Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar, Bǫglunga saga, Magnúss saga lagabœtis ed. by Sverrir Jakobsson, Þorleifur Hauksson, Tor Ulset (review)

With this volume, the series of sagas of Norwegian kings published by Hið íslenzka fornritafélag is complete. Picking up where Sverris saga (ÍF vol. 30) left off, the current volumes (ÍF vols. 31–32) include the existing fragments and translation of Bǫglunga saga (a continuation of Sverris saga covering years 1202–17), Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar, and extant fragments of Magnúss saga lagabœtis. Þorleifur Hauksson is responsible for the text and textual notes, Sverrir Jakobsson for historical material. The text of Hákonar saga is based on the forthcoming diplomatic edition by Tor Ulset, which will attempt to reconstruct the original saga by Sturla Þórðarson.

Although the full Table of Contents is printed at the end of each volume, it is worth summarizing here. The detailed Introduction (see below) is divided between the two volumes. Bǫglunga saga exists in two versions, a shorter version (S) and a longer one (L). The shorter version is presented first, in vol. 1, using the manuscript AM 81a fol. (Skálholtsbók yngsta) as far as it goes. Where AM 81a ceases, AM 47 fol. (Eirspennill) is followed; it is also used for corrections to the main text, and important variant readings from it are given in footnotes. S is followed by the Danish translation, printed in 1633, which is the only surviving representative of L; it is accompanied by the Icelandic translation of the Danish published by Sveinbjörn Egilsson in 1835, with spelling normalized to modern Icelandic. The appendices (viðauki) that follow include edited fragments of both versions (S: AM 325 VIII 4a 4to; L: AM 325 X 4to, AM 325 VIII 4c 4to, and AM 325 VIII 4b 4to); the agreement on church rights between King Hákon Sverrisson and the bishops of Norway; a papal letter (in Latin and Icelandic translation) rejoicing over Sverrir’s death and admonishing the archbishop for presuming to raise a papal excommunication of Sverrir’s followers (the archbishop is reminded that those involved are, in fact, still excommunicate until the proper procedures have been followed, and told to make a public proclamation to this effect); and another papal letter asking for additional information in response to a request by Philippus Símonarson for the papacy to determine who was the rightful king of Norway.

Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar comprises the main part of both volumes. It is followed in vol. 2 by the fragments of Magnúss saga lagabœtis, supplemented by three entries from Gottskálksannáll that focus on Magnús and are conceivably from his saga. Immediately following are appendices consisting of papal letters pertaining to Hákon’s reign: a letter of Gregory IX confirming the treaty between Hákon and Skúli Bárðarson (and warning the Norwegian bishops against proclaiming excommunications or interdict without papal approval); a letter of Innocent IV to Hákon informing him of the prospective arrival of his legate, William of Sabina; and a letter releasing Hákon from the taint of illegitimacy so that he can be crowned.

The Bibliography (including abbreviations), genealogical diagrams, list of nicknames (pp. lxxix–lxxxiii), list of ships’ names (p. lxxxiv), and maps follow the second part of the Introduction in vol. 2; that volume concludes with an index of personal and place-names covering both volumes.

The Introduction, divided over the two volumes, discusses the relationships among the different manuscripts of the various sagas, the sagas’ probable dates and stages of composition (Bǫglunga saga is particularly problematic), and the history of the period. There is a good discussion of the difficulty of determining exactly what happened when Icelanders submitted to the king of Norway and agreed to pay him taxes...