upon the mythology, language, laws, and literature of the ancient North. He acknowledges, with pride and pleasure, the valuable assistance he has derived from the personal suggestions of these and other literary friends during his residence in this capital-a residence which will ever be associated with some of the most pleasing recollections of his life.

Copenhagen, April 1831.

.

1

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Knowledge which the Greeks and Romans had of Scandinavia.-Cimbri

and Teutones.-Fenni, or Skrithfinni.-Migration of the Gothic

Tribes.-Væringjar at Constantinople.-Emigration of the Saxons,

Angles, and Jutes, to Britain.-Otter and Wulfstan's Periplus of the

North Sea and Baltic
Page 1

CHAPTER II.

Discovery of Iceland by the Norwegians.-Physical features of that

Island.-Settlement of Iceland by Ingolf.-Discovery of Greenland

by Erik the Red.-Discovery of North America by Leif, the son of

Erik the Red.—Vinland explored by Thorvald, brother of Leif.—

Thorvald slain by the native Esquimaux.—Settlement of Vinland by

Thorfin and his companions.-Ultimate fate of the Norwegian colony

in Vinland.-Voyages of the Venetian navigators, the brothers Zeni,

in the Northern ocean

- 16

CHAPTER III.

Permanent settlement of Iceland by the Norwegians.-Saga of Tho-

rolf.-Religion of the first settlers.-Temples, sacrifices, and wor-

ship.-Authority of the pontiff-chieftains.—Local and general popu-

lar assemblies.-Legislation.-Laws of Ulfljot.-Laws preserved by

local tradition.-Spirit of freedom.-Various religious sects among

the heathen Icelanders.-First Christian missionaries to Iceland.-

Final establishment of Christianity.-Abolition of the Holmganga, or

trial by battle.-Egill's Saga.-Forms of civil procedure

A

CHAPTER IV.

Icelandic language and literature.-History and poetry preserved by

oral tradition.—Skalds.—Their poetry influenced by the wild beauty

of Northern scenery.—Saga-man, or story-teller.-Sæmund Sigfus-

sen.-Compilation of the poetic or elder Edda.-Runic characters

and writing.—Arrangement of the different Songs contained in Sæ-

mund's Edda.-Mythology and Ethics of the ancient religion of the

North.-Authenticity of the poetic Edda.-Prose Edda of Snorre

Sturleson.-Skalda.-Icelandic versification

49

CHAPTER V.

Icelandic Sagas.-Mythic, romantic, and historical Sagas.-Historical

value of the Sagas.-Ari Frode, the first Icelandic historian.-Life

and character of Snorre Sturleson.-Composition of his great histo-

rical work, Heimskringla

94

CHAPTER VI.

Legion of Odin, from the Ynlinga-saga.—Its historical interpretation.-

Finns.-Goths.-Sviar.-Mythology and religious rites of the ancient

North-Religious system preceding that of Odin.-Ynglings in Swe-

den, and Skjoldungs in Denmark.-State of society and manners.-

Rigsmál.-Anglo-Saxon poem of Bjowulf

110

CHAPTER VII.

Causes of the Scandinavian maritime expeditions to the South of Eu-

rope.-Wild spirit of adventure.-Sea-Kings.-Religion.-Cham-

pions and Bersærker.—Amazons, or Skjold-meyar.—Art of ship-build-

ing.-Battle of Bravalla.—First incursions to Scotland, the Orcades,

Hebrides, and Ireland.-Invasions of England.-Saga of Ragnar Lod-

brok. His death-song

133

CHAPTER VIII.

Wars of Charlemagne on the Elbe.-Invasion of France by Hastings

and the sons of Ragnar Lodbrok.-Normans plunder the coasts of

Spain and Italy, and enter the Mediterranean.-Sack of Luna by

Hastings.-Return of Hastings to France.-His conversion to Chris-

tianity

- 155

CHAPTER IX.

First Attempts to convert the North to Christianity.-Missionaries, Ebbo

and Halitgar.-Conversion and baptism of Harald Klak.—His in-

tercourse with Louis-le-Debonnaire.-Character and first mission of

Ancharius, the apostle of the North.-His first visit to Sweden.-

Obstacles to the progress of the new religion.-Papal bull erecting

archiepiscopal See of Hamburg-Sack of that city by the Danes,

and flight of Ancharius.-His second mission to Sweden.-Death

and canonization of Ancharius

- 172

CHAPTER X.

Expedition of the sons of Ragnar Lodbrok to England.-Defeat and

death of king Ella.-Conquest of Northumbria.-Death of Edmund,

king of East-Anglia.—Conquest of that kingdom.-Wars of Alfred,

king of the West-Saxons, with the Northmen.-Peace between Al-

fred and Godrun, by which the Danes are permanently confirmed in

the possession of East-Anglia.-Invasion of England by Hastings the

Younger.-Desperate contest between him and Alfred.-Final ex-

pulsion of Hastings from the island

187

CHAPTER XI.

Reign of Harald Hárfager in Norway.-Battle of Hafursfjord.—His in-

tercourse with king Athelstane.—Endeavours to extirpate piracy.—

Battle of Brunaburgh.—Anglo-Saxon lay.-Egill's Saga.-Norman

invasion of France continued.-Siege of Paris

206

CHAPTER XII.

Origin and early life of Rollo, first duke of Normandy.-The Jarls of

Mære.-Prohibition of piracy by Harald Hárfager.-Banishment of

Rollo from Norway.-Condition of France under Charles le Simple.-

Landing of Rollo at Rouen.-Defeats the Franks, and ravages Neus-

tria.-Negociation between Charles and Rollo.-Cession of Neustria