The Saga of King Sverri or History Is Written by the Victors Cover Image

Sága o králi Sverrim aneb dějiny píší vítězové
The Saga of King Sverri or History Is Written by the Victors

Author(s): Lenka Doová
Subject(s): History
Published by: Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci
Keywords: Middle Ages; saga; Sverri; Norway; propaganda

Summary/Abstract: This study deals with the saga dedicated to King Sverre Sigurdsson, one of the most significant Norwegian rulers in the High Middle Ages. It is a unique source which was written in the order of the vanquisher, who, though originally a priest, obtained the Norwegian crown thanks to his military skills and became a founder of the dynasty bearing his name. Sverris saga, especially its first part that was created during the main protagonist’s life, is critically examined. First and foremost, the article aims at arguments used by the author for propaganda or defence of Sverre’s acts. The study attempts to answer whether it is possible to consider this narrative source to be an objective (auto)biography and whether King Sverre’s arguments, which he employed to defend his title to the throne, could persuade a medieval reader about the rightfulness of his acts.

  • Issue Year: XXXIX/2015
  • Issue No: 49
  • Page Range: 13-30
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: Czech