Göngu-Hrólfs saga

Göngu-Hrólfs saga is a legendary saga, written mainly for entertainment, as the author clearly states in his preface and at the end of the story. Although the hero shares a name with the settler of Normandy, he has no connection with Rollo, being an earlier and wholly legendary individual.

The saga begins in Russia where King Eirik, a Viking leader whose allies include berserks and wizards, attacks Hreggvid, king of Holmgardr (Novgorod). Hreggvid is killed in battle and Eirik encounters his daughter, Princess Ingigerd. He falls in love with her and swears he will grant her any request. She asks that he give her three years to find a man who can fight Eirik’s champion, Sorkvir, and agrees to marry the Viking if she fails. Sorkvir cannot be defeated unless the warrior is wearing King Hreggvid’s armour, and Eirik’s counsellor, the sorcerer Grim Aegir, advises him to use trickery to ensure no one can do this.

Meanwhile Hrolf, the son of Sturlaug the Industrious (of Sturlaugs saga starfsama), is growing up in Norway as a layabout who shows little promise. He leaves home after his father demands he make something of his life. After fighting various Vikings and robbers, he comes to the court of Earl Thorgny of Jutland. Here he befriends Thorgny’s son Stefnir, and helps the Jutlanders fight off a Viking from Scotland, named Tryggvi. Two men named Hrafn and Krak come to stay at Thorgny’s court. Hrolf and Stefnir humiliate them during a ballgame and they become surly until Hrolf makes it up to them with gifts of fine clothes. After this, however, they disappear from Jutland. News then reaches Earl Thorgny of Princes Ingigerd and her dilemma, and he vows to help her and take her as his wife. However, it is Hrolf who sets out for Russia to fight Sorkvir.

On his way, he meets a man named Vilhjalm, who asks Hrolf if he can become his servant, but later tricks Hrolf into swearing an oath to become his servant and say Vilhjalm is his master. When they get to Russia, they help King Eirik fight off a Tartar invasion, where Hrolf fights and Vilhjalm takes the credit. Hrolf captures a wonderful stag, enters Hreggvid’s burial mound, and defeats the Tartar champion, all of which deeds are attributed to Vilhjalm. Vilhjalm is rewarded with Gyda, King Eirik’s sister, as his wife.

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