Ivar the Boneless
Rod Keys
In my estimation "Ivar the Boneless" is the finest name of any real
historical character. He was, of course, a Viking who held sway in
Scotland an eon ago.
Yet, in spite of Google searches and usergroup posts I have so far, been
unable to learn how he earned such a fine name.
Was he an adept dancer? Proficient at ducking battle axes? Sexually
challenged? What was it that gave the man his name?
Rod
David
in seems to be boxed up somewhere in the basement so I can't look up which one he was)
One can imagine how he acquired that name!
"Rod Keys" <rk...@comcast.net> wrote in message news:3E07CC89...@comcast.net...
GRHa...@aol.com
dro...@fuse.net writes:
> There was a Viking leader surnamed "the Fart" (Unfortunately the book with
> the reference
> in seems to be boxed up somewhere in the basement so I can't look up which
> one he was)
> One can imagine how he acquired that name!
>
That was my 37th Great Grandfather, Eystein "the Fart" Halfdansson, King in
Vestfold. The fart part didn't mean what you think. It meant "quick" or
"fast", or some such.
Could the book have been "The Highland Clans" by Moncrieffe and Hicks. There
was where I first noted the nick name. The authors never even tried to
translate the nickname that I recall. I looked it up in a Swedish/English
dictionary.
This whole line seemed to have interesting nick names. Eystein's father was
Halfdan "Whiteleg" Olafsson, King in Uppsala. His father was Olaf "The
Woodcutter" Ingjaldsson, who was sacrificed to Odin. His father was Injgald
"Braut[wickedest]" Onundsson, King in Sweden. His father was Onund "Braut"
Ingvarsson, King in Sweden. His father was Ingvar "the tall" Eysteinsson,
King in Sweden. It goes on back.
Going the other way, Eystein "the fart"'s son was Halfdan "the stingy"
Eysteinsson, King in Vestfold and his son was Gudrod "Jagtkonge", which I
take to mean "hunt King", Halfdansson.
There are no nicknames for a while until Eystein the Farts's 4th great
grandson, Sigurd "the mighty" Eysteinsson. His surname is not from Eyestein
the Fart; but from his father, Eystein "glumra" Ivarsson.
I have been saving all of this for a long time, hoping I could use it some
day. Thanks for the chance.
Gordon Hale
David
> > challenged? What was it that gave the man his name?
> >
> > Rod
> >
>
thrust in a battle and deprived Ivar of his "Bone?" Or perhaps rendered it non-functional?
I recall reading about a duel, in Flanders as it happened, wherin the two parties had to
fight in a pit (so that neither could run away) and it ended with them rolling around
grappling. One of the combatants reached up under the others armor kilt and grasped his
opponent by the genitals and gave a mighty heave. There were various snapping and cracking
noises and the grasper rose from the combat the victor!
Gives a whole perspective to grabbing 'em by the balls don't it! One could have some fun
working that into a medieval sword & slash em up novel.
David
D. Spencer Hines
Deus Vult.
"Non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed Nomini Tuo da gloriam, propter
misericordiam Tuam et veritatem Tuam." Henry V, [1387-1422] King of
England --- Ordered it to be sung by his prelates and chaplains --- after the
Battle of Agincourt, 25 Oct 1415, --- while every able-bodied man in his
victorious army knelt, on the ground. [Psalm CXV, Verse I]
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D. Spencer Hines
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Todd A. Farmerie
Later versions of the story say he had no bones, just cartilage,
but this is clearly an after the fact explanation of a nickname,
the original meaning of which had been long lost. (It should be
pointed out than this is a large concern in taking such sources
as Snorre at face value. Much of the ancient traditional
material spoak in a metaphoric sense lost on the later
'historians' who attempted to explain it literally, resulting in
silliness like the above, or 'Blood Eagling'.)
taf
Roz Griston
> Rod Keys wrote:
> > Ladies and Gents,
> >
> > In my estimation "Ivar the Boneless" is the finest name of any real
> > historical character. He was, of course, a Viking who held sway in
> > Scotland an eon ago.
> Later versions of the story say he had no bones, just cartilage,
> but this is clearly an after the fact explanation of a nickname,
> the original meaning of which had been long lost. (It should be
> pointed out than this is a large concern in taking such sources
> as Snorre at face value. Much of the ancient traditional
> material spoak in a metaphoric sense lost on the later
> 'historians' who attempted to explain it literally, resulting in
> silliness like the above, or 'Blood Eagling'.)
>
> taf
i'm wondering if Ivar was simply what we usually call double
jointed..i.e. very flexible joints. several members of my family can
slip joints in and out of place easily, as well as some being
completely ambidextrous.
one cousin can bend his knees backwards and throw his ankles out to a
weird angle and still walk. my son can dislodge his shoulders at will.
i've suggested he follow in the footsteps of the great escape artist
houdini. my older sister can do incredible things with her hands.
i've taken several serious spills while riding, ones that should have
shattered a bone..the doctor's opinion was that my joints are so soft
they absorb the impact slipping in and out of place as *necessary*.
its not that the griston family has bones of cartilage..but the
cartilage between our bones is very soft and pliable.
roz
Stewart Baldwin
evidence that any historical Ivar ever bore such a nicname. In fact,
it is not even agreed whether there was one Ivar or two Ivars forming
the underlying historical basis for the legendary "Ivar the Boneless".
The problem is that it is not entirely clear whether the Irish Viking
Ivar who died in 873 (various Irish annals) was the same person as the
Viking Ivar who was active in England during the same period. I lean
toward the "one Ivar" theory, but those who criticize this theory have
some good points.
Stewart Baldwin