Sagas & Historical Texts

Íslendingasögur (Family Sagas)

Prose narratives about Icelandic settlers and their descendants during the Viking Age.

  • Brennu-Njáls saga (Njáls saga)

  • Egils saga Skalla-Grímssonar

  • Laxdæla saga

  • Eyrbyggja saga

  • Vatnsdæla saga

  • Grettis saga Ásmundarsonar

  • Gísla saga Súrssonar

  • Kormáks saga

  • Fóstbræðra saga

  • Víga-Glúms saga

  • Heiðarvíga saga

  • Finnboga saga ramma

  • Hrafnkels saga Freysgoða

  • Eiríks saga rauða (Erik the Red)

  • Grœnlendinga saga (Vinland exploration)

  • (plus ~30 other sagas and shorter þættir/tales)


Konungasögur (Kings’ Sagas)

Histories of Scandinavian kings, blending oral tradition with written history.

  • Heimskringla (Snorri Sturluson — includes Ynglinga saga, semi-mythic opening, through to 12th c.)

  • Fagrskinna

  • Morkinskinna

  • Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar (various versions)

  • Óláfs saga helga (St Olaf)

  • Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar


Biskupasögur (Bishops’ & Saints’ Sagas)

Ecclesiastical sagas emphasising church figures.

  • Hungrvaka (history of bishops of Skálholt)

  • Þorláks saga helga

  • Jóns saga helga

  • Guðmundar saga Arasonar


Riddarasögur (Chivalric Sagas)

Norse adaptations of European romances.

  • Tristrams saga ok Ísöndar

  • Parcevals saga

  • Erex saga

  • Ívens saga

  • Möttuls saga

  • Karlamagnús saga


Contemporary Sagas (Samtíðarsögur)

Political sagas about 12th–13th century events.

  • Sturlunga saga (compilation covering the Sturlung Age)

  • Saga of Bishop Guðmundr Arason

  • Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar


Historical Texts (Non-saga Works)

More annalistic or chronicle-style texts.

  • Íslendingabók (Book of Icelanders, c. 1120)

  • Landnámabók (Book of Settlements)

  • Icelandic annals (Annales regii, Lögmannsannáll, etc.)

  • Gesta Danorum (Saxo Grammaticus, Latin chronicle of the Danes, c. 1200 - mixes legend with history)

Ellesha McKay

Founder of Wyrd & Flame | Seidkona & Volva | Author

My names Ellesha I have been a Norse Pagan for 17 years, i am a Seidkona & Volva, spiritual practitioner who helps guide people along there paths/journeys. I am also a Author on vast topics within Norse mythology and history.

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The Sagas and Historical Texts of Norse Tradition

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Complete list of Mythic Texts