Podcast Summary: Gone Medieval – The Sagas of the Earls of Orkney

Host: Dr. Eleanor Janega
Guest: Professor Judith Jesch, Old Norse scholar
Release Date: January 13, 2026

Main Theme and Purpose

This episode explores The Sagas of the Earls of Orkney (“Orkneyinga Saga”), a rich narrative spanning three centuries of Scandinavian rule over the Orkney Islands. The discussion covers saga origins, historical content, political feuds, Christianity's arrival, the translation process, and what the sagas reveal (and omit) about everyday life in medieval Orkney. Special focus is given to legendary figures like Turf-Einar, Saint Magnus, and Thorfinn the Mighty—plus the realities of interpreting and translating medieval sagas.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. What Are the Sagas of the Earls of Orkney?

• Origins and Compilation

  • Composed in medieval Iceland, likely around 1200 CE (07:15).
  • Unusual for focusing on the British Isles (Orkney, Shetland, Scotland) instead of Iceland.
  • Compiled from diverse sources; likely by someone with firsthand Orkney/Shetland knowledge (08:10).

• Historical Value and Reliability

  • Not “just” tall tales; blend genuine events, oral poetry, and later compilation/interpretation (09:52).
  • "I wouldn't say every single person in the saga is historical or every single event happened exactly as it's told, but it is an important source..." — Prof. Jesch (09:52).
  • Fills historical gaps that archaeology alone can't address.

• Naming and Focus

  • Title “Orkneyinga Saga” only dates to the 18th century; “Sagas of the Earls of Orkney” better reflects focus on rulers, not ordinary islanders (11:51).

2. Saga Structure and Historical Context

• Sagas cover the period from ca. 900 to 1200.

• Mainly documents high politics, feuding earls, and their affiliations with Norway and Scotland.

• Ordinary people appear rarely, usually as unnamed groups or choruses (12:53, 24:28).

• Christianization and Narrative Layers

  • Conversion to Christianity is treated as a quick event, though likely more complex (26:15, 29:34).
  • Majority of the saga focuses on Christian, not pagan, era (27:44).
  • Manuscripts are a patchwork—no single version is complete (28:10).

3. Key Historical Figures and Stories

Turf-Einar (Turf-Einar Rögnvaldsson)

• Illegitimate son of a Norwegian earl; known for introducing peat as fuel (17:34).
• Considered the forefather of later Orkney earls (25:13).
• Noted for the infamous "blood eagle" episode—a (likely mythic) method of killing rivals (19:32).

On the blood eagle:
"Well, the way the sources describe it... someone is sliced in some way on their back so that their heart and lungs are pulled out..." — Prof. Jesch (19:48)

• Blood eagle story likely evolved from poetic battle imagery with birds of prey (20:35).
• The saga also attempts to retrospectively explain taxation and inheritance rights through stories (22:41).

Thorfinn the Mighty

• Example of blended Norse and Scottish/Irish lineages (33:37).
• Described as culturally Scandinavian despite mixed ancestry.
• Shows ties shifting from Scotland to Norway, as the Norse influence solidifies (35:33, 36:11, 37:51).

Saint Magnus

• Co-ruler with cousin Haakon, ultimately betrayed and executed (40:16).
• Political killing transformed into martyrdom and sainthood; miracles at his shrine affirm his cult (45:04).
• Ordinary people feature in miracle tales, especially from Shetland (45:04).

Notable Moment:
"The absolute best miracle involves actually some English men... one of the dice splits, so he actually throws two sixes and a one." — Prof. Jesch, on St. Magnus’s miracles (47:17).

4. Women in the Saga

• Few women are named, but some play crucial roles:
  • Thora, mother of Magnus, bravely negotiates for her son’s burial after his death (49:41).
  • Ragnhildr, early schemer, and Ragna, a powerful landowner and advisor, illustrate varied roles and trope-breaking agency (52:06).
• Saga authors sometimes use women for political plot devices, but also to demonstrate cultural expectations of bravery and influence (51:14, 54:10).

5. Landscape, Archaeology, and Place

• Orkney landscape richly described; prehistoric sites like Maeshowe and brochs feature in saga stories (54:40).
• Many farm and church sites retain Norse names and recognizable remains—suggest reading the saga on a visit (57:29).

6. Translating the Saga: Process and Philosophy

• Every translation draws from different manuscript variants; there is no definitive “text” (57:55).
• Prof. Jesch’s new translation aims for faithfulness to original style—repetitions, tense shifts, coordination—“read it aloud!” (58:53).
• Style choices evoke the saga's oral, performative history and make Old Norse narrative texture accessible.

7. Favorite Saga Moments

• Prof. Jesch’s favorite: Chapter 85, Regnwaldr’s shipwreck in Shetland, for its realistic detail and glimpses of ordinary people (60:34).
• These "little details tell us so much about what life was like" (62:25).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On saga reliability and drama:
  “I actually think that this saga... is about the complexities of the past. And I don't think it's boring.” — Prof. Jesch (09:52)
• On “the blood eagle”:
  “It's a story that's developed from something... but I don't think they actually carved people up in that way that it's described in the saga.” — Prof. Jesch (20:35)
• On women’s power:
  “Soft power is power. That's what I always say.” — Dr. Janega (54:03)
• On translation philosophy:
  “There's kind of various aspects that I really like... They switch between past and present tense… and all of this together I think actually works better in English than people might have thought.” — Prof. Jesch (58:53)
• On visiting Orkney with the saga:
  “You can actually just go with a saga in your hand and... the landscape hasn't changed that much.” — Prof. Jesch (57:29)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction & Setting the Scene: 00:34 – 03:56
• Saint Magnus – Martyrdom & Sainthood: 03:56 – 06:56, 40:16 – 49:29
• What Are the Sagas?: 06:56 – 09:12
• Reliability of the Saga, Use as Source: 09:12 – 10:53
• Naming and Focus of the Saga: 11:25 – 12:38
• Saga Structure & Ordinary People: 12:53 – 13:26
• Saga’s Historical Context & Early Settlement: 14:26 – 16:56
• Turf-Einar & The Blood Eagle: 16:56 – 21:18
• Taxation & Political Legacy: 22:13 – 24:58
• Christianization Narrative: 25:45 – 29:34
• Women in the Saga: 49:29 – 54:22
• Landscape & Archaeological Remains: 54:40 – 57:29
• Translation Choices: 57:55 – 60:21
• Favorite Chapter – Shipwreck Story: 60:34 – 63:15

Flow and Tone

The episode balances scholarly rigor with engaging storytelling and humor, frequently addressing common perceptions of Vikings, saga “truth,” and the challenges of medieval source study. Both host and guest openly share their enthusiasm, skepticism, and translation philosophies, keeping the conversation lively and relatable for listeners at any level of historical knowledge.

Takeaways

• The Saga of the Earls of Orkney is both a historical resource and a literary patchwork—valuable for understanding the politics, society, and transformation of Orkney, with all the limitations and color of medieval narrative.
• Prof. Jesch’s translation aims to bring listeners closer to the original saga’s voice, structure, and lively storytelling.
• The saga’s legacies—mythic, political, religious, and archaeological—continue to shape the identity and landscape of Orkney today.

For listeners interested in Viking history, medieval politics, or the art of translation, this deep-dive offers both vivid narrative and thoughtful discussion.