Being snorris own tales of the kings of norway, the book is composed of many short passages detailing the histories of various kings. Being essentially a transcription of minstrelsy related to these kings, the text is narrative, and often has bits of poetry thrown in. The footnotes, editing and translation were all excellently done. Heimskringla the chronicle of the kings of norway by snorri. Aug 21, 2016 norway was originally called nordweg, meaning the northern way. Major section on 15year reign of olav ii haraldson, patron saint of norway.
Odin went out with a great army against the vanaland people. Heimskringla article about heimskringla by the free dictionary. It was written in old norse in iceland by the poet and historian snorri sturluson 1178791241 ca. Heimskringla the chronicle of the kings of norway by.
History of the kings of norway by snorri sturluson 1991, paperback rowlinghardcover these historians pointed out that snorris work had been written several centuries after most of the events it describes. Download heimskringla the chronicle of the kings of norway pdf file size. It was written in old norse in iceland by the poet and historian snorri sturluson 1178791241 c. Eystein thus became king and coruler together with sigurd and inge. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Heimskringla, or the chronicle of the kings of norway ebook. Nov 26, 2018 the jewish century yuri slezkine pdf yuri lvovich slezkine is a russianborn american historian, writer, and translator. Heimskringla history of the kings of norway snorri. Queen ingerid, and with her the lendermen and the court which had been with king harald, resolved to send a fastsailing vessel to throndhjem to make known king haralds death, and also to desire the throndhjem people to take king haralds son sigurd for king. Some could have been as small as a cluster of villages and others comprised several of todays counties. The project gutenberg ebook of heimskringla, by snorri sturlason this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. Great missionary kings, especially olaf haraldsson who was later canonised and became the patron saint of norway, introduced christianity, and with it. The stories of the kings of norway, called the round world by snorri sturleson. Heimskringla or the chronicle of the kings of norway by snorri.
The text of this edition is based on that published as heimskringla. A history of the norse kings norroena society, london, 1907, except for ynglinga saga, which for reasons unknown is curiously absent from the norroena society edition. Before the unification of norway in 872 and during the period of fragmentation after king harald fairhairs death norway was divided in several small kingdoms. Ironically, ynglinga saga denies that the norse gods were actually deities, but instead makes them out to be human icings who were deified by their followers. Great classic by icelandic poetchieftain chronicles the reigns of 16 high kings descended from the warriorwizard god o. Dawn of swedish history heimskringla and ynglingatal snorre sturleson, the great historian and poet of iceland, of the earlier half of the thirteenth century, is considered to be the author of the history of the kings of norway which, after the first words of the first chapter, has been called heimskringla. In this way it is comparable to many other historical observations. Heimskringla simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Icelanders to the history and politics of norway and its rulers, and its account. Or, the chronicle of the kings of norway by snorri. I think that also pretty much summmarizes the mood old snorri the author of this work who lived from the 1170s1240s ad angrily puts one in after reading the farcical abbreviation he hammered over the lines of the true ancient kings of the north. Heimskringlasaga of sigurd, inge, and eystein, the sons.
This acclaimed book by snorri sturluson is available at in several formats for your ereader. Magnus, of whom little more is known, died of natural causes at some point in the 1140s. In harvest time he came to norway, where he heard of the. Mobi files can be read on kindles, epub files can be read on other ebook readers, and zip files can be downloaded and read on your computer. Heimskringla, or the chronicles of the kings of norway pdf adobe drm can be read on any device that can open pdf adobe drm files. Read heimskringla or, the lives of the norse kings by snorri sturluson available from rakuten kobo. Snorre sturleson, the great historian and poet of iceland, of the earlier half of the thirteenth century, is considered to be the author of the history of the kings of norway which, after the first words of the first chapter, has been called heimskringla. Snorri sturlusons fame as a historianhis main work is the 16 sagas included in heimskringla c. In this book i have had old stories written down, as i have heard them told by intelligent people, concerning chiefs who have have held dominion in the northern countries, and who spoke the danish tongue.
Snorri, a leading thcentury icelandic poet, used as sources all the court poetry from the 9th century onward that was available to him. This book is a must for anyone interested in norse history. Heimskringla, or the chronicles of the kings of norway. Heimskringla consists of several sagas, often thought of as falling into three groups, giving the overall work the character of a triptych. The heimskringla is a must read for any one interested in norse history and lorehowever this is a large body of work comprising the lives of the norse rulers and it is not for the light hearted and in my opinion you must have more than a passing interest in norse history to a fully commit to this book and b fully appreciate its contents. In 1152, norway was visited by the papal legate nicholas breakspear. Heimskringla, which means circle of the world, is a history of the norwegian kings, beginning in legendary times and ending in 1177 during the reign of magnus erlingson. Heimskringla, the chronicle of the kings of norway. Once found in most homes and schools and still regarded as a national treasure, heimskringla influenced the thinking and literary style of scandinavia over several centuries. He sent men to norway to king harald, with the errand that the messengers should present him with a sword, with the hilt and handle gilt, and also the whole sheath adorned with gold and silver, and set with precious jewels.
The icelander snorri sturlusons heimskringla from ca. Heimskringla history of the kings of norway by snorri sturluson. Ynglinga saga text taken from laings original edition london, 1844. This term is commonly used by historians to indicate how citizens relate to and understand their own nation. The long line of his successors ruled norway with varying fortunes, achieving, at one time, a farflung dominion encompassing a major part of the british isles and denmark, besides the homeland.
Heimskringla, or the chronicles of the kings of norway isbn. He is a professor of russian history and director of the institute of. He sent men to norway to king harald, with the errand that the messengers should. Because recent studies of heimskringla so often place it in a european context as a history of kings sverre bagges society and politics in snorri sturlusons heimskringla 1991 and diana whaleys heimskringla. The name heimskringla was first used in the 17th century, derived from the first two words of one of the manuscripts kringla heimsins, the circle of the world. Livessaga of the norse kings by snorri sturluson, 1964, published for the americanscandinavian foundation by the university of texas press edition, in english. History of the kings of norway kindle edition published january 1st 2014 by publishing kindle edition, 578 pages. The name heimskringla was first used in the 17th century, it comes from the first two words of one of the manuscripts kringla heimsins. Done into english out of the icelandic by samuel laing, revised with notes by hon.
Snorri sturluson speaksas almost no other historian ever has. At this time a king called athelstan had taken the kingdom of england. Heimskringla the chronicle of the kings of norway by snorri sturlson part 8 out of 18. An introduction 1991 are good examplesit is easy to forget that snorris work is primarily composed for an icelandic. This compelling icelandic history describes the life of king harald hardradi, from his battles across. Heimskringla the chronicle of the kings of norway by snorri sturlson part 4 out of 18. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. Heimskringla it sounds like a good curse word to say when you accidentally hit your finger with a hammer. Heimskringla is the best known of the old norse kings sagas. The saga narrates the contests of the kings, the establishment of the kingdom of norway, viking expeditions to various european countries, ranging as far afield as palestine in the saga of sigurd the crusader. Heimskringla ebook by snorri sturluson rakuten kobo. Snorris account begins with a mythological account of the gods euhemerized as in edda in the ynglinga saga, and then goes through the history of the kings of norway starting with harald. It is in actuality a collection of sagas concerning the various rulers of norway, from about a. Heimskringla is a collection of sagas about the norwegian kings.
Others want to carry documents around with them on their mobile phones and read while t. It was written in old norse in heimskringla is a collection of sagas about swedish and norwegian kings, beginning with the saga of the legendary swedish dynasty of the. On the first element, heimskringla is is of enormous importance in both mythological and historical studies relating to viking and medieval scandinavia. Read heimskringla, or the chronicle of the kings of norway by snorri sturluson available from rakuten kobo. Previous part 3 next part 5 land, and peace was well preserved in the country among the bondes. Heimskringla is a collection of sagas about the norwegian kings, beginning with the saga of the legendary swedish dynasty of the ynglings, followed by accounts of historical norwegian rulers from harald fairhair of the 9th century up to the death of the pretender eystein meyla in 1177. Heimskringla, by snorri sturlason project gutenberg. Already in his time a number of kings sagas were known. Great classic by icelandic poetchieftain chronicles the reigns of 16 high kings descended from the warriorwizard god odin. Heimskringla, or the chronicle of the kings of norway. Number of pages 854 id numbers open library ol5909229m.
When snorri sturluson wrote his famous sagas about the norwegian kings the heimskringla he was not the first to do so. Previous part 7 next part 9 who managed the kings farm there at haug. Hollander is available at in several formats for your ereader. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Heimskringla history of the kings of norway by snorri. History of the kings of norway reprint by snorri sturluson, hollander, lee m. Some of this is found in ancient family registers, in which the pe. Download the best ebooks on free ebooks and bargains in epub and pdf digital book format, isbn 9781596747715 buy the heimskringla, or the chronicles of the kings of norway ebook. Many people prefer to read offline or to print out text and read from the real printed page. Dawn of swedish history heimskringla and ynglingatal. Heimskringla article about heimskringla by the free. Heimskringla, or the chronicle of the kings of norway by snorri sturluson this free downloadable ebook can be read on your computer or ereader. The petty kingdoms of norway were the entities from which the later kingdom of norway was founded. The stories of the kings of norway, called the round.
Because recent studies of heimskringla so often place it in a european context as a history of kingssverre bagges society and politics in snorri sturlusons heimskringla 1991 and diana whaleys heimskringla. One of these is known as fagrskinna the fair parchment but its real title is noregs konungatal, the kings of norway. History of the kings of norway by snorri sturluson, paperback. Heimskringla addressed itself to a norwegian and egils saga to an icelandic. Three of these are based on holidays mentioned in ynglinga saga, the first story in snorri sturlussons mammoth thirteenthcentury history of the kings of norway, heimskringla. It was written in old norse in iceland by the poet and historian snorri sturluson 1179 1242 ca. Heimskringla history of the kings of norway by snorri sturluson heimskringla is the best known of the old norse kings sagas. Beginning with the dim prehistory of the mythical gods and their descendants, heimskringla recounts the history of the kings of norway through the reign of olaf haraldsson, who became norway s patron saint. This complete english translation is by samuel laing. They were composed during the twelfth through the fourteenth centuries in iceland and norway.
Beginning with the dim prehistory of the mythical gods and their descendants, heimskringla recounts the history of the kings of norway through the reign of olaf. Written in old norse by the icelandic poet and historian snorri sturluson sometime around 1230 ad, the heimskringla is one of the best known of all sagas. Snorri, a leading thcentury icelandic poet, used as sources all the court poetry from the. Index of heimskringla the chronicle of the kings of norway. It goes without saying that it is impossible to measure a national identity. Named after the homonymous geographical region, haralds realm was later to be known as the kingdom of norway.
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