Cookies on our website

We use cookies on this website, mainly to provide a secure browsing experience but also to collect statistics on how the website is used. You can find out more about the cookies we set, the information we store and how we use it on the cookies page.

Continue

skaldic

Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

Menu Search

Orkneyinga saga — Orkn

 

Vol. I. Poetry for Scandinavian Rulers 1: From Mythological Times to c. 1035 8. Volume Introduction 3. Sources for skaldic poetry cited in the kings’ sagas: manuscripts, facsimiles and editions 3.2. Sagas relating to Denmark and Orkney to c. 1035 2. Orkneyinga saga (Orkn)

2. Orkneyinga saga (Orkn)

Stemma (from ÍF 34, cxxvi; Whaley 1998, 18)

Manuscripts

*Cod. Ac.: Codex Academicus (Icelandic, c. 1250-1300). Vellum ms. that burned in the Copenhagen fire of 1728, but previously had been used for:

a) 332ˣ: AM 332 4°ˣ (c. 1700, in the hand of Ásgeir Jónsson). Copy of *Cod. Ac.

b) 48ˣmarg: AM 48 folˣ, marginalia (end C17th, in the hand of Ásgeir Jónsson). Copy of parts of Flat. The main text has no independent value but the marginal additions and corrections preserve readings from *Cod. Ac.

325I:    AM 325 I 4° (c. 1300).

Flat:      Flateyjarbók, GKS 1005 fol (Icelandic, mainly c. 1387-95). See separate entry.

325III α: AM 325 III α 4° (Icelandic, c. 1300-50). Two vellum leaves.

R702ˣUppsUB R 702ˣ (hand of Magnús Ólafsson (1573-1636)). A collection of stanzas from various sources, including Orkn, with contexts and comments.

762ˣ:    AM 762 4°ˣ. A selection by Magnús Ólafsson from the stanzas in R702ˣ. Used in Skj A, but has no independent value.

SLR:     Worm 1650. Specimen Lexici Runici. A glossary of words and phrases, including over one hundred from Orkn, largely the work of Magnús Ólafsson but published by Ole Worm. The orthography of the mss is not reproduced.

325III β: AM 325 III β 4° (Icelandic, c. 1300). One leaf.

Facsimile and editions: Flat 1930; Orkn 1887, Orkn 1913-16, ÍF 34, Bibire 1988.

The saga, known to medieval scribes as Jarla saga ‘Saga of the (Orkney) jarls’, encompasses disparate materials spanning over three centuries from mythical times to c. 1171. It appears to have been compiled c. 1200, and hence is one of the earlier kings’ sagas, though the extant version is dated to c. 1230. The author is anonymous, likely an Icelander but one familiar with the topography and traditions of Orkney.

Poetry

The early part of Orkn contains little skaldic poetry, and only TorfE Lv 1-5, Ótt Hfl 20 and BjHall Kálffl 8 are edited in this volume; all of these are also preserved elsewhere. Seventy-four further stanzas in Orkn pertaining to events after c. 1035 are edited in SkP II (see p. lxxvi).

References

  1. Bibliography
  2. Skj A = Finnur Jónsson, ed. 1912-15a. Den norsk-islandske skjaldedigtning. A: Tekst efter håndskrifterne. 2 vols. Copenhagen: Villadsen & Christensen. Rpt. 1967. Copenhagen: Rosenkilde & Bagger.
  3. Worm, Ole. 1650. Specimen lexici runici: Obscuriorum qvarundam vocum qvæ in priscis occurunt historiis & poëtis Danicis, enodationem exhibens. Hafniæ (Copenhagen): Martzan.
  4. Whaley, Diana, ed. and trans. 1998. The Poetry of Arnórr jarlaskáld: An Edition and Study. Westfield Publications in Medieval Studies 8. Turnhout: Brepols.
  5. ÍF 34 = Orkneyinga saga. Ed. Finnbogi Guðmundsson. 1965.
  6. Flat 1930 = Finnur Jónsson 1930a.
  7. Orkn 1913-16 = Sigurður Nordal, ed. 1913-16. Orkneyinga saga. SUGNL 40. Copenhagen: Møller.
  8. Bibire, Paul. 1988. ‘The Poetry of Earl Rǫgnvaldr’s Court’. In Crawford 1988, 208-40.
  9. Orkn 1887 = Gudbrand Vigfusson 1887-94, I.
  10. SLR = Worm 1650.
  11. SkP II = Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Ed. Kari Ellen Gade. 2009.
  12. Internal references
  13. (forthcoming), ‘ Unattributed, Orkneyinga saga’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, p. . <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=47> (accessed 19 March 2024)
  14. Alison Finlay (ed.) 2012, ‘Bjarni gullbrárskáld Hallbjarnarson, Kálfsflokkr 8’ in Diana Whaley (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 1: From Mythical Times to c. 1035. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 1. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 889.
  15. Matthew Townend (ed.) 2012, ‘Óttarr svarti, Hǫfuðlausn 20’ in Diana Whaley (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 1: From Mythical Times to c. 1035. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 1. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 766.
  16. Russell Poole (ed.) 2012, ‘Torf-Einarr Rǫgnvaldsson, Lausavísur 1’ in Diana Whaley (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 1: From Mythical Times to c. 1035. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 1. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 131.
Vol. II. Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: from c. 1035 to c. 1300 8. Introduction 4. Sources for Skaldic Poetry Cited in the Kings' Sagas 2. Sagas relating to Denmark and Orkney after 1035 2. Orkneyinga saga (Orkn)

2. Orkneyinga saga (Orkn)

Kari Ellen Gade 2009, ‘Orkneyinga saga (Orkn)’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols [check printed volume for citation].

Orkneyinga saga (Orkn)[23]

Stemma (from ÍF 34, cxxvi; Whaley 1998, 18)

  • O1
    • O2
      • *
        • *Cod. Ac.
          • 332
          • 48mx
        • *
          • 325I
          • *
            • Flat
      • 325III α
        • 702x
          • 762x
        • SLR
      • 325III β

Manuscripts

*Cod. Ac.: Codex Academicus (Icelandic, c. 1250-1300). Vellum manuscript that burned in the Copenhagen fire of 1728, but previously had been used for:

  • a) 332ˣ: AM 332 4°ˣ. Copy of *Cod. Ac. (c. 1700, in the hand of Ásgeir Jónsson).
  • b) 48ˣ: AM 48 folˣ, marginalia (48ˣmarg). Copy of parts of Flat (end C17th, in the hand of Ásgeir Jónsson). The main text has no independent value but the marginal additions and corrections preserve readings from *Cod. Ac.

325I:       AM 325 I 4° (c. 1300).

Flat:         Flateyjarbók, GKS 1005 fol. See separate entry.

325III α: AM 325III α 4° (Icelandic, c. 1300-50). Two vellum leaves.

R702ˣ:    UppsUB R 702 4°ˣ (hand of Magnús Ólafsson (1573-1636)). A collection of stanzas from various sources, including Orkn, with contexts and comments.

762ˣ:       AM 762 4°ˣ. A selection by Magnús Ólafsson from the stanzas in R702ˣ. It is used in Skj A, but has no independent value.

SLR:        Worm 1650. Specimen Lexici Runici. A glossary of words and phrases, including over one hundred from Orkn, largely the work of Magnús Ólafsson but published by Ole Worm. The orthography of the manuscripts is not reproduced.

325III β: AM 325III β 4° (Icelandic, c. 1300). One leaf.

Facsimile and editions: Flat 1930; Orkn 1887, Orkn 1913-16, ÍF 34, Bibire 1988.

Poetry

Most of the seventy-four stanzas contained in the parts of Orkn that cover the years post-1030 can be divided into three groups. The first group deals with events that took place during the reign of Jarl Þorfinnr Sigurðarson (r. c. 1020-64; Arn Rǫgndr 1, Arn Þorfdr, Arn Lv) and the second with Magnús berfœttr Óláfsson’s campaign to the west in 1098 (Kali Lv, Mberf Lv, Þham Magndr 3). The third group of poetry documents events from the reign of Jarl Rǫgnvaldr Kali Kolsson (r. c. 1137-1159), with particular attention to his crusade in 1151-3 (Rv Lv 1-32, Hbreiðm Lv, Eiríkr Lv, Oddi Lv 1-5, Árm Lv 1-4, Þsvart Lv, Sigm Lv 1-2, Bót Lv, Anon (Orkn)). Orkn also contains Hharð Lv 2b (1030) and Ingimarr Sveinsson’s lausavísa about the battle of Färlev (1134; Ingimarr Lv). BjHall KálfflI has been edited in SkP I (see Hkr above).

[23] For a full discussion of Orkn, see Introduction to SkP I.

References

  1. Bibliography
  2. Skj A = Finnur Jónsson, ed. 1912-15a. Den norsk-islandske skjaldedigtning. A: Tekst efter håndskrifterne. 2 vols. Copenhagen: Villadsen & Christensen. Rpt. 1967. Copenhagen: Rosenkilde & Bagger.
  3. Worm, Ole. 1650. Specimen lexici runici: Obscuriorum qvarundam vocum qvæ in priscis occurunt historiis & poëtis Danicis, enodationem exhibens. Hafniæ (Copenhagen): Martzan.
  4. Whaley, Diana, ed. and trans. 1998. The Poetry of Arnórr jarlaskáld: An Edition and Study. Westfield Publications in Medieval Studies 8. Turnhout: Brepols.
  5. Flat 1930 = Finnur Jónsson 1930a.
  6. Orkn 1913-16 = Sigurður Nordal, ed. 1913-16. Orkneyinga saga. SUGNL 40. Copenhagen: Møller.
  7. Bibire, Paul. 1988. ‘The Poetry of Earl Rǫgnvaldr’s Court’. In Crawford 1988, 208-40.
  8. Orkn 1887 = Gudbrand Vigfusson 1887-94, I.
  9. SkP I = Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 1: From Mythical Times to c. 1035. Ed. Diana Whaley. 2012.
  10. SLR = Worm 1650.
  11. Internal references
  12. (forthcoming), ‘ Unattributed, Heimskringla’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, p. . <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=4> (accessed 19 March 2024)
  13. (forthcoming), ‘ Unattributed, Orkneyinga saga’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, p. . <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=47> (accessed 19 March 2024)
  14. Kari Ellen Gade 2009, ‘ Ingimarr af Aski Sveinsson, Lausavísa’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 497-8. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=1278> (accessed 19 March 2024)
  15. Kari Ellen Gade 2009, ‘ Kali Sæbjarnarson, Lausavísa’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 393-4. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=1287> (accessed 19 March 2024)
  16. Kari Ellen Gade 2009, ‘ Magnús berfœttr Óláfsson, Lausavísur’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 385-90. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=1305> (accessed 19 March 2024)
  17. Diana Whaley 2009, ‘ Arnórr jarlaskáld Þórðarson, Lausavísa’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 280-1. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=2982> (accessed 19 March 2024)
  18. Judith Jesch 2009, ‘ Anonymous, Lausavísa from Orkneyinga saga’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 838-9. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=3087> (accessed 19 March 2024)
  19. Judith Jesch (ed.) 2009, ‘Oddi inn litli Glúmsson, Lausavísur 1’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 614-16.
  20. Judith Jesch (ed.) 2009, ‘Rǫgnvaldr jarl Kali Kolsson, Lausavísur 1’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 576-7.
  21. Judith Jesch (ed.) 2009, ‘Sigmundr ǫngull, Lausavísur 1’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 626-7.
  22. Not published: do not cite ()
  23. Not published: do not cite ()
Close

Log in

This service is only available to members of the relevant projects, and to purchasers of the skaldic volumes published by Brepols.
This service uses cookies. By logging in you agree to the use of cookies on your browser.

Close

Information about a text: poem, sequence of stanzas, or prose work

This page is used for different resources. For groups of stanzas such as poems, you will see the verse text and, where published, the translation of each stanza. These are also links to information about the individual stanzas.

For prose works you will see a list of the stanzas and fragments in that prose work, where relevant, providing links to the individual stanzas.

Where you have access to introduction(s) to the poem or prose work in the database, these will appear in the ‘introduction’ section.

The final section, ‘sources’ is a list of the manuscripts that contain the prose work, as well as manuscripts and prose works linked to stanzas and sections of a text.