Göngu-Hrólfs saga
Encyclopedia
Göngu-Hrólfs saga is a legendary saga
, written mainly for entertainment, as the author clearly states in his preface and at the end of the story. Although the hero shares a name with the settler of Normandy
, he has no connection with Rollo
, being an earlier and wholly legendary individual.
Meanwhile Hrolf, the son of Sturlaug the Industrious (of Sturlaugs saga starfsama
), is growing up in Norway
as a layabout who shows little promise. He leaves home after his father demands he make something of his life. After fighting various Vikings and robbers, he comes to the court of Earl Thorgny of Jutland
. Here he befriends Thorgny’s son Stefnir, and helps the Jutlanders fight off a Viking from Scotland
, named Tryggvi. Two men named Hrafn and Krak come to stay at Thorgny’s court. Hrolf and Stefnir humiliate them during a ballgame and they become surly until Hrolf makes it up to them with gifts of fine clothes. After this, however, they disappear from Jutland. News then reaches Earl Thorgny of Princes Ingigerd and her dilemma, and he vows to help her and take her as his wife. However, it is Hrolf who sets out for Russia
to fight Sorkvir.
On his way, he meets a man named Vilhjalm, who asks Hrolf if he can become his servant, but later tricks Hrolf into swearing an oath to become his servant and say Vilhjalm is his master. When they get to Russia, they help King Eirik fight off a Tartar
invasion, where Hrolf fights and Vilhjalm takes the credit. Hrolf captures a wonderful stag, enters Hreggvid’s burial mound, and defeats the Tartar champion, all of which deeds are attributed to Vilhjalm. Vilhjalm is rewarded with Gyda, King Eirik’s sister, as his wife.
Now Hrolf is no longer obliged to aid Vilhjalm, he kills Sorkvir and leaves in secret with Princess Ingigerd. King Eirik realises that Hrolf had been the real hero and that his new brother-in-law is a fraud. He threatens Vilhjalm who swears he will kill Hrolf and bring Ingigerd back to Russia. When Vilhjalm catches up with them he persuades Hrolf to accept him as his servant again. As soon as he gets the chance, he betrays Hrolf, cutting his legs off, and takes Ingigerd to Jutland after forcing her to swear that she will say nothing of Hrolf, in return for her life. Meanwhile, a dwarf masquerading as a human named Mondul has ingratiated himself with Earl Thorgny and tricks him into believing his counsellor, Bjorn, has betrayed him, and the dwarf has taken the man’s status, wife and possessions. Meanwhile Vilhjalm appears with Ingigerd and boasts of his great feats. Hrolf manages to get to Bjorn’s house on horseback, where he hears what had occurred and takes Mondul prisoner. He forces the dwarf to make good what he has done, and for good measure, put Hrolf’s legs back on. Then he goes to Thorgny’s court and denounces Vilhjalm, who confesses that he murdered his own family, and he is put to death.
Earl Thorgny wishes to marry Princess Ingigerd, but she puts him off by pointing out that her father has not yet been avenged. Hrolf volunteers again and sets off for Russia with the assistance of Mondul the Dwarf and a large army. In the meantime, Tryggvi appears again and kills Earl Thorgny. Bjorn retreats to a castle. Two mysterious strangers help him defeat Tryggvi. Hrolf and his army defeat the Vikings and kill King Eirik and his monstrous warriors, with the aid of Mondul’s magic and two mysterious strangers.
Only one of the strangers survives, however, and turns out to be Hrafn, and his dead brother is Krak. His real name, however, is Harald, and his is the son of Edgar, king of England, who has had his throne usurped. They return to Jutland in time for Thorgny’s funeral feast, after which Hrolf agrees to aid Harald regain his throne from the usurper. Returning from England
, Hrolf marries Ingigerd, and they go on to rule over Russia
. They have many children, including Olaf who is king of Gardar during the time of Hromund Gripsson (of Hrómundar saga Gripssonar
). The saga states that it is not known whether Hrolf died in battle or bed.
Legendary saga
A Legendary saga or Fornaldarsaga is a Norse saga that, unlike the Icelanders' sagas, takes place before the colonization of Iceland. There are some exceptions, such as Yngvars saga víðförla, which takes place in the 11th century...
, written mainly for entertainment, as the author clearly states in his preface and at the end of the story. Although the hero shares a name with the settler of Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, he has no connection with Rollo
Rollo
Rollo has multiple meanings. It may mean:a first name*Rollo Armstrong, member of British dance act Faithless* Rollo May, American psychologist...
, being an earlier and wholly legendary individual.
Summary
The saga begins in Russia where King Eirik, a Viking leader whose allies include berserks and wizards, attacks Hreggvid, king of Holmgardr (Novgorod). Hreggvid is killed in battle and Eirik encounters his daughter, Princess Ingigerd. He falls in love with her and swears he will grant her any request. She asks that he give her three years to find a man who can fight Eirik’s champion, Sorkvir, and agrees to marry the Viking if she fails. Sorkvir cannot be defeated unless the warrior is wearing King Hreggvid’s armour, and Eirik’s counsellor, the sorcerer Grim Aegir, advises him to use trickery to ensure no one can do this.Meanwhile Hrolf, the son of Sturlaug the Industrious (of Sturlaugs saga starfsama
Sturlaugs saga starfsama
Sturlaugs saga starfsama is a legendary saga from the 14th century about Sturlaugr the Industrious, who was the son of a Norwegian Hersir.After having killed a competing suitor and chased away a second one, he married Åsa the Fair, the daughter of a jarl. Her old foster-mother helps Sturlaugr with...
), is growing up in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
as a layabout who shows little promise. He leaves home after his father demands he make something of his life. After fighting various Vikings and robbers, he comes to the court of Earl Thorgny of Jutland
Jutland
Jutland , historically also called Cimbria, is the name of the peninsula that juts out in Northern Europe toward the rest of Scandinavia, forming the mainland part of Denmark. It has the North Sea to its west, Kattegat and Skagerrak to its north, the Baltic Sea to its east, and the Danish–German...
. Here he befriends Thorgny’s son Stefnir, and helps the Jutlanders fight off a Viking from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, named Tryggvi. Two men named Hrafn and Krak come to stay at Thorgny’s court. Hrolf and Stefnir humiliate them during a ballgame and they become surly until Hrolf makes it up to them with gifts of fine clothes. After this, however, they disappear from Jutland. News then reaches Earl Thorgny of Princes Ingigerd and her dilemma, and he vows to help her and take her as his wife. However, it is Hrolf who sets out for Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
to fight Sorkvir.
On his way, he meets a man named Vilhjalm, who asks Hrolf if he can become his servant, but later tricks Hrolf into swearing an oath to become his servant and say Vilhjalm is his master. When they get to Russia, they help King Eirik fight off a Tartar
Tartar
Tartar may refer to: *An alternative spelling of the name Tatars, an ethnic group in present-day Russia.* Tartars, the name of the athletic teams from 1927–1999 at Wayne State University in Detroit.*Tartar sauce*Tartar on teeth, hardened dental plaque...
invasion, where Hrolf fights and Vilhjalm takes the credit. Hrolf captures a wonderful stag, enters Hreggvid’s burial mound, and defeats the Tartar champion, all of which deeds are attributed to Vilhjalm. Vilhjalm is rewarded with Gyda, King Eirik’s sister, as his wife.
Now Hrolf is no longer obliged to aid Vilhjalm, he kills Sorkvir and leaves in secret with Princess Ingigerd. King Eirik realises that Hrolf had been the real hero and that his new brother-in-law is a fraud. He threatens Vilhjalm who swears he will kill Hrolf and bring Ingigerd back to Russia. When Vilhjalm catches up with them he persuades Hrolf to accept him as his servant again. As soon as he gets the chance, he betrays Hrolf, cutting his legs off, and takes Ingigerd to Jutland after forcing her to swear that she will say nothing of Hrolf, in return for her life. Meanwhile, a dwarf masquerading as a human named Mondul has ingratiated himself with Earl Thorgny and tricks him into believing his counsellor, Bjorn, has betrayed him, and the dwarf has taken the man’s status, wife and possessions. Meanwhile Vilhjalm appears with Ingigerd and boasts of his great feats. Hrolf manages to get to Bjorn’s house on horseback, where he hears what had occurred and takes Mondul prisoner. He forces the dwarf to make good what he has done, and for good measure, put Hrolf’s legs back on. Then he goes to Thorgny’s court and denounces Vilhjalm, who confesses that he murdered his own family, and he is put to death.
Earl Thorgny wishes to marry Princess Ingigerd, but she puts him off by pointing out that her father has not yet been avenged. Hrolf volunteers again and sets off for Russia with the assistance of Mondul the Dwarf and a large army. In the meantime, Tryggvi appears again and kills Earl Thorgny. Bjorn retreats to a castle. Two mysterious strangers help him defeat Tryggvi. Hrolf and his army defeat the Vikings and kill King Eirik and his monstrous warriors, with the aid of Mondul’s magic and two mysterious strangers.
Only one of the strangers survives, however, and turns out to be Hrafn, and his dead brother is Krak. His real name, however, is Harald, and his is the son of Edgar, king of England, who has had his throne usurped. They return to Jutland in time for Thorgny’s funeral feast, after which Hrolf agrees to aid Harald regain his throne from the usurper. Returning from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Hrolf marries Ingigerd, and they go on to rule over Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. They have many children, including Olaf who is king of Gardar during the time of Hromund Gripsson (of Hrómundar saga Gripssonar
Hrómundar saga Gripssonar
Hrómundar saga Gripssonar or The Saga of Hromund Gripsson is a legendary saga from Iceland. The original version has been lost, but its content has been preserved in the rímur of Hrómundr Gripsson published in Fernir forníslenzkar rímnaflokkar...
). The saga states that it is not known whether Hrolf died in battle or bed.