Heimskringla: History of the Kings of NorwayBeginning with the dim prehistory of the mythical gods and their descendants, Snorri Sturluson tells us how scions of those descendants, the Swedish kings, colonised and subdued Norway, shire by shire, until King Harald Fairhair united the whole realm. The long line of his successors ruled Norway with varying fortunes, achieving, at one time, a far-flung dominion encompassing a major part of the British Isles and Denmark, besides the homeland. Great missionary kings, especially Olaf Haraldsson (who was later canonised and became the patron saint of Norway), introduced Christianity, and with it southern and western influences. Other rulers weakened the kingdom by their fratricidal struggles or wars with pretenders. Through the whole history, one senses the gradual rise of a national awareness. Snorri Sturluson is, without compare, the greatest historian of the Middle Ages. His work reflects the attitudes of his own troubled times and country, the Iceland of the thirteenth century, torn by bloody feuds. |
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Contents
Snorris Foreword | 1 |
The Saga of Hálfdan the Black | 51 |
The Saga of Hákon the Good | 96 |
Copyright | |
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Æsir army arrived Ásbjorn asked assembly Ástríth battle Bjorn brother called Chapter chieftains Dale Danes Danish daughter Denmark drápa Earl Eirík Earl Hákon Earl Sigurth east Einar Eirík Erling expedition Eyvind farmers father fell Finn fjord fled fleet force friends Gaular Gautland gave Grégóríús Gunnhild Guthorm Guthröth Hálfdan Hálogaland Harald Fairhair Harald Gilli Hárek harried heathen housecarls Hrærek Iceland Ingjald island journey Kálf Kenning killed King Eystein King Hákon King Harald King Ingi King Knút King Magnús king of Norway king of Sweden King Óláf King Sigurth King Svein king's kinsmen land landed-men lawspeaker learned night Nitharós Norwegians Oláf Óláf Tryggvason Óláf's Onund proceeded replied returned saga sailed south says Thjóthólf sent ships Sigvat skald Snorri sons spoke this verse summer sword Thereupon King Thórarin Thorfinn Thórir Thorkel Thórth told took town Trondheim Trondheim District Trondheimfjord troops Uppland Varangians victorious Vík viking warrior winter