Herjólfr Bárðarson

in the flaughty book version of the discovery it is stated that biarni herjulfsson during a voyage from iceland to greenland having been driven to the southward out of his course came upon unknown lands that following upon this and as the direct result of biarni's reports of his discoveries leif ericsson was moved to go in search of the strange lands which biarni had seen but not explored that he found these in due course first that land which biarni had seen last and finally the southernmost land to which after its products he gave the name of wineland This account differs entirely from the history contained in the other manuscripts which deal with this subject, all of which agree in describing the discovery to Leif Erikson, and unite in the statement that he found Wineland accidentally during a voyage from Norway to Greenland, which he had undertaken at the instance of King Olaf Tryggvason for the purpose of introducing Christianity to his fellow countrymen in Greenland.

not only is biarni's discovery unknown to any other icelandic writing now existing but the man himself as well as his daring voyage have failed to find a chronicler elsewhere although his father was a most distinguished man the grandson of a settler and a kinsman of the first icelandic colonist the first portion of the flatey book version the short story of eric the red concludes with the words biarni now went to his father gave up his voyaging and remained with his father during herjulf's lifetime and continued to dwell there after his father the second portion of this version of the wineland history the short story of the greenlanders begins with the words it is now next to this that biarni herlufsen came out from greenland on a visit to earl eric c as has already been stated the two portions of the history of the wineland discovery as they appear in the flatey book are not in any way connected with each other the first narrative occupies its appropriate place in the account of the life of king olaf tryggvason as do the other narratives similar in character which are introduced into this as into the other sagas in the manuscript and there appears to be no reason why the second narrative a short story of the greenlanders should be regarded as having received treatment different in this respect from other interpolated narratives of the same class if therefore we interpret the opening words of this story of the greenlanders it is now next to this to mean that the incident which follows is related next in chronological order after that part of the saga which has immediately preceded it it becomes apparent that biarni's visit must have taken place after the battle of svolder in which king olaf tryggvason fell and earl eric was victorious This battle took place on the 9th of September in the year 1000.

As it is not probable that Bjarni would have undertaken his voyage to Norway before the summer following, the earliest date which could reasonably be a sign for Bjarni's sojourn at the Earl's Court would appear to be the winter of the years 1001 and 1002. are told in the same place that biarni returned to greenland the following summer and that subsequent to his return leif purchased his ship and went in search of the land which biarni had seen but had failed to explore in the year nine eighty five according to the chronology of the short story leif's voyage of exploration as described in the flatey book could therefore scarcely have taken place before the year one thousand two but according to the other historical data already cited leif discovered wineland during a voyage to greenland undertaken at the request and during the lifetime of king olaf tryggvason hence obviously not later than the year one thousand The Flahti book refers to this voyage in the following words.

That same summer he, King Olaf Tryggvason, sent Gisur and Hjalti to Iceland, as has already been written.

At that time, King Olaf sent Leif to Greenland to preach Christianity there.

The king sent with him a priest and certain other holy men to baptize the folk and teach them the true faith.

leif went to greenland that summer and took on board his vessel a ship's crew of men who were at the time in great peril upon a rock he arrived in greenland late in the summer and went home to his father eric at bratehild the people afterwards called him leif the lucky but his father eric said that leif's having rescued the crew and restored the men to life might be balanced against the fact that he had brought the impostor to greenland so he called the priest Nevertheless, through Leif's advice and persuasion, Eric was baptized and all of the people of Greenland.

it will be observed that in this record of leif's missionary voyage no allusion is made to the discovery of wineland as in the other accounts of the same voyage with which in other respects this passage agrees by this variation a conflict with biarni's claim to the priority of discovery previously promulgated in the short story of eric the red is avoided a portion of this passage may not however be so happily reconciled it is said that through leif's advice and persuasion eric the red was baptized while we find in the short story of the greenlanders the statement that eric the red died before christianity moreover we have in the short story of the greenlanders in addition to this direct conflict of statement an apparent repetition of the incident of the rescue of the shipwrecked mariners when we are told that leif effected a rescue of castaways on his return from a voyage of exploration to wineland and was therefore called leif the lucky If this be not a repetition of the same incident, then we must conclude that Leif, upon two different voyages, saved the lives of a crew of shipwrecked mariners, for which he twice received the same title from the same people.

Not only is Bjarni's discovery unknown to any other Icelandic writing now existing, but the man himself, as well as his daring voyage, have failed to find a chronicler elsewhere, although his father was a most distinguished man, the grandson of a settler, and a kinsman of the first Icelandic colonist.

The first portion of the Flaty Book version, the short story of Eric the Red, concludes with the words, Bjarni now went to his father, gave up his voyaging, and remained with his father during Herjulf's lifetime, and continued to dwell there after his father.

The second portion of this version of the Wineland history, the short story of the Greenlanders, begins with the words, It is now next to this that Bjarni Herjulfsson came out from Greenland on a visit to Earl Eric, etc.

As has already been stated, the two portions of the history of the Wineland discovery, as they appear in the Flaty Book, are not in any way connected with each other.

The first narrative occupies its appropriate place in the account of the life of King Olaf Tryggvason, as do the other narratives similar in character, which are introduced into this as into the other sagas in the manuscript.

During the same summer, Bishop Frederick and Torvald Kodranson went abroad from Iceland.

Of those men who accompanied Eric to Greenland, the following took possession of land there.

Herjulf, Herjulfsfirth, he dwelt at Herjulfsnes.

Of those men who accompanied Erik to Greenland, the following took possession of land there.

Herjulf, Herjulfsfirth, he dwelt at Herjulfsnes.

Ketil, Ketilsfirth, Hrafin, Hrafinsfirth, Solvi, Solvadal, Helgi Torbransen, Alptafirth, Torbjorn Glemer, Siglufirth, Einar, Einarsfirth, Hafgrim, Hafgrimsfirth, and Vatnarferfi, Arnlaugsfirth, while some went to the western settlement.

Leif the Lucky Baptized After that sixteen winters had lapsed from the time when Erik the Red went to colonize Greenland, Leif Erik's son sailed out from Greenland to Norway.

It proved easy for the king to persuade Leif, and he was accordingly baptized together with all of his shipmates.

Leif remained throughout the winter with the king, by whom he was well entertained.

Bjarni Goes in Quest of Greenland Herjulf was a son of Bard Herjulfson.

He was a kinsman of Ingulf the first colonist.

For more information, visit jameshardy.com slash hardybacker.

INTRODUCTION the wineland history of the flatey book the flatey book is the most extensive and most perfect of icelandic manuscripts it is in itself a comprehensive historical library of the era with which it deals in so considerable are its contents that they fill upwards of seventeen hundred large octavo pages of printed text on the title-page of the manuscript we are informed that it belonged originally to john hawkinson for whom it was written by the priests john tordson and magnus thorhalsson we have no information concerning the date when the book was commenced by john tordson but the most important portion of the work appears to have been completed in the year thirteen eighty seven although additions were made to the body of the work by one of the original scribes and the annals appended to the books brought them down to the year thirteen ninety four toward the close of the fifteenth century the then owner of the book whose name is unknown inserted three quaternions of additional historical matter in the manuscript to fill a hiatus in the historical sequence of the work not however in that part of the manuscript which treats of wineland it has been conjectured that the manuscript was written in the north of iceland but according to the editors of the printed text the facts are that the manuscript was owned in the west of iceland as far back as we possess any knowledge of it and there is no positive evidence where it was written we have indeed no further particulars concerning the manuscript before the seventeenth century when we find that it was in the possession of john finson who dwelt in flatey in bradyfirth as had his father and his father's father before him that the book had been a family heirloom is evident from an entry made in the manuscript by the same john finson this book i john finson own the gift of my deceased father's father john bjarnson c from john finson the book descended to his nephew john torfassen from whom that worthy bibliophile bishop breniolf of skalholt sought in vain to purchase it as is related in an anecdote in the bishop's biography farmer john of flatey son of the rev torfi finsson owned a large and massive parchment book in ancient manacal writing containing sagas of the kings of norway and many others and it is therefore calmly called flatey book This, Bishop Brynjolf endeavored to purchase, first for money, and then for five hundreds of land.

But he nevertheless failed to obtain it.

However, when John bore him company as he was leaving the island, he presented him the book.

This total disappearance of all trace of the archetypes of the Flottie book, although it is by no means the only case of the kind in the history of Icelandic paleography, is especially to be deplored in connection with the Wineland narrative, since it leaves us without a clue which might aid us in arriving at a solution of certain enigmas which this narrative presents.

in the flaughty book version of the discovery it is stated that biarni herjulfsson during a voyage from iceland to greenland having been driven to the southward out of his course came upon unknown lands that following upon this and as the direct result of biarni's reports of his discoveries leif ericsson was moved to go in search of the strange lands which biarni had seen but not explored that he found these in due course first that land which biarni had seen last and finally the southernmost land to which after its products he gave the name of wineland This account differs entirely from the history contained in the other manuscripts which deal with this subject, all of which agree in describing the discovery to Leif Erikson, and unite in the statement that he found Wineland accidentally during a voyage from Norway to Greenland, which he had undertaken at the instance of King Olaf Tryggvason for the purpose of introducing Christianity to his fellow countrymen in Greenland.

not only is biarni's discovery unknown to any other icelandic writing now existing but the man himself as well as his daring voyage have failed to find a chronicler elsewhere although his father was a most distinguished man the grandson of a settler and a kinsman of the first icelandic colonist the first portion of the flatey book version the short story of eric the red concludes with the words biarni now went to his father gave up his voyaging and remained with his father during herjulf's lifetime and continued to dwell there after his father the second portion of this version of the wineland history the short story of the greenlanders begins with the words it is now next to this that biarni herlufsen came out from greenland on a visit to earl eric c as has already been stated the two portions of the history of the wineland discovery as they appear in the flatey book are not in any way connected with each other The first narrative occupies its appropriate place in the account of the life of King Olaf Tryggvason, as do the other narratives similar in character, which are introduced into this as into the other sagas in the manuscript.

And there appears to be no reason why the second narrative, a short story of the Greenlanders, should be regarded as having received treatment.

But in other cases survivors must have returned to Greenland or Iceland to tell of what they had seen.

This is exactly what happened to a bold sailor called Bjarni, the son of Herjulf, a few years after the Greenland colony was founded.

In 986 he put out from Iceland to join his father, who was in Greenland, the purpose being that, after the good old Norse custom, they might drink their Christmas ale together.

Neither Bjarni nor his men had ever sailed the Greenland Sea before, but, like bold mariners, they relied upon their seafaring instinct to guide them to its coast.

As Bjarni's ship was driven westward, great mists fell upon the face of the waters.

There was neither sun nor stars, but day after day only the thick wet fog that clung to the cold surface of the heaving sea.

To-day travellers even on a palatial steamship, who spend a few hours shuddering in the chill grey fog of the North Atlantic, chafing at delay, may form some idea of voyages such as that of Bjarni Herjulf and his men.

These Vikings went on undaunted towards the west.

this total disappearance of all trace of the archetypes of the flatey book although it is by no means the only case of the kind in the history of icelandic paleography is especially to be deplored in connection with the wine-land narrative since it leaves us without a clue which might aid us in arriving at a solution of certain enigmas which this narrative presents in the flaughty book version of the discovery it is stated that biarni herjulfsson during a voyage from iceland to greenland having been driven to the southward out of his course came upon unknown lands that following upon this and as the direct result of biarni's reports of his discoveries leif ericsson was moved to go in search of the strange lands which biarni had seen but not explored that he found these in due course first that land which biarni had seen last and finally the southernmost land to which after its products he gave the name of wineland This account differs entirely from the history contained in the other manuscripts which deal with this subject, all of which agree in describing the discovery to Leif Erikson, and unite in the statement that he found Wineland accidentally during a voyage from Norway to Greenland, which he had undertaken at the instance of King Olaf Tryggvason for the purpose of introducing Christianity to his fellow countrymen in Greenland.

not only is biarni's discovery unknown to any other icelandic writing now existing but the man himself as well as his daring voyage have failed to find a chronicler elsewhere although his father was a most distinguished man the grandson of a settler and a kinsman of the first icelandic colonist the first portion of the flatey book version the short story of eric the red concludes with the words biarni now went to his father gave up his voyaging and remained with his father during herjulf's lifetime and continued to dwell there after his father the second portion of this version of the wineland history the short story of the greenlanders begins with the words it is now next to this that biarni herlufsen came out from greenland on a visit to earl eric c as has already been stated the two portions of the history of the wineland discovery as they appear in the flatey book are not in any way connected with each other the first narrative occupies its appropriate place in the account of the life of king olaf tryggvason as do the other narratives similar in character which are introduced into this as into the other sagas in the manuscript and there appears to be no reason why the second narrative a short story of the greenlanders should be regarded as having received treatment different in this respect from other interpolated narratives of the same class if therefore we interpret the opening words of this story of the greenlanders it is now next to this to mean that the incident which follows is related next in chronological order after that part of the saga which has immediately preceded it it becomes apparent that biarni's visit must have taken place after the battle of svolder in which king olav tryggvason fell and earl eric was victorious This battle took place on the 9th of September in the year 1000.

As it is not probable that Bjarni would have undertaken his voyage to Norway before the summer following, the earliest date which could reasonably be a sign for Bjarni's sojourn at the Earl's Court would appear to be the winter of the years 1001 and 1002. we are told in the same place that biarni returned to greenland the following summer and that subsequent to his return leif purchased his ship and went in search of the land which biarni had seen but had failed to explore in the year nine eighty five according to the chronology of the short story leif's voyage of exploration as described in the flatey book could therefore scarcely have taken place before the year one thousand two but according to the other historical data already cited leif discovered wineland during a voyage to greenland undertaken at the request and during the lifetime of king olaf tryggvason hence obviously not later than the year one thousand The Flahti book refers to this voyage in the following words.

That same summer he, King Olaf Tryggvason, sent Gisur and Hjalti to Iceland, as has already been written.

At that time, King Olaf sent Leif to Greenland to preach Christianity there.

The king sent with him a priest and certain other holy men to baptize the folk and teach them the true faith.

leif went to greenland that summer and took on board his vessel a ship's crew of men who were at the time in great peril upon a rock he arrived in greenland late in the summer and went home to his father eric at bratehild the people afterwards called him leif the lucky but his father eric said that leif's having rescued the crew and restored the men to life might be balanced against the fact that he had brought the impostor to greenland so he called the priest Nevertheless, through Leif's advice and persuasion, Eric was baptized and all of the people of Greenland.

it will be observed that in this record of leif's missionary voyage no allusion is made to the discovery of wineland as in the other accounts of the same voyage with which in other respects this passage agrees by this variation a conflict with biarni's claim to the priority of discovery previously promulgated in the short story of eric the red is avoided a portion of this passage may not however be so happily reconciled it is said that through leif's advice and persuasion eric the red was baptized while we find in the short story of the greenlanders the statement that eric the red died before christianity moreover we have in the short story of the greenlanders in addition to this direct conflict of statement an apparent repetition of the incident of the rescue of the shipwrecked mariners when we are told that leif effected a rescue of castaways on his return from a voyage of exploration to wineland and was therefore called leif the lucky If this be not a repetition of the same incident, then we must conclude that Leif, upon two different voyages, saved the lives of a crew of shipwrecked mariners, for which he twice received the same title from the same people.