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Durham E-Theses Durham E-Theses The Witch-Queen of Avaldsnes: An Analysis of the Portrayals of Gunnhildr konungamóðir IBBOTT, NICOLA,ALEXANDRA How to cite: IBBOTT, NICOLA,ALEXANDRA (2020) The Witch-Queen of Avaldsnes: An Analysis of the Portrayals of Gunnhildr konungamóðir, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/13537/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 Abstract Nicola Alexandra Ibbott The Witch-Queen of Avaldsnes: An Analysis of the Portrayals of Gunnhildr konungamóðir Gunnhildr konungamóðir is described in much of the extant source material as a sorceress noted for her brazen sexuality and ruthlessly cruel character. She was queen of Norway, York and Orkney as King Eiríkr blóðǫx's consort and subsequently wielded influence in the courts of her sons. However, much of her life is shrouded in mystery and her image is twisted by texts, which owe more to the time in which they were written than they do a tenth-century queen. This research draws attention to the life of a woman who may have been subject to infamy in her own time but was certainly vilified in the Middle Ages and has been somewhat neglected by modern historians. Its aim is to explore Gunnhildr's portrayals in the extant primary source material, thereby seeking an explanation for why she was so maligned. This will be facilitated by answering questions about what the texts say about her; how they differ; how the date and origin of the sources affect the portrayals; and to what extent do the sources provide a realistic description of a tenth-century queen? The analysis is organised chronologically, starting with the earliest portrayals in the 'Norwegian Synoptics' and ending with Íslendingasögur. The research found that Gunnhildr's portrayals are for the most part negative and contain themes such as cruelty, sorcery, and her active role in government which span time, genre and origin. It is likely that the descriptions of Gunnhildr do not truly represent the life of a tenth- century queen but medieval attitudes. Further research placing Gunnhildr into tenth- century and medieval contexts and exploring more source material would be beneficial. - 1 - THE UNIVERSITY OF DURHAM DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY Thesis submitted for the Degree of Master of Arts The Witch-Queen of Avaldsnes: An Analysis of the Portrayals of Gunnhildr konungamóðir Nicola Alexandra Ibbott 2019 - 2 - Gunnhildr persuades Eiríkr's men to kill the Finnish wizards. From an illustration by Christian Krohg, in Harald Hårfagres saga, (Heimskringla), (ed. G. Storm). - 3 - Table of Contents Abstract .................................................................................................................... - 1 - Table of Contents .................................................................................................... - 4 - List of Abbreviations ............................................................................................... - 6 - Glossary .................................................................................................................... - 8 - Introduction ............................................................................................................ - 11 - Background ....................................................................................................................... - 11 - Research Focus .................................................................................................................. - 14 - Research Value .................................................................................................................. - 15 - Research Aim and Questions .............................................................................................. - 16 - Literature Review............................................................................................................... - 16 - Methodology ..................................................................................................................... - 29 - 'Norwegian Synoptics' .......................................................................................... - 31 - Historia Norwegiae ............................................................................................................ - 31 - Historia de antiquitate regum Norwagiensium ................................................................... - 38 - Ágrip af Noregskonungasögum .......................................................................................... - 45 - Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... - 54 - Gesta Danorum ...................................................................................................... - 56 - Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... - 63 - Konungasögur ....................................................................................................... - 65 - Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar .................................................................................................... - 65 - Orkneyinga saga ................................................................................................................ - 70 - Fagrskinna ......................................................................................................................... - 77 - Heimskringla ..................................................................................................................... - 91 - Jómsvíkinga saga ............................................................................................................. - 105 - Ólafs saga Tryggvasonar en Mesta ................................................................................... - 114 - Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... - 121 - Íslendingasögur ................................................................................................... - 123 - Hallfreðar saga vandræðaskálds ...................................................................................... - 123 - Egils saga Skallagrímssonar ............................................................................................. - 125 - Laxdæla saga ................................................................................................................... - 137 - Njáls saga ........................................................................................................................ - 145 - Flóamanna saga .............................................................................................................. - 156 - - 4 - Þórðar saga hreðu ........................................................................................................... - 159 - Harðar saga ok Hólmverja ................................................................................................ - 161 - Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... - 163 - Conclusion ........................................................................................................... - 165 - Appendix I............................................................................................................. - 170 - Bibliography ......................................................................................................... - 171 - Primary Sources ............................................................................................................... - 171 - Secondary Sources ........................................................................................................... - 174 - - 5 - List of Abbreviations Abbreviation: Full Title: HN Historia Norwegiae HarN Historia de antiquitate regum Norwagiensium Ágrip Ágrip af Noregskonungasögum ÓsT Óláfs sagaTryggvasonar Orkneyinga Orkneyinga saga Egla Egils saga Njála Njáls saga GD Gesta Danorum GH Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificium Knýtlinga Knýtlinga saga Skjöldunga Skjöldunga saga A-SC Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Íslendinga Íslendinga saga Haralds Haralds saga ins hárfagra Hákonar Hákonar saga góða Gráfeldr Haralds saga gráfeldr Óláfs Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar Laxdæla Laxdæla saga Vǫlsunga Vǫlsunga saga Jómsvíkinga Jómsvíkinga saga Fœreyinga Fœreyinga saga Mesta Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar en Mesta Hallfreðar Hallfreðar saga vandræðaskálds - 6 - Flóamanna Flóamanna saga Þórðar Þórðar saga hreðu Kormáks Kormáks saga Hrólfs Hrólfs saga Gautrekssonar Flores Flores Historiarum Harðar Harðar saga ok Hólmverja - 7 - Glossary Íslendingasaga (pl. Íslendingasögur) Icelandic family saga(s) konungasaga (pl. konungasögur) kings' saga(s) fornaldarsaga (pl. fornaldarsögur)
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