Íslenzk tunga - 01.01.1959, Blaðsíða 37

JÓMSVÍKINGA SAGA
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uncertain). Fagrskinna and Heimskringla must here be mainly based
on Hlaðajarla saga,22 and in Flateyjarbók and Oláfs saga en mesta
in AM 61 fol. (and related manuscripts) the Hkr. account is repro-
duced,2a though I (b) in Jvs. must have been known to the compilers
of these expanded versions of the Óláfs saga. A comparison between
the stories in Hkr. and 291 will readily explain their preference for
the former. But if the account in I (b) is to be ascribed to an indepen-
dent source available in the first quarter of the thirteenth century,
there are not many texts it can be fathered on. Gunnlaug’s claim
seems a strong one.
There are many difficulties in the way of ascribing I (a) to Gunn-
laug’s work. It may be worth reviewing the position, even if no
positive conclusion can be reached.
It is necessary first to consider the possible relations between 1 (a)
and the end of Skjgldunga saga.2 4 It is likely that Skjold. ended with
the death of Gormr inn gamli, i. e. at the same point as I (a) ends.
The opening of this last section in Skjpld. contained genealogical
material in which the Danish dynasty was connected with the sons
of Ragnarr loðbrók; this material is found in Flat. and AM 61 fol.,25
combined with material from Jvs., and there is some trace of the
connection with Ragnar’s sons at the beginning of 291 (211). In AM
61 fol. the connection is important, because it justifies the account
found there of Knútr Gormsson’s death from an enemy arrow while
on an expedition with his brother Haraldr to win back the dominion
of the sons of Ragnarr in England. In 291, on the other hand, Knútr
falls at his brother’s hand in a battle in Limfjorden, and the con-
nection with Ragnar’s sons is of no relevance. In Flat. both accounts
22 Bjarni Aðalbjarnarson, Heimskringla, I (íslenzk fornrit, XXVI; Reykja-
vík 1941), XCVII, CV—CVI.
23 Flateyjarbók, I (Christiania 1860), 81 f£.; Ólájs s. Tr. en mesta, I, 88 ff.
(= Fornmanna sögur, I, 82 ff.).
24 The following is based on Jakob Benediktsson’s discussion, Arngrimi
Jonae Opera, IV, 114—117 and 125—128.
25 Flat., 1, 96 ff.; Oláfs s. Tr. en mesta, I, 121 ff. (== Fornmanna sögur, I,
110 ff.).