Heimskringla

The Chronicle of The Kings of Norway

by Snorri Sturlson | c.1179-1241 | 320,198 words

The "Heimskringla" of Snorri Sturlason is a collection of sagas concerning the various rulers of Norway, from about A.D. 850 to the year A.D. 1177....

Preparer's Note

The "Heimskringla" of Snorri Sturlason is a collection of sagas concerning the various rulers of Norway, from about A.D. 850 to the year A.D. 1177.

The Sagas covered in this work are the following:

  1. Ynglinga Saga
  2. Halfdan the Black Saga
  3. Harald Harfager's Saga
  4. Hakon the Good's Saga
  5. Saga of King Harald Grafeld and of Earl Hakon Son of Sigurd
  6. King Olaf Trygvason's Saga
  7. Saga of Olaf Haraldson (St. Olaf)
  8. Saga of Magnus the Good
  9. Saga of Harald Hardrade
  10. Saga of Olaf Kyrre
  11. Magnus Barefoot's Saga
  12. Saga of Sigurd the Crusader and His Brothers Eystein and Olaf
  13. Saga of Magnus the Blind and of Harald Gille
  14. Saga of Sigurd, Inge, and Eystein, the Sons of Harald
  15. Saga of Hakon Herdebreid ("Hakon the Broad-Shouldered")
  16. Magnus Erlingson's Saga

While scholars and historians continue to debate the historical accuracy of Sturlason's work, the "Heimskringla" is still considered an important original source for information on the Viking Age, a period which Sturlason covers almost in its entirety.

Selected Bibliography:

Original Text:

Athalbjarnarson, Bjarni (ed.): "Heimskringla" vol. I-III (Reykjavik, 1946-51).

Other Translations:

Hollander, Lee M.: "Heimskringla" (University of Texas Press, 1964)

Magnusson, Magnus and Hermann Palsson: "King Harald's Saga" (Penguin Classics, London, 1966).  "Saga of Harald Hardrade" only.

Morris, William and Eirikr Magnusson: "Heimskingla", in "Saga Library", vol III-VI (London, 1893).

Recommended Reading:

Jones, Gwyn: "A History of the Vikings" (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1968; Revised, 1984).
 

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