Jón Loftsson

Jón Loftsson (* 1124, † November 1, 1197 ) was an Icelandic Gode, scholar and member of the upper class in the 12th century. At times he was regarded as the most powerful man in the country.

Origin and family

Jón Loftsson belonged to the family of the Oddaverjar as a son of Loftur Sæmundsson of Oddi in southern Iceland and grandson of the famous Icelandic scholars Sæmundur Fróði and Þóra, an illegitimate daughter of King Magnus III. Berrføtt of Norway. He grew up to the year 1135 in a Norwegian Royal Palace, then traveled but with his parents to Iceland. They settled first in Stóra - Dal undir Eyjafjöllum down and later à Oddi in Rangárvöllum after the brother had died Jón called Eyjólfur in 1158.

Politician

Jón Loftsson was early on as a gifted politician and he got all Godentümer on the Rangárþing. He was very popular and immensely influential, so that others often sought his advice and his judgment in contentious matters. Contemporary sources report he would have been even the most powerful man in the country in 1170.

Icelandic Investiture Controversy

However, he was even as hard in championing its own affairs as well as in Icelandic editions of the Investiture Controversy, eg the so-called first Staðamál ( 1179 ). It went as on the European continent for the possession of the Catholic Church on the church property. Opponents Jón Loftssons in this case was the Holy Thorlákur, Bishop of Skálholt. Jón initially prevailed. Later, however, the interests of the Church were victorious.

Ratio of ecclesiastical and secular power in the 12th century

In this era ecclesiastical and secular power were very closely connected in Iceland. Jón's father and grandfather were priests, he himself deacon.

He also founded a convent in Rangárvellir. This did not last long, however.

The role of Oddi

The small village in southern Iceland Oddi was under Jón Loftsson and already its predecessors as an important center of education and science in medieval Iceland.

After a dispute over ownership in 1181 Jón Páll helped the Solvason of Reykholt ( Borgarbyggð ). In exchange, he was the foster son ( and power pledge) the then four-year Snorri Sturluson, who was to grow up to the age of 19 years in Oddi. The good education he received there, certainly helped with his development as an outstanding politician and poet.

Marriage and children

The wife of Jón Loftsson was Halldóra Brandsdóttir, with whom he had two children: Solveig, the future wife of Guðmundur Gris Ámundason Þingvellir and grandmother of Gissur Þorvaldsson, and Sæmundur Jónsson, Gode in Oddi.

To the great annoyance of the Bishop Jón also had concubines and lovers and many children from them. The most famous was Regnheiður Þórhallsdóttir, just the sister of the bishop of St. Thorlákur yourself a son out of this compound was in turn Bishop of Skálholt: Páll Jónsson.