Studia Islandica - 01.07.1966, Síða 18

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Good, represented by the breast and arms of silver, came
to Norway to claim the throne, and died soon afterwards,
leaving no sons to succeed him (engvar kvíslir, ÓH 674/12).
Magnús’s reign (1035—47), as implied by his nickname,
was popular, a time of internal peace and prosperity. Al-
though he also became king of Denmark, the statement that
he was more widely-embracing (víðfáSmari) in extending
his rule over other countries seems somewhat exaggerated,
expecially when one recalls that the epithet inn víðfáðmi
was applied to the legendary Ivarr who was supposed to
have ruled Sweden, Denmark, Saxony, Russia, and part of
England. The author of the þáttr was perhaps led into over-
statement by the demands of the symbohsm he had com-
mitted himself to.
The belt of iron represents St Óláfr’s half-brother Har-
aldr Harðráði (“harsh of counsel”), who ruled jointly with
Magnús the Good for a year until the latter’s death in 1047,
and then alone until he fell at the battle of Stamford Bridge
in 1066.
The belly of gold alloy symbolises the popular and peace-
ful reign of Óláfr Kyrri (“the Quiet”) Haraldsson (1067—
1093). In fact, Haraldr Harðráði was at first succeeded by
his son Magnús, who was joined after one year by his
brother Óláfr Kyrri. The two then ruled together until
Magnús died in 1069. From then on Óláfr ruled alone.
The silver alloy represents Óláfr’s son Magnús Berfœttr
(“the Bare-legged”), 1093—1103. There does not seem to
be any particular justification for the statement that he
was less honoured abroad than at home; the author was
probably thinking particularly of a comparison between
him and his namesake Magnús the Good. The author’s as-
sessment of his popularity should be compared with Snorri
Sturluson’s in Heimskringla (iF XXVIII 237).
The flesh-coloured thighs represent the joint reign of Sig-
urðr Jórsalafari (1103—1130) and Eysteinn (1103—1123),