The Prose Edda on Olaf Hvitaskald

The Younger Edda: > Chapter Iv. > Introduction.

• relationship: Olaf Thordsson, surnamed Hvitaskald (White Skald), was a son of Snorre's brother

  "Olaf Thordsson, surnamed Hvitaskald,[3] to distinguish him from his contemporary, Olaf Svartaskald,[4] was a son of Snorre's brother"

• attestation: Hvitaskald means 'White Skald' and was used to distinguish him from Olaf Svartaskald (Black Skald)

  "[Footnote 3: White Skald.]

  [Footnote 4: Black Skald.]"

• attestation: Olaf Hvitaskald visited Norway in 1236 and then went to Denmark as a guest at King Valdemar's court

  "He visited Norway in 1236, whence he went to Denmark, where he was a guest at the court of King Valdemar"

• attestation: In 1240, Olaf Hvitaskald was in Norway and supported King Hakon against Skule

  "In 1240 we find him again in Norway, where he espoused the cause of King Hakon against Skule"

• attestation: Olaf Hvitaskald died in 1259 and was counted among the great skalds of Iceland

  "His death occurred in the year 1259, and he is numbered among the great skalds of Iceland"

• attribution: The Arne-Magnean parchment manuscript attributes a portion of the Edda to Olaf Thordsson and Skaldskaparmal to Snorre

  "Here ends that part of the book which Olaf Thordsson put together, and now begins Skaldskaparmal and the Kenningar, according to that which has been found in the lays of the chief skalds, and which Snorre afterward suffered to be brought together."

• attribution: Olaf Thordsson authored the grammatical and rhetorical portion of the Younger Edda, dated around 1250

  "Olaf Thordsson is unmistakably the author of the grammatical and rhetorical portion of the Younger Edda, and its date can therefore safely be put at about 1250"

• attestation: Olaf Hvitaskald spent time at the court of King Valdemar the Victorious of Denmark

  "Olaf Thordsson Hvitaskald, the nephew of Snorre, a scholar who spent some time at the court of the Danish king, Valdemar the Victorious"