danish kings and the jomsvikings in the greatest saga of Óláfr tryggvason

8/13/2019 Danish Kings and the Jomsvikings in the Greatest Saga of lfr Tryggvason

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DANISH KINGS AND THE JOMSVIKINGS IN THE GREATEST

SAGA OF LFR TRYGGVASON

BYLAFUR HALLDRSSON

VIKING SOCIETY FOR NORTHERN RESEARCHUNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON

2000


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2000 lafur Halldrsson

ISBN:978 0903521 47 5

The translation is by Anthony Faulkes

The cover illustration is of the great runestone at Jelling in Jutland, which dates from circa 980. According to the inscription

it was raised by Haraldr Bluetooth in memory of his fatherGormr and his mother yri.

Printed by Short Run Press Limited, Exeter


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CONTENTS

PREFACE ............................................................................................ 4TEXT ................................................................................................... 5NOTES .............................................................................................. 34SOURCES ......................................................................................... 85THE COMPILERS METHODS ...................................................... 92MANUSCRIPTS ............................................................................... 93BIBLIOGRAPHY AND ABBREVIATIONS .................................. 94INDEX OF NAMES.......................................................................... 99


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PREFACEInThe Greatest Saga of lfr Tryggvason (lTr) it is told in chs 6670how the emperor Otto the Young (Otto III, 9831002) took his army toDenmark, defeated King Haraldr Gormsson and introduced Christianityinto the country. Before this account there are six chapters (chs 6065)which tell of the kings of the Danes before the time of Haraldr Gormsson.These six chapters form a kind of preface to the section about the intro-duction of Christianity, and are in a different style and orginally derivedfrom different sources. The material in chs 72, 8486, 88 and 90 is a con-tinuation of this section (chs 6070) taken partly fromHeimskringla andpartly from a text which is ultimately derived from Jmsvkinga saga .

This material, chs 6070 and the parts of chs 72, 8486, 88 and 90 that arenot derived fromHeimskringla , is printed below. The text is taken fromthe writers edition of lTr, re-collated with the main manuscript of thesaga, AM 61 fol. (A), and amended from other manuscripts where thereare obvious errors in A. All such emendations are noted at the foot of thepage and the manuscript readings in the footnotes are marked with thesame sigla as in the edition in Editiones Arnamagnan (Series A, vol. I,abbreviated lTrEA I). The manuscripts are these:

A: AM 61 fol.B: AM 53 fol.C1: AM 54 fol.D1: AM 62 fol.

D2

: GKS 1005 fol., Flateyjarbk.The text is printed in normalised spelling, but in two respects the

orthography of the manuscripts has been followed more closely than iscustomary: z (rather than sk or zk) is used for middle voice formsand i is used universally in place of j. Where the verbgera in the mainmanuscript is written with e or the abbreviation forer in the first syllable,this spelling is retained, but is printed where the verb is spelled withio or i. The italicised figures at the beginning of each passage indi-cate the page and line numbers of the corresponding text in lTrEA I. Thefigures in brackets in the text refer to the following numbered notes inwhich an attempt has been made to identify the compilers sources and toindicate parallels in other works.


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TEXT117.1132.8

CHAPTER 60

Sv er sagt at Arnlfus ht mar heilagr; hann var fyrst iarl Saxlandi, ensan erkibyskup Mezborg. Hans son var Angses hertogi Frakklandi.Hann tti Begm Pippnsdttur. Pippn ht son eira, hans son Karl fairPippns Frakkakonungs, fo ur Karlamagnss keisara. (1) Karlamagnsvar konungr yfir Frakklandi fio gur r ens fira tigar, en san var hannkeisari tlf r Rmveria. (2) hans do gum vru eir stlkonungar atMiklagari Michael, Nicefrus ok Le. (3)

Karlamagns konungr tti Hildigardn drottningu. (4) eira son varHlo ver. Hann tk rki eptir fo ur sinn ok var keisari *siau r ok tuttugu.1Hann lk aldregi n hl. (5)

eim tma er Karlamagns var konungr, r fyrir Itlandi s konungrer Godefrdus ht. Hann drap Hrrek Frsaho fingia og skattgildi Frsi.(6) San fr Karlamagns konungr me mikinn her mti Godefrd. var Godefrdus drepinn af silfs sns lii, (7) en Hemingr brurson hanstekinn til konungs. (8) Hemingr helt fram liinu til mts vi Karlamagnskonung, ar til er eir funduz vi er *Egdera2 heitir. ar sttuz eir.(9) En Hemingr andaiz vetri sar. (10)

geruz konungar at Itlandi *Sigfrr3 frndi Godefrdi, en annarrht Hringr anulo. eir deilu um rkit ok drgu bir her at sr. Um sirttu eir mikla orrostu, ok lauk sv at hvrtveggi4 fell. eiri orrostu fellutu sundir ok nu hundru ok firir tigir manna. (11) tk konungdms mar er Haraldr ht. (12) Hann var fimm vetr konungr r hann barizvi Reinfrdum, son Godefrdi. eiri orrostu ht Haraldr v til sigrs sr,ef hann kmiz r orrostu eiri, at5 taka skrn me o llu skuldalii snu. eim bardaga fkk hann sigr ok fr litlu sar me konu sna ok Hrek brurson sinn ok mikit Danali til fundar vi Hlo v son Karlamagnsser var keisari. Var Haraldr skrr ok hans menn Meginzuborg do gum Paschalis pfa.6 Fr Haraldr aptr Danmo rk ok me honum

1 thus BC1, .xxv. r A, x rok xxD1,2 .2 thusBD1; Ega AC1, egdreraD2.3 thusD1; Sigf dr A, Sigrodr B, Sigraud C1, sigfro de D2.4hvrtveggi] + ei ra A.5at] + hann skylldi A.

6pfa] + ens fyrsta me v nafni postulegu sti D1,2.

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6 lfs saga Trygvasonar

Ansgarus byskup, ok skri hann ar margt manna. (13) Haraldr varsttdaur (14), en Hrekr frndi hans tk konungdm ok r fyrir Itlandi, ar til er Guthormr brurson hans bariz vi hann. var liit fr holdganvrs herra Ies Krist *tta hundru ra sextigir ok tvau r.7 eiri sknfellu eir bir ok allt konungakyn at er me eim var, tan sveinn einnlifi er Hrekr ht, ok var s konungr san. (15)

Ansgarus byskup fr enn Danmo rk til fundar vi Hrek ok skrihann. Hrekr lt gera kirkiu Rpum, en Haraldr hafi r ltit gera Heiab. (16) Ansgarus byskup andaiz remr vetrum eptir bardaga eiraHreks ok *Guthorms.8 (17) er sagt at Hrekr kastai kristni ok d litlusar. (18) Eptir at vru konungar heinir, Sigfrr ok Hlfdan. (19)*Rimbertus9 var byskup nstr eptir Ansgarum. (20) tlfta ri hans

byskupsdms andaiz Hlo

ver keisari, son Karlamagnss. Hann tti firasonu er sv htu: Lotharus, Hlo ver, Karl, Pippn. eir skiptu rki mesr, sv at Lotharus hafi Borgundam ok Lothoringam ok Rmarki, enHlo ver hafi Frakkland ok keisaranafn, Karl Valland, Pippn Aquitanam.(21)

er Rimbertus hafi byskup verit tlf r heriuu Danir ok Normenn land at er Normenn kalla Kerlingaland, en mti eim geri Hlo verenn ungi Hlo versson. Hann drap af hermo nnum firtn10 sundir. (22)En fimm vetrum sar andaiz Hlo ver. (23) v ri leituu Danir okNormenn at hefnaz. eir fru me miklu lii upp eptir Rn ok brenndu ar allar borgir ok kirkiur ok ho fu ena ztu kirkiu at hrossahsi borg eirri er Aquisgranum heitir. eir brenndu Klni ok allar borgir upp meRn til Meginzu. (24) geri Karl brir Lothari li mti eim. eirfunduz vi er Mosa heitir. (25) Danalii vru eir konungar Sigfrrok Gufrr ok synir Ragnars lobrkar. eir sttuz vi keisarann ok ltuskraz, en litlu sar rufu eir allt sttmlit ok heriuu vestr Frakklandallt til Parsar en brenndu hana. kom mt eim me mikinn her Arnaldus er var keisari ok drap af eim nu hundru manna. Eptir atsto vaiz Danaherr. var liit fr *higatbur11 vrs herra Ies Krist nuhundru *vetra,12 ea nr v. (26) En seytin vetrum sar var Hn

7 thus C1, .dccc.lx. . r A, dccc ra .lx. ok . r B, dcccok lx araok D1,niu hundrud oklx .araok ett r D2.8 thus BC1, Goorms A, gvttorm s D1, guthorms D2.9Rimbertus,amended from Gesta Hammaburgensis ; Ramber tus A, Rmbirtus B,Runbrtus (! ) C1, Rvnber tvs D1,2.10x A, x B, rettan C1, D1,2.11thus BC1D2, higat bur i A, hegat bvr d D1.12thus BC1D1, ara D2, A.

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lfs saga Trygvasonar 7

byskup vgr Brimum Saxlandi. (27) tlfta ri aan fr fr Heinrekr,er fyrstr var keisari me v nafni, til Danmerkr ok fri Dani til kristni, bi me blmlum, gnum ok orrostum, ok ltti eigi fyrr en eir htuat taka tr rtta. (28) San fr Hn byskup til fundar vi Fra konunger r13 Itlandi ok skri hann ok alu. vru grvar upp kirkiur r er eyz ho fu Heiab ok Rpum. var ok go r kirkia rsi.(29) Eptir at sendi Fri menn til Rmaborgar ok lt vgia ri byskupatil Itlands at ri Agapti pfa. Var Heredus byskup vgr til Heiabiar,en Lvedagus til Rpa, en Rimbrondus til rss. at var nu hundruumfirum tigum ok tta rum eptir holdgan vrs herra *Ies Krist,14 tlftari konungdms Ottnis ens mikla. (30)

ar var fyrr fr horfit konungatali er eir ru fyrir Danmo rk Sigfrr

ok Hlfdan. (31) Eptir r *s konungr fyrir Do

num15 er Helgi ht.Hann tti bardaga vi lf Svakonung ok fell Helgi ar, en lfr rlengi san fyrir Danmo rk ok Svi ok var sttdaur. (32) Eptir hanntku rki Danmo rk Gyrr ok Kntr, en eptir Siggeirr. (33)

CHAPTER 61 (34)

er Sigurr hringr, fair Ragnars lobrkar, var konungr yfir Svaveldiok Danaveldi ok hann hafi friat hvrtveggia rkit ok sett yfir skattkonungaok iarla, minntiz hann ess rkis er Haraldr hildito nn, frndi hans,hafi tt Englandi ok fyrir Haraldi16 varr enn vfami. (35) En at rkiho fu enskir konungar; ht s Ingialdr er r fyrir, ok er sv sagt athann vri brir *Vestrsaxa-konungs.17 Ingialdr var rkr konungr.

Hringr konungr bau t leiangri miklum af rki snu ok fr vestr tilEnglands. En er hann kom til Norimbralands, beiddi hann sr vito ku.Gekk ar undir hann margt flk. En er Ingialdr konungr spuri at, samnai hann saman her miklum ok fr mt Hringi konungi, ok ttu eirsaman no kkurar orrostur. En sustu fell Ingialdr konungr ok Ubbi sonhans ok mikill hluti lis eira. Eignaiz Hringr konungr Norimbralandok allt at rki er tt hafi Ingialdr konungr. (36) En r Hringr konungrfri lii snu vestan af Englandi, setti hann skattkonung yfir Norimbra-land. S er nefndr lfr; hann var son Kinriks ess er sagt er at vri

13r] + f yrir A, + j D2.14thusBC1D1,2, A.15

thus BC1D

1,2, f yrirdnum sa konung r A.16thus C1, har) AB.

17thusBC1, petrs saxa konungs A.Different text inD.

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brurson Maldar digru, mur vars vfama. Fr Hringr konungraptr til rkis sns.

lfr konungr r lengi Norimbralandi, *allt18 ar til er son Ubbakonungs kom til rkis. S er nefndr Eava. ttu eir lfr margar orrostur,ok enni sustu fli lfr konungr, en Eava lagi rkit undir sik.lfr konungr fr til Sviar fund Hrings konungs. Setti Hringrkonungr lf ho fingia yfir Itland. Var lfr *ar lengi san19 skatt-konungr, fyrst Hrings konungs, en san Ragnars lobrkar. Hann varkallar lfr enski. (37) Hans son var Grmr gri er konungdm ok rkitk eptir fo ur sinn. Grmr var fair Aulfs o flga er skattkonungr var Itlandi Ragnars lobrkar. Sonr Aulfs ht Gormr, er enn var skatt-konungr Itlandi. Hann var kallar Gormr enn heimski. (38)

Gormr konungr tti marga rla, en no

kkurir af rlum hans ho

fuverit sendir til *Hollsetulands20 at kaupa ar vn, ok fluttu eir vnit mo rgum hestum. En er eir fru sunnan yfir skg ann er Myrkvir erkallar, tku eir sr nttbl skginum. Logn var vers. Um nttina er rlarnir vo ku, heyru eir barnsgrt mo rkina. En um morgininn erlsa tk, fru rlarnir mo rkina at leita barnsins, en skgrinn var bi ro ngr ok myrkr. At lykum nlguuz eir barnsgrtinn. eir fundu ar barn sveipat lndk. Dkrinn var knttr saman bristinu. En er eir leystukntinn, vru ar rr gullhringar. Barnit var vafit undir silkidk. atvar sveinbarn hit frasta. eir tku upp barnit ok ho fu me sr, ar til er eir fundu Gorm konung. Sndu eir honum barnit sv bit sem eir ho fufundit. Konungr is svein ann vatni ok gaf nafn ok kallai Knt af knti eim er barnit hafi me sr. Fddiz sveinn s upp hir Gorms konungs.Hann var snimma vitr ok vel at rttum binn umfram flesta menn er ar landi vru. Gormr konungr tti engan son. Hann unni *sv mikitKnti fstra snum21 at hann tk Knt sr sonar sta ok viri hann meiraen alla frndr sna, sv at hann gaf Knti konungdm eptir sinn dag.essi var kallar Kntr hinn fundni.

Gormr konungr r ekki lengi fyrir lo ndum. Hann var sttdaur. Enr hann andaiz lt hann Knt taka til konungs yfir rki at allt er hannhafi *tt22 Itlandi. Var Gormr konungr heygr at fornum si.

18thus BC1, A.19thus B, konung r lengi sian ar A, ar sidan lengi C1.20thus BD1, holldsetu A, holltzetalandz C1.21thus BC1D1, knuti fostra sinumsva mikit A.22thus BC1, haft A.

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CHAPTER 62

Kntr konungr lt stefna ing fio lmennt. v ingi lsti hann fyrir aluat ann mann innlenzkan ea tlenzkan er honum kunni satt at segia umtterni sitt skyldi hann gera auigan ok rkan. etta spuriz va um lo nd.

Sv er sagt at einu kveldi komu til hirar Knts konungs tveir saxneskirmenn. En er eir nu at tala vi konung, mlti s er fyrir eim var: Er at me sannindum, herra, at r hafi heitit eim manni miklu rki er rkynni at segia tt na? Konungr segir at at var satt ok sr um at at skalhann vel efna. Gestrinn mlti: Skulu enna kost iafnt eiga rlar semfrilsir menn? Konungr segir at at skal allt at einu. mlti gestrinn:at er r, konungr, fyrst at segia, at ek ok essi minn fo runautr erum

rlar iarls eins Saxlandi, en vit kunnum sannliga at segia r tt na. Armfermir iarl r fyrir Hollsetulandi. Vru vit rlar hans ok trnaarmenn. En sv bar til at iarl gat barn vi systur sinni ok var vleynt ar til er hn fddi barnit. San var barnit sveipat silkidkum okkntt tan at lndki ok ar knttir rr gullhringar. San var sveinn sfenginn hendr okkr at vit skyldim tna. En vit frum skginn Myrkviok brum barnit langt skginn ok lo gum nir undir viarrtr. Gengumfr san. So gu essir menn o ll so nn merki til hvar eir ho fu barninukomit, sv at hinir rlarnir ko nnuuz vi, er sveininn ho fu fundit. Kntrkonungr gaf enum saxneskum rlum at leysa sik me til frelsis. Ba san koma til sn. eir geru sv. En er eir kmu o ru sinni aptr tilKnts konungs, gaf hann frelsi snum rlum, eim er hann ho fufundit. Gaf hann hvrumtveggium leysingiunum iarldma ok geri

alla rka menn, sem hann hafi heitit. aan af var hann kallar rla-Kntr. Hann tti son ok lt kalla Gorm eptir fstra snum. (39)rla-Kntr r ekki lengi rki ok var hann frgr konungr. Eptir at

var til konungs tekinn Gormr son hans. Helt hann rki af sonum Ragnarslobrkar ok var mest krleikum vi Sigur orm auga. Hann fstraison Sigurar ok Bliu dttur Ellu konungs. Gormr is ann svein vatniok gaf nafn ok kallai hann eptir Knti fer snum. S var san kallarHo ra-Kntr, vat ar heitir *Ho r Itlandi23 sem hann var fddr. (40)

CHAPTER 63

Synir Ragnars lobrkar vru hermenn miklir. eir hefndu fo ur sns okdrpu Ellu konung Englandi. Geriz varr enn beinlausi konungr yfir

23thusBC1D1,2, hor da lan di A.

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eim hluta Englands er r ho fu tt hans ttmenn ok frndr. Hann ikrki sitt marga vega. Hann lt drepa hinn heilaga Eatmund konung oklagi undir sik rki hans.

Sv er sagt at Lobrkarsynir hafi rekit mestan herna forneskiu umo ll essi lo nd: England, Valland, Frakkland, Saxland ok allt t um*Lumbari.24 Sv kmu eir fremst at eir unnu borg er Lna *heitir.25Ok um hr tluu eir at vinna Rmaborg. En er eir kmu aptr * rkisitt, 26 skiptu eir *rkinu me sr.27 Tk Bio rn irnsa Uppsalarki,Svi alla ok hvrttveggia Gautland ok o ll au lo nd er ar liggia til.Sigurr ormr auga hafi *Eygotaland28 ok allar eyiar, Skni ok Halland.Hvtserkr hafi Reigotaland ok ar me Vinland.

Sigurr ormr auga tti Bliu dttur Ellu konungs. eira son var Ho ra-

Kntr, sem fyrr er ritat. Ho

ra-Kntr var konungr Danmo

rk eptir Sigurfo ur sinn Selundi ok Skni. er Ho ra-Kntr var fullti at aldri ok kvngar, gat hann son vi

konu sinni. ann lt hann heita Gorm eptir Gormi fstra snum, syni Kntshins fundna. Gormr son rla-Knts hafi verit allrkr konungr, vathann helt alla Danmo rk af Ragnarssonum er eir vru hernai. erGormr son Ho ra-Knts x upp var hann allra manna frastr snum eiraer menn ho fu st ann tma. Hann var mikill mar ok sterkr ok hinnmesti atgervimar um alla hluti. En ekki var hann kallar vitr mar eptir v sem verit ho fu hinir fyrri frndr hans. (41)

er Gormr var roskinn mar at aldri fekk hann konu eirar er yri ht.Hn var dttir Haralds iarls af Itlandi, er kallar var Klakk-Haraldr. yrivar kvenna frust ok vitrust. Ok at er mlt at hn hafi verit mestr sko rungraf konum Norrlo ndum. Hn var ko llut yri Danmarkarbt. Klakk-Haraldr iarl var kallar vitrastr eira manna er vru Danmo rk. Ensan er Gormr tk konungdm ok rki eptir Ho ra-Knt fo ur sinn, hltti hann mio k rum Haralds iarls mgs sns ok yri konu sinnar. (42)

Gormr konungr fr me her sinn at rki *Danmarkar er var kallat29Reigotaland, en n er kallat Itland, hendr eim konungi er r arfyrir. S var nefndr Gnpa. eir ttu saman no kkurar orrostur. En sv laukat Gormr felldi ann konung ok eignaiz allt hans rki. v nst fr Gormr

24thus C1, lungbar iAD1,2, lunbardi B.25thus B, het AC1.26thus BC1, A.27thusB, me ser iki sino A, med ser rikinu C128thus BC1, egipta lan d (! ) A.29thus BC1 (Danmarkar] danmerkr C1), idanmr k er kallat er A.

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hendr eim konungi er Silfraskalli var kallar ok tti vi hann fri okorrostur, ok hafi Gormr konungr iafnan sigr, ok um sir felldi hann annkonung. Eptir at gekk hann upp Itland ok fr sv herskildi, at hanneyddi o llum konungum allt sur til Sls, ok sv vann hann rki mikit Vinlandi. Margar orrostur tti *hann30 vi Saxa ok geriz enn rkastikonungr. (43)

Gormr konungr gat tv sonu vi konu sinni yri. Ht hinn ellri Kntr,en hinn yngri Haraldr. Kntr Gormsson var allra manna frastr ok fegrstrsnum er menn hafi st. Hann var ok *sv31 okkasll, fyrst at upphafi, atkonungr unni honum umfram alla menn, ok ar me var hann *sv32skapfelldr o llu landsflkinu, at hvert barn unni honum. Hann var kallarKntr Danast. Haraldr var lkr murfrndum snum. yri mir hans

unni honum eigi minna en Knti. (44)

CHAPTER 64

varr enn beinlausi var konungr Englandi langa fi. Hann tti ekki barn, vat sv segiz at hann hefi til ess enga fst n eli, en eigi skorti hannspek n grimm. Hann var ellidaur ar Englandi ok var ar heygr. vru dauir allir Lobrkarsynir. (45) Eptir at tk konungdm Englandi Aalmundr Ithgeirsson, brurson Eatmundar hins helga, okkristnai hann va England ok tk skatt af Norimbralandi, er heiit var.Eptir hann *var33 konungr Aalbrikt. Hann var gr konungr ok vargamall. (46)

hans do gum ofarliga kom Danaherr til Englands, ok vru eir brrho fingiar fyrir liinu, synir Gorms hins gamla, Kntr ok Haraldr. eirheriuu va um Norimbraland ok lo gu undir sik margt flk. To lu eir at arftekiulo nd sn er tt ho fu Lobrkarsynir ok *r34 arir margir eira forellrar. Aalbrikt konungr hafi lisamna mikinn ok fr mti eim. Hann hitti fyrir noran Kliflo nd ok drap af Do num margt*manna.35 No kkuru sar gengu Gormssynir upp vi Skaraborg ok bo ruz, ok ar ho fu Danir sigr. Eptir at fru eir sur me landi oktluu til Irvkr. Gekk ar undir allt flk. Uggu eir ekki at sr. (47)

30thus BC1, Gormr A.31thus BC1, A.32thus BC1, A.33thus BC1D1, var AD2.34thus BC1D1 (after arir B,after margir C1, ok adr mar gir adrir D1), A 35thus BC1, nor manna A.

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Einn dag var skin heitt, ok fru menn sund milli skipanna. En erkonungar vru sundinu, hlipu menn af landi ofan ok skutu .*Var 36 Kntr lostinn o ru til bana. eir tku lkit ok fluttu t skip. Ener etta spuru landsmenn, drz egar herr mikill saman. Ok v nstkom Aalbrikt konungr, ok sneriz til hans allt at flk sem r hafigengit undir Dani. San nu Danir hvergi landgo ngu fyrir samnailandsmanna. Fru Danir brott ok heim til Danmerkr. (48)

Gormr konungr var staddr Itlandi. Haraldr fr egar hans fund*ok37 sagi mur sinni tendin. Gormr konungr hafi ess heit strengtat hann skyldi deyia ef hann spyri frfall Knts sonar sns, ok sv s erhonum segi daua hans. lt yri tialda ho llina grm vamlum. En erkonungr kom til bors, * o gu allir38 eir er inni vru. mlti

konungr: Hv egia hr allir menn? Eru no

kkur tendi at segia? svarar*drottning:39 r, herra, ttu hauka tv; var annarr hvtr, en annarr grr.Hinn hvti haukrinn hefir flogit langt eyimo rk. Ok er hann sat trno kkuru, kmu margar krkur ok plokkuu hann sv at *allar fiarar eruaf honum,40 ok er n *ntr fuglinn.41 En hinn gri *haukr42 er aptr kominn,ok mun hann n drepa fugla til bors yr. mlti konungr: Sv drpirn Danmo rk sem daur s Kntr son minn. svarai drottning; So nnmunu essi tendi *er43 r segi, herra. So nnuu at allir eir erinni vru. (49)

ann sama dag tk Gormr konungr stt ok andaiz annan dag atiafnlenginni. hafi hann verit konungr tu tigi vetra. Haugr mikill varorpinn eptir Gorm konung. var tekinn til konungs yfir Danaveldi Haraldrson hans, ok var hann lengi konungr san. (50)

CHAPTER 65 (51)

Hlo ver keisari Hlo versson, sonarson Karlamagnsar, rkti me brrumsnum, sem fyrr er ritat, *sextn r ok tuttugu.44 (52) Eptir at rkti Karlson hans ellefu r me brrum snum tveim; ht annarr Karlmannus,

36thus BC1, a var AD1.37thus BC1D1, en A.38thus BC1, o gu allir menn AD1.39thus BC1D1, drotnin gin A.40thusBC1D1 (fiadra r allar D1), af honu m ero allar fiarar A.41thus BC1D1, fuglinn v nyttr A.42thus A, haukrinn BC1, fvglnn D1.43thus BC1D1, sem A.44writtenxvi. r ok xx. B, .xxx. (+ ok D1,2) .vi. r AD1,2, tolf arok tuttugv C1.

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en annarr Hlo ver. (53) ann tma byggiz sland. r fyrir Danmo rkGormr enn gamli, en Haraldr enn hrfagri *fyrir45 Nregi. (54)

Eptir Karl Hlo versson rkti Arnaldus son Karlmanni tlf r, Hlo verson Arnoldi tlf r, Konrr Konrsson siau r. Hann var fyrstr keisari eira manna er eigi vru at langfegatali komnir fr Karlamagnsi. EptirKonr rkti Heinrekr tin r, Ott hinn mikli keisari *ritigi ra oktta46 r, Ott hinn raui son hans nu r, Ott hinn ungi son Otthins raua tin r. ann tma var Haraldr Gormsson konungr at Danmo rkok Nregi, ok Hkon Hlaaiarl helt af honum rki Nregi, sem fyrr ersagt. Var vintta eira g; sendi Hkon iarl Haraldi konungi einusumri sex tigi hauka, [. . .] (55)

CHAPTER 66 (56)132.1115 Ott keisari er hinn ungi var kallar strengi ess heit at hann skyldi snaDo num til rttrar trar ef hann mtti, ella skyldi hann fara me allan sinnstyrk ok afla * Danmo rk47 ri sumur samt *ok eya ar allt,48 ef hann*fengi49 eigi kristnat fyrr.50 Eptir essa heitstrenging sendi hann [. . .] (57)

133.11134.15 Grir konungr bert at hann tlai at halda her eim til mts vi Ottkeisara.

CHAPTER 67Ott keisari dr her saman um vrit Saxlandi. Hann hafi mikit li okfrtt. Helt hann til Danmerkr um sumarit. Funduz eir Haraldr konungr skipum. eir lo gu egar til orrostu ok bo ruz allan ann dag til ntr. arfell fio li lis af hvrumtveggium ok fleira af keisaranum. En er nttatk settu eir riggia ntta gri til ragerar ok virbnaar hvrum-tveggium. En er rir ntr vru linar, *51 gengu land hvrirtveggiu

45thus BC1D2, AD1.46thus C1, .xxx.viij. A, xxxra ok v B, xxx.okviij (atta D2) D1,2.47thusBC1, A.Different text inD1,2.48thus B, med her ok eyda ar allt C1, A.Different text inD1,2.49

thus BC1D

1,2, giti A.50fyrr] + ok her ia ar A.

51thus BC1, AD1,2.

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ok bio gguz til bardaga. Gengu san saman fylkingar ok var hin harastaskn. Veitti keisaranum ungt ok fell miklu fleira hans li. Ok er leidaginn brast fltti li hans, ok flu eir til skipa sinna.

Sv er sagt at Ott keisari sat hesti um daginn ok bariz allfrknliga.En er meginherrinn tk at flia, rei hann ok undan til skipanna. Hannhafi hendi mikit spit gullrekit ok alblugt upp at ho ndum. Hann settispitit siinn fram fyrir sik ok mlti htt: v skt ek, sagi hann, tilallsvaldanda gus, at annan tma er ek kem til Danmerkr skal ek getakristnat land etta ea lta lfit *ella52 ok liggia hr daur Danaveldi.

Ott keisari *st53 skip sn me sitt li ok fr heim til Saxlands oksat ar um vetrinn. (58) En Hkon iarl var eptir me Danakonungi okho fu eir mikla rager. Ltu eir efla at niu *Danavirki.54 (59)

CHAPTER 68

135.2135.10 [. . .] Flutti keisarinn allan ann her t Danmo rk.

er keisarinn spuri at Hkon iarl var Danmo rk ok tlai at beriaz mti honum me Haraldi konungi, sendi hann iarla sna tv; ht annarrUrguritr en annarr Brimisskiarr; eir skyldu fara *til Nregs55 me ritigi kugga hlana af mo nnum ok vpnum at kristna ar landit mean Hkon*iarl vri56 brottu.

CHAPTER 69

Hkon iarl hafi verit Danmo

rku me Haraldi konungi um vetrinn. En er eir spuru at Ott keisari var kominn Danmo rk me mikinn her, [. . .]

136.2123 Borgarhli var hveriu hundrai fama ok ar kastali yfir til varnar virkinu, vat brat var yfir dkit fyrir hveriu borgarhlii. [. . .] (60)

137.1213 Sneri keisarinn fr at sinni ok fr me sinn her til skipa sinna. [. . .]

52thus C1, ABD1,2.53thus BC1D1, steig AD2.54thus BC1D1,2, dana uelldiA.55thus BC1, Nreg AD2, j mot D1.56thus BC1D1,2, var A.

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CHAPTER 70 (61)

138.19142.14 [. . .] Eptir at helt lfr konungr skipunum sur me Danmo rk ok alltsur til Sls, vat hann spuri at ar var fyrir Ott keisari ok me honum*Brizlfr57 Vinakonungr, mgr lfs, ok at me at eir urftu lis vi.(62) En er lfr fann keisarann bau hann at veita honum li me allasna sveit. Keisarinn leit vi honum ok spuri hverr hann vri. Hannsvarai: vant er *nafn mitt58, herra. Ek heiti li. Keisarinn mlti: ert mikill mar ok hamingiusamligr, ok allir nir menn snaz mrfrknligir, ok vil ek sannliga iggia yra lisem.

Keisarinn tti *59 hsing vi rgiafa sna ok *alla60 ho fingia. Hann

sagi sv: Lti , gir ho

fingiar, ok gefi r til hveriar framferir*vr skulum hafa,61 vat oss er *vandi mikill62 til handa kominn, af vat allr essi hinn mikli herr er hr er saman kominn er mio k vistalauss, enDanir hafa kvikf sitt ok allt annat gz at er eir eiga flutt undan oss*angat63 landit sem eir ikkiaz helzt geyma mega fyrir vrum hernai,sv at essum megin Danavirkis m *ekki64 finnaz eira gz, at er tilmannfu megi hafa. Vr ho fum n tt hr no kkurar orrostur ok veitiross erfitt at vinna land etta. N gefi r til hveriu vr skulum fram fara,sv at vr haldim sm vrri. En er keisarinn htti at tala, o gu flestir,en eir sem svo ruu, so gu at tveir *vru65 kostir til: s annarr at hverfafr ok fara heim rki sitt, ea66 drepa fararskita sna til virlifnaarflkinu. Keisarinn svarai: essum rum liggia strir meinbugir, vat at er hit mesta kristnispell skrum mo nnum at eta hross, eim er o ruvssmega lengia lf sitt. En ef vr gefum n upp str etta, at sinni, ok fo rumheim rki vrt, kann ek at si, at aldri fm vr annan tma meira herea frara at vinna Danaveldi. En mr silfum hin mesta sm okhfa at naz tr minni, vat ek hefi v heitit gui upp tr mna atek skal essu sinni annathvrt f kristnat Danmo rk ea deyia hr ella.

57thus C1D1,2, bor izlafr A, bur izleifr B.58thus BC1D1,2, mtt nafn A.59thus BC1D1,2, A.60thus BC1D1, ara A, D2,61thus BC1D1,2, hafa ska l A.62thus BC1D1, mikill vandi AD2.63thus C1D1,2, after flutt A.Reworded inB.64thus BC1D1,2, eigi A.65thus BC1D1,2, vr i A.66ea] + at A.

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Fyrir v vil ek hvrtveggia etta r nta. En heyra vilium vr hvat hinnnkomni ho fingi, li, leggr til. li svarai: at ferr saman um hagimna, herra, sem eigi er hentaz. Ek *em67 ragerarmar ltill, en ek hefi sv mikinn metna rum mnum, at ek mun hr leggia til me o lluekki, tan r, herra, ok allir yrir rgiafar heiti v at hafa at ok haldaer ek legg til. Keisarinn itar v, ok allir eir htu at hafa at r sem lilegi til. mlti li: at er mitt hit fyrsta r, at r leiti angat fulltingssem ngt er til *ok heiti hifnakonung68 at allr herrinn fasti sex dgr til ess at s gu er alla hluti hefir skapat gefi oss at sigraz Do num ok ltayr fram koma snu rendi, v sem r fari me. v nst vil ek at allrherrinn fari skg ann er nstr er Danavirki, ok skal hverr mar ho ggva*sr69 limbyri ok bera undir virkit, ok sim san hvat tiltkiligast

ikkir.N var gr rmr go rr at v er li mlti, ok lofai allr herrinn essarager. Ok um morgininn snimma fru menn skg ok bru viinn atvirkinu s um kveldit. En hinn nsta dag eptir geri li at r, at eirtku vatskero ld o ll au er eir fengu ok fylldu upp af spnum ok bru tio ru, gru san til *valslo ngur.70 (63) En hvat sem eir ho fuz annat at, lt li suman herinn skia at virkinu sem eir kmuz vi me skotumok griti. En eir mttu ekki *ganga71 at virkinu um daga, vat Hkoniarl hafi sett fio la manns alla kastala, r hann fr fr, at veria borgina,ef enn kynni herr at *at72 koma.

Um kveldit s slgu keisarans menn eldi vatskero ldin, eptir tilskipanla, ok slngu at virkinu. Lk eldrinn skitt tio rgaa spnu kero ldunum.En er loganum sl t um kero ldin, festi brtt liminu er eir ho fu boritundir virkit. Verit hafi verit um daginn kyrrt ok biart. En um kvelditgeri sunnanvind hvassan ok urran ok tk at styrma sv sem nttai.N sem limit tk at loga, en stormrinn st at borginni, festi eldinn brtt ko stulunum, er af tr vru grvir, ok sv var *ok73va borgar-veggrinn af vium. Var eldsgangrinn sv mikill at hvat logai af o ru,sv at um morgininn eptir s engi lkindi Danavirkis nema gritit. [. . .]

67thus C1, er ABD1,2.68thus B, ok heitid a him na gud C1, A.Different text inD1,2.69thus BC1D1,2, A.70thus BD1,2, vgir e. slaungur A, or vagsi slongur C1.71

thus BC1D

1,2, skia A.72thus C1D1,2, AB.

73thus BC1D2, A. ok vium] veggrnir D1.

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142.15143.2 Var hermo nnum eigi lengi vistaskortr, vat ar var ngt bf Dana tilstrandho ggva. En er Haraldr Danakonungr spuri at Danavirki var brenntok Ott keisari kominn Itland me allmikinn her, [. . .]

143.8144.3 Popp ht byskup s er var me keisaranum. Hann tali tr fyrir Haraldikonungi ok sagi mo rg strtkn almttigs gus. En er byskup hafi talatgus erendi bi langt ok sniallt, svarai Haraldr konungr sv: Traurer ek at fyrirlta ann trna sem ek hefi haft ok haldit alla fi ok mnirfrndr ok forellrar fyrir mr, sv at ekki fyrirlt ek hann fyrir or yurein saman, at r tali fagrt ok mikliga, tan r sni ar me opinbertkn, sv at eigi megi vi dyliaz at yr tra s betri ok rttari en vr tra.Popp byskup lt leggia *glandi74 irnsl hgri ho nd sr ok bar nufet, sv at allir s. [. . .] (64)

144.35 Haraldi konungi tti mikils um vert er hann s etta. Tk hann tr okvar skrr ok allr hans herr. [. . .]

144.16145.6 Keisaranum tti ragerin la vel hafa gefiz ok spuri enn la hveriulandi hann vri fingi ea hver tt hans vri. li svarar: Ekki skal ndyliaz lengr fyrir yr, herra. Ek heiti lfr. Ek er norrnn at tt. Tryggvi

konungr lfsson var fair minn. Keisarinn svarar: Heyrt hefi ek getitfo ur ns, en n meir. N vil ek at farir me mr til Saxlands, ok skalek gera ik mikinn ho fingia mnu rki. li svarar: *Hafi75 r o kkfyrir bo yvart, en ek hefi rki no kkut Vinlandi ok ver ek ess atgeyma, en giarna vil ek vera vin yvarr. Keisarinn sagi at sv *skyldi76vera. [. . .] (65)

CHAPTER 72

147.516 er Hkon iarl fr austan um Gautland me herskildi spuru iarlar

74thus BC1D1,2, logandi A.75thus BC1D1,2, hafit A.76thus BC1D1,2, ska l A.

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keisarans, Urguritr ok Brimisskiarr, til fera hans ok allar tiltekiur. eirvru Vkinni ok ho fu kristnat alla Vkina *norr77 til Landisness.eim tti ekki frivnligt a ba ar Hkonar iarls, ef landsherrin slgiz mti eim me honum. Flu eir brottu me o ll skip sn, au er eirho fu angat haft ok tta78 o nnur.

er Hkon iarl kom Vkina, var hann brtt *vss79 hvat iarlarnirho fu ar at hafz, at eir ho fu brotit hof, en kristnat flk allt, at er eirmttu v vi koma. Lt Hkon gera upp hof o ll, au er nir vru brotin, ok sendi bo um alla Vkina, at engum manni skyldi hla at halda eim trnai er iarlar ho fu boit. [. . .]

147.1719

Settiz hann fyrst um kyrrt. R hann n einn o llum Nregi ok galtaldregi san skatt Danakonungi. Var hann san at o llu verri ok heinarien r hann var skrr.

CHAPTER 84

172.14177.11[. . .] ok er sv sagt at Plnatki veitti honum au sr. Plnatki var sonPlnis Tkasonar ok Ingibiargar dttur ttars iarls af Gautlandi. Ho fu eir frndr, Plnatki ok hans forellrar, rit fyrir Fini langa fi. En erPlnatki geriz landvarnarmar Brizlfs konungs Vinlandi okho fingi Imsvkinga, setti hann *son sinn80 er ki ht til forra

Fini. Hann var iafnaldri Sveins sonar Haralds konungs. Vru eirfstbrr mean eir xu upp bir samt Fini me Plnatka. Mir ka var lo f dttir Stefnis er iarl var Bretlandi.

ann tma r fyrir Skney Danmo rku Haraldr iarl er kallar varStrt-Haraldr. Synir hans vru eir Sigvaldi, Hemingr ok orkell hinnhfi. Sigvaldi var hr mar vexti, langleitr andliti, bignefiar, fo lleitrok eygr vel. orkell var manna hstr, frr snum ok rammr at afli. Tfaht dttir Haralds iarls.

r fyrir Borgundarhlmi s ho fingi er ht Vseti. Kona hans htHildigunnr. eira synir vru eir Bi *hinn81 digri ok Sigurr er kallar

77thus BC1D2, alt A, ok nordr D1.78tta] + skip A.79thus BC1D1,2, var rA.80thus C1, .j. A.Lacuna inBD1, different text inD2.81thus C1, A.

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var kpa. Dttir Vseta ht rgunna. Hn var gipt ka Fini. eira sonht Vagn. Hann var snemmendis bi mikill ok styrkr, frr snum, heldrdll sku ok hinn mesti ofrhugi er hann roskaiz. Bi murbrirhans var ekki frr snum, eirinn skapi, bi var hann hr ok digr oksv styrkr at menn vissu eigi at honum yri no kkut sinn aflftt. Sigurrkpa, brir hans, var vnn sinu, fmlugr ok stilltr vel, en o ruggr athug. Hann tti Tfu dttur Strt-Haralds iarls af Skney.

essir allir hinir ungu menn sem n var fr sagt, synir Strt-Haralds oksynir Vseta r Borgundarhlmi ok Vagn kason, vru komnir tilImsborgar Vinlandi r en Plnatki var andar ok ho fu gengit undirlo g Imsvkinga, au er Plnatki hafi sett. Ok eigi miklu sar tkPlnatki stt er hann leiddi til bana. Var Sigvaldi, son Strt-Haralds,

settr ho

fingi yfir Imsvkinga. Lei eigi langt r af var gengit lo

gum eira mo rgu lagi, sv at vru konur lo ngum borginni, sv ok uruverkar ea vg innan borgar me silfum Imsvkingum ok margar ararlo gleysur. (66)

v nst geri Sigvaldi iarl heimanfer sna af Imsborg upp Vinland fund Brizlfs konungs. Brizlfr konungr tti tvr dtr lfi; hto nnur strr, en o nnur Gunnhildr. Hin riia hans dttir, at vrio ndu, var Geira drttning er tti lfr konungr Tryggvason. strr varfr snum ok kvenna vitrust. Sigvaldi hafi eigi lengi dvaliz me konungir hann hafi fram sn erendi ok sagi sv: at er yr kunnigt, herra, atvr ho fum dvaliz um hr hr landi yr til frelsis ok yru landsflki, vat vr Imsvkingar ok borg vr hefir verit langan tma sv sem lssfyrir yru rki. En vr ho fum fyrirltit rki vrt ok eignir Danmo rk. Nyr satt at segia vil ek eigi slkt lengr til ltils vinna. v eru tveir kostir tilaf minni hendi, at gipt mr stri dttur na, ella munu vr allirImsvkingar fara brott r borginni heim Danmo rk ok geyma eigna vrra.Konungr svarai: at er mr ok mnu rki mio k skaaligt at r eyiImsborg. En dttir mn, strr, er hin vitrasta til allra ragra. Fyrir v mun ek mest hafa hennar tillo g hr um, at ek hefi tlat at giptahana enn tignara manni fyrir nafns sakir heldr en ert. Tk konungr tal vi stri ok sagi henni ru eira Sigvalda. Tala au lengi ettaml tvau samt. Segir hn sv at hn vildi fyrir hvern mun eigi vera giptSigvalda. En fyrir nausynia sakir fo ur sns vill hn at honum s eigi frvsat me eim skildaga sem au gera r um, heldr en eir gefi upp borgina ok alla landvo rn. Var Sigvaldi til kallar ok segir konungr svtil hans:

at er rager vr at gipta r dttur mna, stri, ef vill sitia hrsem r me alla Imsvkinga til landvarnar. Ok ar me skaltu r en

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essi r *takiz82 koma af oss finliga skatti eim er vr eigum at gialdaDanakonungi. En at o rum kosti skaltu koma Sveini konungi vrt vald.

essu itar Sigvaldi ok ferr vi at heim Imsborg.

CHAPTER 85

Sveinn Haraldsson var tekinn til konungs Danmo rk eptir fo ur sinn. Frhann egar at veizlum yfir rki sitt. (67)

Sigvaldi bz n af Imsborg *ok ferr83 til Danmerkr. Hann hafi riskip ok hlft annat hundra manna. Lagi hann skip sn til lgis ar nrsem hann spuri at Sveinn konungr var veizlu me sex hundru manna.Sigvaldi lt tengia skip sn hvert fram af stafni annars. Hann lt skita

bryggiu land af v skipinu sem nst var landi, en kasta akkeri fyrir hinuyzta. San sendi hann menn konungs fund at Sigvaldi s sikr, sv athann s mio k sv kominn at bana. Ok at *skulu84 r segia me, sagihann, at ek bi hann koma til mn fyrir skyld, at ar liggr vi allt hansrki ok lf at vit finnimz r ek dey.

Sendimenn Sigvalda fara til biarins ok segia konungi allt sem eimvar boit. En Sigvaldi sagi mean eim mo nnum sem skipunum vruhversu eir skyldi breyta ef konungr kmi til eira, at egar er konungrkmi at skip er nst vri landi me ri tigi manna, skyldi kippa t eiri bryggiunni er land l. En er hann kmi miskipit me tuttugumenn, skyldi kippa af eiri bryggiunni er ar var meal skipanna. Enek mun hr liggia, segir Sigvaldi, hinu yzta skipinu, ok skal eiri bryggiuaf kippa er hann er hr kominn me tu menn, en san *skulu85 r

hafaz at slkt sem ek kann fyrir segia.egar er Sveinn konungr frtti sikleika iarls sv mikinn ok honumvru so g essi erendi o ll saman, br hann vi skitt ok fr til strandarme allt li sitt. Fr etta sv allt sem Sigvaldi hafi fyrir *mlt.86 En erSveinn konungr kom hit yzta skipit, spuri hann hvar iarl l. Honum varsagt at hann l ar lyptingunni. Tialdat var yfir lyptinguna; gekk konungr ar til ok lypti upp tialdinu ok frtti ef hann mtti mla. Hann svarar okheldr lgt, kvez mla mega, en vera mttltill. Konungr mlti: Hver eru au tindi er sendir mr or um at mr lgi allmikit vi at vita? Hannsvarar: Lt at mr meir, at megir skilia hvat ek segi, vat ek er

82thusC1, takaz A.83thusC1, A.84thusC1, skul ut A.85thusC1, skul ut A.86thusC1, sagt A.

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lgmltr. Konungr laut allt nir at honum. En iarl greip hann bumho ndum ok helt sem fastaz. Var hann * eigi87 allmttltill. San kallaiSigvaldi sna menn, ba ra t o llum skipunum sem kafaz, ok varsv gert. Reru eir brottu me Svein konung ok essa ritigi hans mannasem skipin ho fu gengit me honum, en allt annat hans li st eptir stro ndu, vat engi vru skip nlg.

mlti konungr: Hvat er n, Sigvaldi? Viltu svkia mik? Sigvaldisvarar: Eigi vil ek svkia ik, en fara hltr me mr til Imsborgar, enalla viring skal ek veita r ok num mo nnum sem ek kann. Muntu vita til hvers etta kemr. Konungr mlti: Sv mun n hlita vera at sinnisem vill.

Fara eir n ar til er eir koma til Imsborgar. mlti Sigvaldi til

konungs: N skaltu vera velkominn ok iggia veizlu er ek hefi ltit ba.Skal ek r ina me allri gvild ok allir mnir menn. Konungr svarar:at mun n lkaz, r v sem at ra er, at ekkiaz at er til smar ergert. N skal ek ok segia r, segir Sigvaldi, fyrir hveria so k ek hefi ik hingat flutt, at ek hefi tekiz at hendr fyrir vinttu sakir vi ik at biia til handa r Gunnhildar dttur Brizlfs konungs, eirar meyiar erek vissi vnasta ok bezt at sr um alla hluti, vat ek vildi eigi at misstir hins bezta kvnfangs. En mr er fo stnu o nnur dttir hans er strrheitir, ok er s frari ok at o llu minna httar sem vera tti. Hafi Sigvaldisv rit til sett, at Imsvkingar so nnuu etta me honum.

Ok enn sagi iarl til konungs: N er yr, herra, sv at hugsa yvart r,at essa kvnfangs munu r kost eiga, ef r vili at til vinna at gefaupp Vinum finliga skatta, sem eir eiga yr at gialda. En ef villeigi enna kost, mun ek f ik hendr Vinum. (68) Konungr ttizn si allt rit eira Brizlfs konungs ok Sigvalda. [. . .]

177.18 fekk Sigvaldi iarl strar. [. . .]

CHAPTER 86

178.514 [. . .] ess getr Biarni byskup Imsvkingadrpu, at eir fru til Danmerkr.Hann segir sv:

87thusC1, eigi a A.

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Heldu dreyrgra darraDanmarkar til styrkir, eim gafz rausn ok rki,riendr skipum san,ok aubrotar erfignrakkir ar drukku, eim fr ek msum aukazannir, fera sinna. (69)

178.25179.12 [. . .] Griz glei mikil ho llinni. mlti Sveinn konungr: N*eigu88 r Imsvkingar at leita yr gtis v meira sem r eru

nafnfrgari en flestir menn arir Norrlo

ndum. eir so

gu vst velfallit at lta eigi sv skitt nir falla glei er konungrinn hafi upphafit. (70) Sv segir Biarni byskup:

Enn vildu einkumo ldurmenn at skyldu,slkt eru yrkisefni,gtis sr leita,ok haukligast hefiaheitstrengingar gtu,eigi fr ek *at89 tao lteiti var ltil. (71)

179.1927 [. . .] Sv segir Biarni byskup:

Heitstrenging fr ek hefiaheiptmildan Sigvalda.Bi var o rr at aukarkinn *rek90 slkan.Htuz eir af hauriHkon reka, fkium*grimm91 var frknra fyrafin, ea lfi rna. (72)

88thusC1, eigit A.89thusC1, ri A.90thusC1, styr A.91thusC1, gra A.

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180.1117 [. . .] Sv segir orkell Gslason Badrpu:

Bru vali vka,vel fr ek eim lkaseggium *snarri,92sver ok herkli. (73)

at var nr vetrnttum. [. . .] (74)

CHAPTER 88

182.10183.2 [. . .] eir ho fu hvassan byr ok gengu skipin geyst. (75) Hr segir sv:

Kni hvasst hara,hlipu *marir93 bara,hregg hefils vo llum, humra fio llum.Bl *94 hro nn hlrum,hraut af brimdrum,kili skaut st alda,ur hin svikalda.

Ok enn:Bru raukn rastarekka gefasta, ro ng at rym randa,til rsis landa.Vi nam *vr95 mo rgum,vpn eru grimm to rgum,ntt gaf nest hro fnum,Nregr skipsto fnum.

92thusC1, snerreiiA.93thusC1, narir A.94thusC1, vo A.95thusC1, vii A.

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183.523 [. . .] Sv er sagt at eir hlipu upp Iari ilanttina. (76) S mar varnefndr Geirmundr er ar var fyrir me sveit manna. Hann var ungr okttar vel. eir svfu loptskemmu no kkurri. Imsvkingar lo gu atskemmunni ok *pu96 herp. Geirmundr ok hans flagar vo knuu vip ok vpnabrak, vissu at frir var. Geirmundr klddiz skitt. Hann sto kkofan r loptinu; at var heldr htt hlaup, en kom hann standandi nir.ar var nr staddr Vagn kason ok hi til hans. Kom ho ggit ho ndina oktk af fyrir ofan lfli. Komz hann vi at brottu. (77) Nimyrkr var .(78) Geirmundr nam staar er hann var skammt kominn fr bnum, vathann vildi vita hvat her etta var. (79) essar upprsar getr Imsvkinga-drpu:

Segia raura randareynendr flota snumilantt at IariImsvkingar kmi.Vru heldr haranherna firar giarnir;riendr buu rkirandorma Geirmundi. (80)

184.712 [. . .] Iarl mlti: Hvaan af vissir at ar s heldr Imsvkingar en arirmenn? Geirmundr svarar: v vissa ek at eir vru, at einn mar mlti

er ho

ndin var ho

ggvin af mr: Fnai r n, Vagn kason, vatgullhringr fylgi hreyfanum. Ok enn heyra ek nefndan Ba ok fleiriImsvkinga er ek nam sta skammt fr eim. [. . .] (81)

CHAPTER 90185.20186.8 [. . .] Sv segir Biarni byskup:

buu eir at mti eim er sunnan *kmu97til geirhrar *greppum98grla Nregs iarlar.

96thusC

1, pti A.97thusBC1, kv mi A.

98thusBC1, gre ipum A.

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ar var mestr mli,morremmandi, sko mmu,margr var at laufa leiki,landherr saman fundinn. (82)

186.1617 [. . .] ok s mar er ht rmr, mikill kappi. [. . .] (83)

186.20187.4 Sv segir Biarni byskup:

Ok ho

fingiar hraustirheyra menn at vru, at hefir i minnum, rr me flokki hvrum, ar er hreggviir hittuzhilmasks vum,fundr tti s fyrafrgr,99 Hio rungavgi. (84)

187.1424 v nst settu hvrirtveggiu upp merki sn, ok tkz hin grimmasta orrosta.(85) Gekk fyrstu grit ok o rvar. Sv segir Badrpu:

Herr bar htt merki, Hamis serkigrimmt kom l eggia,at *gekkz100 li seggia.Meiddu fio r flotna,flest var hlf brotna,glumu grir oddar,grit ok skotbroddar.

San hfz ho ggorrosta. [. . .] (86)

99frgr] + A.100thusBC1, gekk A.

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188.119 Hrutu fyrir bor margra manna ho fu ok arir afho ggnir limir, sem segir Badrpu:

Hrutu fyrir bor bi, brustu herkli,ho fu ok hendr manna,hr nam vargr kanna. (87)

Tveir menn eru nefndir, eir er fru me Imsvkingum r Danmo rk.eir vru fr v harfengir ok illir vireignar sem arir menn. Ht annarr eira Hvarr ho ggvandi, en annarr slkr hlmskalli; hann bitu eigi irn.

eir vru stafnbar Ba. (88) Bi var ok allstrho

ggr. Sv segir Biarni byskup:

Klauf me yggiar eldi*lmr Gull-Bi101 hilma;nir lt hann herarhringserkia bo l ganga.Hart r ho gg at straHvarr lii fyra,vir hefir illr at eiga slkr verit fkium. (89)

188.22189.18

[. . .]Lt Vagn undan sga , (90) en bariz hann me mikilli hreystiok allir hans menn ok drap margan mann. felldi hann rm, rkanmann ok mikinn kappa er var me Eirki. ess getr Biarni byskup:

Vagn hefir orit tumo rfengr at bo strangri;me fullhuga frknumfram *gingu102 vel drengir, ars Yggiar li ka sonr hinn rki brtt fr ek hann at hlihugprum rmi. (91)

101thusGKS 2367 4to, lmr gall Bi ABC1.102thus Konr Gslason 1877, 36 , gen gu GKS 2367 4to, A, gengu BC1.

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var hin kafasta skn um allan herinn, vat Imsvkingar hio ggu bi hart ok ttt. (92) Sv segir Badrpu:

Neytti herr handa,hr var sno rp branda,fst var fr randatil *fio rnis103 landa.Fellu fleinbo rvar,flugu af streng o rvar,sungu htt hio rvarvi hlfar go rvar.

190.10191.10

[. . .] Fellu allmio k menn Hkonar iarls, bi fyrir skotum ok griti.Sv segir Badrpu:

Gullu hrs haukar,hvassir benlaukarskfu lis leggi,lami grit seggi.Gnustu grir mlmar,gengu sundr hilmar,hauks varat frir fio llum fio rnis sto llum. (93)

En er Hkon iarl s fttaz liit skipum snum ok honum tti vnt at

hann mundi f hra hlut essum bardaga tk herr hans hvarvetna atlta undan sga , er sv sagt at hann hafi farit til lands ok bltat tilsigrs sr syni snum siau vetra go mlum er ht Erlingr. Hann var hit frastamannsefni. (94) Sv segir Imsvkingadrpu:

Hvarvitna fr ek ho la,herr gsti gn darra,fyrir hreggvium hio rvahrkkva, gunnar *ro kkum,104r o rva drfutum grimmr at blta,fram kom heipt en hara,Hkon syni tki. (95)

103thusBC1, fiolnis A.104thus C1, rekk vm A.

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191.18193.4 [. . .] en Bi gekk gegnum fylkingar. (96) ess getr Badrpu:

Ba fr ek greitt ganga,gladdiz105 svanr Hanga,vo k var go ll geira,gegnum li eira.

v nst kom Hkon iarl ofan af landi ok gekk t skip sitt. Eggiaihann fast li sitt, sagi eim rinn sigrinn. (97) geri l mikit okillviri mti Imsvkingum, (98) sem segir Imsvkingadrpu:

fr ek l hit illaaz Ho lgabrar;glumi hagl hilmumhara grimmt r norri, ars ormfrn augutum skiagriti, 106 ni ben blsa, bari hreggi keyru. (99)

Sv var haglit strt at hvert haglkornit v eyri. (100) Sv segir hr:

Hagl v hvert eyri,hraut lo g dreyri, bl *107 bens rumr bragna srum.ar fell valr va,v s gylld ra, bariz sveit snarla snekkium iarla.

ar me ttuz Imsvkingar si konu skipi Hkonar iarls, er rauf verit, ok sndiz eim sem o r flygi sem taz af hverium fingri hennar, enhver o rin var manns bani. (101) *ar er etta um kveit:108

105editors emendation ; gladdi ABC1.106thusGKS 2367 4toog A, vi B, a C1.107thus BC1, uo A.108thus BC1 (etta] at C1 ), A.

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rum r sr sno rpum,slkt er raun go rpum,flag hit forlitaaf fingrum skita.Geriz grimmt fkiumat gumnum rkium,gnr var hr hlfa,hregg ok loptdrfa.

193.89 [. . .] vat hann vissi eigi at Sigvaldi hafi hlaupit til ra. [. . .] (102)

193.1018 Sv segir Biarni byskup:

var o rfum meiri rekfo rluum iarli, braut fr ek hann at heldi,hugraun, flota snum.Snara ba segl vi hnaSigvaldi,109 byr *ko ldum110glumi hro nn hfum,hr fell bug va. (103)

193.20-194.4 [. . .] essir menn vru skipi Eirks iarls: orsteinn milangr. Hann varhinn mesti hermar. Hafi hann verit missttr vi Hkon iarl, en keyptisik n fri me essu, at hann veitti io rlum li me sna sveit. ar var okslenzkr mar er ht orleifr skma, son orkels hins auga r Alviru.Hann hafi ho ggvit sr rtakylfu mikla fyrir bardagann ok v me hennium daginn. ar var ok Vigfs Vga-Glmsson. Var hann allstyrkr mar.Vigfs s hvar slkr hlmskalli hi til beggia handa ok drap marganmann. Hann hafi enga hlf, vat ekki vpn festi honum. [. . .] (104)

194.617 Var at hans bani. eiri svipan bari orleifr skma Hvar ho ggvanda

109Sigvaldi] + i GKS 2367 4to.110thus BC1, klldu A.

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me kylfunni ar til er hann fell ok var mio k beinbrotinn. (105) *essa111getr alls saman Imsvkingadrpu:

ar lt Vigfs veravegrkinn slki, ann erat o rf at segia tt, helfarar veittar.orleifr of vann ykkva rekstrum Hvari,hart v hann me kylfu,ho ggrammr brotit leggi. (106)

194.23195.11[. . .] Sv segir Badrpu:

*St112 fyrir hf hestihrfs enn rekmestigir gunnskra,gladdiz nar sra.Nir kom *bens bra,113Bi nam sr hvra,fer hykk friar misstu,frkn ho nd kistu. (107)

Sumir menn segia at Sigmundr Brestisson tan af Freyium hafi verit essum bardaga me Hkoni iarli ok hafi ho ggvit bar hendr af Ba, er hann hafi r drepit orstein milang. Segia eir er at sanna at Bihafi stungi stfunum hringa kistnanna ok stigi sv fyrir bor me bar.[. . .] (108)

195.15196.1Var at lengi at eir nu ekki uppgo ngu skeiina. ess getr Imsvkinga-drpu:

111thus BC1, ess A.112thus BC1, Steig A.113emendation, presumably by Sveinbjrn Egilsson, seeSHII 206.16, Skjd B I 538;byrs bra A, bensara C1.

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Skei fr ek vst at veriVagn me sna egna;o ll vru eira unn skip hroin o nnur;upp ni ar eygi engils mar114 at ganga;ofan ru eir giaEirks menn at keyra. (109)

Vagn variz allfrknliga, hi til beggia handa ok drap margan mann,en var hann um sir ofrlii borinn. [. . .] (110)

196.214 Sv segir Badrpu:

Felldi Vagn vira,vali of ni stirahrafn enn hvassleiti,hrundi bor sveiti. r ess dla, rymr var hr stla,eyis unnglaEirkr skip hria. (111)

eir Vagn vru n bundnir allir er eir kmu land, me v mti at einnstrengr var snarar at ftum eim o llum, en hendr eira vru lausar. Stu eir allir samt einni lg. [. . .] (112)

196.1718 [. . .] ok san hvern at hendi. Sv er sagt at allir Imsvkingar mltihreystior r drepnir vri. [. . .] (113)

196.22197.7 ar vru drepnir tin Imsvkingar. (114) Sv segir:

114ni . . . mar A, nu . . . menn GKS 2367 4to, BC1.

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ar lt Eirkr o ndutin egar tna,heldr frgum verra, egna, li fyrir Vagni.Mltu hraustar hetiur,haukligt var at fkium, au hafa iir uppi, rttar or, me fyrum. (115)

En er tin vru drepnir [. . .] (116)

197.22

[. . .] Bio rn enn brezki [. . .] (117)

197.24199.2 ess getr Biarni byskup: (118)

Ok me fio rnis flufr rketill leira, er menbroti mltimanso ng um Gn hringa.Geriz hann at ho ggvahauklyndan son ka;Vagn gat heldr at hnum

heipto

rr vegit fyrri. (119)Eirkr gekk at Vagni ok spuri ef hann vildi iggia gri. Vil ek, segirhann, ef ek skal n at efna heitstrenging mna. (120) Sv segir Imsvkinga-drpu:

Viltu, kva hringa hreytirhyggiu gegn at Vagni,lsvellandi yvartYggiar lf of iggia?Eigi mun ek nema efna,ungr, at er heit nam strengia,sv kva Ullr at iarliegghrar, fio r iggia. (121)


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Eirkr iarl lt leysa alla r strengnum. (122) Vru tlf eptir af Imsvkingum, eir e gu gri me Vagni, (123) sem Biarni byskupsegir:

Gri lt o rr ok auraEirkr gefit strum,mio k leyfa at iir, egnum tlf me Vagni. (124)

200.59 [. . .] Sv segir Biarni byskup:

gekk Ullr at eigao rlyndr rymu randa,menn fstu ess, mta,margir, Ingibio rgu. (125)

200.1415 [. . .] me Ingibio rgu konu sna. Settiz hann at Fini ok var gtr ho fingi,ok er mart strmenni fr honum komit. Bio rn hinn brezki fr vestr tilBretlands ok settiz ar at eignum snum. (126)


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34 Notes

NOTES(1) The Arnulfus who is here said to have been first jarl in Saxland andlater archbishop in Mezborg is referred to in many sources; see, for ex-ample, Paulus Diaconus,Liber de episcopis Mettensibus (MGHSS II 264 65). His descendants down to Charlemagne are there traced in the sameway as in lTr, though it does not say there that Arnulfus had been jarl inSaxland. The same links are listed in the genealogy of the Carolingians(Domus Carolingicae genealogia , printed in MGHSS II 30809), in theLife of Louis the Pious (Thegani vita Hludowici imperatoris , Quellen V216.610), and in Annales Marbacenses in a passage which according tothe editor (Hermann Bloch, SrG 1907, 2) is taken fromDie Legende Karls

des Grossen . There and in the Life of Louis the Pious it says of Arnulfus thathe had been in iuventute dux (a duke in his youth), but nothing is saidof where he had beendux . There is a corresponding genealogy inVeraldar saga (VerJB 70.1115): eSir erv langfedgar Karls ins mikla keisara. Avrnolfr (Arnvlfvsin B-class manuscripts ) byskup heilagr af Mettis. Ansigivs hertogi. Pippinvs. Karolvs. hann var konvngr i Fracklandi. hansson var Pippinvs fadir Karlamagnvs keisara. This genealogy inVeraldar saga can hardly be derived from the same source as the text in lTr.

(2) Charlemagne was made king on 9 October 768 (ArF 2629), conse-crated emperor by Pope Leo on Christmas Day 801 (ArF 112), and died28 January 814, according to ArF in about the seventy-first year of his life(ArF 140: anno aetatis circiter septuagesimo primo). According to theaccount in lTr he was king for 34 years and emperor for 12, and thusking and emperor for 46 years altogether, while according to ArF andNithard ( Nithardi historiarum libri iv , Quellen V 386.2628) he was kingfor 32 years and emperor for 14; according to ArF king and emperor for46 years and 82 days altogether.

(3) In lTr the emperors in Constantinople are called stlkonungar (seealso lTrEA I 299, line 36 of the footnotes, I 300.3, II 308.12). The sametitle is used of them inVeraldar saga (VerJB 70.10) and other sources(Gering XVII 2). sgeir Blndal Magnsson (slensk orsifjabk 965)has pointed out that this title could be derived from Old Slavonicstolny knaz , which was used of the king in Kiev. The names of the emperors inConstantinople, Michael, Niceforus and Leo, could have been taken from,for example, ArF (136, 139et passim ), or from EinhardsVita Karoli Magni : Imperatores etiam Constantinopolitani, Niciforus, Michahel et


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Notes 35

Leo, ultro amicitiam et societatem eius expetentes / conplures ad eummisere legatos (Quellen V 186.68: The emperors in Constantinople,Niciforus, Michahel and Leo, who of their own accord sought his friend-ship and alliance, also sent very many ambassadors to him).

(4) Einhard mentions Queen Hildigardis inVita Karoli Magni (Quellen V188.16). Her name also appears in ArF and many later sources.

(5) Charlemagne had their son Hludowicus (778840; for some strangereason called Hlo ver in some medieval Icelandic sources, e.g.Resensbk (see note 36),Landnmabk and lTr, see Foote 1959a, 2728) crownedin 813, and so it is correct when lTr says that he ruled for 27 years. The

comment in lTr, he never played or laughed, probably originates in thelong adulatory description of him inThegani vita Hludowici . It says there:Nunquam in risum exaltavit vocem suam, nec quando in summisfestivitatibus ad laetitiam populi procedebant themilici, scurri et mimicum coraulis et chitaristis ad mensam coram eo, tunc ad mensuram ridebatpopulus coram eo, ille nunquam nec dentes candidos suos in risu ostendit(Quellen V 228.1216: He never burst out laughing, nor at the highestfestivals, when clowns, jesters and players came before his table for theentertainment of the people, together with pipe- and harp-players, and thepeople around him laughed proportionately, he never even revealed thewhiteness of his teeth in a smile). InVeraldar sagahe is described likethis: Eptir hann var sonr hans Lvdovicvs keisari .vii. ar ok .xx. hann hloalldregi at vi er sagt er (VerJB 71.68). The original source is the sameas in lTr, but inVeraldar saga a different translation has been used.

(6) In lTr the Latin form of the name Godefridus has been kept, but thisking was presumably called Gofrr or Gufrr, cf. the text further onat 6.27. He is called rex Danorum (king of the Danes) in ArF 118 andmany other sources, but in lTr and following the same source in AnnStormhis rule is limited to Jutland. The rest of what is said of him in lTr ac-cords for the most part with ArF, which has under the year 808: Godofridusvero priusquam reverteretur, distructo emporio, quod in oceani litoreconstitutum lingua Danorum Reric dicebatur [. . .] (ArF 126: ButGodofridus, before he returned, destroyed a trading-place that had beenestablished on the coast and in the language of the Danes was called Reric).This place, said to have been called Reric by the Danes, has not beenidentified. A little further on, under the year 809, we read: [. . .] Thrascodux Abodritorum in emporio Reric ab hominibus Godofridi per dolum


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36 Notes

interfectus est (ArF 129: Thrasco, the leader of the Abroditi, was treach-erously killed by Godofridus men in the trading-place Reric). The personwho first wrote down the account that the compiler of lTr used hasconflated these two passages into one and misunderstood the place-nameReric, not surprisingly, and invented out of it a Hrrekr lord of the Frisians.Finally, it is said in ArF that the emperor discovered in 810 that Gufrrhad taken tribute from the Frisians (ArF 131: [. . .] vectigalis nominecentum libras argenti a Frisionibus iam esse solutas [. . .], that a hundredpounds in silver had alread been paid by the Frisians as tribute). What issaid in early Icelandic annals about drp Hrreks Frsaho fingja okGufrar Jtakonungs (810 in Resens annll, Forni annll, Flateyjarannll and Gottsklks annll, but 809 in Oddverja annll) is derived from

the same source as was used by the compiler of lTr.(7) In ArF there is an account of Charlemagnes expedition againstGufrr in 810 which says that while he was waiting with his army, helearned that Gufrrs fleet had returned home: Nam et classem, quaeFrisiam vastabat, domum regressam et Godofridum regem a quodam suosatellite interfectum, [. . .] (ArF 131: [It was reported] that the fleet whichhad been ravaging Frisia had returned home and that King Godofridushad been killed by one of his men).

(8) In ArF Gufrrs nephew Hemingr is mentioned under the year 810:Godofrido Danorum rege mortuo Hemmingus filius fratris eius in regnumsuccessit ac pacem cum imperatore fecit (ArF 133: After the death of Godofridus, king of the Danes, his brothers son Hemmingus succeededto his throne and made peace with the emperor).

(9) What is said here agrees with the account of the peace made betweenHemingr and Charlemagne in ArF under the year 811, though that accountis not included in its entirety in lTr, which only says that they met by theRiver Eider that year and made peace. In ArF there is the following ac-count of the peace: Condicta inter imperatorem et Hemmingum Danorumregem pax propter hiemis asperitatem, quae inter partes commeandi viamclaudebat, in armis tantum iurata servatur, donec redeunte veris temperieet apertis viis, quae immanitate frigoris clausae fuerunt, congredientibusex utraque parte utriusque gentis, Francorum scilicet et Danorum, XIIprimoribus super fluvium Egidoram in loco, qui vocatur *Heiligen,1 datisvicissim secundum ritum ac morem suum sacramentis pax confirmatur

1 The A- og B-manuscripts of ArF have a blank for this name.


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Notes 37

(ArF 134: The peace agreed between the emperor and Hemmingus kingof the Danes was only sworn on arms because of the harshness of thewinter which closed the road communicating between the parties until,with the return of the warmer weather of spring, the roads were openedwhich had been closed by the fierceness of winter and twelve leading menfrom each side and of each nation, that is the Franks and Danes, met to-gether on the River Eider at a place called Heiligen and exchanged oathseach in accordance with their own rites and customs to confirm the peace). After this there is a list of the names of the leading men of the Franks andDanes who made the peace, which includes two brothers of Hemmingus,Hancwin et Angandeo, whose names were presumably Hkon and Angantr.

(10) ArF, under the year 812: Nec multo post Hemmingus Danorum rexdefunctus nuntiatur (ArF 136: Not long afterwards the news came thatHemmingus king of the Danes had died). Even though it is not abso-lutely certain, because of the imprecise wording of ArF (Nec multo post,literally not much later), which year Hemingr died, the writer of thesource used by the compiler of lTr has noted that his death is recordedunder the year 812 in ArF.

(11) The kings whose names are given as Sigfrr and Hringr anulo inlTr are in ArF called Sigifridus and Anulo and this is said of them underthe year 812: Cui (i. e. Hemmingo) cum Sigifridus nepos Godofridi regiset Anulo nepos Herioldi, et ipsius regis, succedere voluissent neque intereos, uter regnare deberet, convenire potuisset, comparatis copiis etcommisso preolio ambo moriuntur. Pars tamen Anulonis adepta victoriamfratres eius Herioldum et Reginfridum reges sibi constituit; quam neces-sario pars victa secuta eosdem sibi regnare non abnuit. In eo proelioX _

DCCCCXL viri cecidisse narrantur (ArF 136: Since Sigifridus, kins-man (nephew?) of King Godofridus, and Anulo, kinsman (nephew?) of Herioldus and of the king himself (i. e. Hemmingus), both wanted tosucceed him, and could not agree between themselves which was to rule,they mustered troops, fought a battle and were both killed. But Anulosside won the victory and made his brothers Herioldus and Reginfridustheir kings. The defeated side had no alternative but to go along with therest and did not reject these as their rulers. In this battle it is said that tenthousand nine hundred and forty men fell).

Anulo is a problematical name for a Danish king. According to GustavStorm, Anulo var et almindeligt frankisk Navn [. . .] og ganske svarer tildet nordiske Aale (tidligere Anli, opr. Anala) (Storm 1878, footnote 39).


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If this is correct, the writer of ArF would have regarded li as the samename as Anulo. If the compiler of the source that underlies lTr regarded Anulo in ArF as a surname (nominativeo n- stem), it is easy to see why heshould have called him Hringr, but odd that he should still let him keephis Latin name as a surname. He must have been good enough at Latin toknow that the Latin cognomen was often ano n- stem, though the corre-sponding common noun and adjective followed the first or second declen-sion.2 Herioldus descent is not given in ArF. The number of those said tohave fallen in the battle in lTr corresponds exactly with that in ArF.

(12) In ArF, under the year 812, Herioldus (Haraldr) and Reginfridus(Ragnfrr) are said to have been Anulos brothers, but this is not stated in

lTr. In the last part of the annal for 812 it says that Haraldr and Ragnfrrsent to Charlemagne to ask for peace and requested the release of their brother Hemmingus, who was apparently being held hostage by the emperor:Harioldus et Reginfridus reges Danorum missa ad imperatorem legationepacem petunt et fratrem suum Hemmingum sibi remitti rogant (ArF 137).Peace was ratified in 813 by a sixteen-man delegation of Danes andHemmingus was sent back with them (ArF 138). This information is not inlTr, and it looks as though from this point that text is independent of ArF.

(13) In lTr it says that Haraldr was fimm vetr konungr r hann barizvi Reinfrdum, son Godefrdi. The form Reinfridus corresponds to themanuscript designatedE 2 (codex Parisinus n. 5942 seculi X) by theeditors of ArF (Praefatio xii), see the textual note on 137.17; thoughadmittedly there it is not the son of Gufrr that is referred to. But thesentence itself does not correspond to ArF under the year 814. It saysthere that the Danish kings Herioldus and Reginfridus had the previousyear been defeated and driven from their kingdom by the sons of Gode-fridus, but had regrouped their forces and attacked again; in this conflictReginfridus and Godefridus eldest son were killed, but Herioldus fled tothe emperor, who told him to go to Saxony: Harioldus et Reginfridusreges Danorum, qui anno superiore a filiis Godofridi victi et regno pulsifuerunt, reparatis viribus iterum eis bellum intulerunt; in quo conflictu etReginfridus et unus de filiis Godofridi, qui maior natu erat, interfectusest. Quo facto Herioldus rebus suis diffidens ad imperatorem venit et se inmanus illius commendavit; quem ille susceptum in Saxoniam ire etoportunum tempus exspectare iussit, quo ei, sicut petierat, auxilium ferre

2Eyjlfur Kolbeins, personal communication.


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potuisset (ArF 141: Herioldus and Reginfridus, kings of the Danes, whohad the previous year been defeated by the sons of Godefridus and drivenfrom their kingdom, regrouped their forces and made war on them again.In this conflict both Reginfridus and one of the sons of Godefridus, whowas the eldest by birth, were killed. After this, Herioldus, despairing of his cause, went to the emperor and put himself in his hands. He receivedhim and ordered him to go to Saxony and wait for an opportune timewhen he would be able to give him the help he had requested). But in ArF there is no mention either of Heriolduss vow during the battle to be baptized, which is a hagiographic motif, or of his baptism itself until theannal for 826: Eodem tempore Herioldus cum uxore et magna Danorummultitudine veniens Mogontiaci apud sanctum Albanum cum his, quos

secum adduxit, baptizatus est; multisque muneribus ab imperatore donatusper Frisiam, qua venerat via, reversus est (ArF 16970: At this sametime Herioldus came, with his wife and a large number of Danes, and was baptized at St Albans in Mainz, together with those he had brought withhim. He then returned through Frisia, the same way as he had come, withmany gifts given him by the emperor). What in lTr corresponds to thispassage in ArF, is that Haraldr went with his wife and a large troop of Danes to visit the emperor and that he was baptized in Mainz(Meginzuborg, Mogontiacum). In lTr it is not stated in which year Haraldrwas baptized, and this event is not dated otherwise than by being set do gum Paschalis pfa (ens fyrsta me v nafni postulegu sti is addedhere in D1,2), which is irreconcilable with the date in ArF, for Paschal Iwas dead in 826 (pope 81724). In ArF it is not mentioned that Haraldrtook his nephew Hrekr with him to the emperor, nor that Bishop Ansgarwent with him to Denmark. On the other handVita Anskarii has a chapterabout Ansgars going to Denmark with Haraldr (Quellen XI 3038). Adamof Bremen says that Hrekr, whom he calls Haraldrs brother, had beenwith him and been baptized at the same time as he: Eodemque temporerex Danorum Haraldus a filiis Gotafridi regno spoliatus ad Ludewicumsupplex venit. Qui et mox christianae fidei cathecismo imbutus apudMogontiam cum uxore et fratre ac magna Danorum multitudine baptizatusest. [. . .] fratri eius Horuch, ut piratis obsisteret, partem Fresiae concessit(Quellen XI 186.2632: At this same time Haraldr, king of the Danes,having been robbed of his kingdom by the sons of Gotafridus, came toLouis seeking help. He was immediately instructed in the elements of theChristian faith and was baptized at Mainz with his wife and his brotherand a large number of Danes. [. . .] He gave his brother Hrekr part of Frisiato defend it from vikings).


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(14) I know of no source for the statement that Haraldr died of sickness,and it may well be that the compiler of the text used by the writer of lTrassumed that this was what became of him because he had found no men-tion of his having fallen in battle or died in any other way.

(15) The Hrekr who is here said to have been kinsman of Haraldr isclearly the Hrekr nephew of Haraldr who went with him to visit the em-peror, see above. Annales Fuldenses , under the year 854, has the follow-ing passage corresponding to what lTr has about Hrekr and his nephewGuthormr: Ibique inter Horic regem Danorum et Gudurm filium fratriseius, qui eatenus ab eo regno pulsus piratico more vixit, orta contentioneita se mutua caede mactaverunt, ut vulgus quidem promiscuum innumer-

abile caderet, de stirpe vero regia nisi unus puer nullus remaneret, [. . .](Quellen VII 46.1216: There (i. e. in Denmark) a conflict took place between Hrekr the king of the Danes and his nephew Guthormr, whohad been driven by him from the kingdom and until then had been livingas a viking, and they inflicted such slaughter on each other that besidesthe indiscriminate fall of an innumerable crowd, none was left of the royalline except one boy). The name of the boy who survived of the royal lineis not given here, but Adam of Bremen, quoting a source that he refers toas Hystoria Francorum, does name him: [. . .] de styrpe autem regianemo omnium remaneret preter unum puerum, nomine Horicum (QuellenXI 202.89: [. . .] but of the royal line no one at all was left except for one boy called Hrekr). In lTr it says that the battle between Hrekr andGuthormr took place eight hundred and sixty two years eftir holdganvrs herra Ies Krist. This calculation relates to the feast of the Annun-ciation, 25 March. There is thus a difference of eight years in the dating of the battle in AF and lTr. The origin of the dating in lTr is not clear. If the difference is due to misreading of a manuscript, it may be thatD.CCC.liu was read as D.CCC.lxii by a copyist (iu read as xii).

(16) In Adam of BremensHistory it is told how the Danes abandonedChristianity after Hrekr II was made king and that Ansgar then returnedto Denmark and baptized him, and that Hrekr then allowed him to builda church in Ribe which was the second church to have been built in Den-mark (Quellen XI 202.916). On the other hand it appears from the lastsentence under the year 854 in AF that the battle between Hrekr I andGuthormr and their fall are to be seen as a fitting punishment for the evilsthey had inflicted on the Church: [. . .] Domino sanctorum suorum iniuriasulciscente et adversariis digna factis retribuente (Quellen VII 46.1617:


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Thus the Lord punished the wrongs committed against his saints andmade just requital to their enemies for what they had done). This mustmean that it was not Hrekr II who drove out priests and closed the churches(Quellen XI 202.911), but Hrekr I. InVita Anskarii it says that Hrekr(I) allowed Ansgar to build the first church in Denmark in Slesvig, i. e. inHedeby, and it is on this that Adam based his reference to the building of thefirst church in Denmark (Quellen XI 80.1019, 198.1115 and 202.1216).

(17) Bishop Ansgar died 3 February 865 (Quellen XI 129, footnote 186),which agrees with the statements in lTr that he died three years after the battle between Hrekr and Guthormr and that this battle took place in862. This indicates that the Icelandic compiler of this text used a source

that dated the battle between Hrekr and Guthormr to 862.(18) What is said in this sentence does not agree with any known sourceand is probably a misunderstanding or misremembering of what is said in Adam of BremensHistory , see note 16 above.

(19) Sigfrr and Hlfdan are named in AF, under the year 873. It saysthere that they each sent to Louis II (Louis the German, king of the EastFranks) with requests for peace treaties. They are said to be brothers, butit is not mentioned that they were heathen (Quellen VII 88.2436). Adamof Bremen refers to these events, and it appears from what he says thatSigfrr and Hlfdan were heathen. Adam mentions that in ArchbishopRimberts account it does not say who were the kings of the Danes in histime, but that it can be deduced from Hystoria Francorum that Sigfrrand Hlfdan were the rulers (in Denmark). Qui etiam munera Ludvicocesari miserunt, gladium videlicet capulo tenus aureum et alia, pacemrogantes. Et missis utrimque ad Egdoram fluvium mediatoribus pacemfirmam ritu gentis per arma iuraverunt (Quellen XI 208.711: They alsosent the emperor (!) Louis gifts, a golden-hilted sword and other things,asking for peace. Mediators were sent by both sides to the River Eider andthey swore to a steadfast peace by their arms according to the custom of the heathens).

(20) Rimbert was archbishop in Bremen 86588 and succeeded Ansgar.The information about him is presumably taken from Adam of Bremen(Quellen XI 20616).

(21) Here the compiler of lTr has become confused and conflated two


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Louises into one Hlo ver. The Hlo ver who is mentioned here in lTr ashaving died in the twelfth year of Rimberts archbishopric can only beLouis II, king of the East Franks (84376), who admittedly was not crownedemperor, though he was called keisari by Scandinavians, according toResensbk. In manuscripts derived from Resensbk, where the divisionof the kingdom between the sons of Louis the Pious is described, it says:Loduvikus ydsct land. vi calla nordmenn hann keisara (Papp. fol. nr.76, 10v). But the emperor Louis the Pious (Louis I), son of Charlemagne,who in lTr is called Hlo ver, died in 840 (Quellen VII 26), and his sonsaccording to Nithardi historiarum libri iv , AF and other sources wereHlutharius, Pippinus, Hludowicus and Karlus, which agrees with lTr.But what it says in lTr about the division of the kingdom between them

is not taken direct from AF. lTr is correct in saying that Pippin was kingin Aquitania. He died in 838 (Quellen VII 24.1011), but about the divi-sion of the kingdom between his brothers in 839, AF has as follows: Postpascha vero mense Maio Wormatiam veniens Hluthario filio suo de Italiain fidem eius venienti reconciliatur regnumque Francorum inter eum etKarlum filium suum minimum dividit, Hluthario quidem, qui maior natuerat, nominis sui dignitatem et sedem regni tribuens, Hludowico vero filiosuo minori pro eo, quod eum offenderat, Baioariorum provincia tantumconcessa (Quellen VII 24.20-25: After Easter, then, in the month of May,he (i. e. Louis the Pious) came to Worms and was reconciled with his sonLothair who had come from Italy to demonstrate his loyalty, and dividedthe kingdom of the Franks between him and his youngest son Charles.But Lothair, who was older by birth, he dignified with his own title andgranted him the throne of his realm, while to Louis, his younger son, be-cause of his displeasure with him, he only granted the province of Bavaria).Later in AF there is an account of the Treaty of Verdun in 843 (QuellenVII 30.2328), where the three brothers who still survived divided thekingdom between them, but this is not the source of the details in lTr.There is more similarity between lTr and the text of Adam of Bremen,which has the following: Tandem mediante papa Sergio pax inter fratresconvenit, regnumque divisum est in tres partes ita ut Lotharius maior natucum Italia Romam, Lotharingiam cum Burgundia possideret, LudvicusRhenum cum Germania regeret, Karolus Galliam, Pippinus Aquitaniam(Finally peace was agreed between the brothers by the mediation of PopeSergius, and the kingdom was divided into three parts, so that Lothair, theeldest, was to have Italy including Rome, Lotharingia together with Bur-gundy, Louis was to rule the Rhineland together with Germany, CharlesGallia, Pippin Aquitaine). As regards this text, it should be noted that


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Pope Sergius II was not involved in this treaty and that the Pippin men-tioned here was the brothers nephew, Pippin II (Quellen XI 194.2630and footnote 127 on p. 195).

(22) Rimbert, as was said above, became bishop in 865 and so had been bishop twelve years in 877. AF mentions raids by Danes and Norwegiansneither in 877 nor in 878. Normenn in lTr is doubtless a translation of Northmanni in some Latin work, but what Kerlingaland represents is noteasy to say (Karlungaland?).

(23) Hlo ver enn ungi Hlo versson, i. e. Louis the Young (HludowicusIII iunior), grandson of Louis the Pious, died 882 (Quellen VII 114116).

(24) AF, under the year 881, probably deals with both the battles describedin lTr, but the account in lTr is not based on AF, which has: Rex (i. e.Hludowicus III, king of the West Franks) cum suo nepote Hludowico (i. e.Hludowicus III iunior (Louis the Young), king of the East Franks) apudvillam Gundolfi congruum habuit colloquium; inde transiens omne tem-pus aestivum in Baioaria moratus est. Nepos vero illius cum Nordmannisdimicans nobiliter triumphavit; nam novem milia equitum ex eis occidisseperhibetur. At illi instaurato exercitu et amplificato numero equitumplurima loca in regione regis nostri vastaverunt, hoc est Cameracum,Traiectum et pagum Haspanicum totamque Ripuariam, praecipua etiammonasteria, id est Prumiam, Indam, Stabulaus, Malmundarium et Aquensepalatium, ubi in capella regis equis suis stabulum fecerunt. Praeterea Agrippinam Coloniam et Bunnam civitates cum aecclesiis et aedificiisincenderunt. Qui autem inde evadere potuerunt, sive canonici sivesanctimoniales, Mogontiacum fugerunt, thesauros aecclesiarum etsanctorum corpora secum portantes (Quellen VII 114.1930: The kingand his kinsman Louis had a harmonious conference at Gondreville; goingon from there he spent the whole summer in Bavaria. His kinsman, how-ever, fought with the Norsemen and splendidly triumphed, for nine thou-sand of their horsemen are said to have been killed. But when they hadrenewed their army and increased the number of horsemen they laid wastemany places in the realm of our king, that is Cambrai, Maastrict and thedistrict of Haspengau and the whole of Ripuaria, also the principal mon-asteries, that is Prm, Inda, Stablo, Malmdy and the palace of Aachen,where they stabled their horses in the royal chapel. Moreover they burnedthe cities of Cologne and Bonn, including churches and other buildings.Those who managed to escape from them, whether clerics or monks, fled


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to Mainz, carrying their church treasures and the relics of the saints withthem). There is also an account of the campaign of the viking leadersSigfrr and Gufrr in Adam of Bremen (Quellen XI 208.22210.18), but his account is not the model for what appears in lTr, nor is what istold of their activities in Annales Bertiniani and Annales Vedastini (printedamong other places in Quellen VI).

(25) The Charles who attacked the Danes was Charles III, king of Alamannia 87687 and emperor 88187, brother of Louis the Young, andnot brother of Lotharius, as it says in lTr.

(26) AF, under the year 882, andReginonis Chronica tell of the treaty of

the Danes with the emperor Charles, their breaking of the truce and treach-ery, and also say that Gufrr had himself baptized as a Christian, butthat text is not the source of what is said in lTr. Under the year 886 in AFit is mentioned that the Danes (Nordmannos) had been in Paris, but it isnot said that they had burned the city. This is, however, referred to in Annales Vedastini under the years 885 and 886, where there are detailedaccounts of the attacks of the Danes on Paris (Quellen VI 308 ff.).Theemperor Arnaldus mentioned here is called Arnolfus in AF (Quellen VII130.89, 132.7 etc.) and Arnulfus in Annales Bertiniani and Annales Vedastini (Quellen VI 278.12, 314.37 etc.); he became king of the EastFranks in 887, and he was emperor 89699. What is said here about his battle with the Danes must relate to the battle by the river Dyle in the year891. The compiler of lTr did not know the actual year and dates the battle imprecisely: nu hundru vetra ea nr v after the birth of Christ.In AF, under the year 891, it says that Sigfrr and Gufrr were killedin this battle, and that one man of the army of Christians fell, but manythousands (tanta milia hominum) of the other side (Quellen VII 15054).

(27) Bishop Huno, called Unni in Adam of Bremen, was bishop in Bremen91836 (Quellen XI 227, footnote 232). In lTr it says that he was ordained bishop seventeen years after the Emperor Arnaldus fought the Danes; thistherefore assumes that the battle took place in 901. This agrees with theearlier statement that the battle was nu hundru vetra ea nr v afterthe birth of Christ and indicates that the chronology of the compiler of thetext used by the author of lTr was somewhat out.

(28) The twelfth year from the ordination of Bishop Huno was the year930. Henry I was king and emperor 91936. His Christianisation of Frisia


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and Denmark is alluded to in Widukinds Saxon Chronicle under the year934: Cum autem omnes in circuitu nationes subiecisset, Danos, qui navalilatrocinio Fresones incursabant, cum exercitu adiit vicitque, et tributariosfaciens, regem eorum nomine Ghnubam baptismum percipere fecit(MGHSS III 435.3234: And when he had made subject all the surround-ing peoples, he invaded the Danes, who had been attacking the Frisianson viking ships, with an army and defeated them, made them tributary,and forced their king, whose name was Gnpa, to accept Christianity). According to lTr Henrys expedition to Denmark was four years earlier,and the wording does not suggest that its text was derived from Widukind.Thietmar dates this expedition of Henrys to 931: Insuper Northmannoset Danos armis sibi obtemperantes fecit et ab errore pristino revocatos,

cum rege eorum Cnutone hos Christi iugum portare edocuit (MGHSS III739.3436: Moreover he made the Northmen and Danes submit to him-self by force of arms, and having called them back from their previousfalse doctrine, he taught them, together with their king, Cnut, to bear theyoke of Christ). Adam of Bremen also mentions Henrys expedition toDenmark: Deinde cum exercitu ingressus Daniam, Vurm regem primoimpetu adeo perterruit, ut imperata se facere mandaret et pacem supplexdeposceret (Quellen XI 228.1113: Next he invaded Denmark with hisarmy, and with his first attack so completely terrified King Gorm that hecommitted himself to carrying out his commands and submissively suedfor peace). Just before (Quellen XI 226.32228.4), Adam speaks of theking of the Danes Hardecnudth Vurm, who had persecuted Christians.But the king Adam calls Vurm is thought by scholars to have been Gormrthe Old, so that it is probably right to assume that Hardecnudth Vurmstands for Gormr Ho ra-Kntsson (Storm 1878, 50, footnote 1). None of the three works that have been cited here was the direct source of what issaid in lTr of Henrys mission to Denmark, and none of them containsthe remark in lTr, bi me blmlum, gnum ok orrostum.

(29) The Fri who is here said to have ruled over Jutland is named inDanish annals. The text of the Roskilde Chronicle is closely related tolTr: Hec dum agerentur, Hericus rex defunctus est, et in regnum Frothileuatus est; quem Unni, Bremensis archiepiscopus, baptizauit. Extemploerecte sunt ecclesie, que pridem destructe sunt, Sleswicensis et Ripensis.Terciam rex in honore sancte Trinitatis

danish kings and the jomsvikings in the greatest saga of Óláfr tryggvason

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