Fljótsdæla saga

Fljótsdæla saga (listen^ⓘ) is one of the Icelandic sagas. It was probably the last one written, perhaps from the 1500s or 1600s. The text is known from several manuscripts which are from the early 1700s. It was likely written by an author in east Iceland and is a sequel to Hrafnkels saga. ^{[1] [2]}

The saga revolves around the lives and times of the residents of the Fljótsdalur region in Iceland, including Helge Åsbjørnsson (Helgi Ásbjarnarson) and of Grim (Grímr) and Helge (Helgi), two sons of the widow Droplaug, a pair of brothers who have their own saga, Droplaugarsona saga.^{[3] [4]}

Plot and Themes

Fljótsdæla saga primarily focuses on the lives of people in the Fljótsdalur region, with a significant portion dedicated to characters from Northeast Iceland who intermarry into local families. The most prominent characters are Grímr and Helgi Droplaugarson, sons of the widow Droplaug Spak-Bersadóttir. Their own saga, Droplaugarsona saga, tells a similar tale.

A notable aspect of this saga is the use of a matrilineal name for the sons, "Droplaugarson," which is unusual. This highlights Droplaug's depiction as a powerful and cunning woman. She is portrayed as a princess from the Shetland Islands who was rescued from a giant by an Icelander, Þorvaldr Þiðrandason (son of Þiðrandi "gamli", a chieftain and patriarch of the Njarðvíkings of the Fljótsdalur region), whom she later marries. Þorvaldr later drowns when his boat capsizes in a storm.

Similar to other sagas, some of the violence in Fljótsdæla saga is instigated by women and executed by men. Droplaug provides "cold counsel" to her sons, indirectly encouraging them to commit violent acts on her behalf. Specifically, she becomes distant from Grímr and Helgi until they kill Þorgrímr "Dungbeetle", who had slandered her name by linking her romantically to a slave named Svartur. In one scene, she urges her sons to cease hunting birds, implying that such activities make them appear more like Svartur (the slave whose name also appears in the Eddic poem, Rígsþula, to denote the origin of the slave class) than their esteemed father, Þorvaldr Þiðrandason, of the Njarðvíkingar. This parallels the crow's advice to Konungr in Rígsþula: "Why do you kill birds, young king? It would be better for you to mount our horse and kill men." This literary allusion suggests a commentary on social class and the expectations of honor.

The saga explores two prominent themes:

1. The special privileges of royalty and their impact on social roles and individual lives. This may reflect the socio-political climate of Iceland during the 15th or 16th century, when it was under the control of the Danish monarchy as part of the Kalmar Union (from 1380). Unlike earlier sagas that often glorified Icelandic independence and democratic governance of the Settlement Era, Fljótsdæla saga may have aimed to address issues of social class under entrenched monarchical rule.
2. The strong genealogical connections between the people of Fljótsdalur and those of the Vopnafjörður region. This factual connection was likely preserved in stories to reinforce alliances between chieftains in these neighboring areas. The saga illustrates intermarriages between prominent families, such as Hrafnkell's grandson, Helgi Ásbjarnarson, marrying Þórdís "Todda", the great-granddaughter of Þorsteinn Hvíti (the main character in The Saga of Þorsteinn the White from Hof in Vopnafjörður). Þórdís "Todda" is also the daughter of Brodd-Helgi from The Saga of the People of Vopnafjörður. Additionally, Geitir Lýtingsson (from Krossavík in Vopnafjörður) marries Hallkatla, daughter of Þiðrandi "gamli" of Fljótsdalur.

The saga further highlights the concept of social class by depicting an event where the son of a Norwegian Hersir (Viking military commander) accidentally kills Þiðrandi Geitirsson, a beloved figure. This incident leads to a marital dispute between Þórdís "Todda" of Hof and her husband Helgi Ásbjarnarson of Fljótsdalur. Þórdís insists on avenging Þiðrandi's death, even if it means defying her husband and sending the Norwegian to her brother, Víga-Bjarni. Helgi retorts by reminding Þórdís of her humble origins before their marriage and threatens to send her back to Hof if she proceeds. Ultimately, Helgi and Þórdís receive payment for their assistance in protecting the Norwegian, suggesting that in this narrative, justice can be influenced by wealth and power.

Fljótsdæla saga offers a clear picture of relationships among Settlement Era families in East Iceland, presenting exciting adventures of regional characters. Some elements are fantastical, such as Droplaug's rescue from a giant in Shetland. The saga effectively explores the impact of social class on the lives of both powerful and weak individuals as Iceland transitioned into centuries of colonial rule.^[5]

Translations

• The Saga of the People of Fljotsdal. Translated by John Porter. In: Viðar Hreinsson (general editor): The Complete Sagas of Icelanders including 49 tales. (Reykjavík: Leifur Eiríksson Publishing, 1997. Vol. IV. pp. 379–433) ISBN 9979-9293-4-0.

• "Saga of the People of Fljotsdal (excerpt)", pp. 73–86 in Waggoner, Ben (2010). Sagas of Giants and Heroes. New Haven, CT: Troth Publications. ISBN 978-0578059334.
• An English translation is also available from the Viking Society.^[6]