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Sigurd The Stout
Sigurd Hlodvirsson (23 April 1014), popularly known as Sigurd the Stout from the Old Norse ''Sigurðr digri'',Thomson (2008) p. 59 was an Earl of Orkney. The main sources for his life are the Norse Sagas, which were first written down some two centuries or more after his death. These engaging stories must therefore be treated with caution rather than as reliable historical documents. Sigurd was the son of Hlodvir Thorfinnsson and (according to the Norse sagas) a direct descendant of Torf-Einarr Rognvaldson. Sigurd's tenure as earl was apparently free of the kin-strife that beset some other incumbents of this title and he was able to pursue his military ambitions over a wide area. He also held lands in the north of mainland Scotland and in the '' Sudrøyar'', and he may have been instrumental in the defeat of Gofraid mac Arailt, King of the Isles. The ''Annals of Ulster'' record his death at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, the earliest known reference to the earldom of Orkney ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Earl Of Orkney
Earl of Orkney, historically Jarl of Orkney, is a title of nobility encompassing the archipelagoes of Orkney and Shetland, which comprise the Northern Isles of Scotland. Originally founded by Norse invaders, the status of the rulers of the Northern Isles as Norwegian vassals was formalised in 1195. Although the Old Norse term ''jarl'' is etymologically related to "earl", and the jarls were succeeded by earls in the late 15th century, a Norwegian ''jarl'' is not the same thing. In the Norse context the distinction between jarls and kings did not become significant until the late 11th century and the early jarls would therefore have had considerable independence of action until that time. The position of Jarl of Orkney was eventually the most senior rank in medieval Norway except for the king himself. The jarls were periodically subject to the kings of Alba for those parts of their territory in what is now mainland Scotland (i.e. Caithness and Sutherland). In 1232, a Scottish dyn ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Raven Banner
The raven banner ( non, hrafnsmerki ; enm, hravenlandeye) was a flag, possibly totemic in nature, flown by various Viking chieftains and other Scandinavian rulers during the 9th, 10th and 11th centuries. The flag, as depicted in Norse artwork, was roughly triangular, with a rounded outside edge on which there hung a series of tabs or tassels. It bore a resemblance to ornately carved "weather-vanes" used aboard Viking longships. Scholars conjecture that the raven flag was a symbol of Odin, who was often depicted accompanied by two ravens named Huginn and Muninn. Its intent may have been to strike fear in one's enemies by invoking the power of Odin. As one scholar notes regarding encounters between the Christian Anglo-Saxons and the invading pagan Scandinavians: Raven symbolism in Norse culture The raven is a common iconic figure in Norse mythology. The highest god Odin had two ravens named Huginn and Muninn ("thought" and "memory" respectively) who flew around the worl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Louis (given Name)
Louis is the French form of the Old Frankish given name Chlodowig and one of two English forms, the other being Lewis (). Etymology The name Louis (through the intermediate form Clovis) derives from the Frankish name ᚺᛚᛟᛞᛟᚹᛁᚷ (in runic alphabet) or *''Hlōdowik'' or *''Hlōdowig'' (in Latin alphabet). Traditionally, this name is considered to be composed of two elements, deriving from both Proto-Germanic ''*hlūdaz'' ("loud, famous") and ''*wiganą'' ("to battle, to fight") respectively, resulting in the traditional practice of translating Clovis' name as meaning "famous warrior" or "famous in battle". However, scholars have pointed out that Gregory of Tours consequently transcribes the names of various Merovingian royal names containing the first element as ''chlodo-''. The use of a close-mid back protruded vowel (o), rather than the expected close back rounded vowel (u) which Gregory does use in various other Germanic names (i.e. Fredegundis, Arnulfus, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Patronymic
A patronymic, or patronym, is a component of a personal name based on the given name of one's father, grandfather (avonymic), or an earlier male ancestor. Patronymics are still in use, including mandatory use, in many countries worldwide, although their use has largely been replaced by or transformed into patronymic surnames. Examples of such transformations include common English surnames such as Johnson (son of John). Origins of terms The usual noun and adjective in English is ''patronymic'', but as a noun this exists in free variation alongside ''patronym''. The first part of the word ''patronym'' comes from Greek πατήρ ''patēr'' "father" ( GEN πατρός ''patros'' whence the combining form πατρο- ''patro''-); the second part comes from Greek ὄνυμα ''onyma'', a variant form of ὄνομα ''onoma'' "name". In the form ''patronymic'', this stands with the addition of the suffix -ικός (''-ikos''), which was originally used to form adjectives with the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thorfinn Skull-Splitter
Thorfinn Torf-EinarssonCrawford (1987) p. 63 also known as Thorfinn Skull-splitterThomson (2008) p. 57 (from the Old Norse ''Þorfinnr hausakljúfr'') was a 10th-century Earl of Orkney. He appears in the '' Orkneyinga saga'' and briefly in '' St Olaf's Saga'', as incorporated into the ''Heimskringla''. These stories were first written down in Iceland in the early 13th century and much of the information they contain is "hard to corroborate". Family Thorfinn was the youngest son of Torf-Einarr, himself the son of Rognvald Eysteinsson, the first Earl of Orkney. Torf-Einarr had two other sons, Arnkel and Erlend who "fell in a war expedition"Sturlason, Snorri Chapter 99. "History of the Earls of Orkney". at an unspecified location in England along with Erik Bloodaxe.''Orkneyinga Saga'' (1981) Chapter 8. p. 33 Erik's widow, Gunnhildr then fled north to Orkney with her sons who used the islands as a base for summer raiding expeditions. Thorfinn had five sons: Arnfinn, Havard, Hlodvi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Flateyjarbók
''Flateyjarbók'' (; "Book of Flatey") is an important medieval Icelandic manuscript. It is also known as GkS 1005 fol. and by the Latin name ''Codex Flateyensis''. It was commissioned by Jón Hákonarson and produced by the priests and scribes Jón Þórðarson and Magnús Þórhallsson. Description ''Flateyjarbók'' is the largest medieval Icelandic manuscript, comprising 225 written and illustrated vellum leaves. It contains mostly sagas of the Norse kings as found in the '' Heimskringla'', specifically the sagas about Olaf Tryggvason, St. Olaf, Sverre, Hákon the Old, Magnus the Good, and Harald Hardrada. But they appear here expanded with additional material not found elsewhere (some of it being very old) along with other unique differences. Most—but not all—of the additional material is placed within the royal sagas, sometimes interlaced. Additionally, the manuscript contains the only copy of the eddic poem ''Hyndluljóð'', a unique set of annals from creation t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vatnsdæla Saga
''Vatnsdæla saga'' ( Icelandic: ; ; Old Norse: ''Vatnsdœla saga'') is one of the sagas of Icelanders. The saga remains in manuscriptsAM 559 4to an138 fol ''Vatnsdæla Saga'' is essentially a family chronicle probably written just after the middle of the thirteenth century. It relates to residents of Vatnsdalur, a valley that runs south from Húnaflói, a large bay in the north of Iceland. The principal protagonist is Ingemund (''Ingimundr Þorsteinsson'') who fought for King Harald Fairhair of Norway at the Battle of Hafrsfjord The Battle of Hafrsfjord ( no, Slaget i Hafrsfjord) was a great naval battle fought in Hafrsfjord sometime between 872 and 900 that resulted in the unification of Norway, later known as the Kingdom of Norway. After the battle, the victorious Vikin ... winning his friendship and an amulet. At the instigation of a sorceress, he moved to Iceland to settle at Vatnsdalur in Húnaþing. The saga follows several generations of his family until the ar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Þorsteins Saga Síðu-Hallssonar
Þorsteins saga Síðu-Hallssonar () is one of the sagas of Icelanders from the 13th century. The saga is only partially preserved and features a number of dreams and interpretations. Torstein Side-Hallsson (''Þorstein Síðu-Hallssonar'') has a series adventures in the Orkney Islands, Ireland, Norway and Iceland during the early 1000s. The story also tells of Torstein participating in the Battle of Clontarf in 1014. Plot As the saga is only partially preserved in surviving manuscripts, the first part has been lost. The text resumes with the protagonist Þorsteinn Síðu-Hallsson going abroad, entrusting his goðorð (chieftaincy) to his friend Þórhaddr. Þorsteinn enters the service of Jarl Sigurðr of Orkney and fights at the Battle of Clontarf. Meanwhile in Iceland, Þórhaddr mistreats his son-in-law Haukr. When Þorsteinn returns to Iceland, Haukr appeals to him for help, and Þorsteinn demands his goðorð back. Þórhaddr refuses, so Þorsteinn forcibly ejects him ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Heimskringla
''Heimskringla'' () is the best known of the Old Norse kings' sagas. It was written in Old Norse in Iceland by the poet and historian Snorre Sturlason (1178/79–1241) 1230. 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"). ''Heimskringla'' is a collection of sagas about Swedish and 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. The exact sources of the Snorri's work are disputed, but they include earlier kings' sagas, such as Morkinskinna, Fagrskinna and the 12th-century Norwegian synoptic histories and oral traditions, notably many skaldic poems. He explicitly names the now lost work '' Hryggjarstykki'' as his source for the events of the mid-12th century. Althou ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
