fbpx
Wikipedia

Thorgils Sprakelegg

May 01, 2024

Thorgils Sprakalegg (also called Thorgil, Torkel, Torgils, Thrugils or Sprakalägg) was a Danish nobleman whose children were active in the politics of Denmark and England in the early 11th century and who was grandfather of kings of both nations.[1] Little is recorded about Thorgils in historical texts outside of his place in the genealogy of his children or grandchildren. Thorgils' cognomen Sprakalägg can be translated into English as "Break-leg"[2] or "Strut-leg".[3]

The 11th-century English chronicler John of Worcester reports in an entry dated 1049 that Earl Beorn Estrithson was brother of King Svein of Denmark, and son of Danish Earl Ulf, son of Spracling[us], son of Urs[us].[4] Here Spraclingus is a garbled representation of the byname of Thorgils appearing in later Scandinavian sources,[5] while Ursus is the Latin urso, or bear (Bjørn in Danish, Björn in Swedish).[6]

He appears in several 13th-century sources. He is Torgils or Þorgils Sprakaleggs in Knýtlinga saga and in two works of Snorri Sturluson – Óláfs saga helga in Heimskringla,[2] and the Separate Saga of St. Olaf – each time simply as father of Earl Ulf. Two other 13th-century sources relate folklore that derives Thorgils from the mating of a bear with a noblewoman. Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus recorded that the son born to such a union was 'named after his father' (i.e. called 'bear' – Ursus/Björn; in the 14th-century summary of Saxo's work, Compendium Saxonis, he is explicitly named 'Byorn'[7]) and was himself father of 'Thrugillus, called Sprageleg', father of Earl Ulf. Saxo further says of 'Thrugillis' that he "lacked not one ounce of his father's valour" (nullo probitatis vestigio a paternae virtutis imitatione defecit).[8] The other source, Gesta Antecessorum Comitis Waldevi, copies the early generations of John of Worcester's pedigree but, confusing two like-named men, replaces Earl Beorn Estrithson as Earl Ulf's son with Björn Boreson, the father of Siward, Earl of Northumbria.[9] This pedigree commences with an episode not found in the Worcester chronicler's pedigree but similar to that of Saxo, that a 'certain nobleman', contrary to the natural order of human procreation, had a white bear as his father and a noblewoman as a mother, before continuing the pedigree with 'Ursus begat Spratlingus'.[10] The chronicle sometimes attributed to the 15th-century John Brompton tells a very similar tale of bear-paternity relating to the birth of Björn Boresune ('bear's son') himself. Historian Timothy Bolton has suggested that the role of a bear in the immediate ancestry of both Ulf's children and Siward's line may represent a tradition shared by relatives rather than that two independent families at about the same time both co-opting the same ancient Norwegian legend for their immediate ancestry – that Björn Boresune and Thorgils may have been brothers.[4]

In the 18th century, Danish historian Jakob Langebek suggested this bear story was allegorical, and that the brutish 'Wild' Björn, father of Thorgils, was a reference to Jomsviking brigand leader Styrbjörn the Strong (Styrbjörn Starke),[11][12] depicted by sagas as the son of Olaf Björnsson, king of Sweden.[11][12][13] The sagas relate that Styrbjörn was the first husband of Tyra, the daughter of Harold Bluetooth, king of Denmark and Norway.[11][12][14] No children or wife are assigned to Styrbjörn in a 10th-century chronicle attributed to a witness of the events in Harald Bluetooth's life, Gesta Wulinensis ecclesiae pontificum,[15] and Otto Brenner's detailed study of the descendants of Gorm the Old gives his granddaughter Tyra and Styrbjörn no children.[16]

Children edit

References edit

  1. ^ Lawætz, Peter (April 2011). "Ulf jarls herkomst". vikingekonger.dk. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  2. ^ a b Snorri Sturluson (2014). Heimskringla, Volume II: Óláfr Haraldsson (The Saint) (PDF). Translated by Finlay, Alison; Faulkes, Anthony. London: The Viking Society. p. 156. ISBN 978-0-903521-89-5.
  3. ^ Knytlinga Saga: The History of the Kings of Denmark. Translated by Pálsson, Hermann; Edwards, Paul. Odense: Odense University Press. 1986. pp. 26, 44. ISBN 9788774925712. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  4. ^ a b Bolton, Timothy (2007), "Was the Family of Earl Siward and Earl Waltheof a Lost Line of the Ancestors of the Danish Royal Family?", Nottingham Medieval Studies, 51:41–71
  5. ^ a b Bolton, Timothy (2009). The Empire of Cnut the Great: Conquest and the Consolidation of Power in Northern Europe in the Early Eleventh Century. Boston: Brill. pp. 70–71, 233.
  6. ^ Arthur, Ross G. "Bjorn - Bear" (PDF). English-Old Norse Dictionary. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  7. ^ Gertz, M. Cl., ed. (1917). Scriptores minores historiæ Danicæ medii ævi (in Latin). København. p. 363.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  8. ^ Tolley, Clive (2007). "Hrólfs Saga Kraka and Sámi Bear Rights" (PDF). Saga-Book. 31: 5–21.
  9. ^ Olrik, Axel (1907). "Siward Digri of Northumberland" (PDF). Saga-Book. 5: 212–237 at 234–235.
  10. ^ Rauer, Christine (2000). Beowulf and the Dragon: Parallels and Analogues. Cambridge: D. S. Brewer. pp. 162–163.
  11. ^ a b c Langebek, Jacob (1774), Scriptores Rerum Danicarum Medii Ævi, vol. 3, pp. 281–282
  12. ^ a b c P. A. Munch (1853), Det Norske Folks Historie, vol. 1, no. 2, p. 101
  13. ^ Searle, W. G. (1899) Anglo-Saxon Bishops, Kings, and Nobles: The Succession of the Bishops and the Pedigrees of the Kings and Nobles (London: Cambridge University Press. p. 355).
  14. ^ "Styrbjörn Starke". Nordisk familjebok. 1918. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  15. ^ Rosborn, Sven (2021). The Viking King's Golden Treasure. About the Curmsun Disc, the discovery of a lost manuscript, Harald Bluetooth´s grave and the location of the fortress of Jomsborg. Rivengate AB. pp. 338–355. ISBN 978-91-986780-1-7.
  16. ^ Brenner, Otto (1965). Nachkommen Gorms des Alten. Stuttgart: Silberburg-Verlag. pp. 1, 3 & 246.
  17. ^ "Ulf". Dansk Biografisk Leksikon. 20 March 2014. Retrieved April 1, 2016.

May 01, 2024
thorgils, sprakelegg, thorgils, sprakalegg, also, called, thorgil, torkel, torgils, thrugils, sprakalägg, danish, nobleman, whose, children, were, active, politics, denmark, england, early, 11th, century, grandfather, kings, both, nations, little, recorded, ab. Thorgils Sprakalegg also called Thorgil Torkel Torgils Thrugils or Sprakalagg was a Danish nobleman whose children were active in the politics of Denmark and England in the early 11th century and who was grandfather of kings of both nations 1 Little is recorded about Thorgils in historical texts outside of his place in the genealogy of his children or grandchildren Thorgils cognomen Sprakalagg can be translated into English as Break leg 2 or Strut leg 3 The 11th century English chronicler John of Worcester reports in an entry dated 1049 that Earl Beorn Estrithson was brother of King Svein of Denmark and son of Danish Earl Ulf son of Spracling us son of Urs us 4 Here Spraclingus is a garbled representation of the byname of Thorgils appearing in later Scandinavian sources 5 while Ursus is the Latin urso or bear Bjorn in Danish Bjorn in Swedish 6 He appears in several 13th century sources He is Torgils or THorgils Sprakaleggs in Knytlinga saga and in two works of Snorri Sturluson olafs saga helga in Heimskringla 2 and the Separate Saga of St Olaf each time simply as father of Earl Ulf Two other 13th century sources relate folklore that derives Thorgils from the mating of a bear with a noblewoman Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus recorded that the son born to such a union was named after his father i e called bear Ursus Bjorn in the 14th century summary of Saxo s work Compendium Saxonis he is explicitly named Byorn 7 and was himself father of Thrugillus called Sprageleg father of Earl Ulf Saxo further says of Thrugillis that he lacked not one ounce of his father s valour nullo probitatis vestigio a paternae virtutis imitatione defecit 8 The other source Gesta Antecessorum Comitis Waldevi copies the early generations of John of Worcester s pedigree but confusing two like named men replaces Earl Beorn Estrithson as Earl Ulf s son with Bjorn Boreson the father of Siward Earl of Northumbria 9 This pedigree commences with an episode not found in the Worcester chronicler s pedigree but similar to that of Saxo that a certain nobleman contrary to the natural order of human procreation had a white bear as his father and a noblewoman as a mother before continuing the pedigree with Ursus begat Spratlingus 10 The chronicle sometimes attributed to the 15th century John Brompton tells a very similar tale of bear paternity relating to the birth of Bjorn Boresune bear s son himself Historian Timothy Bolton has suggested that the role of a bear in the immediate ancestry of both Ulf s children and Siward s line may represent a tradition shared by relatives rather than that two independent families at about the same time both co opting the same ancient Norwegian legend for their immediate ancestry that Bjorn Boresune and Thorgils may have been brothers 4 In the 18th century Danish historian Jakob Langebek suggested this bear story was allegorical and that the brutish Wild Bjorn father of Thorgils was a reference to Jomsviking brigand leader Styrbjorn the Strong Styrbjorn Starke 11 12 depicted by sagas as the son of Olaf Bjornsson king of Sweden 11 12 13 The sagas relate that Styrbjorn was the first husband of Tyra the daughter of Harold Bluetooth king of Denmark and Norway 11 12 14 No children or wife are assigned to Styrbjorn in a 10th century chronicle attributed to a witness of the events in Harald Bluetooth s life Gesta Wulinensis ecclesiae pontificum 15 and Otto Brenner s detailed study of the descendants of Gorm the Old gives his granddaughter Tyra and Styrbjorn no children 16 Children editUlf died 1027 Earl in Denmark and brother in law of King Cnut the Great His son became King Sweyn II of Denmark 17 Eileifr Eglaf named in a Supplement to Jomsvikinga saga as Eilifr THorgilsson brodir Ulfs he was one of the leaders of Thorkell the Tall s 1009 invasion of England and appears between 1019 and 1024 as an earl under King Cnut with jurisdiction centered on Gloucester He ravaged the South Wales coastal region in 1022 3 but apparently left England for Scandinavia in 1024 5 Gytha Thorkelsdottir married Godwin Earl of Wessex mother of King Harold Godwinson of England and Edith of Wessex Queen of King Edward the Confessor Sweyn ForkbeardKing of DenmarkThorgils Sprakelegg Estrid SvendsdatterUlf JarlGytha ThorkelsdottirGodwin Earl of Wessex Sweyn IIKing of DenmarkHarold GodwinsonKing of EnglandEdith of WessexEdward the ConfessorKing of EnglandReferences edit Lawaetz Peter April 2011 Ulf jarls herkomst vikingekonger dk Retrieved April 1 2016 a b Snorri Sturluson 2014 Heimskringla Volume II olafr Haraldsson The Saint PDF Translated by Finlay Alison Faulkes Anthony London The Viking Society p 156 ISBN 978 0 903521 89 5 Knytlinga Saga The History of the Kings of Denmark Translated by Palsson Hermann Edwards Paul Odense Odense University Press 1986 pp 26 44 ISBN 9788774925712 Retrieved 31 May 2022 a b Bolton Timothy 2007 Was the Family of Earl Siward and Earl Waltheof a Lost Line of the Ancestors of the Danish Royal Family Nottingham Medieval Studies 51 41 71 a b Bolton Timothy 2009 The Empire of Cnut the Great Conquest and the Consolidation of Power in Northern Europe in the Early Eleventh Century Boston Brill pp 70 71 233 Arthur Ross G Bjorn Bear PDF English Old Norse Dictionary Retrieved April 1 2016 Gertz M Cl ed 1917 Scriptores minores historiae Danicae medii aevi in Latin Kobenhavn p 363 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Tolley Clive 2007 Hrolfs Saga Kraka and Sami Bear Rights PDF Saga Book 31 5 21 Olrik Axel 1907 Siward Digri of Northumberland PDF Saga Book 5 212 237 at 234 235 Rauer Christine 2000 Beowulf and the Dragon Parallels and Analogues Cambridge D S Brewer pp 162 163 a b c Langebek Jacob 1774 Scriptores Rerum Danicarum Medii AEvi vol 3 pp 281 282 a b c P A Munch 1853 Det Norske Folks Historie vol 1 no 2 p 101 Searle W G 1899 Anglo Saxon Bishops Kings and Nobles The Succession of the Bishops and the Pedigrees of the Kings and Nobles London Cambridge University Press p 355 Styrbjorn Starke Nordisk familjebok 1918 Retrieved April 1 2016 Rosborn Sven 2021 The Viking King s Golden Treasure About the Curmsun Disc the discovery of a lost manuscript Harald Bluetooth s grave and the location of the fortress of Jomsborg Rivengate AB pp 338 355 ISBN 978 91 986780 1 7 Brenner Otto 1965 Nachkommen Gorms des Alten Stuttgart Silberburg Verlag pp 1 3 amp 246 Ulf Dansk Biografisk Leksikon 20 March 2014 Retrieved April 1 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thorgils Sprakelegg amp oldid 1191862331, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.