Includes bibliographical references and index.

Preliminary Material / G. Steinsland , J. V. Sigurdsson , J. E. Rekdal and I. B. Beuermann -- Introduction. Ideology And Power In The Viking And Middle Ages: Scandinavia, Iceland, Ireland, Orkney And The Faeroes / Gro Steinsland -- Chapter One. Origin Myths And Rulership. From The Viking Age Ruler To The Ruler Of Medieval Historiography: Continuity, Transformations And Innovations / Gro Steinsland -- Chapter Two. Kings, Earls And Chieftains. Rulers In Norway, Orkney And Iceland c. 900–1300 / Jón Viðar Sigurðsson -- Chapter Three. Jarla Sogur Orkneyja. Status And Power Of The Earls Of Orkney According To Their Sagas / Ian Beuermann -- Chapter Four. An Arena For Higher Powers. Cult Buildings And Rulers In The Late Iron Age And The Early Medieval Period In The Mälar Region / Olof Sundqvist -- Chapter Five. From Wine In A Goblet To Milk In Cowdung. The Transformation Of Early Christian Kings In Three Post-Viking Tales From Ireland / Jan Erik Rekdal -- Chapter Six. The Warrior In Old Norse Religion / Jens Peter Schjødt -- Chapter Seven. Óðinn, Valholl And The Einherjar. Eschatological Myth And Ideology In The Late Viking Period / Anders Hultgård -- Chapter Eight. Family Matters? The Cultus Of The Scandinavian Royal Martyrs / Joanna A. Skórzewska -- Conclusions. The Long Adaptation Of Pagan And Christian Ideologies Of Rulership / Ian Beuermann -- Index / G. Steinsland , J. V. Sigurdsson , J. E. Rekdal and I. B. Beuermann.

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Ideology and power are central elements in the political, social, religious and cultural development of the North during the transition from the Viking to the Middle Ages. While the medieval European Christian ideology of rulership has been widely discussed, an analysis of the Nordic pre-Christian ideology, and of its confrontation with the new European ideals has so far been lacking. This book examines the concepts and practices associated with chieftains, earls and kings from the ninth to the thirteenth century: the myths and rituals surrounding their position in a northern European warrior culture. The analysis seems to indicate that important elements of the pre-Christian ideology of rulership survived into the Christian Middle Ages, either transformed or even simply transferred. Contributors are Ian Beuermann, Anders Hultgård, Jan Erik Rekdal, Jens Peter Schjødt, Jón Viðar Sigurðsson, Joanna Skórzewska, Gro Steinsland and Olof Sundqvist.