The transitional passage between Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar and Óláfs saga helga in Flateyjarbók

Abstract

In contrast to other versions of the longest Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar (both the older redaction and AM 62 fol.), the Flateyjarbók version shows some notable modifications of the saga’s last part, which covers the period from the battle of Svǫlðr to Óláfr Tryggvason’s death. One can, for instance, find that the chapters on Saint Óláfr and his half-brother Haraldr harðráði have been omitted. Furthermore, chapters linked to the rule of Eiríkr Hákonarson are not positioned in but after Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar, thus creating a transitional passage to the introductory chapters with the genealogical content of Óláfs saga helga. Into this transitional passage further texts were interpolated. The text edition by Guðbrandur Vigfússon and C.R. Unger does not account for the separate status of this passage. In this article, I will address research investigating where to set the beginning and the end of the transitional passage, and suggest a division based not only on the narrative content but also the size of the initials. For comparing different ways of combining sagas about Óláfr Tryggvason and Saint Óláfr, two manuscripts from the older redaction, AM 61 fol. and SKB perg. 1 fol. (“Bergsbók”), will also be drawn upon.