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Several ] ]s and other sources tell about kings that ruled in ]. A few ] ]s tell about kings that ruled in ].


==Icelandic sagas==
The ] from around 1230 writes<ref>http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/ice/is3/is302.htm</ref>: "There was a king named Fornjót, he ruled over those lands which are called Finland and Kvenland; that is to the east of that bight of the sea which goes northward to meet Gandvik; that we call the Helsingbight. Fornjót had three sons; one was named Hler, whom we call Ægir, the second Logi, the third Kari; he was the father of Frost, the father of Snow the old, his son’s name was Thorri; he (Thorri) had two sons, one was named Norr and the other Gorr; his daughter’s name was Goi."
⚫ {{see also|Kvenland}}

⚫ {{seealso|Kvenland}}
Despite the fact that the legendary title "King of Kvenland" appears widely used in various contexts, it is mentioned only once in that particular form/spelling in sagas: Despite the fact that the legendary title "King of Kvenland" appears widely used in various contexts, it is mentioned only once in that particular form/spelling in sagas:
In ]<ref></ref> ] is directly said to be the "King of Kvenland". He also appears to have been a ] himself. In ]<ref></ref> ] is directly said to be the "King of Kvenland". He also appears to have been a ] himself.


Two other sagas that mention ], ]<ref></ref> and ],<ref></ref> do not use that specific title. Both ], and ''Orkneyinga'' provide clues about the ethnicity of Fornjót and his descendants<ref>http://www.geni.com/people/King-Fornjotur-of-Kvenland/6000000001233379149</ref><ref>http://www.davidkfaux.org/files/deBeaufouFullReport.pdf</ref>. Two other sagas that mention ], ]<ref></ref> and ],<ref></ref> do not use that specific title.

In ], ] is said to be ''"a king"''. It is stated that he ''"reigned over Gotland, which we now know as Finland and Kvenland".'' The specific term "King of Kvenland" is not used. Unlike ], ''Orkneyinga'' does not provide clues about the ethnicity of Fornjót or any of his descendants.


] has very similar usage for the title. This time, ]'s (who is said to be "a man") great-grandson ] and his son ] are told to be kings. ] now appears in relation to ] of whom it is said that ''"he ruled over Gothland, ] (Kænlandi), and Finland".'' Fornjót's great-grandson ] is also mentioned in ], in relation to Finland.<ref></ref> ] has very similar usage for the title. This time, ]'s (who is said to be "a man") great-grandson ] and his son ] are told to be kings. ] now appears in relation to ] of whom it is said that ''"he ruled over Gothland, ] (Kænlandi), and Finland".'' Fornjót's great-grandson ] is also mentioned in ], in relation to Finland.<ref></ref>


Conclusions on the ethnicity of the kings can be made based on other information provided as well. For instance, according to ] the ] made sacrifices to ]. This, along with similar pieces of information from other sources, has led many experts to believe that Thorri, who ruled over Kvenland, was himself of ] origin as well. According to ancient maps Kvenland covered the Fennoscandia area and was ruled by Finnish tribes<ref>http://www.emersonkent.com/images/maps/europe_814.jpg</ref>, thus the Kvens' ethnicity is obvious. This was verified by the German explorer Johann Reinhold Forster in his book "Geschichte der Entdeckungen und Schifffahrten im Norden"<ref>http://books.google.fi/books?id=80BCAAAAcAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Geschichte+der+Entdeckungen+und+Schifffahrten+im+Norden&hl=fi&sa=X&ei=D9mxUeaWO_HR4QS4woDoAw&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Geschichte%20der%20Entdeckungen%20und%20Schifffahrten%20im%20Norden&f=false</ref><ref>http://finnpro2000.tripod.com/kainuunmaa.htm</ref> and Forster made a clear separation between the ] people and the Kvens, which he identified as the Finns. Forster writes that the Finns inhabited the lands all the way to Helsingland, but by the 18th century the Sveas had forced them to live further up north. Again, the ethnicity of the kings is not directly discussed. However, interpretations of their ethnicity have been made based on other information provided. For instance, according to ] the ] made sacrifices to ]. This, along with similar pieces of information from other sources, has led many experts to believe that Thorri, who ruled over Kvenland, was himself of ] origin as well.


Whether or not Fornjót and his closest followers, mentioned in medieval accounts as well, were actual historical people has been debated. Kyösti Julku notes that no geographical errors have been found in the descriptions of the ]. He asks why therefore the people described in the account should be considered not to have existed.<ref>Kvenland – Kainuunmaa. Oulu: Pohjoinen, 1986. ISBN 951-749-014-3.</ref> However, whether or not Fornjót and his closest followers, mentioned in other medieval accounts as well, were actual historical people has been debated. Kyösti Julku notes that no geographical errors have been found in the descriptions of the ]. He asks why therefore the people described in the account should be considered not to have existed.<ref name="Kyösti Julku, 1986">Julku, Kyösti: ''Kvenland - Kainuunmaa''. With English summary: ''The Ancient territory of Kainuu''. Oulu, 1986.</ref>


==Records on Fornjót's offspring== ==Records on Fornjót's offspring==


According to the medieval ], ] was a ''"king"'', who ''"ruled over those lands, which are called as Finland and Kvenland".''<ref>http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/ice/is3/is302.htm</ref>'' According to the account of ], ]'s great-grandson ] and his son ] were also ''kings''. ] is also mentioned in ], in relation to Finland. According to ], ] ''"ruled over Gothland, ] (Kænlandi), and Finland".'' According to the information given, the ] made sacrifices to ]. According to the medieval ], ] was a ''"king"''. It is stated that he ''"reigned over Gotland, which we now know as Finland and Kvenland".'' According to the account of ], ]'s great-grandson ] and his son ] were also ''kings''. ] is also mentioned in ], in relation to Finland. According to ], ] ''"ruled over Gothland, ] (Kænlandi), and Finland".'' According to the information given, the ] made sacrifices to ].


The medieval accounts which discuss the lineages<ref>http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bFE1C2V08s0/S63Y94f9wsI/AAAAAAAABDY/z99gYWEkaRg/s1600/frnjtre.gif</ref> sprung from ] and his descendants - mainly ] and ] -, leading to the later rulers of ], ] and ] include the following: The medieval accounts which discuss the lineages sprung from ] and his descendants - mainly ] and ] -, leading to the later rulers of ] and other countries, include the following:


The ] (8th-10th century), ] (8th-10th century), ] (c. 800-1000), the ] (late 9th century), ] (late 12th century), ] (c. 1220), ] (13th century), ] (started c. 1185, finished c. 1216), ] (c. 1225), ] (c. 1230), ] (c. 1387), ] (1387). The ] (8th-10th century), ] (8th-10th century), ] (c. 800-1000), the ] (late 9th century), ] (late 12th century), ] (c. 1220), ] (13th century), ] (started c. 1185, finished c. 1216), ] (c. 1225), ] (c. 1230), ] (c. 1387), ] (1387).

Revision as of 11:45, 9 June 2013

A few Icelandic sagas tell about kings that ruled in Kvenland.

Icelandic sagas

See also: Kvenland

Despite the fact that the legendary title "King of Kvenland" appears widely used in various contexts, it is mentioned only once in that particular form/spelling in sagas:

In Egil's saga Faravid is directly said to be the "King of Kvenland". He also appears to have been a Kven himself.

Two other sagas that mention Kvenland, Hversu Noregr byggdist and Orkneyinga saga, do not use that specific title.

In Orkneyinga saga, Fornjót is said to be "a king". It is stated that he "reigned over Gotland, which we now know as Finland and Kvenland". The specific term "King of Kvenland" is not used. Unlike Egil's saga, Orkneyinga does not provide clues about the ethnicity of Fornjót or any of his descendants.

Hversu Noregr byggdist has very similar usage for the title. This time, Fornjót's (who is said to be "a man") great-grandson Old Snow and his son Thorri are told to be kings. Kvenland now appears in relation to Thorri of whom it is said that "he ruled over Gothland, Kvenland (Kænlandi), and Finland". Fornjót's great-grandson Old Snow is also mentioned in Ynglingasaga, in relation to Finland.

Again, the ethnicity of the kings is not directly discussed. However, interpretations of their ethnicity have been made based on other information provided. For instance, according to Hversu Noregr byggdist the Kvens made sacrifices to Thorri. This, along with similar pieces of information from other sources, has led many experts to believe that Thorri, who ruled over Kvenland, was himself of Kven origin as well.

However, whether or not Fornjót and his closest followers, mentioned in other medieval accounts as well, were actual historical people has been debated. Kyösti Julku notes that no geographical errors have been found in the descriptions of the Orkneyinga saga. He asks why therefore the people described in the account should be considered not to have existed.

Records on Fornjót's offspring

According to the medieval Orkneyinga saga, Fornjót was a "king". It is stated that he "reigned over Gotland, which we now know as Finland and Kvenland". According to the account of Hversu Noregr byggðist, Fornjót's great-grandson Old Snow and his son Thorri were also kings. Old Snow is also mentioned in Ynglingasaga, in relation to Finland. According to Hversu Noregr byggdist, Thorri "ruled over Gothland, Kvenland (Kænlandi), and Finland". According to the information given, the Kvens made sacrifices to Thorri.

The medieval accounts which discuss the lineages sprung from Fornjót and his descendants - mainly Nór and Gór -, leading to the later rulers of Sweden and other countries, include the following:

The Beowulf (8th-10th century), Íslendingabók (8th-10th century), Poetic Edda (c. 800-1000), the Ynglingatal (late 9th century), Historia Norvegiæ (late 12th century), Skáldskaparmál (c. 1220), Hyndluljóð (13th century), Gesta Danorum (started c. 1185, finished c. 1216), Ynglinga saga (c. 1225), Orkneyinga Saga (c. 1230), Hversu Noregr byggðist (c. 1387), Ættartolur (1387).

See also

References

  1. Egil's Saga, Chapter XIV
  2. Hversu Noregr byggdist
  3. Orkneyinga saga
  4. Ynglingasaga
  5. Julku, Kyösti: Kvenland - Kainuunmaa. With English summary: The Ancient territory of Kainuu. Oulu, 1986.
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