Daði Guðmundsson ( – 1563) or Daði of Snóksdal was a farmer and magistrate in 16th century Iceland. He lived in the town of Snóksdalur in Dalasýsla county and played an important role in the

Battle of Sauðafell The Battle of Sauðafell (''Orrustan á Sauðafelli'') occurred in 1550, when the forces of Catholic Bishop Jón Arason clashed with the forces of Daði Guðmundsson of Snóksdalur. Location Sauðafell was an important part of Daði's fief in ...

and the Lutheran Reformation in Iceland.

Personal life

Daði was a son of the farmer Guðmund Finnsson and Þórunn Daðadóttir, who was related by marriage to Torfi Arason, the king's representative ('' hirðstjóri'') for the north and west of Iceland. Daði was a prosperous landholder with successful fishing operations based on the Hvammsfjörður.

Knut Gjerset Knut Gjerset (September 15, 1865 – October 29, 1936) was a Norwegian-American author, historian and college professor. Biography Knut Gjerset was born at Fræna in Møre og Romsdal, Norway. He was the son of Ole Sørensen Gjerset and Karen Mari ...

, in his ''History of Iceland'', describes Daði as a "rich and influential man of shady morals." In 1525, Daði married Guðrún, daughter of Einar Ölduhryggjarskáld, a poet and priest. Guðrún's brothers Marteinn Einarsson, the second Lutheran bishop of Iceland, and the sýslumenn (who plays an important role in the ensuing struggle because in "his travels on the continent had learned some of the art of fortification.") and Brandur Einarsson, known as Gleraugna-Pétur and Moldar-Brandur respectively, also played prominent roles in spread of

Lutheranism Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...

in Iceland.

The Battle of Sauðafell

Catholic Bishop

Jón Arason Jón Arason (1484 – November 7, 1550) was an Icelandic Roman Catholic bishop and poet, who was executed in his struggle against the Reformation in Iceland. Background Jón Arason was born in Gryta, educated at Munkaþverá, the Benedictine ...

, who strenuously opposed efforts to promote Lutheranism in Iceland, considered Daði and Gleraugna-Pétur as his main opponents. In January 1549, Jón excommunicated Daði and then went with a contingent of soldiers to capture him, sacking three of Daði's estates in the process. Daði, who had 50 to 80 men under arms with him at Snóksdal in the spring of 1549, resisted the attempt and remained free. In autumn 1550, Jón and his sons, Ara and Birni, took an army of 100 men and captured Daði's estate at Sauðafell. Daði raised a large body of men and at the

surprised Jón and his men, capturing them.

Later life

Daði continued his life as a wealthy man, holding numerous properties and a large number of cattle, as well as six ships. He also served as steward of the land of the monastery. Daði and Guðrún's only child was their daughter, Þórunn, who drowned with her husband Birni Hannesson in 1554, leaving three young children to inherit Daði's assets when he died in 1563. Daði also had several children by Ingveldur Árnadóttir, but it was Guðrún and Þórunn who inherited most of his wealth.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dadi Gudmundsson 1490s births 1563 deaths 16th-century Icelandic people Icelandic Reformation 16th-century farmers