Hænsa-Þóris Saga

Hænsa-Þóris saga ( ; ; "The Saga of Hen-Thorir") is one of the sagas of Icelanders.

Plot

It tells the story of Hænsa-Þórir ( ; ; ' means "a hen"), a poor and unpopular man who acquires wealth as a merchant and manages to buy land. Þórir (also spelled Thóri) is initially a landless peddler, eventually gaining the nickname "Hen-Thorir" after selling a load of chickens. He uses his accumulated wealth to buy land at a place called Vatn, near Norðrtungu, and quickly becomes a creditor to many in the area, though he remains widely disliked. In the saga the upstart is compared negatively to his neighbours, who come from a more solid background; he causes strife between them. To gain influence, Þórir offers to foster Helgi, the son of the chieftain Arngrímr Goði of Norðrtungu, promising half his wealth in return for Arngrímr's friendship and support. Arngrímr, despite his hesitation, accepts, and Þórir becomes even more difficult to deal with, using Arngrímr's protection to assert his "rights" and accumulate further wealth.

A significant conflict arises when Tungu-Odd, another influential chieftain, attempts to control the prices of goods from a newly arrived merchant ship in Borgarfjörð, led by a well-liked captain named Ørn. Odd forbids anyone from trading with Ørn, effectively trapping the merchants. Blund-Ketill, a wealthy and respected man from Ornólfsdal, known for his generosity and the best-liked man in the district, learns of Odd's injustice. Despite potential repercussions from Odd, Blund-Ketill takes in Ørn and his cargo, distributing the crew to other districts, thus undermining Odd's authority. Odd, recognizing Blund-Ketill's strong reputation and stubborn honor, allows the matter to rest peacefully for a time. Eventually Hænsa-Þórir refuses to sell the neighbours hay for the winter. Following a summer with a poor hay crop, Blund-Ketill, who has many cattle, demands his tenants pay rent in hay and advises them to slaughter excess animals. Despite his efforts, some tenants run out of hay by mid-winter. Blund-Ketill initially helps them, asking for discretion, but the news spreads, leading more tenants to seek his aid. As his own supply dwindles, Blund-Ketill suggests they try to buy hay from Þórir, despite his reputation.

Blund-Ketill accompanies two desperate tenants to Þórir's farm. Þórir, upon seeing them approach, deliberately hides inside. When confronted, he rudely refuses to sell hay, even at a good price or with guarantees from chieftains like Odd and Arngrímr. Þórir's foster-son, Helgi, reveals that Þórir indeed has surplus hay. Blund-Ketill, realizing Þórir's obstinance, states he will take the hay by force, paying for it. Blund-Ketill and his men then take only what is needed, leaving Þórir with enough for his own stock.

When they take the hay anyway, he burns them alive in their farmstead. Enraged, Þórir seeks recourse from Arngrímr Goði and Tungu-Odd, portraying Blund-Ketill's actions as robbery. However, Helgi truthfully recounts the events, causing both chieftains to dismiss Þórir's complaints, acknowledging Blund-Ketill's honorable conduct. Undeterred, Þórir finds an ally in Thorvald Oddsson, Tungu-Odd's son, who has returned from the north. Thorvald, swayed by Þórir's offer of half his wealth, agrees to prosecute Blund-Ketill, despite Arngrímr's warnings against helping an "evil man" and opposing a well-liked chieftain. Thorvald, accompanied by Arngrímr and thirty men, confronts Blund-Ketill, who again offers a generous settlement. Þórir rejects all offers, demanding either self-judgment or outlawry for Blund-Ketill. Thorvald, under pressure from Þórir, then formally summons Blund-Ketill for thievery.

As Blund-Ketill leaves his house, Ørn, the Eastman merchant whom Blund-Ketill had previously helped, shoots and kills Helgi, Arngrímr's son. Þórir, bending over his dying foster-son, claims Helgi's last words were a command to "Burn, burn Blund-Ketil in!" This incites Thorvald to action. That night, Thorvald and his men ride to Ornólfsdal, set fire to Blund-Ketill's farm, and burn everyone inside to death. Blund-Ketill's son, Hersteinn, escapes the conflagration as he was staying with his foster-father, Thorbjørn the Strider. When they take the hay anyway, he burns them alive in their farmstead. A vendetta ensues in which Hænsa-Þórir is killed and beheaded; the neighbours then seal their differences with a marriage between their families. Hersteinn and Thorbjørn seek aid from Tungu-Odd, who initially helps them recover livestock and goods from the burned farm, claiming possession of the land. Thorbjørn then seeks assistance from Thorkel Trefill, a wise and popular man. Thorkel agrees to help Hersteinn and takes him to Gunnar Hlifsson at Gunnarstað to arrange a marriage alliance. Despite Gunnar's initial reluctance and desire to consult others, Thorkel, through a forceful negotiation that includes threatening Gunnar's servant and subtly pressuring Gunnar, secures the betrothal of Gunnar's daughter, Thurið, to Hersteinn. They then bring Thorð Gellir, a kinsman of Gunnar's daughter, into the alliance by having him officiate the betrothal and hold the wedding at his home in Hvamm, effectively binding him to their cause, despite his initial misgivings about the burning.

At the wedding feast, Hersteinn and Gunnar publicly swear oaths to have Arngrímr Goði and Thorvald Oddsson outlawed or to gain self-judgment at the upcoming Althing. Thorð Gellir, though urged, declines to swear an oath at that moment. As spring arrives, Thorð and Gunnar gather forces and summon Arngrímr and Þórir to the Althing. Thorvald Oddsson, having left his winter quarters, is also targeted.

Before the Althing, Þórir flees with eleven men. Tungu-Odd and his allies gather a large force, clashing with Thorð Gellir's smaller group at a river ford. Thorð's side suffers casualties and retreats. The Althing convenes at ármannsfell. Hersteinn, too ill to attend, entrusts his case to others. Thorð Gellir, with superior numbers, prevents Odd and his men from entering the hallowed Thing area, leading to a skirmish where Odd's side suffers losses. A reconciliation is brokered, forcing Odd to camp outside the Thing area, though he is allowed to attend court. His case suffers due to the overwhelming opposition.

Meanwhile, Hersteinn recovers from his illness. He is informed by a tenant that Þórir is hidden in the woods nearby with twelve men. Hersteinn and his men ambush them, killing all of Þórir's company. Hersteinn personally beheads Þórir, bringing his head to the Thing. This act brings Hersteinn great glory. As a result, Arngrímr Goði and all others involved in the burning are declared full outlaws. Thorvald Oddsson is sentenced to three years of banishment. Both Arngrímr and Thorvald leave Iceland that summer, with Thorvald reportedly enslaved in Scotland.

Later, Tungu-Odd's son, Thórod, attempts to court Jófrið, Gunnar's other daughter, but Gunnar rejects him due to the ongoing animosity. Odd then leads an attempt to graze their cattle on Gunnar's land, but it's unsuccessful. Finally, Odd plans to attack Gunnar with a large force. However, Thórod, acting independently, reaches a reconciliation with Gunnar before Odd arrives. Thórod proposes marriage to Jófrið, and Gunnar, after consulting friends, accepts. This reconciliation deeply displeases Odd, but other men intervene to prevent further conflict. Thórod and Jófrið are married. Thórod later leaves Iceland to buy his brother Thorvald's freedom but neither brother ever returns. Tungu-Odd falls ill and dies, requesting to be buried on Skáneyjarfjell so he can oversee the entire Tungu valley.

Jófrið, Gunnar's daughter, later marries Thorstein Egilsson at Borg.

Themes

The saga highlights aspects of Icelandic culture, such as hospitality to guests and travellers, (expected) generosity to one's neighbours, and the need to gather support of a chieftain in order to obtain justice. Ari Þorgilsson mentions the events in his ''Íslendingabók'' in connection with a change in Icelandic law, whereby a legal complaint was no longer to be brought to the closest Thing (assembly) but to the Quarter Thing. Jan de Vries (1964), ''Altnordische Literaturgeschichte'' Vol. 2, 2nd ed. Berlin: De Gruyter, pp. 359–62 . It has also been suggested that ''Hænsa-Þóris saga'' was written in response to a change in the law originating from King Magnus VI of Norway. According to the new law, a farmer was obliged to sell his neighbours hay if they were in great need. If he refused to sell the hay, he had to pay a fine, and if he resisted with force, his neighbours could attack him in turn without committing a crime. This was a novelty in Icelandic jurisprudence, and a formal objection was raised against it at the Althing in 1281. According to this theory, the saga was written as propaganda in favour of the new law.Björn Sigfússon (1962),
Staða Hænsa-Þóris sögu í réttarþróun 13. aldar
", ''Saga'' III(3), pp. 345-370

References

External links

Original text and translation at the Icelandic Saga Database
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Sagas of Icelanders

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