Árni Þorláksson facts for kids

Árni Þorláksson (born 1237 – died April 17, 1298) was an important religious leader from Iceland. He was a Roman Catholic clergyman, which means he was a church official. Árni became the tenth bishop of Iceland, serving from 1269 to 1298.

Who Was Bishop Árni Þorláksson?

Árni Þorláksson was born in 1237. He grew up to become a key figure in the church in Iceland during the 13th century. As a bishop, he was a high-ranking leader in the Roman Catholic Church.

Árni's Role as Bishop of Skálholt

Árni served in the Skálholt diocese. A diocese is an area that a bishop is responsible for. His main job was to lead the church in his region.

Protecting Church Property

Bishop Árni had an important mission. He was told by his church leaders in Norway to make sure the church controlled its own property. At that time, powerful local leaders, called chieftains, often managed church lands and money.

Árni worked hard to change this. He wanted the church to be in charge of its own resources. This was a big challenge, but Árni was mostly successful. He helped the church gain more control over its own affairs.

See also

• List of Skálholt bishops