Thorvald Far-Farer | |
|---|---|
Þorvaldr inn víðfǫrli | |
 Memorial commemorating 1000 years of Christian mission in Iceland, 918–1981, with depiction of Bishop Friedrich and Thorvald. | |
| Born | Þorvaldr Koðránsson (Old Norse) c. 950 CE Stóra-Giljá, Vatnsdalur, Iceland |
| Died | c. 1005 CE |
| Siglum | Þvíðf |
| Occupation | Skald
|
| Era | Viking Age |
| Parent(s) | Koðran Eilífsson (father) Járngerður (mother) Þórdís spákona (guardian) |
Thorvald Far-Farer (Kodransson) (Old Norse: Þorvaldr inn víðfǫrli (Koðránsson); Icelandic: Þorvaldur víðförli (Konráðsson)) was an Icelandic skald, warrior, and Christian missionary. He is best known as one of the first Christian missionaries in Iceland and founder of the monastery of St. John the Baptist in Polotsk (in modern-day Belarus).
He is the protagonist of Þorvalds þáttur víðförla, a Þáttr
- Kristni þættir of the Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar en mesta
- Kristni saga
- Vatnsdæla saga
He was native to Iceland but went abroad where he was baptized by one Bishop Friedrich, a German.[1] He returned to the island in Bishop Friedrich's retinue in 981.[2] They were especially active in proselytising among the inhabitants of the northern parts of Iceland.[2] However, Thorvald killed two men in a battle and was expelled from the island in 986.[1][2]
Founded the monastery of St. John the Baptist in Polotsk (Old Norse: Pallteskja, Pallteskiuborg)
- ^ a b Byock 2001, p. 294.
- ^ a b c Hjálmarsson 2012, p. 29.