Continuation or Change? Borders and Frontiers in Late Antiquity and Medieval Europe by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781032212821
Publisher: TaylorFrancis
Published: 2023-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

Sigvatr’s report implies that there had been a strong alliance between Óláfr Haraldsson and Rǫgnvaldr Úlfsson’s clan, which had led Óláfr to victory in his struggle for power in Norway. However, at some point the alliance was violated by the breaking of some agreement. Sigvatr’s firm and repeated assurances about the ongoing loyalty of Rǫgnvaldr and his clan suggest that the discord was caused by them. Nonetheless, Óláfr seems to be concerned about the mutual relations with Rǫgnvaldr as he offers some peace proposals in order to heal the breach. The proposals are presented by Sigvatr, who meets with a positive response at the jarl’s court. Unfortunately, no contemporary sources give any clues about the factors that affected good relations between Óláfr Haraldsson and Rǫgnvaldr Úlfsson’s clan. Though Sigvatr’s report from the meeting with Rǫgnvaldr is addressed to the king, stanza 1 indicates that the main recipient of his poem was the king’s retinue,35 who seem to regard Sigvatr and his mission with suspicion. Therefore, the poet puts stress on the hardships he suffered during the mission, his status as a royal envoy, the credibility of the arrangements he made with Rǫgnvaldr, and the pledges of loyalty. As the proponent of peace and an alliance between Óláfr Haraldsson and Rǫgnvaldr’s clan, Sigvatr seems to provide justification for his actions commissioned by the king.36 The only indications regarding the context of Austrfararvísur and the controversy that Sigvatr’s mission could have provoked among Óláfr Haraldsson’s hirdmen are provided by Friðgerðar-saga, which is contained or referred to in several prose sources.

Friðgerðarsaga, regardless of its variant, tells the story of a feud over disputed territories between Óláfr Eiríksson and Óláfr Haraldsson, which is to be ended by Óláfr Eiríksson’s decision to marry Ingigerðr, his legitimate daughter, to the Norwegian king. Óláfr Eiríksson does not keep his word and gives Ingigerðr in marriage to Rus’ prince Yaroslav the Wise. The story ends with Óláfr Haraldsson marrying Ástríðr, an illegitimate daughter of the Swedish king.37 According to Snorri Sturluson – the author of Óláfs saga helga in Heimskringla and in a separate version – Rǫgnvaldr Úlfsson played an important role in the negotiations with the Swedish king. The jarl was then responsible for the arrangement of Óláfr Haraldsson and Ingigerðr’s marriage. Hence, after Óláfr Eiríksson’s breach of the agreement, some of the Norwegian king’s followers believed that Rǫgnvaldr had not bothered to make the Swedish king keep his word. Then, as Snorri holds, Sigvatr visited the jarl in order to learn about the stance of the Swedish king and to determine whether a settlement could be reached. The visit resulted in Sigvatr’s report delivered in front of the king and his retinue.38 Snorri’s work is the only source that mentions Rǫgnvaldr’s role in the peace negotiations between the two kings. The first helmingr of stanza 21 and the second helmingr of stanza 18 of Sigvatr’s report are also quoted in Fagrskinna, but the saga does not provide much information about their context. They are quoted right

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