heimskringla

Heimskringla, or The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway, is a collection of sagas about the Norwegian monarchy compiled in Old Norse by the Icelandic historian Snorri Sturluson in the early 13th century. It is one of the principal sources for medieval Norwegian history, although it blends legend, saga material, and historical narrative. The work presents the history of Norway from the legendary Norwegian dynasties (the Ynglinga Saga) through the later medieval kings, ending in the early 13th century, with fuller treatment of the reigns of Christian rulers and the unification of the realm.

Snorri drew on earlier written sources, oral tradition, and court poetry in constructing a continuous narrative intended to illuminate kingship, Christianization, and political legitimacy. The text is notable for its biographical approach to rulers and for its episodic, annalistic style, including speeches that illustrate political and moral themes.

Manuscripts: Heimskringla survives in several medieval Icelandic manuscripts; the most complete versions circulate in the Flateyjarbók and other codices, and the work has been printed and translated in modern editions. It has had a profound influence on later Scandinavian historiography and on the popular image of Norwegian kings, though scholars caution that Snorri’s chronicle mixes reliable history with legendary material.

Today Heimskringla is regarded as an essential primary source for the history of medieval Norway and as an important example of Norse kingship literature and saga tradition.