Konungr
Konungr (cf. Old Germanic * kuningaz , Old English cyning , Swedish konung , Russian Ко́нунг ) was the name for the highest ranking ruler of an area in early Old Norse sagas and inscriptions . The Latin equivalent in the sources is rex , which can only be reproduced to a limited extent as a king and can also designate a local ruler ( small king ).
Rulers in the Viking Age outside Scandinavia were sometimes also referred to as konungr in sagas , e.g. B. Princes of the Kievan Rus .
etymology
The etymology is unclear. Konr means origin in the Old Norse gender . The suffix ingr / ungr corresponds to the root word.
Similar terms developed in other languages:
- Finnish, Estonian kunuingas
- Lithuanian kunigas , kunigaikštis
- Latvian kungs lord , ķēniņš king
- Sami konagas , gonagas
- Old Russian князь knjas / knes
- West Slavic knes
- South Slavic knez
- Tatar Kenaz
meaning
The konungr was the highest ranking regional leader. In the early days he was determined from the group of jarlar . Later the title was inherited, sometimes two offspring ruled at the same time.
His duties included chairing the thing (legal), leading sacrificial ceremonies (sacred) and leading the army (military).
Since the Christianization of Scandinavia, the role of the high medieval king has developed.
literature
- Mårten Stenberger : Nordic prehistory. Volume 4: Prehistory of Sweden. Wachholtz, Neumünster 1977, ISBN 3-529-01805-8 , p. 366.
- Max Vasmer : Russian etymological dictionary , 3 vol., Winter, Heidelberg, 1953–1958 (Russian edition) 285
Remarks
- ↑ Runestone U 11 ( Hovgårdsstenen )