Stiernhielm

Stiernhielm is a Swedish surname. The name is most often associated with Georg Stiernhielm (c. 1620–1670s), a Swedish poet and jurist who is widely regarded as a foundational figure in Swedish literature. Born in the 17th century, Stiernhielm combined legal work with literary writing and held positions within the Swedish civil service. He is best known for the epic poem Hercules, published in the late 1650s, which is considered the first major epic in Swedish and a landmark in the development of the modern Swedish language. The work drew on classical models and helped promote a national poetic idiom that could address contemporary politics and culture.

Stiernhielm's influence extended beyond poetry; he contributed to debates on language, rhetoric, and legal theory, reflecting the baroque merging of culture and state practice characteristic of Sweden during the era of Great Power rule. In subsequent centuries, his reputation as an early modern Swedish poet endured, and he is frequently cited in surveys of Swedish literary history as a pioneer who helped stabilize and elevate the Swedish literary language. The surname itself remains in use in Sweden and is encountered in genealogical and cultural contexts.