Mother of Kings VI - The Mother of Kings
- 2 minsMother of Kings VI - The Mother of Kings
In this episode, we follow Gunnhild konungamóðir as her sons ascend to the Norwegian throne and she finally acquires her famous title. We will then examine the significant authority which Gunnhild enjoyed at this time, as well as how Icelandic authors chose to depict her use of power.
Along the way we’ll discuss ambitious young Icelanders, hygienic giantesses and the complex portrayal of women, sex and power in the Sagas.
Sources
Primary Sources
Heimskringla translated by Alison Finlay and Anthony Faulkes.
Fagrskinna translated by Alison Finlay.
Ágrip af Nóregskonungasogum translated by M.J. Driscoll.
Historia Norwegiae translated by Devra Kunin.
Egil’s Saga translated by Bernard Scudder in The Sagas of the Icelanders.
Saga of the People of Laxardal (Laxdaela Saga) translated by Keneva Kunz in The Sagas of the Icelanders.
Sagas of the People of Vatnsdal (Vatnsdaela Saga) translated by Andrew Wahn in The Sagas of the Icelanders
Njal’s Saga translated by Robert Cook.
The Saga of Hrolf Gautrekkson translated by Ben Waggoner in Six Sagas of Adventure.
The Saga of the Sworn Brothers translated by Martin S. Regal in Comic Sagas and Tales from Iceland
The Saga of Hjalmther and Olvir translated by Ralph O’Conner in Icelandic Histories & Romances
The Poetic Edda translated by Carolyne Larrington.
The Poetic Edda translated by Jackson Crawford.
Grágás I translated by Andrew Dennis, Peter Foote and Richard Perkins.
Grágás II translated by Andrew Dennis, Peter Foote and Richard Perkins.
Secondary Sources
Women in Old Norse Literature, Bodies, Words, and Power by Jóhanna Katrín Friðriksdóttir.
Gender by Jóhanna Katrín Friðriksdóttir in The Routledge Research Companion to the Medieval Icelandic Sagas.
Gender, Humor, and Power in Old Norse-Icelandic Literature by Jóhanna Katrín Friðriksdóttir.
Women in Old Norse Society by Jenny Jochens.
The Norns in Old Norse Mythology by Karen Bek-Pedersen.
Viking Diaspora by Judith Jesch.
The Age of the Vikings by Anders Winroth.
Women in Old Norse Poetry and Sagas by Judy Quinn in A Companion to Old Norse-Icelandic Literature and Culture.
Gunnhildur and the Male Whores by Jóna Guðbjörg Torfadóttir
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