Древняя Русь и Скандинавия: Избранные труды

The second episode of «Magnúss saga góða ok Haralds hardráða», the stay of Magnus in Rus’, is also constructed as a combination of several traditional motifs. He is said to occupy a honorary position at Jaroslav’s court, to succeed in sports and war games, and to kill his off ender after a quarrel at a banquet. These characteristics belong to the stereotype description of a konung in Rus and can hardly be applied to Magnus who, according to Arhor Jarlaskald returned to Norway at the age of eleven. A similar story about the murder of an off ender is also told about Olaf Tryggvason who spent his young years in Rus’[1253].

The third episode, containing the information about a possible trade treaty, and the fourth episode, diff er from the preceding two in their lack of situational stereotypes. They are devoted to the events directly connected with the return of Magnus to Norway. According to «Magnúss saga góða ok Haralds hardráða» as well as other sagas including «Heimskringla» Magnus’s inthronization in 1036 was prepared by a common resentment of Danish rule in Norway. Snorri elaborated the theme of Danish suppression in Norway and provided a long list of laws introduced by Svein which aroused special anger of the Norwegians. He also stressed personal dissatisfaction of Einar Thambarskelfi r and Kalf Arnason who were later deceived by Knut.

«Morkinskinna» premises the retelling about the embassy of Kalf and Einar with a narration about a voyage of two brothers Karl and Björn. In spite of the absence of peace (úfriðr) between Svein and Jaroslav, they went to trade to Rus’, came across the hostility of the local population and were compelled to meet Jaroslav who, on Magnus’s insistence, invited them to stay at his court for a winter. In spring, Jaroslav suggested their return to Norway to persuade prominent Norwegians to support Magnus in his claim for the throne. Jaroslav is also said to have supplied money to suborn those hesitating. The brothers came back to Norway and met Einar Thambarskelfi r who promised to go to the east. In this way the compiler of «Morkinskinna» connected both missions and made Karl and Björn the initiators of Einar’s embassy. Then the brothers went to Nidaros where Karl was captured by Svein’s men. Björn escaped and made a second voyage to Rus’ to report their progress to Jaroslav and Magnus.

The narration about Jaroslav’s participation in the restoration of Norwegian supremacy attracted attention of specialists in Old Russian history who viewed it as a testimony of Jaroslav’s active policy in the Baltic (Grekov et al.). However, E. A. Rydzevskaja, a prominent Russian specialist in Old Norse sources for Russian history, severely rejected the very possibility of using this episode in historical studies. She wrote, «… saga researchers have established long ago that the interference of Jaroslav was an invention of the compiler of “Morkinskinna” The fact that this role is attributed to a Russian prince, is certainly not devoid of interest and importance, but all the same, it is not a historical fact»[1254]. Her verdict put an end to using this episode for historical purposes. Nevertheless, Rydzevskaja’s estimation of this episode was not based on a special study, neither was it discussed against a background of politics in the Baltic Sea area and the activities of Jaroslav at that time.