Snorri was born in 1178, when only three years of age he went to fostering at the home of _Saemund_, the Wise, at _Oddi_. _Saemund_ died when Snorri was nineteen. Snorri’s father had considerable property but after his death, Snorri’s mother, described as a “gay young widow” wasted the substance and left the son to enter life’s activities with little. In 1199 Snorri married the daughter of _Bersi_, the Wealthy, who lived at _Borg_, the home of the famous _Skallagrim_. Snorri was now twenty years old and he entered directly into public affairs. He early became embroiled in partisan feuds but continued to gain power and following. This lead to his attaining the position of the _Goði_ of his district. The _Goði_ was a priestly ruler whose power and influence was supreme. If one desires to know more of the life and functions of this ancient official of the early days of Iceland he can get no better account than that left in the writings of Snorri. Snorri at this time obtained the stead of _Reykholt_ as a freehold and at once separated from his wife. The date of this occurrence is prior to 1209 for we read that the Bishop of _Hólar_ spent the “winter of 1209 at _Reykholt_ with _Snorri Sturlason_.” He had thus won the choicest holding in the entire valley as well as the enviable position of _Goði_. “He now became a great chieftain with ample means.” In 1215 he was elected Speaker-at-Law, at the early age of thirty-seven and for a term of three years. This was the highest honor in the land.