Njála, 113

Chapter 113

THE PEDIGREE OF GUDMUND THE POWERFUL.

There was a man named Gudmund the Powerful, who dwelt at Modruvale in Eyjafirth. He was the son of Eyjolf the son of Einar (1). Gudmund was a mighty chief, wealthy in goods; he had in his house a hundred hired servants. He overbore in rank and weight all the chiefs in the north country, so that some left their homesteads, but some he put to death, and some gave up their priesthoods for his sake, and from him are come the greatest part of all the picked and famous families in the land, such as "the Pointdwellers" and the "Sturlungs" and the "Hvamdwellers," and the "Fleetmen," and Kettle the Bishop, and many of the greatest men.

Gudmund was a friend of Asgrim Ellidagrim's son, and so he hoped to get his help.

ENDNOTES:

(1) Einar was the son of Audun the Bald, the son of Thorolf Butter, the son of Thorstein the Unstable, the son of Grim with the Tuft. The mother of Gudmund was Hallberg, the daughter of Thorodd Helm, but the mother of Hallbera was Reginleifa, daughter of Saemund the South-islander; after him is named Saemundslithe in Skagafirth. The mother of Eyjolf, Gudmund's father, was Valgerda Runolf's daughter; the mother of Valgerda was Valbjorg, her mother was Joruna the Disowned, a daughter of King Oswald the Saint. The mother of Einar, the father of Eyjolf, was Helga, a daughter of Helgi the Lean, who took Eyjafirth as the first settler. Helgi was the son of Eyvind the Easterling. The mother of Helgi was Raforta, the daughter of Kjarval, the Erse King. The mother of Helga Helgi's daughter, was Thoruna the Horned, daughter of Kettle Flatnose, the son of Bjorn the Rough-footed, the son of Grim, Lord of Sogn. The mother of Grim was Hervora, but the mother of Hervora was Thorgerda, daughter of King Haleyg of Helgeland. Thorlauga was the name of Gudmund the Powerful's wife, she was a daughter of Atli the Strong, the son of Eilif the Eagle. the son of Bard, the son of Jalkettle, the son of Ref, the son of Skidi the Old. Herdisa was the name of Thorlauga's mother, a daughter of Thord of the Head, the son of Bjorn Butter- carrier, the son of Hroald the son of Hrodlaug the Sad, the son of Bjorn Ironside, the son of Ragnar Hairybreeks, the son of Sigurd Ring, the son of Randver, the son of Radbard. The mother of Herdisa Thord's daughter was Thorgerda Skidi's daughter, her mother was Fridgerda, a daughter of Kjarval, the Erse King.

Kafli 113

Maður er nefndur Guðmundur hinn ríki er bjó á Möðruvöllum í Eyjafirði. Hann var Eyjólfsson, Einarssonar, Auðunarsonar rotins, Þórólfssonar smjörs, Þorsteinssonar skrofa, Grímssonar kambans. Móðir Guðmundar hét Hallbera dóttir Þórodds hjálms en móðir Hallberu hét Reginleif dóttir Sæmundar hins suðureyska. Við þann er kennd Sæmundarhlíð í Skagafirði. Móðir Eyjólfs, föður Guðmundar, var Valgerður Runólfsdóttir. Móðir Valgerðar var Valbjörg. Hennar móðir var Jórunn hin óborna dóttir Ósvalds konungs hins helga. Móðir Eyjólfs var Helga dóttir Helga hins magra er nam Eyjafjörð. Hann var son Eyvindar Austmanns og Raförtu dóttur Kjarvals Írakonungs. Móðir Helgu, dóttur Helga, var Þórunn hyrna dóttir Ketils flatnefs, Bjarnarsonar bunu, Grímssonar hersis. Móðir Gríms var Hervör en móðir Hervarar var Þorgerður dóttir Háleygs konungs af Hálogalandi.

Þorlaug hét kona Guðmundar hins ríka, dóttir Atla hins ramma, Eilífssonar arnar, Bárðarsonar í Ál, Ketilssonar refs, Skíðasonar hins gamla. Herdís hét móðir Þorlaugar, dóttir Þórðar Höfða-Bjarnarsonar byrðusmjörs, Hróaldssonar, Hróðlaugssonar hryggs, Bjarnarsonar járnsíðu, Ragnarssonar loðbrókar, Sigurðarsonar hrings, Randvéssonar, Ráðbarðssonar.

Móðir Herdísar Þórðardóttur var Friðgerður dóttir Kjarvals sonar Írakonungs.

Guðmundur var höfðingi mikill og auðigur. Hann hafði hundrað hjóna. Hann sat yfir virðingu allra höfðingja fyrir norðan land svo að sumir létu bústaði sína en suma tók hann af lífi en sumir létu goðorð sín fyrir honum. Og er frá honum komið allt hið mesta mannval á landinu: Oddaverjar og Sturlungar og Hvammverjar og Fljótamenn og Ketill biskup og margir hinir mestu menn.

Guðmundur var vinur Ásgríms Elliða-Grímssonar og ætlaði hann þar til liðveislu.