Complementary to the physical struggles of the Crusades raged an ideological war, where anti-Islamic propaganda played a crucial role in shaping medieval Christian perceptions of Islam and cast its followers as the antagonistic "Other". What was the reception of this material in medieval Norway and Iceland? Are the images of Islam and Muslims encountered in European literature reproduced via translation projects, or was there more active engagement with the ideological underpinnings of those representations?
The thesis takes a broad view of Old Norse literature with the intention of mapping the diversity of images of Islam and Muslims across genres and time. Consistent with its European source material, Old Norse literature presents Muslims in two broadly defined archetypes. The most common representation is that of the heathen Muslim. In chivalric literature (riddarasögur), Muslims are conflated with polytheistic pagans, attributing to them idolatry and a pantheon of gods. Some of the riddarasögur examined show a further engagement beyond translation, incorporating elements of pre-Christian Norse religion in the paganisation of Islam. The second archetype is the interpretation of Islam through the lens of early patristic and conciliar heresiology, and framing it as a survival or restoration of ancient heresies. In Norway and Iceland, the strand that attributes Islam to Nicholaus the deacon gains favour.
The study proposes that, regardless of the modality of Othering, Muslims are 'denied the coevalness' with normative Christianity, presenting them as vestiges of the past. The study additionally contributes to our understanding of Old Norse literature's role within medieval European literature.
Trial lecture
Designated topic: How do medieval concepts of time shape understandings of history and theology in Old Norse culture?
Time and place: Friday 12 September, 10:15 AM, Gamle festsal.
Evaluation committee
- Professor Kurt Villads Jensen, Stockholm University (first opponent)
- Associate Professor Siân Grønlie, University of Oxford (second opponent)
- Associate Professor Stefka G. Eriksen, University of Oslo (commitee administrator)
Chair of the defence
Førstelektor Anna Catharina Horn
Supervisors
- Associate Professor Kristen May Mills, University of Oslo
- Bjørn Bandlien, University of South-Eastern Norway