Among the many stories written in medieval Iceland, few have had as lasting an influence as Jarlmanns saga ok Hermanns. This romance merges elements of magic and adventure with the cultural traces of folklore, offering a vivid snapshot of Icelandic storytelling from the Middle Ages. The saga is especially intriguing as it is the earliest surviving text to refer to the circle dance known as hringbrot and to elves dancing in Iceland.
Adventure, loyalty, and magic
Jarlmanns saga ok Hermanns centres on the close friendship of two foster-brothers, Hermann and Jarlmann. Hermann, the son of a king from Frakkland, and Jarlmann, whose father is an earl, grow up together and share their education. Hermann tasks Jarlmann with a challenge: to travel to Miklagarðr (often identified with Constantinople) and seek the hand of Ríkilát, a woman known for rejecting many proposals. With the aid of a magic ring, Jarlmann wins her promise for Hermann, but the journey home is eventful: they must fight off a rival suitor’s forces before any return is possible.
The wedding between Hermann and Ríkilát is interrupted by her sudden kidnapping. She is seized by the aged King Rudent of Serkland, who intends to marry her himself. In his efforts to rescue her, Jarlmann pretends affection for Þorbjörg, the giantess who is Ríkilát’s guard. This deception leads to a double wedding, Rudent paired with Ríkilát and Jarlmann with the giantess. Hermann slays King Rudent, and Jarlmann kills Þorbjörg, freeing Ríkilát. All return to Frakkland, where another double wedding finally grants Jarlmann a royal bride, Hermann’s sister, Herborg, and half a kingdom.
Connections and manuscripts
The saga’s form exists in two main medieval versions: an elaborate style that scholars have called the older version, and a narrative-focused, shorter recasting known as the younger version. Modern research leans towards the view that both stem from an earlier, now lost, original. Jarlmanns saga ok Hermanns stands out for its wealth of surviving manuscripts: as of 2020, 76 are counted, rivalled only by Mágus saga jarls. Most copies are found in Iceland or European collections, with a few preserved farther afield, such as at Cornell University in the United States.
The tale also draws clear inspiration from other medieval romances. Its plot recalls themes from Konráðs saga (even making a direct reference in the shorter version), focusing on the complex ties between a hero and his steadfast companion. Elements such as proxy wooing and magical healing echo those in Tristrams saga ok Isondar, itself a Norse adaptation of the legend of Tristan and Isolde. The narrative of creating an image to win a bride also appears to be lifted from that same European tradition.
Jarlmanns saga ok Hermanns has been published in several critical editions and translations since the early nineteenth century, securing its reputation as a cornerstone of Iceland’s medieval literature. Its stories of devotion, magical intervention, and cultural motifs continue to resonate with readers and scholars alike.
