Njáll Þorgeirsson

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Njáll Þorgeirsson was a 10th century Icelandic chieftain who lived at Bergþórshvoll and is one of the main protagonists of Njáls saga, a medieval Icelandic Epic poetry.

Njáll was the son of Þorgeir "gollnir" Þórólfsson and Ásgerður Áskelsdóttir. Njáll lived in Bergþórshvoll in Landeyjar and was married to Bergþóra Skarphéðinsdóttir. He is described as a kindly, wealthy and handsome man, but beardless, suffering from the peculiar defect of not growing any facial hair. He was a great lawyer -- supposedly unequalled in wisdom and predictive powers -- and solved the problems of every man who came to him for counsel. He was a close friend of Gunnar Hámundarson of Hlíðarendi.

After his sons become involved in a dispute, the farmstead at Bergþórshvolur is put to the torch by enemies of the family. By then, Njáll is an old man and is offered to leave. He chooses to stay and dies in the fire with the rest of his family -- hence Njáls saga is often called "Brennu-Njáls saga", which means "the saga of Burning Njáll".

• The official Njál's Saga website - The Njála museum in Hvolsvöllur, Iceland