Add MS 4865

BANKS COLLECTION. Vol. IX (ff. 338). The Sturlunga-Saga, or history of the family of Sturia Thórðarson, called Hvamm-Sturla from his living at Hvammr in west Iceland. It contains the principal political events in Iceland from the middle of the 12th cent. until its absorption into Norway in 1261, with a few later additions. The saga is divided into ten parts, which are followed by a fragment of the life of Arni Thorláksson, Bishop of Skálholt from 1269 to 1298. This saga was undertaken at the request of King Magnús Hákonarson of Norway (called Magnús Lagabaetir) by Sturia Thórðarson, a nephew of Snorri Sturluson and author of the sagas of Hákon Hákonarson and of Magnús himself. The principal personages are the elder Sturla and his three sons, Sighvatr, Thórðr (the father of the author), and the famous Snorri Sturluson (1179-1241). The original author of this saga, the younger Sturia Thórðarson, was born in 1214 and died in 1284. lt is not known by whom it was completed. See Grönlands historiske Mindesmaerker, published by the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries, i, Copenhagen, 1838, pp. 65-70. Printed at Copenhagen in 2 vols., 1817-1820, for the Íslenzka Bókmentafélag. The same Society republished Bp. Arni's saga separately, in Biskupa Sögur, i, Copenhagen, 1858, pp. 677-786. The present copy ends in the latter part of the 65th chapter of that edition (p. 771), but on the next page are added the two lines which stand last in the fuller copies. These lines are followed by what is headed '80 Cap.', containing a notice of the last years of Bishop Arni Thorláksson; on f. 337b are a few notes on the same subject by Björn Jónsson of Skardsá. On the flyleaf at the beginning is the signature of a former owner, Th(órðr) Brinjolfsson Thorlacius, dated Hliðarendi, 9 Nov. 1750. Above this is a note, in Danish, relating to two brothers, Vigfúss and Hákon Guðbrandsson (the sons of Guðbrandr Jónsson, the annalist: see Annales Islandici, iii, Reykjavik, 1933-1938, p. 91), who both died of small pox in 1707. On the flyleaf at the end is a letter from Bjarne Nicolasson to Thórdr Brinjolfsson Thorlacius at Thykkvabaejarklaustur,

informing him of the terms upon which he may effect the purchase of a farm in that place; dated Sólheimar, 25 Apr. 1752. The handwriting of the Sturlunga Saga changes at f. 241, and Bishop Arni's Saga (at f. 289) is in a third hand. The first hand may be that of Jón Thórðarson. Another copy of this text is in Add. MS. 11127, ff. 1-257. 'No. 1' according to a note on f. 1.

includes:

• ff. 2-337b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Sturlunga Saga': 17th cent.
• ff. 289-337b Arni Thorláksson, d 1298 Bishop of Skalholt: Life of: 17th cent.: Icelandic.
• ff. 289-337b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Saga af Arna Biskup': 17th cent.
• f. 338 Bjarne Nicolasson: Letter to T. B. Thorlacius: 1752.