Grænlendinga saga

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The Grænlendinga saga or Grœnlendinga saga (Eng. "Saga of the Greenlanders", also "Greenland saga") is an Icelandic saga that is one of the Vinland sagas . It describes the discovery of Greenland and Newfoundland by a family of Icelandic sailors and merchants. It has only come down to us in the Flateyjarbók manuscript from the 14th century. The beginning of the story has not been preserved.

meaning

The Greenland saga is one of the two most important written sources, along with the younger saga of Erik the Red (which emerged only after 1264) ( Eiríks saga rauða ), which report on the discovery and exploration of the North American regions of Helluland , Markland , Vinland by the Grænlendingar . The events are also mentioned in the land register . In contrast to the Eiríks saga rauða, it is not Leif Eriksson who is named as the discoverer of Vinland, but Bjarni Herjólfsson . Based on stylistic studies, it is considered possible that the saga is so old that Vinland-born Snorri Þorfinnsson could still be regarded as an author of the saga. It is believed to be one of the oldest Icelandic sagas (originated before 1200), but this is still controversial.

It is believed that the saga is largely based on true events, which is supported, among other things, by finds of Scandinavian artifacts and settlement remains on Newfoundland (in L'Anse aux Meadows ). In addition, the saga is imaginatively embellished and literarily designed on a Christian - ethical basis.

content

The saga begins with an exposition : Erik the Red lives in South Greenland on Brattahlíð , Herjólfr on Herjólfsnes. Herjólf's son Bjarni was driven so far (around 985) on a trip to Greenland to see his father that he reached a previously unknown country, later Vinland. But he doesn't go ashore. Then the various attempts by Erik's children to explore the country are reported. Leif Eriksson (999–1000) makes the first attempt and names the discovered areas Helluland, Markland and Vinland. He returns to Greenland laden with grapes and wood. Leif's brother Thorvald also managed to reach Vinland shortly thereafter (1001–1004). However, there is hostility between them and the natives, who are called " Skrælingar ". Þorvaldr is killed by an arrow shot. The next brother Þorsteinn, who is married to Guðríðr , dies of an epidemic before he leaves . His widow married the merchant Þorfinnr Karlsefni , who carried out a successful Vinland tour with her (1007–1009). On this trip their son Snorri is born, the first European to be born in America. But they also return to Greenland after hostile encounters with the natives. Freydís , Erik's illegitimate daughter, (1010-1011) went on the last trip to Vinland with a couple of brothers. There she kills the two brothers in an ambush and returns to Greenland with their larger ship, but is avoided there. It ends with the departure of Þorfinnr Karlsefni with his wife, their successful business in Norway and their return to Iceland. At the end, their famous descendants, including bishops, are named.

The female characters Guðríðr and Freydís appearing in the saga are particularly impressive.

Another saga

There is another story in Flateyjarbók called Grænlendinga þáttr or Einars þáttr Sokkasonar af Grænlandi . This Þáttur is an account of the rise of the Greenlandic episcopate and the bloody conflict between Norwegians and locals around 1124–1133.

literature

  • Walter Baumgartner : The Grœnlendinga Saga, interpreted as Medieval Fiction . In: Peter Easingwood, Konrad Groß (Ed.): Informal Empire? Cultural relations between Canada , The United States and Europe. Kiel 1998, pp. 389-400.
  • Else Ebel: Grænlendinga saga. In: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde . Volume 13. Second, completely revised and greatly expanded edition. de Gruyter, Berlin et al. 1999, ISBN 3-11-016315-2 , pp. 71-73.
  • Felix Niedner (ex.): Greenlander and Faroese stories (= Thule. Vol. 13, ZDB -ID 516164-2 ). New edition. Diederichs, Düsseldorf et al. 1965.
  • Heinrich Beck : "Scandinavian conquest in the Atlantic area from a literary historical perspective". In: Michael Müller-Wille et al. (Ed.): Selected problems of European land grabbing of the early and high Middle Ages. Basic methodological discussion in the border area between archeology and history (= lectures and research. Vol. 41, 2). Thorbecke, Sigmaringen 1994, ISBN 3-7995-6641-4 , pp. 197-211 ( digitized version ).
  • Björn Sigfusson: “Greenlendinga saga”. In: Kulturhistorisk leksikon for nordisk middelalder fra vikingetid til reformationstid. Volume 5. Rosenkilde og Bagger, Copenhagen 1960, col. 523.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Sigfusson

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