Hálfs saga ok Hálfsrekka
Encyclopedia
Hálfs saga ok Hálfsrekka (The Saga of Half & His Heroes) or Hálfssaga is a legendary saga
composed in the early 14th century. It is about Halfr (Proto-Norse: Haþuwulafr, meaning "battle-wulf") who was one of Norway
's most famous legendary sea-king
s.
His champions had to submit to harsh rules. When Half had spent 18 years of free-booting, he returned to Hordaland
, where Half's stepfather Asmund had ruled in his stead. Asmund invited Halfr and half of his warband to a banquet and swore Halfr his loyalty. However, Asmund put them to the sword or burnt them to death inside his hall. Only two warriors survived and managed to escape, Utsten and Hrok the Black.
Utsten and Hrok united with Sölve
of Njardey and they avenged Half and the slain warriors. Then they appointed Half's son Hjor to be the king of Hordaland.
It is known for its great diversity in content, ranging from folklore
to heroic poetry. Some of the poetry is of considerable age suggesting a long time of oral transmission prior to its being put to paper. One of his champions is also mentioned in Hyndluljóð
(Instein).
Legendary saga
A Legendary saga or Fornaldarsaga is a Norse saga that, unlike the Icelanders' sagas, takes place before the colonization of Iceland. There are some exceptions, such as Yngvars saga víðförla, which takes place in the 11th century...
composed in the early 14th century. It is about Halfr (Proto-Norse: Haþuwulafr, meaning "battle-wulf") who was one of Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
's most famous legendary sea-king
Sea-King
A Sea King was the Viking name for a powerful pirate chieftain.They could be actual kings of Sweden , Denmark or a Norwegian kingdom, and sons of kings, such as Refil, but they could also be men "without roof" like Hjörvard the Ylfing.In the Norse sagas, such men without roof could be so powerful...
s.
His champions had to submit to harsh rules. When Half had spent 18 years of free-booting, he returned to Hordaland
Hordaland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark and Rogaland. Hordaland is the third largest county after Akershus and Oslo by population. The county administration is located in Bergen...
, where Half's stepfather Asmund had ruled in his stead. Asmund invited Halfr and half of his warband to a banquet and swore Halfr his loyalty. However, Asmund put them to the sword or burnt them to death inside his hall. Only two warriors survived and managed to escape, Utsten and Hrok the Black.
Utsten and Hrok united with Sölve
Sölve
Sölve was a sea-king who conquered Sweden by burning the Swedish king Östen to death inside his hall.The Heimskringla relates that he was the son Högne of Nærøy, and that he had his home in Jutland...
of Njardey and they avenged Half and the slain warriors. Then they appointed Half's son Hjor to be the king of Hordaland.
It is known for its great diversity in content, ranging from folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
to heroic poetry. Some of the poetry is of considerable age suggesting a long time of oral transmission prior to its being put to paper. One of his champions is also mentioned in Hyndluljóð
Hyndluljóð
Hyndluljóð or Lay of Hyndla is an Old Norse poem often considered a part of the Poetic Edda. It is preserved in its entirety only in Flateyjarbók but some stanzas are also quoted in the Prose Edda where they are said to come from Völuspá hin skamma.In the poem, the goddess Freyja meets the völva...
(Instein).