In the Icelandic saga Egils saga, what is the name of the poet-warrior who composes the poem Höfuðlausn?

In Egils saga, the poet-warrior who composes Höfuðlausn is Egil Skallagrímsson.

Egil composes Höfuðlausn, or “Head Ransom,” for King Eiríkr Bloodaxe after being captured in England. The poem praises the king and is presented as a payment for Egil’s life. According to the saga, Egil has only a short time to create the complex praise poem, demonstrating the extraordinary skill expected of a skald.

Egil is one of Icelandic literature’s most memorable protagonists because he is both a formidable fighter and a highly accomplished poet. The saga portrays his difficult relationship with rulers, enemies, and members of his own family. It also preserves several poems attributed to him, blending biography, family history, and heroic adventure.

Höfuðlausn is sometimes translated “Head-Ransom” or “Head Ransom.” Egil should not be confused with Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue, another saga character famous for poetry, but the poem’s traditional attribution is specifically to Egil.