Society and Politics in Snorri Sturluson's Heimskringla
  Preface

 collapse sectionIntroduction
 •The Problem
 •The General Background: Snorri and Norwegian History
 •Snorri's Life and Authorship
 •Snorri's Background and Sources
 collapse section1  The Author
 •Introduction
 •The Meaning of Authorship in Snorri
 •Snorri's Prologue: Critical Principles and Authorship
 collapse sectionSnorri's Chronology
 •The Composition of Óláfs saga
 •The Composition of the Other Sagas of Heimskringla
 •The Concept of Time Implicit in Snorri's Chronology
 •Authorship and Historical Truth
 •The Practical Problem: How To Identify the Authorial Point of View?
 collapse section2  The Conflicts
 •Introduction
 collapse sectionWhat Are the Conflicts About?
 •The Fall of St. Óláfr
 •Óláfr's Conflicts with the Magnates
 •"Constitutional" Conflicts in General
 •Conclusion
 collapse sectionThe Feud
 •Accidental Clashes and Long-Term Interests
 •The Importance of the Interest Aspect
 •Snorri's Politicians
 •The Game of Politics
 collapse sectionSuccess and Failure
 •Óláfr's Conquest of Norway
 •The Means to Success: War
 •The Means to Success: Diplomacy
 collapse sectionAn Exception to the Rule: Ideological Conflicts
 •National Conflicts
 •Religious Conflicts
 •Constitutional Conflicts
 •Conclusion: Ideology and Politics
 collapse section3  The Society
 •Introduction
 collapse sectionThe Factions in the Conflicts: Family Clans or Ad Hoc Groups?
 •The Importance of Kinship
 •Patronage and Marriage Ties
 •Society as a Whole: Conflict or Harmony?
 collapse sectionThe Hierarchy of Society
 •The Aristocracy
 •The King
 •The Magnates Between the King and the People
 •An Aristocratic Society?
 •The Social Order
 collapse section4  Morality and Human Character
 •Introduction
 collapse sectionThe Ideal Man
 •One Ideal or Many?
 •Morality and the Political Game
 •A Good King Is a Successful King
 •The Problem of St. Óláfr
 •Means and Ends
 collapse sectionDignity, Self-Control, and the Code of Honor
 •Chivalry and the Code of Honor in Snorri
 •Self-Control or Spontaneity?
 •Norms and Society
 collapse sectionModern and Medieval Ideas of the Personality
 •Snorri's Ideas of the Personality
 •The Biography of St. Óláfr
 •Continuity and Change in Human Character
 •Conclusion
 collapse section5  The Historian
 •Introduction
 •Historical Development and Periodization
 •The Purpose of History
 collapse sectionSnorri and the Supernatural
 •Witchcraft
 •Luck
 •Snorri's Ideas of Causation
 •Conclusion
 collapse section6  The Context
 •Introduction
 •Snorri and His Predecessors
 •The Description and the Reality
 •Snorri and Contemporary Europe: Culture, Society, and Political Analysis
  Conclusion

  Appendix 1  The Rulers of Heimskringla
  Appendix 2  Summary of Events in St. Óláfr's Reign [1015-1028]
  Old Norse Pronunciation
  Abbreviations
 collapse sectionNotes
 •Introduction
 •1 The Author
 •2 The Conflicts
 •3 The Society
 •4 Morality and Human Character
 •5 The Historian
 •6 The Context
  Bibliography
 collapse sectionIndex
 •A
 •B
 •C
 •D
 •E
 •F
 •G
 •H
 •I
 •J
 •K
 •L
 •M
 •N
 •O
 •P
 •Q
 •R
 •S
 •T
 •U
 •V
 •W
 •Y
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