The medieval Icelandic chronicle Hungrvaka records the lives of the five bishops of Skálholt, Ísleifr Gizurarson (1006–1080), Gizurr Ísleifsson (1042–1118), Þorlákr Runólfsson (1086– 1133), Magnús Einarsson (1098–1148), and Klængr Þorsteinsson (1105–1176). In addition, the chronicle relates some of church history of the period. Based on references in the text to the recent death of Gizurr Hallsson (d. 1206), scholars have dated Hungrvaka to the early thirteenth century or shortly after Gizurr’s death. All the manuscripts, however, are post-medieval. The most recent editions of Hungrvaka are in Íslenzk fornrit 2002 and a translation from The Viking Society (Andersson 2021).
Together with Þorláks saga and Páls saga biskups, Hungrvaka forms a complete, chronological history of Skálholt from its origins to 1211. The author of Hungrvaka is unknown, although Gizurr was probably a major source. Because of stylistic...
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Citation: Egilsdóttir, Ásdís. "Hungrvaka". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 14 June 2023 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=41251, accessed 13 December 2025.]
