TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................... 5 CHAPTER 1. HISTORICAL AND THEMATIC CONTEXT OF THE THESIS .................... 5 Reasons for translations ................................................................................................. 6 CHAPTER 2. AIM OF THE THESIS ....................................................................................... 7 CHAPTER 3. THEORY ............................................................................................................ 9 Norbert Elias’ Theory on the Civilising Process............................................................ 9 Structuralist Gender Theory......................................................................................... 10 Christianity as a Civilising Factor................................................................................ 11 CHAPTER 4. METHOD.......................................................................................................... 13 Historiography.............................................................................................................. 15 CHAPTER 5. SOURCES......................................................................................................... 16 5.1. Sources relevant for 13th century Norway......................................................................... 16 5.1.1. Norwegian laws...................................................................................................... 16 5.1.2. Religious Literature................................................................................................ 17 5.1.3. Contemporary Sagas .............................................................................................. 18 5.2. Sagas of Chivalry .............................................................................................................. 19 Tristrams saga ok Isöndar ............................................................................................ 20 Ívens saga ..................................................................................................................... 21 Möttuls saga ................................................................................................................. 21 Strengleikar .................................................................................................................. 21 PART II. ANALYSIS........................................................................................ 23 CHAPTER 1: ARRANGEMENT OF MARRIAGE ............................................................... 23 1.1. Definition of marriage....................................................................................................... 23 Marriage on a meta-level.............................................................................................. 23 Definitions of marriage ................................................................................................ 25 1.1.1. Norway – norm and practice .................................................................................. 26 1.1.2. The Sagas of Chivalry............................................................................................ 31 Marriage as an agreement ................................................................................................ 32 Marriage as a process, arranged by the young peoples’ kinsmen ................................ 32 Marriage partner chosen by a contest........................................................................... 36 Marriage in cases of danger ......................................................................................... 36 ‘Mixed’ marriages............................................................................................................ 37 Marriage as an act ............................................................................................................ 40 Rejecting the parents’ choice ....................................................................................... 40 Marriage out of love..................................................................................................... 40 1.2. Prerequisites and hurdles for marriage.............................................................................. 42 1.2.1. Norway – norm and practice .................................................................................. 43 1.2.2. The Sagas of Chivalry............................................................................................ 48 1.3. Summary and conclusion .................................................................................................. 51 Similarities and differences.......................................................................................... 52 The civilising character of the sagas of chivalry.......................................................... 53 1 CHAPTER 2. LEGITIMACY OF OFFSPRING .................................................................... 57 2.1. Sexual relationship before a concluded marriage ............................................................. 57 2.1.1. Norway – norm and practice .................................................................................. 57 2.1.2. The Sagas of Chivalry............................................................................................ 60 2.2. When is a child the legitimate heir?.................................................................................. 66 2.2.1. Norway – norm and practice .................................................................................. 66 2.2.2. The Sagas of Chivalry............................................................................................ 71 2.3. Summary and conclusion .................................................................................................. 74 Similarities and differences.......................................................................................... 74 The civilising character of the sagas of chivalry.......................................................... 74 CHAPTER 3. ADULTERY ..................................................................................................... 77 3.1. On adulterous relationships, their beginning, and their usualness .................................... 77 3.1.1. Norway – norm and practice .................................................................................. 77 3.1.2. The Sagas of Chivalry............................................................................................ 81 3.2 Who was most often unfaithful, and on gender responsibility for sexual encounters. ...... 86 3.2.1. Norway – norm and practice .................................................................................. 86 3.2.2. The Sagas of Chivalry............................................................................................ 89 3.3. Adultery and Honour......................................................................................................... 92 3.3.1. Norway – norm and practice .................................................................................. 92 3.3.2. The Sagas of Chivalry............................................................................................ 94 3.4.What happens once the adultery is revealed? Is it stopped, regretted, confessed? On spiritual punishment. ................................................................................................................ 97 3.4.1 Norway - norm and practice.................................................................................... 97 3.4.2 The Sagas of Chivalry............................................................................................. 99 3.5. How are unfaithful men and women punished? On physical punishment...................... 102 3.5.1. Norway - norm and practice................................................................................. 102 3.5.2 The Sagas of Chivalry........................................................................................... 105 Punishment of unfaithful women and their lovers ..................................................... 105 Punishment of unfaithful men.................................................................................... 109 3.6. Summary and conclusion ................................................................................................ 111 Similarities and differences........................................................................................ 111 The civilising character of the sagas of chivalry........................................................ 112 CHAPTER 4. DIVORCE....................................................................................................... 115 4.1. Norway – norm and practice ........................................................................................... 116 4.2. The Sagas of Chivalry..................................................................................................... 120 4.3 Summary and conclusion ................................................................................................. 125 Similarities and differences........................................................................................ 125 The civilising character of the sagas of chivalry........................................................ 126 PART III. CONCLUSION .............................................................................129