Sigurðr’s Attack on Lisbon: Where Exactly?

On his journey to Palestine, Sigurðr jórsalafari Magnússon sailed along the Portuguese coast. Among his other deeds, he raided Lisbon c. 1109. This much is related in the Norse compendia of kings’ sagas and the skaldic poem Útfarardrápa, but the sources vary in details and even appear contradictory. A careful examination of Halldórr skvaldri's poetic account, combined with a knowledge of Lisbon’s medieval history, proves useful in understanding the actual extent of Sigurðr’s actions and how much truth there is in the assumption that he had an agreement with Henry, Count of Portugal.