JOURNAL ARTICLE

SPARROWS AND WALNUTS OR HARALD HARDRAÐI IN SICILY.

  • Published In: Quaestiones Medii Aevi Novae, 2023, v. 28. P. 273 1 of 3

  • Database: Historical Abstracts with Full Text 2 of 3

  • Authored By: WAŚKO, ANNA 3 of 3

Abstract

The legend of incendiary birds is found in several Scandinavian sources from the 12th-13th centuries and in many French, English and Welsh stories from the same time. The stratagem of setting a besieged town on fire with help of birds is attributed to various leaders - Harald Sigurdsson, Fridlef, Cerdic and Guthrum. The Author argues that the legend originated in Anglo-Saxon or Welsh lore and was originally attached to the siege of Cirencester by King Cerdic. In the 10th century it was incorporated into the Danelaw saga about the Viking chieftain Guthrum, which in different forms found its way to the French and insular poems and chronicles and to Scandinavian stories about their own famous leaders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additional Information

  • Source:Quaestiones Medii Aevi Novae. 2023/01, Vol. 28, p273
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Arts and Entertainment
  • Publication Date:2023
  • ISSN:1427-4418
  • DOI:10.57632/QMAN.2023.28.12
  • Accession Number:179269151
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Quaestiones Medii Aevi Novae is the property of Foundation Centrum Badan Historycznych and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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