Brill E-Books

 Ideology and Power in the Viking and Middle Ages: Scandinavia, Iceland, Ireland, Orkney and the Faeroes

Contents

• • Preliminary Material (i-xii)   (118K)
    • Jump to section:
    • Contents
    • List Of Contributors
    • List Of Maps And Figures
    • Preface
  • Ideology And Power In The Viking And Middle Ages: Scandinavia, Iceland, Ireland, Orkney And The Faeroes (1-14) by Gro Steinsland   (144K)
    • Jump to section:
    • Subject And Research Questions
    • Geographic And Chronological Perspective
    • Change Of Religion
    • Ideology
    • Viking Age Rulership
    • The Ideology Of Rulership Formulated Through Myths And Rites
    • The Middle Ages
    • Historiography, Royal Saint And Identity
    • Bibliography
  • Origin Myths And Rulership. From The Viking Age Ruler To The Ruler Of Medieval Historiography: Continuity, Transformations And Innovations (15-68) by Gro Steinsland   (215K)
    • Jump to section:
    • I. Subject And Research Questions: The Ideology Of Power—Construed And Formed Through Origin Myths
    • II. Medieval Ideology Of Rulership Construed Through Pagan Origin Myths
    • III. Origin Myths Transform The Hárfagri- Into The Ynglingar-Dynasty
    • IV. The Origin Myth Of The Earls Of Hlaðir In Háleygjatal
    • V. Heimskringla’s Earliest Kings: Modelled On Pagan Origin Myths
    • VI. Origin Myths And Initiation To Rulership In Orkneyinga Saga And Færeyinga Saga
    • VII. Results And Reflections
    • Bibliography
  • Kings, Earls And Chieftains. Rulers In Norway, Orkney And Iceland c. 900–1300 (69-108) by Jón Viðar Sigurðsson   (170K)
    • Jump to section:
    • Rulers And Their Qualities
    • Rulers And Religion
    • Sagas As Sources
    • Bibliography
  • Jarla Sogur Orkneyja. Status And Power Of The Earls Of Orkney According To Their Sagas (109-162) by Ian Beuermann   (302K)
    • Jump to section:
    • 1. The Origin Story: Fornjótr To Earls Ro̦gnvaldr And Sigurðr
    • 2. From Ancestor To Progenitor: Earls Sigurðr And Einarr
    • 3. Earls And Kings In Conflicts
    • 4. Orcadian-Norwegian-Icelandic Christianity
    • 5. Admonition Or Model: Earl R̦gnvaldr And Sveinn Ásleifarson
    • Conclusions
    • Bibliography
  • An Arena For Higher Powers. Cult Buildings And Rulers In The Late Iron Age And The Early Medieval Period In The Mälar Region (163-210) by Olof Sundqvist   (491K)
    • Jump to section:
    • 1. Introduction
    • 2. Cult Buildings In The Mälar Region—The Evidence
    • 3. The Owner And Custodian Of The Cult Buildings And Sacred Sites
    • 4. Economic, Military And Other Profane Functions
    • 5. The Topographical Position And Architecture
    • 6. Ritual Objects—From The Image Of Freyr To The Relics Of St Eiríkr
    • 7. The Ceremonial Arena Of The Ruler—The Ritual Dimension
    • 8. Concluding Remarks
    • Bibliography
  • From Wine In A Goblet To Milk In Cowdung. The Transformation Of Early Christian Kings In Three Post-Viking Tales From Ireland (211-268) by Jan Erik Rekdal   (225K)
    • Jump to section:
    • Introduction: Irish Medieval King Tales
    • The King Tales Aided Diarmata Meic Cerbaill (‘The Sudden Death Of Diarmait Mac Cerbaill’), Aided Muirchertaig Meic Erca (‘The Sudden Death Of Muirchertach Mac Erca’) And Buile Suibhne (‘Suibhne’s Vision/Frenzy’): Kings In Confrontation With Clerics
    • Bibliography
  • The Warrior In Old Norse Religion (269-296) by Jens Peter Schjødt   (144K)
    • Jump to section:
    • Introduction
    • Óðinn And Þórr
    • Óðinn And The Männerbünde
    • Initiation Into The Männerbund: The Example Of Sigmundr And Sinfjo̦tli
    • Conclusion
    • Bibliography
  • Óðinn, Valholl And The Einherjar. Eschatological Myth And Ideology In The Late Viking Period (297-328) by Anders Hultgård   (157K)
    • Jump to section:
    • Introduction
    • Afterlife Ideas Among The Ancient Scandinavians
    • The Eschatological Óðinn Mythology And Its Sources
    • Christian Rulers In A Pagan Paradise
    • The Eschatology Of Hákonarmál In Context
    • The Einherjar Concept And The Meaning Of The Eschatological Óðinn Mythology
    • A Common Scandinavian Afterlife Mythology For The Highest Strata Of Society?
    • Eschatological Myth As An Element Of Ideology
    • Bibliography
  • Family Matters? The Cultus Of The Scandinavian Royal Martyrs (329-366) by Joanna A. Skórzewska   (162K)
    • Jump to section:
    • 1. Introduction
    • 2. The Source Material
    • 3. The Role Of Family Members At The Death Of Royal Martyrs
    • 4. The Saint’s Burial: Arranged By Family Or Strangers?
    • 5. The Role Of The Saint’s Successors In His Translatio And Canonisation
    • 6. The Family And The Legacy Of The Saint
    • 7. Conclusion
    • Bibliography
  • The Long Adaptation Of Pagan And Christian Ideologies Of Rulership (367-386) by Ian Beuermann   (102K)
    • Jump to section:
    • 1. Essentials
    • 2. Viking-Age Ideology Of Rulership
    • 3. Change Of Religion—New And Old In The Ideology Of Rulership
    • 4. An Explosion In Ideological Activity
    • 5. A New Periodisation For The Ideology Of Rulership?
    • Bibliography
  • Index (387-408)   (122K)