Geirmund Hjørson Heljarskinn facts for kids
Geirmund Hjørson, also known as Heljarskinn, was an important leader in Iceland during the late 800s. He was the son of a Norwegian merchant and a woman from the Samoyed people. His nickname, "Heljarskinn," means "Hel skin." This likely referred to his skin color, suggesting it was either dark or very pale, like someone who was dead.
Geirmund's story comes from old writings. These include the Landnámabók and a shorter story called Geirmundar þáttr heljarskinns. This shorter story is the first part of a larger collection called Sturlunga saga.
Who Was Geirmund Heljarskinn?
Geirmund was born to a Norwegian petty king. A petty king was a ruler of a small kingdom. He became very rich as a Viking. Vikings were people from Scandinavia who traveled by sea. They explored, traded, and sometimes raided other lands.
Life in Iceland
Geirmund owned four large estates in Iceland. An estate was a big piece of land with buildings. He also had a group of eighty bodyguards. These were men who protected him. His rich lifestyle needed a lot of money. This money came from his Viking journeys and raids. His estates alone could not support such a grand way of living.
