Vatnsdæla saga (the Saga of the People of Vatnsdalur) is believed to have been written around 1270. Its author has not been identified, but it is clear that he was familiar with the Vatnsdalur region, and he probably had some connection with the Hof clan. The saga may have been written in the monastery at Þingeyrar. It has been published in a number of editions, and translated into foreign languages.
Vatnsdæla saga tells the story of the family who owned the estate of Hof in Vatnsdalur, following them for several generations, from the late 9th century into the 11th.
While the saga focuses on this clan and the chieftainship they held, it also tells of other inhabitants of the Vatnsdalur valley, guests who passed through, and many events which take place during the period of the saga. Supernatural phenomena and folk belief also form part of the tale.
Vatnsdæla saga starts in Norway, telling of Þorsteinn Ketilsson of Raumsdal, father of Ingimundur the Aged, and his feats. His wife, Þórdís, was the daughter of Earl Ingimundur of Götaland. They had a son whose development was precocious: named Ingimundur after his grandfather, he was later known by the soubriquet “the Aged.” Ingimundur grew up to be a warrior, and fought, for instance, alongside King Harald Fairhair. On the king’s advice he married Vigdís, daughter of Earl Þórir the Silent of Møre.
The saga then follows Ingimundur to Iceland, recounting how he settled at Hof in Vatnsdalur. He became chieftain of the Vatnsdalur people, and the saga tells of the authority wielded by the family, and interaction of Ingimundur and his descendants with local people and visitors to the valley.
At Ingimundur’s death his authority passed to his sons, and in due course to his grandchildren. His son Þorsteinn succeeded him in the chieftainship, followed by his son Ingólfur, then by Ingimundur’s grandson Þorgrímur, chieftain of Kárnsá, and finally by Þorkell krafla, Þorgrímur’s illegitimate son. The saga concludes with the death of Þorkell krafla in the early 11th century, by which time the family had declined from its prominent position.
The children of Ingimundur the Aged and his wife Vigdís are prominent in the saga. The eldest was Þorsteinn, who was good-looking and accomplished from an early age, even-tempered, witty, far-sighted, steadfast in friendship and moderate in all things. He took the lead among the brothers, and on their father’s death he received the estate and lands of Hof, and took over the chieftainship. Þorsteinn had two sons, Ingólfur and Guðbrandur. Ingólfur succeeded his father as chieftain.
Ingimundur’s son Jökull was rather big, with sharp eyes, a great warrior, formidable in size and strength. He was quick to pick a fight, and he inherited his father’s sword, Ættartangi. He lived at Tunga.
Þórir hafursþjó (“Goat-thigh”) was a fine man with a talent for commerce. He became chieftain of Vatnsdalur when the inheritance was divided, and lived at Nautabú. Þórir was foster-father to Þorkell krafla.
Högni was a seafarer. He inherited the ship Stígandi from his father. He died in a battle at Kárnsnes.
Smiður, illegitimate son of Ingimundur the Aged, lived at Smiðsstaðir (Smiður’s Place).
Ingimundur’s daughter Þórdís was born at Þórdísarholt when her parents first arrived in the Vatnsdalur valley. She married Hallormur, and they lived at Kornsá. Their son, Þorgrímur, later became chieftain of Kárnsá, and his illegitimate son, Þorkell krafla, went on to be chieftain of Vatnsdalur.
Ingimundur and Vigdís had another daughter, Jórunn, who married Ásgeir of Ásgeirsá (Ásgeir’s River) in Víðidalur.