Ynglinga saga

sv:Ynglingasagan

The Ynglinga saga or Ynglingesaga, was originally written in Old Norse by the Icelandic poet Snorri Sturluson about 1225 CE. He based it on an earlier Ynglingatal which is attributed to the Norwegian 10th century skald Tjodolf of Hvin, and which also appears in Historia Norwegiae.

The Ynglinga saga is the first part of Snorri's history of the ancient Norse kings, the Heimskringla. It tells the most ancient part of the story of the House of Ynglings (the Scylfings of Beowulf). It was first translated into English and published in 1844.

In this, Snorri tells the story of how Odin and his people, the Aesir, moved from their seat in the land Snorri calls "Great Swithiod" (compare "Greater Scythia") by the river Tanakvisl, "which is properly called by the name of Tanais," (the classical name for the river Don, ") north of the Black Sea, and he traces their feats and their lineage down to Halfdan the Black. Odin and the first generations of the Ynglings are recognizable as the Norse gods.

The traditional identification of the places and peoples that are mentioned in the saga has been opposed by some amateur historians in the province of Westrogothia who want to place them in their own province. This view is generally unaccepted at universities and considered to be pseudoscience.

Text in translation:

He (Odin) had many sons; and after having subdued an extensive kingdom in Saxland, he set his sons to rule the country. He himself went northwards to the sea, and took up his abode in an island which is called Odins in Fyen.[1] (http://www.northvegr.org/lore/heim/001_01.php)

Mainstream interpretation: After establishing themselves first in Saxony, Odin and his retinue moved to Fyn and Odense in Denmark.

Text in translation:

Odin took up his residence at the Maelare lake, at the place now called Old Sigtun. There he erected a large temple, where there were sacrifices according to the customs of the Asaland people. He appropriated to himself the whole of that district, and called it Sigtun. To the temple priests he gave also domains. Njord dwelt in Noatun, Frey in Upsal, Heimdal in the Himinbergs, Thor in Thrudvang, Balder in Breidablik; to all of them he gave good estates.[2] (http://www.northvegr.org/lore/heim/001_01.php)

Mainstream interpretation: Snorri relates that Odin and his retinue settled at Old Sigtuna (modern Signhildsberg) on lake Mälaren and that Frey settled at Uppsala (prior to 1270 the name of Gamla Uppsala).

Text in translation:

Frey built a great temple at Upsal, made it his chief seat, and gave it all his taxes, his land, and goods. Then began the Upsal domains, which have remained ever since.[3] (http://www.northvegr.org/lore/heim/001_01.php)

Mainstream interpretation: Like Saxo Grammaticus, Snorri ascribes the building of the Temple at Uppsala to Frey.

Text in translation:

Frey was called by another name, Yngve; and this name Yngve was considered long after in his race as a name of honour, so that his descendants have since been called Ynglinger.[4] (http://www.northvegr.org/lore/heim/001_01.php)

Mainstream interpretation: Like Saxo Grammaticus, Snorri describes Frey as the ancestor of the Ynglings.

Concerning the location of Uppsala and the dynasty, Snorri was quite explicit (no one has yet disputed the location of Tiundaland):

Onund's district-kings were at that time spread widely over Sweden, and Svipdag the Blind ruled over Tiundaland, in which Upsal is situated, and where all the Swedish Things are held.[5] (http://www.northvegr.org/lore/heim/001_07.php)

Though scholars and historians continue to debate the historical accuracy of Snorri's traditional tales, the Heimskringla as a whole is still considered an important original source for information on the Viking Age. Snorri himself prefaces his saga

"Some of this is found in ancient family registers, in which the pedigrees of kings and other personages of high birth are reckoned up, and part is written down after old songs and ballads which our forefathers had for their amusement. Now, although we cannot just say what truth there may be in these, yet we have the certainty that old and wise men held them to be true."

External link

• Northvegr website: (http://www.northvegr.org/lore/heim/000_02.php) Ynglinga saga

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