|
Olvir Rosta (Old Norse: Ölvir Rósta, and Ölvir Þorljótsson), also known as Aulver Rosta, is a character within the mediaeval ''Orkneyinga saga'', who is purported to have lived during the early 12th century. His Old Norse byname, ''rósta'', means "brawl", "riot". His name, and byname, appear variously in English secondary sources. Ölvir appears in the saga as the son of Þorljót, and Steinnvör 'the Stout'. The mother of Steinnvör is Frakökk, who has been described as one of the great villains of the entire saga. One of Frakökk's sisters, Helga, is the concubine of Earl Hákon Pálsson. Part of the saga relates of how the Earldom of Orkney is for a time jointly run by half-brothers—Haraldr Hákonsson and Páll Hákonsson, who are both sons of Earl Hákon. With the death of Earl Haraldr, son of Helga, Frakökk's family falls out of favour, and are forced to leave Orkney. In time, Frakökk conspire with the father of Earl Rögnvaldr, and agrees to a plan to take the Orkney by force and split it with Earl Rögnvaldr. She and Ölvir eventually make their way to the ''Suðreyjar'', and may their return in a bid to win half of the earldom. However, their small fleet of ships are defeated in battle against Earl Páll. The saga also tells of how Ölvir kills an Orkney chieftain who fought against him during the sea-battle—by burning the man to death within his house. The chieftain's vengeful son later tracks down Ölvir and Frakökk, at their own home in Sutherland. After a short battle behind their homestead, Ölvir's men are routed and Frakökk is burned to death within her house; Ölvir flees from the scene, making for the ''Suðreyjar'', and is not heard from again. Ölvir has also been associated with several places in Sutherland, some of which may bear his name. It has been proposed that Ölvir Rosta may be an ancestor of either one of two Scottish clans from the Outer Hebridean island of Lewis. In 1962 a runestone was uncovered in the Inner Hebrides which bore the name ''Ölvir''. It has been suggested that the men mentioned on this stone were family relations of Ölvir. ==Background== Ölvir Rósta, is a character in the mediaeval ''Orkneyinga saga''. His name in Old Norse is ''Ölvir rósta''. The 17th century Icelandic historian Þormóður Torfason, who wrote Latin histories which covered events the Northern Isles and north-east of Scotland, rendered Ölvir's name as ''Aulver Rosta''.〔Pope 1866: pp. 94–130.〕 Ölvir's byname, ''rósta'', means "brawl", "riot".〔Vigfusson 1874: pp. 501, 503.〕 Both his name and byname are represented various ways in English secondary sources. The saga describes him as "the tallest of men, and strong in limb, exceedingly overbearing, and a great fighter".〔Roberts 1999: p. 129.〕〔 The ''Orkneyinga saga'' states that Ölvir was the son of Þorljót, from ''Rekavík''. The 19th century historian Joseph Anderson was of the opinion that ''Rekavík'' likely refers to Rackwick on the island of Hoy, Orkney; or possibly, but less likely, to Rackwick on the island of Westray, Orkney. The saga states that Ölvir's mother was Þorljót's wife, Steinnvör 'the Stout'.〔 Ölvir's parents had several other children in the saga: sons Magnús, Ormr, Moddan, Eindriði; and daughter Auðhildr.〔 Steinnvör's mother is given as Frakökk; her father was Frakökk's husband, Ljótr 'Villain', from Sutherland.〔 The saga states that Frakökk was a daughter of Moddan, a wealthy and noble farmer from ''i Dali'', "Dale". According to 21st century historian Gareth Williams, this probably refers to a dale within the "Dales of Caithness". The 21st century historian Barbara Crawford stated that the Dales of Caithness refer to "that part of Caithness which includes the river valleys running down towards the Pentland Firth".〔Williams 2007: pp. 133–137.〕 The saga records that another daughter of Moddan's was Helga, who was the concubine of the Orcadian earl, Hákon Pálsson, and the mother of the earl's son, Earl Haraldr Hákonsson.〔 According to the saga, Frakökk's brothers included: Engus 'the Generous'; and Earl Óttarr, from Thurso, who is described as "a man worthy of honour". The saga declares that the descendants of Moddan "were high-born and thought a lot of themselves",〔 and Williams suggested that they could be related to a powerful dynasty in the Irish Sea zone that included an Óttarr who seized control of the Kingdom of Dublin in 1142.〔Williams 2007: pp. 142, 149–150.〕 Williams noted that Frakökk appears as one of the great villains of the ''Orkneyinga saga''. Williams noted that while some of Moddan's descendants had legitimate claims for the earldom, Frakökk did not—however, she made a claim on behalf of her descendants, specifically Ölvir.〔Williams 2007: pp. 129–133.〕 Williams was of the opinion that the power base of Moddan, and his son Earl Óttarr, was in Caithness and Sutherland, not in Orkney.〔 The saga states that Frakökk held lands, which according to Williams, were located near the modern town of Helmsdale, Sutherland. Williams noted that the saga specifically states that Frakökk's husband was from Sutherland. and in consequence, Williams considered that these lands probably passed to her through her marriage. The size of these lands is unknown. Crawford suggested that they covered most of Sutherland: that after the Frakökk's death, and the departure of Ölvir, the lands were inherited by her relative Eiríkr 'Stay-brail' (see illustrated family tree), and in turn by his son, before passing into the possession of the de Moravia family. In Williams' opinion, Crawford may have exaggerated the extent of these lands somewhat. Williams observed that another base of power for Frakökk and Ölvir may have been the ''Suðreyjar'' ("Southern Islands")—which can include both the Hebrides, and the Isle of Man. The saga states at one point, Frakökk and Ölvir travelled to the ''Suðreyjar'' to gather ships and men; later the ''Suðreyjar'' are the destination of Ölvir in his last appearance in the saga. Williams noted that the ''Suðreyjar'' appear many times in the sagas as a target for raids, and conquests, for Orcadian earls; as well as being the source for attacks on the earldom itself. Williams also noted that it is possible that saga's association of Frakökk and Ölvir with the ''Suðreyjar'' may be a red-herring. He stated that "if there was an Orcadian tradition of the Suðreyjar as a haunt of ne’er-do-wells, this would provide an alternative explanation for the references within Orkneyinga saga, including those to do with Moddan's family". Even so, Williams considered that the saga seems to imply that the family had dynastic connections with important individuals of the ''Suðreyjar'', including 'Óláfr 'Titbit', King of Mann and the Isles.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Olvir Rosta」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|