Hálfdanar saga Eysteinssonar
Encyclopedia
Hálfdanar saga Eysteinssonar is a legendary saga
from early 14th century Iceland about Halfdan Eysteinsson. The main events appear to take place in the 9th century.
Halfdan's grandfather was Þrándr the eponymous king of Trondheim
, who in turn was the son of Sæmingr the king of Halogaland
and the son of Odin. Sæmingr had married Naumu who had given her name to Namdalen
. Þrándr had married Dagmær, the sister of Svanhvít, the heroine of Hrómundar saga Gripssonar
, and they had had the sons Eysteinn and Eirikr inn víðförli who is the hero of Eireks saga víðförla
and discovered Ódáinsakr.
Eysteinn married Ása, the daughter of Sigurd Hart
and Áslaug, the daughter of Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye. They had several sons among them Halfdan.
It deals with Eysteinn's adventures in Staraja Ladoga (Aldeigjuborg), his conquest of Alaborg
and about the adventures of his son Halfdan.
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...
from early 14th century Iceland about Halfdan Eysteinsson. The main events appear to take place in the 9th century.
Halfdan's grandfather was Þrándr the eponymous king of Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
, who in turn was the son of Sæmingr the king of Halogaland
Hålogaland
Hålogaland was the northernmost of the Norwegian provinces in the mediaeval Norse sagas. In the early Viking Age, before Harald Fairhair, Hålogaland was a petty kingdom extending between Namdalen in Nord-Trøndelag and Lyngen in Troms.-Etymology:...
and the son of Odin. Sæmingr had married Naumu who had given her name to Namdalen
Namdalen
Namdalen is a traditional district in the central part of Norway, consisting of the municipalities Namsos, Grong, Overhalla, Røyrvik, Fosnes, Nærøy, Høylandet, Namdalseid, Flatanger, Lierne, Leka, Namsskogan, and Vikna, all in Nord-Trøndelag county. The district has two towns: Kolvereid and Namsos...
. Þrándr had married Dagmær, the sister of Svanhvít, the heroine 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...
, and they had had the sons Eysteinn and Eirikr inn víðförli who is the hero of Eireks saga víðförla
Eireks saga víðförla
Eireks saga víðförla is a legendary saga on a Norwegian who travels to Miklagard and then to India and beyond in search of Údáinsakr , and returns. It merges the Údáinsakr of Norse mythology with the notion of heaven in Christianity....
and discovered Ódáinsakr.
Eysteinn married Ása, the daughter of Sigurd Hart
Sigurd Hart
Sigurd Hart or Sigurd Hjort was a legendary king of Ringerike in Norway, who appears in Ragnarssona þáttr and in Halfdan the Black's saga....
and Áslaug, the daughter of Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye. They had several sons among them Halfdan.
It deals with Eysteinn's adventures in Staraja Ladoga (Aldeigjuborg), his conquest of Alaborg
Alaborg
Álaborg or Áluborg is the name of a Varangian fort mentioned in the Norse sagas about Halfdan Eysteinsson and Hrolf Ganger. The first saga indicates that it was possible to sail from Aldeigjuborg to Alaborg northward by sea, but a more rapid and practicable way was by land eastward...
and about the adventures of his son Halfdan.
Translations
- Pálsson, Hermann, and Paul Edwards: Seven Viking romances. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1985 (Bósa saga ok Herrauðs, Egils saga einhenda ok Ásmundar saga berserkjabana, Gautreks saga, Hálfdanar saga Eysteinssonar, Helga þáttr Þórissonar, Þorsteins þáttr bœjarmagns, Ǫrvar-Odds saga).