Páll Melsteð (historian)

Páll Melsteð (born 10 January 1812, died 16 May 1910) was an Icelandic historian and archivist. He is considered a significant figure in the development of Icelandic historiography in the 19th century.

Melsteð was born in Saurbær, Dalasýsla. He studied at Bessastaðir school and later at the University of Copenhagen.

His historical work focused primarily on Icelandic history, particularly the history of the Icelandic Commonwealth and the period of Norwegian rule. He served as a national archivist of Iceland and played a key role in organizing and preserving historical documents. He also published numerous historical articles and books.

Notable works include editions of the Icelandic sagas and legal texts, as well as his own historical analyses. He was a member of the Icelandic Literary Society and contributed significantly to its publications. Melsteð's historical methodology emphasized a critical examination of sources. His work helped to establish a more rigorous and objective approach to the study of Icelandic history.