Yngvars saga víðförla

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Yngvars saga víðförla is a legendary saga said to have been written in the 12th century by Oddr Snorrason. Scholars have been skeptical towards this claim but in recent years it has gained more acceptance.^[1]

It describes what was the last Viking campaign in the Caspian in 1041, adding much legend to the historical facts. This expedition was launched from Sweden by Ingvar the Far-Travelled (Ingvar Vittfarne), who went into the land of the Saracens (Serkland). There, they apparently took part in the Georgian-Byzantine Battle of Sasireti.

There are many Ingvar Runestones raised in commemoration warriors who died in the raid, mostly in the Lake Mälaren region of Uppland in Sweden. A stone to Ingvar’s brother indicates that he went east for gold but that he died in Saracen land. ^[2]

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Ross 2000, pp. 306-8; Oddr Snorrason 2003, p. 3.
2. ^ Logan 1992, p. 202.

[edit] References

• Logan, Donald F. (1992). The Vikings in History 2nd ed., p. 202. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-08396-6
• Oddr Snorrason (translated by Theodore M. Andersson) (2003). The Saga of Olaf Tryggvason. Cornell University Press. ISBN 0-8014-4149-8
• Ross, Margaret Clunies (2000). Old Icelandic Literature and Society. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-63112-2

[edit] External links

• The Saga of Yngvar the Traveller, in translation by Peter Tunstall, at Northvegr.
• The story in Old Norse at «Norrøne Tekster og Kvad».
• The story in Old Norse at Snerpa.
• The story in Old Norse at Northvegr.