Bragi Boddason, a celebrated Norwegian skaldic poet from the early 9th century, is known for his poetry about legendary figures like Ragnar Lodbrok. Interestingly, some believe that he is also Bragi the god, the Skaldic poet of Valhalla who resided among the Aesir gods and crafted verses about their heroic exploits.
So, what do we really know about Bragi the man, and what proof exists that he might also be Bragi the god? Keep reading to discover more about the most famous Skald in Viking history!
Bragi the Skald
Skaldic poets, like Bragi, were skilled composers and performers of Skaldic poetry, which was quite popular among the Vikings. These poets often served at the courts of kings and chieftains, crafting verses that celebrated the achievements of their rulers, warriors, ancestors, and even the legendary feats of gods and heroes.
Bragi Boddason, sometimes referred to as Bragil Hinn Gamli (Bragi the Old), was a renowned Norwegian Skald from the 9th century, hailing from a lineage of Skalds. He married Loptheona, the daughter of another famous Skald, Erpr lutandi, who served at the court of King Eysteinn Beli of Sweden. Eysteinn was believed to have been made king by Ragnar Lodbrok but later fought against Ragnar’s sons. Among Bragi’s descendants was Gunnlaugr Ormstunga (meaning “serpent tongue”), who also gained fame as a Skald in Iceland.
Icelandic historian Snorri Sturluson noted that Bragi served as a Skald for several semi-legendary figures, including Ragnar Lodbrok, Eysteinn Beli, and Bjorn at Haugi, who was likely the son of Bjorn Ironside. This indicates that Bragi was active during the period between 835 and 900. While there are enough references to confirm Bragi Boddason’s existence, some tales about him, such as his encounters with a troll woman and identifying a changeling, are likely fictional.
The only surviving work attributed to Boddason is the Ragnarsdrapa, a poem that tells the story of the hero Ragnar and describes legendary scenes depicted on a shield given to the poet by Ragnar.
Fragments cited by Sturluson in his Prose Edda suggest that Bragi’s stories included various heroic tales, such as Hamdir and Sorli avenging their sister with Odin’s help, the endless battle between Hedinn and Hogni, Thor’s fishing trip where he nearly caught the Midgard Serpent Jormungandr, and the tale of the goddess Gefjun using a plow to separate Zealand from Sweden.
Additionally, according to Egils Saga, Bragi once composed a Skald to negotiate for his own life after angering King Bjorn, setting an example that the saga’s hero, Egil Skallagrimsson, would later follow when he found himself in trouble with Erik Bloodaxe.
Bragi of Valhalla
Bragi, known as the god of Skaldic poetry in Norse mythology, has led some to speculate that he and Bragi Boddason might actually be the same person.
Bragi served as the Skald in Valhalla, Odin’s grand hall in Asgard, where the bravest warriors who had fallen in battle resided. In this majestic place, they trained, fought, and feasted, awaiting their call to join the gods in battle during Ragnarok. When new warriors arrived, Bragi would welcome them and create poems celebrating their heroic exploits to entertain the group of deceased warriors known as the Einherjar.
The earliest mention of the god Bragi dates back to 954, found in the Eiriksmal, which recounts an instance where Bragi in Valhalla questions Odin about the fate of the valiant king Erik Bloodaxe. This timeline suggests that Bragi of Valhalla could indeed have been Bragi Boddason, who was taken to Valhalla after his death to serve alongside its warriors.
Although individual fallen warriors were not regarded as gods, Bragi is often depicted among them, hinting at a sort of elevation to divine status.
Bragi the God
Bragi was wed to Idun, the goddess responsible for caring for Asgard’s magical orchards that bore golden fruits, which granted the gods their youth and immortality.
By marrying Idun, Bragi likely earned his place among the gods. This is evident in various stories, such as when the giantess Skadi arrived in Asgard seeking revenge for her father Thjazi’s death. Instead of engaging in battle, the gods chose to make amends by offering compensation, which included allowing Skadi to marry one of them.
More Affairs
Bragi at the Lokasenna
In one tale, when Loki attempts to crash a dinner he wasn’t invited to, Bragi is the first to try to send him away. This suggests that as the court Skald, Bragi had a protective role. However, Loki ultimately gains entry by reminding Odin of their ancient blood oath to always share meals together.
Once inside, Loki begins to insult the other gods in a story called the Lokasenna. He greets everyone but deliberately ignores Bragi, who then tries to win Loki over by offering him gifts like his sword, horse, and arm ring. Loki dismisses these offerings, calling Bragi a coward.
Loki’s treatment of Bragi might stem from the perception that Bragi was somehow inferior to the other gods present. He may have labeled him a coward because Bragi earned his place in Valhalla through his clever words—his tongue was said to be inscribed with runes—rather than through combat.
When Idun comes to Bragi’s defense, Loki accuses her of siding with the killer of her brother, likely referring to Bragi himself. Unfortunately, the details of this story have been lost to time.
With the limited information we have, we can only speculate about Bragi’s standing among the Norse gods.
God of Poetry
While Bragi is mentioned in Norse mythology as a god, there’s no proof that Vikings actually worshiped him as the deity of poetry. In fact, he’s not called upon in any surviving poems for inspiration.
On the other hand, Odin seems to have had a more significant role as a source of creativity and divine guidance. This is largely due to his connection with the Mead of Poetry, a magical beverage that grants the drinker exceptional eloquence.
The mead was created after the Aesir-Vanir War when the two groups of gods mixed their saliva to establish peace. This mixture resulted in Kvasir, who was deemed the wisest being in existence. However, two dwarves encountered Kvasir, decided to kill him, and used his blood to produce the Mead of Poetry.
Dwarves who resort to murder for blood tend to make enemies, and soon they found themselves in trouble with a giant who demanded the mead as compensation. Upon hearing about the mead, Odin devised a clever plan to steal it.
In the end, Odin consumed all the mead and stored it in his stomach before transforming into an eagle to fly back to Asgard. During his flight, while being pursued, he either let some of the mead spill from his mouth or released some as urine over the land of humans. This is the mead that bestows poetic talent upon human skalds. The remainder he spat into three large drinking horns in Asgard.
The Apotheosis of Bragi
It’s said that Bragi Boddason was such a talented poet that the Vikings thought he was taken to Valhalla after he passed away to be the Skald for the brave warriors who had fallen in battle. After marrying the goddess Idun, he quickly became part of the divine realm.
