Saulus saga ok Nikanors (also known as Sálus saga og Nikanors) is a medieval Icelandic romance saga. Its style is said to combine that of a romance as well as that of Sagas of Icelanders.Rossenbeck, Klaus. Die Stellung der Riddarasögur in der altnordischen Prosaliteratur: Eine Untersuchung an Hand des Erzählstil (Frankfurt am Main: J. W. Goethe-Universität, 1970), 210-211; Glauser, Jürg. Isländische Märchensagas: Studien zur Prosaliteratur im spätmittelalterlichen Island. Beiträge zur Nordischen Philologie. Beiträge Zur Nordischen Philologie (Basel: Helbing & Lichtenhahn, 1983), 288; Driscoll, Matthew J. "Saulus saga ok Nikanors." In Medieval Scandinavia, an Encyclopedia. Edited by Phillip Pulsiano and Kirsten Wolf. 566. Garland Encyclopedias of the Middle Ages 1 (New York: Garland Publishing, 1993), 566. Thematically, the saga discusses issues of power, embodied by Nikanor's sister's name, Potentiana.Tirosh, Yoav 2019: On the Receiving End: The Role of Scholarship, Memory, and Genre in Constructing Ljósvetninga saga. Unpublished doctoral thesis, University of Iceland.
Synopsis
Kalinke and Mitchell summarise the saga thus:
Composed in Iceland, presumably in the fourteenth century. After a duel nearly to the death as a result of a chess game at the court of the Roman emperor, Prince Sálus of Galicia and Duke Nikanor of Bár become blood brothers and are involved in a series of tremendous battles in order to obtain Potentiana, Nikanor's sister, as Sálus' bride. Nikanor ultimately marries Luneta, daughter of King Benjamin of Akaia in Grikkland. There are many classical and Biblical elements and allusions.Marianne E. Kalinke and P. M. Mitchell, Bibliography of Old Norse–Icelandic Romances, Islandica, 44 (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1985), p. 93.
Manuscripts
Kalinke and Mitchell identified the following manuscripts of the saga:Marianne E. Kalinke and P. M. Mitchell, Bibliography of Old Norse–Icelandic Romances, Islandica, 44 (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1985), pp. 93-94. AM 162 c folAM 162 c fol (15th c), vellumJón Helgason argued against its inclusion in the 15th century vellum AM 162 c fol. ("Syv Sagablade (AM 162 C fol, bl. 1–7)," edited by Jón Helgason. Opuscula 5 (Bibliotheca Arnamagnæana: 31) (1975): 1–97.) But others maintained that it should rather be included within this saga manuscript (Origines Islandicae, A Collection of the More Important Sagas and Other Native Writings Relating to the Settlement and Early History of Iceland. Vol. 2. Edited and translated by Gudbrand Vigfússon and F. York Powell. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1905, 344, 346)AM 181 m fol (late 17th c)AM 343a 4to (15th c), vellumAM 527 4to (17th c)AM 570a 4toAM 570a 4to (late 15th c), vellum (late 17th c)AM 948 k 4to (19th c)BL Add 11,158 4to (ca 1764)IB 184 4to (late 18th c and 1800)IB 185 8vo (ca 1770)IB 229 4to (ca 1750)Kall 613 4to (1750–51)Lbs 1502 4to (1880–1905)Lbs 221 fol (1819–32)Lbs 2943 4to (1875)Lbs 3161 4to (ca 1900)Lbs 4488 4toLbs 634 4to (ca 1800)Lbs 674 4to (ca 1820–30)Lbs 980 4to (1686–87)National Museum, Reykjavík, Ásbúðarsafn: Sogubok (18th c)Papp 4to nr 22 (17th c)Papp fol nr 1 (early 17th c)Papp fol nr 47Papp fol nr 47 (1690–91)University Library, Lund: LUB 14 4to (mid-18th c)AM 576 c 4to (ca 1700) (excerpt)NKS 1144 fol (18th c) (résumé)
Derived rímur Finnur Sigmundsson's catalogue of rímur lists three different rímur based on the saga which Finnur knew in manuscripts in public collections, and reports rumours of six lost rímur on the subject.Finnur Sigmundsson, Rímnatal (Reykjavík: Rímnafélagið, 1966), I 410-12. The oldest is Sálus rímur og Níkanórs, dated to the first half of the fifteenth century by Haukur Þorgeirsson;Haukur Þorgeirsson, Hljóðkerfi og bragkerfi: Stoðhljóð, tónkvæði og önnur úrlausnarefni í íslenskri bragsögu ásamt útgáfu á Rímum af Ormari Fraðmarssyni (Reykjavík: Hugvísindastofnun, 2013), p. 251 . the poem comprises 593 stanzas in eleven rímur and was edited by Finnur Jónsson.Finnur Jónsson (ed.), Rímnasafn: Samling af de ældste islandske rimer, Samfund til udgivelse af gammel nordisk litteratur, 35, 2 vols (Copenhagen: Møller and Jørgensen, 1905–22), II 687–769.
Sample of Sálus rímur og Níkanórs
Stanza Manuscript spelling Standardised Old Norse spelling Modern Icelandic spelling Translation4Keisare styrde Roma rikr,
reyndr at speckt ok millde,
fylkir hefr eigi fręgri en slikr
framizt med brandi ok skillde.An emperor ruled the kingdom of Rome,
proven in wisdom and generosity;
no general more famous than this has
distinguished himself with sword and shield.5Hans var drottning uitr ok uæn
ualenn af ættum bestum,
giptu frod ok geysi kænn,
gǫfug at mentum flestum.He had a queen, wise and beautiful,
chosen from the best families,
happy in fortune and extremely sapient,
skilled in most arts.6Vellde styrdi uisir traustr
uestr at Niorfa svndum,
Fenidi botnar fylla austr
fylkis valld i mundvm.The steadfast leader ruled a dominion
west as far as the Straits of Gibraltar;
to the east the bays of Venice complete
the power in the hands of the prince.7Mvndia fioll reid merkia nordr
milldings tignn ok rike,
vt uit hafit er anar spordr,
eingin fanzt hans like.To the Alps rode the glory and rule
of the borders of the munificent one;
another spur extends out to sea:
there was no-one like him.8Keisaren uill sitt rike ok rad
reckum ueita travstum,
þeir sem hallda lond ok lad
i len af kongi hraustvm.The Emperor wishes to grant dominion and counsel
to his steadfast warriors,
those who hold land and territory
in fee from the bold king.9Medan at innizt æuentyr
ytar bid ec at hlyde,
uisir eina ueizlu byr
ok uelr til marga lyde.While I recount the adventure,
I ask silence of you all:
the leader prepares a feast
and chooses many people.10Iafnn uel skylde avmr ok sæll
audlings ueizlv niota,
uinnv lydr ok vesli þræll
uerdr nad at hliota.Both poor and wealthy alike shall
enjoy the prince's feast;
labourer and indigent slave
get to be selected11Galiscia gaufugr red
gramr i þena tima,
sa hefr ræsir reckum tied
raudan arma sina.A fierce king rules Galicia
at this time;
that ruler has shown men
his red arms.12Eliseus er audlings nafn,
aur vid garpa snialla,
fylkis sonr er fæstvm iafn,
fyrdar Saulum kalla.Elíseus is this prince's name,
generous to brave champions;
the monarch's son is matched by few:
men call him Sálus.13Han bar list ok likams afll
langt yfir adra garpa,
rida i dust ok reyna tafll
ok rioda branden snarpa.He exhibited skill and bodily strength
far beyond other champions
to ride in a joust or to try chess,
or to redden a keen sword.14So er hann travstr i turnnement,
tiair þat onngum reyna,
uinnr i senn med uopnum þrent,
ualla ma þui leyna.So steadfast is he in tournaments
that it avails no-one to try;
with weapons, he struggles against three at once:
one can hardly hide that.15Hann er bædi blidr ok þeckr,
ef bles honum eingi i moti,
enn sem uargr ef uínit dreckr
ok uægir þa ongu hote.He is both cheerful and popular
if no-one countermands him,
but like a wolf if he drinks wine,
and then he does not yield at all.16Huergi matti holda kind
honum til nockvrs lika,
so er hans hiuggia af hræsne blind
helzt vid gvmna rika.Nowhere could the kin of men
please him at all,
so blind is his mind from boasting,
especially at powerful men.17Fedgar tueir med fiolda hers
fara til Romaborgar,
þar mvn eydir orma skers
afla meire sorgar.Father and son travel together to the city of Rome
with a large army;
there will the destroyer of the island of the dragon [=prince]
acquire more affliction.18Hertuge ein uar ut i Bar,
ungr ok fagr at lita,
sa let iafnan eggiar blar
Odens refla bita.A certain duke lived out in Bari,
young and handsome to look upon;
he always allowed blue edges to bite
the tapestry of Óðinn [shield].19Holdum þotte Nikanor
nytum kongvm meire;
uida hefr hann verken stor
ueitt med rodnum geire.Nikanor was reckoned, among men,
greater than decent kings;
he has achieved great deeds
widely with reddened spear.20Gat firi nordann Gricklandz haf
garp at ỏngu hæfra,
hann ber ment ok mecktan af,
man fekk ỏnguan gæfra.[The story] mentioned, to the north of the Aegaean sea,
a champion second to none;
he excels in skills and strength:
you could not find anyone more gifted.21Hans er systir fogr ok frid
fram yfir allar snotir,
tiezt hun bædi travst ok blid,
traut fanz hennar note.He has a beautiful and noble sister,
wise above all others;
she was reported to be steadfast and cheerful;
it was hard to find her equal.22Sigrar hun med sinum lit
sialfan ægis mana,
feingit hefr hun fruktat uit
fru Potenciana.She could outshine, with her face, Ægir's wife herself;
she has been blessed with a fertile mind:
Lady Potenciana.23Vpp ꜳ kurt ok kuennmanz dygd
klenn i allan mata,
hueria skulum i heimsens bygd
henne iafnna lata.Advanced in courtliness and womanly virtue,
fine in every way:
who in all the world shall we
admit would equal her?24So uar eingi sorgum mæddr
siouar ellda beider,
hver er þegnna heill ok graddr
er hringþoll avgum leidir.Thus the seeker of the fire of the sea [gold]
was not troubled by sorrows;
each man is healthy and well
who beholds a neck-ring.25Tier hun ỏngvm tomar hendr,
tærir gull ok klædi,
efnne so med ollu stendr
um agæt syskenn bædi.She shows no-one empty hands— grants gold and clothing.
So matters stand in all respects
regarding both those noble siblings.26Hertugans uar nu havdr ok her
heidre ok glaume spentir,
geck hinn uitre Uillefer
uisi næst vm mentir.The land and the army of the duke was now
filled with honour and merriment.
The wise Villifer was
next after the leader in skills.27Hann bar dygd ok dreingmanz hug
driugt yfir adra lydi,
bar hann þa iafnan bestan dvg,
at bragnar margir flyde.He had persistence and a warrior's mind
far beyond other men;
he enjoyed the greatest doughtiness,
so that many heroes fled him.28Hertuge byr sic nefndr ok nytr
nordr i Rom at rida,
hann mun uist adr ueislan þrytr
uandan nockurnn bida.The duke, summoned and able, prepares himself
to ride north to Rome;
he will certainly – before the feast concludes –
experience some difficulty.29Rida inn i Roma borg
reckar uopnum skreyttir,
þar uar bædi um turnn ok torg
trvmba ok lvdrar þeyttir.Warriors adorned with weapons
ride in to the city of Rome;
the noise of drums and trumpets
was heard there from both tower and square.30Leikarar stefnna stadnum ur
stillis ferd at magna,
gengv hliod so gall i mur,
gledr þat kongsens bragna.Performers step from their positions
to glorify the passage of the nobleman;
sounds rang out so that they echoes off the walls;
that delights the king's men.31Stræten hofdu kogrvm klædd
keisara ferd enn rika,
einge kind ꜳ iordu fædd
atreid mvnde slika.They had covered the streets in carpets
for the journey of the powerful emperor;
no being born on earth
remembered such an event.32Fyrdar lata fagurlig ess
fram til kirkiv renna,
hvergi matti haudursens bers
hofar þeira kenna.Warriors let beautiful horses
run forward to the church;
their hooves could never touch
the bare earth.
Editions and translations H. Erlendsson & Einar Þórðarson, eds. "Sagan af Sálusi og Nikanor", in Fjórar riddarasögur (Reykjavik, 1852), pp. 34–92. Machine-readable text here. [Popular reading edition.] Agnete Loth (ed.), Late Medieval Icelandic Romances, Editiones Arnamagæanae, series B, 20–24, 5 vols (Copenhagen: Munksgaard, 1962–65), II, 3-91. [The principal scholarly edition.]
References