Höfuðættir úr brotakenndri ævi Guðmundar Andréssonar

Abstract

In this paper an attempt is made to establish more reliable dates and fuller in - formation than have hitherto been available regarding a few key events in the life story of lexicographer Guðmundur Andrésson. Interest in this unusual and colorful character, from the time of his death in 1654 and to the present day, has never waned, as countless accounts of his life, written in Icelandic, Latin, and Danish both printed and in manuscripts, bear witness. To begin with, further arguments are set forth to support Hannes Þorsteinsson’s view that it is indeed Guðmundur and his father Andrés Guðmundsson who appear in a document from June 10, 1644, regarding a boundary dispute in Skagafjörður. Jakob Benediktsson had previously dismissed it, probably because by that time Guðmundur was thought to have relocated to Húnavatnssýsla. Two other documents are brought forth which show close ties between Björn Jónsson of Skarðsá and a certain Andrés Guðmundsson of Sólheimar in the same district; both farms lie close to each other in Sæmundarhlíð. In his writings Guðmundur says that during his battle with mental illness he stayed with his parents. In a letter from February 20, 1638, Björn of Skarðsá mentions the mental illness of a learned Gvöndur, short for Guðmundur, at the neighbouring farm of Sólheimar and the part he played in his recovery. This, along with Guðmundur stating in a letter that he was in close contact with Björn of Skarðsá in his youth because he was his nearest neighbour, makes quite a strong case that Guðmundur was indeed the son of Andrés Guðmundsson of Sólheimar and the man Björn mentions in his letter. The only thing known about Guðmundur’s stay at the cathedral school at Hólar is that it lasted four years and that he was there at the same time as his friend Einar Arnfinnsson. Records show that Einar was in attendance at the school during the 1627–1628 school year, but it is not known if that was at the beginning, middle or end of his studies. A document from July 22, 1632, shows, however, that Einar has already graduated and has, in all likelihood, been appointed deacon of Reynistaður, for he is in the entourage of Jón Sigurðsson who was the administrator of Reynistaður. From information regarding Einar it is deduced that Guðmundur’s four years of study at Hólar must have taken place some time in the period 1628–1635. By Guðmundur’s own account he was plagued by mental illness for half a year. The above-mentioned letter fixes that event in time and shows that it lasted roughly from autumn 1637 to spring 1638. With that in place, it is clear that he was appointed deacon of Reynistaður after his bout with mental illness. The reason for his appointment was, as Jakob Benediktsson has pointed out, the death of reverend Sæmundur Kársson of Glaumbær, in the summer of 1638, which caused subsequent promotions and the opening of the position. By his own account Guðmundur lost his position, shortly after June 22 1640, apparently because the bishop of Hólar believed his detractors. An attempt is also made to determine Guðmundur’s age and in a very speculative manner the conclusion is reached that he was probably born in the period 1614–1616, which is quite close to Jakob Benediktsson’s thoughts on the matter. Finally, a number of examples are put forward showing a close connection between Björn of Skarðsá and Guðmundur Andrésson, also in the realm of their scholarly activities.