Konunga heiti — Þul Konunga^III

This þula (Þul Konunga) is recorded only in mss A (main ms.) and B (and 744ˣ) of Skm (SnE). The þula contains heiti for ‘king’, and in both mss it has the chapter heading Konunga heiti ‘Names for kings’, in A written in red ink. In ms. B this þula comes first in the sequence of þulur and is followed by Þul Sækonunga (which is the first þula in all the other mss; on the order of the þulur, see Introduction to Anon Þulur). In ms. A the list of Konunga heiti is preceded by Þul Sækonunga and followed by Þul Dverga. The þula is not recorded in LaufE or RE 1665. In Skm (SnE 1998, 101, 103), many of the terms for ‘ruler’ contained in the present þula are traced back to ‘the sons’ of a legendary king, Hálfdan gamli ‘the Old’ (see also Ættartölur in Flat 1860-8, I, 24-6). He is said to be the ancestor of a number of royal families, whose names, when used in the sg., mean ‘ruler’ (the Hildingar, Niflungar, Ǫðlingar, Ynglingar, Daglingar, Bragningar, Buðlungar, Lofðungar and Siklingar, all of which are listed in the present þula). Some of these kings and rulers are known from other sources as well, while others are not (see Notes below), and it is clear that the names of many of these legendary ‘ancestors’ were the result of medieval learned etymologies based on such patterns as Skjǫldr (legendary king) > Skjǫldungar pl. (descendants of Skjǫldr) > Skjǫldungr sg. (ruler). In addition, Skm (SnE 1998, I, 101) lists the names of another nine sons of Hálfdan, which are all heiti for rulers and included in the present þula (see also Ættartölur in Flat 1860-8, I, 24-5).

References

1. Bibliography
2. Flat 1860-8 = Gudbrand Vigfusson [Guðbrandur Vigfússon] and C. R. Unger, eds. 1860-8. Flateyjarbók. En samling af norske konge-sagaer med indskudte mindre fortællinger om begivenheder i og udenfor Norge samt annaler. 3 vols. Christiania (Oslo): Malling.
3. SnE 1998 = Snorri Sturluson. 1998. Edda: Skáldskaparmál. Ed. Anthony Faulkes. 2 vols. University College London: Viking Society for Northern Research.
4. Internal references
5. Edith Marold 2017, ‘Snorra Edda (Prologue, Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál)’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols [check printed volume for citation].
6. (forthcoming), ‘ Snorri Sturluson, Skáldskaparmál’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. . <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=112> (accessed 26 April 2024)
7. Elena Gurevich 2017, ‘ Anonymous, Sækonunga heiti’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 677. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=3183> (accessed 26 April 2024)
8. Elena Gurevich 2017, ‘ Anonymous, Dverga heiti’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 692. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=3227> (accessed 26 April 2024)
9. (forthcoming), ‘ Unattributed, Laufás Edda’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. . <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=10928> (accessed 26 April 2024)
10. Not published: do not cite ()