post, he was distinguished for his profound knowledge of the laws and civil institutions of his native country; but his ambition, avarice, and love of intrigue embroiled him personally in sanguinary feuds, and contributed to hasten the destruction of Icelandic independence. His love of intrigue led him to take part in the intestine troubles of Norway, and thus drew upon him the suspicion and of the Norwegian king, Hakon, who sent secret instructions to Iceland for his arrest; or, if need be, his assassination. The king's intentions were carried out to their fullest
extent; and his numerous enemies joining together in a plot against him. Snorri Slur lesson was attacked iu his own house, and murdered in the year 1241. Snorri Sturlesson was a poet of no mean order, and composed numerous drapas, or laudatory poems, on the kings and jarls at whose courts he sojourned. His great work is the Ileimskringla, or Mythic Ring of the World, in which he records the history of the kings of Norway from the earliest times to the death of Magnus Erlingsson, 1177; and which he compiled from ancient genealogical tables and other documents. It was translated into Danish about 1559 by Peder Clawson, and published first by Olaf Worm (Cop. 1633). This translation has been republished in more recent times by Gruntviir (3 vols., Cop. 1818-22) and others. German, Swedish, and Latin versions have also been executed. Suomi Sturlesson is believed to have had a share in collecting and arranging the songs of the elder or poetic Edda (q.v.), and to have contributed very materially toward the comp ilatiou of the Skalda and other parts of the younger or prose Edda.