Morkinskinna is an Old Norse kings' saga, relating the history of Norwegian kings from approximately 1025 to 1157. The saga was written in Iceland around 1220, and has been preserved in a manuscript from around 1275.
The name Morkinskinna means "mouldy parchment" and is originally the name of the manuscript book in which the saga has been preserved. The book itself, GKS 1009 fol, is currently in the Royal Danish Library in Copenhagen.[1] It was brought to Denmark from Iceland by Þormóður Torfason (Tormod Torfæus) in 1662.
The saga was published in English in 2000 in a translation by Theodore M. Andersson and Kari Ellen Gade. The Íslenzk fornrit edition appeared in 2011.
The saga starts in 1025 or 1026 and in its received form, ends suddenly in 1157, after the death of King Sigurðr II. Originally, the work may have been longer, possibly continuing until 1177, when the narratives of Fagrskinna and Heimskringla, which use Morkinskinna as one of their sources, end. Apart from giving the main saga, the text is lavishly interspersed with citations from skaldic verse (about 270 stanzas) and includes a number of short Icelandic tales known as þættir. The following is an overview of the chapters in Morkinskinna, chronologically subdivided by the reigns of the kings of Norway:
1. Here begins the saga of Magnús and Haraldr [his uncle]2. Concerning Sveinn3. Concerning King Magnús's feasts4. Concerning King Magnús5. Concerning the declaration of war against Magnús and concerning the Duke6. King Magnús in Jutland7. King Magnús's stay in Jutland8. How King Haraldr set sail when he came to Skáney9. Concerning Haraldr's travels10. Concerning Norðbrikt [=Haraldr]'s travels11. Concerning a declaration of war12. Concerning the raids of Norðbrikt and jarl Gyrgir13. Haraldr's journey to Jerusalem14. Concerning King Magnús's meeting with Haraldr15. The slandering of Þorkell16. Concerning King Magnús17. How King Magnús bestowed a jarldom on Ormr18. On the dispute between the kings19. Concerning the kings20. Concerning Þorsteinn Hallsson21. Concerning the kings22. The good counsels of King Haraldr23. Concerning King Magnús and Margét24.
Hreiðars þáttr ["The tale of Hreiðarr"]25. How the kings harried and how the king's mother granted a captive his life26. King Magnús dies [1047]27. Haraldr's thingmeeting28. King Magnús's funeral voyage29. Haraldr's thingmeeting30.
Halldórs þáttr Snorrasonar31. [On King Haraldr's campaign in Denmark]32. Concerning King Haraldr33. Concerning the disagreement between the king and Einarr Þambarskelfir34. Concerning an Icelander35. Concerning King Haraldr's wise counsels36. How Auðunn from the Westfjords brought King Sveinn a bear [
Auðunar þáttr vestfirzka]37. Concerning King Haraldr and the Upplanders38. Concerning King Haraldr and Brandr örvi (the Open-Handed)39. Concerning King Haraldr40. Concerning the storytelling of an Icelander [
Íslendings þáttr sögufróða]41. Concerning Þorvarðr krákunel's gift of a sail to King Haraldr42. Concerning King Haraldr and Hákon43.
Sneglu-Halla þáttr.44. [The king encounters a man in a boat]45. [Concerning King Haraldr and a dear friend of Tryggvi Óláfsson]46. [Concerning Gizurr Ísleifsson]47. Concerning Stúfr enn blindi48. Concerning Oddr Ófeigsson49. How it came about that King Haraldr journeyed to the West50. The treachery against King Haraldr51. Óláfr Haraldsson's return to Norway52. The death of King
Harold Godwinson [1066]53. The saga of King Óláfr kyrri "the Quiet"54. Concerning King Óláfr and the Kráku-karl (Crow Man)55. The Saga of King Magnús berfœttr56. Concerning King Magnús and Sveinki Steinarsson57. Concerning King Magnús's harrying58. Concerning King Magnús59. Concerning King Magnús's death
Sigurðr I, Óláfr and Eysteinn I (r. 1103-1130)
60. The beginning of the rule of King Magnús's sons61. The story of King Sigurðr's adventures62. Concerning the gifts of Emperor Kirjalax (Alexius I Konnenos)63. Concerning King Sigurðr's feast64. Concerning King Eysteinn65. Concerning King Eysteinn and Ívarr66. Concerning the king's genealogies67. Concerning King Sigurðr's dream68. The dealings of King Eysteinn and Ingimarr with Ásu-Þorðr69. The death of King Óláfr Magnússon [1115]70. An account of legal dealings between King Sigurðr and King Eysteinn (
Þinga saga)71. The contest of the kings72. Concerning Þórarinn stuttfeldr73. Concerning the death of King Eysteinn [1123]74. Concerning King Sigurðr and Óttarr75. Concerning King Sigurðr and Erlendr76. Concerning Haraldr gilli77. Concerning King Sigurðr and Áslák hani (Rooster)78. Concerning King Sigurðr79. Concerning the bet between Magnús and Haraldr80. Concerning King Sigurðr and Bishop Magni81. The Death of King Sigurðr [1130]
Haraldr IV (r. 1130-6) and Magnús IV (r. 1130-5, 1137-9)
82. Concerning Haraldr and Magnús83. The gifts of King Haraldr to Bishop Magnús84. The story of Sigurðr slembidjákn85. Concerning Sigurðr slembir86. The slaying of King Haraldr [by Sigurðr slembidjákn in 1136]87. Concerning King Sigurðr slembir88. Concerning King Haraldr's sons89. Concerning Sigurðr90. Concerning King Sigurðr slembir91. King Ingi's letter92. Concerning Sigurðr slembir93. Concerning King Sigurðr slembir94. The slaying of Óttarr birtingr95. [no title]96. Concerning King Sigurðr97. Concerning King Eysteinn98. The slaying of Geirsteinn99. [no title]100. Concerning the death of King Sigurðr [1155]
