Kolbeinn Tumason (

Old Norse Old Norse, also referred to as Old Nordic or Old Scandinavian, was a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants ...

: ;

Modern Icelandic Icelandic ( ; , ) is a North Germanic language from the Indo-European language family spoken by about 314,000 people, the vast majority of whom live in Iceland, where it is the national language. Since it is a West Scandinavian language, it ...

: ; 1173–1208) was a member of the Ásbirningar family clan, and was one of the most powerful chieftains in

Iceland Iceland is a Nordic countries, Nordic island country between the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the regi ...

around the turn of the 13th century. His power was probably at its height around 1200 AD. Kolbeinn used his influence to ensure that men in his favour received positions of power within the clergy, amongst them bishop

Guðmundur Arason Guðmundur Arason (; 1161 – March 16, 1237; ) was an influential 12th and 13th century Icelandic saintly bishop who took part in increasing the powers of the Catholic Church in medieval Iceland. His story is recorded in several manuscrip ...

. Guðmundur, unbeknownst to Kolbeinn, proved to be an advocate of clerical independence and resented interference from the secular chieftains. The two were soon at odds. In 1208, Kolbeinn and his followers attacked Guðmundur and his supporters in Hjaltadalur by Víðines. The ensuing battle is known as the Battle of Víðines. Kolbeinn died in the conflict, his head bashed in with a rock.

Kolbeinn the poet

Notwithstanding his opposition to bishop Guðmundur, sources indicate that Kolbeinn was a devoutly religious man of some education. He is best known for composing the hymn Heyr himna smiður (English: "Hear, Smith of heavens") on his deathbed. It is now a classic and often-sung Icelandic hymn. Though viewed by some later sources as politically aggressive, Kolbeinn's final days reflect a shift toward penitence. According to Sturlunga saga, after receiving a mortal wound during the Battle of Víðines, Kolbeinn composed the hymn Heyr, himna smiður (“Hear, Smith of Heavens”), likely dictated aloud in prayer. The hymn pleads for divine mercy, wisdom, and shelter—its language suggesting a soul aware of death's approach and concerned with salvation. Scholars have noted that the hymn's structure and content resemble older Christian poetic prayers and possibly echo Eastern Christian tones preserved in Icelandic oral tradition. Some Orthodox Christian researchers in Iceland consider Kolbeinn a “Blessed Penitent Chieftain,” citing the hymn as a genuine confession of faith in extremis. While he was not canonized, his legacy survives liturgically through the continued singing of Heyr, himna smiður during services, especially among traditionalist Icelandic Orthodox parishes.Gísli Sigurðsson, "Oral Tradition and the Role of the Bishop in Early Icelandic Christianity", Scandinavian Journal of History, 2004.

References

* Árni Daníel Júlíusson, Jón Ólafur Ísberg, Helgi Skúli Kjartansson ''Íslenskur sögu atlas: 1. bindi: Frá öndverðu til 18. aldar'' Almenna bókafélagið, Reykjavík 1989 * Sigurður Nordal et al., ''Sýnisbók íslenzkra bókmennta til miðrar átjándu aldar'', Reykjavík 1953.

External links

A live performance of this poem sung
by Árstíðir {{DEFAULTSORT:Kolbeinn Tumason 1173 births 1208 deaths Icelandic male poets 12th-century Icelandic people Skalds 13th-century Icelandic poets Goðar Icelandic hymnwriters