Linklater, Eric. The Battle of Clontarf
- Author: Linklater, Eric
- Title: The Battle of Clontarf
- Published in: Viking 15
- Year: 1951
- Pages: 1-14
- E-text:
- Reference: Linklater, Eric. "The Battle of Clontarf." Viking 15 (1951): 1-14.
- Key words:
Annotation
In this article, Linklater offers a theory about the geopolitical motivations for the Battle of Clontarf, as described in Njáls saga. After introducing the two Nordic leaders, Earl Sigurd and King Sigtrygg, at the battle, Linklater offers a summary of the preceding meeting, in which Kári takes revenge on one of Njál‘s burners. Linklater then observes a problem with the saga‘s recounting of the events; namely, that the terms Sigtrygg offers to Sigurd are impossible to enact. To resolve this, Linklater proposes that the significance of this battle, and the motivation behind the agreement, was actually an alliance with Sweyn Forkbeard of Denmark. As evidence, he looks at the Irish annals, which portray the Norse side as being much larger and more diverse than Njáls saga suggests.
Lýsing
Texta vantar
See also
References
Chapter 155: hét honum móður sinni og konungdómi: „"Earl Sigurd made it a condition that he should, if they were successful in their war against Brian, receive in marriage King Sigtrygg's redoubtable mother, and become King of Ireland in Brians place. It does not carry conviction because Sigtrygg, from what we know of him, had no power to accept the second of these conditions. That Sigurd should wish to marry the elderly and apparently ill-natured Kormlada can be accepted because the alliance might do something to substantiate, and as it were naturalise, his claim to a throne won by conquest; but Sigtrygg, of his own authority, was clearly unable to offer him the high kingship of Ireland." (pp. 5-6)
Links
- Written by: Adam Bierstedt
- Icelandic/English translation:
