Jarl Sigvaldi and the battle of Svoldr in saga tradition (original) (raw)

2009, Folia Scandinavica Posnaniensia

The battle of Svoldr is one of the most outstandi ng mo- ments in saga tradition, which preserves memory about Viking Age Scandinavia. The fame of the battle was strictly co nnected with particu- lar personas involved in the conflict, among them t he Norwegian king Olafr Tryggvason played the most significant role. The battle itself and its circumstances proved that Olafr was a great, warlik e, valiant and at the same time deeply Christian to do monarch, whose death was compared to martyrdom. The saga authors, thoroughly describing all events connected with the battle of Svoldr, included also Sigvaldi, the jarl of Jomsborg, in their narratives. According to most accounts, the jarl was member of coalition, Olafr Tryggvason's enemies, who planned to trap the Norwegian king, depriving him of life a nd power. Sig- valdi's role was to pretend Olafr's friend and ally and lead him from Vindland, where he stayed, directly into trap. The saga authors created their narratives abou...

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