Thormodus Torfæus
Encyclopedia
Thormodus Torfæus (1636—1719) was an Iceland
ic historian
, born May 27, 1636, at Engey, Iceland
, and educated at the University of Copenhagen
. He lived and worked for most of his life in Kopervik
, Karmøy
, Norway. In 1667 he was appointed royal antiquary of Iceland
, and in 1682 King Christian V of Denmark
appointed him Royal Historian of the Kingdom of Denmark-Norway. He translated several Icelandic works into the Danish language and was the author of Historia Vinlandiœ Antiquœ (1705); Grœnlandia Antiqua (1706); and Historia Rerum Norvegicarum (four volumes, 1711).
In 1711, Torfæus's Historia rerum Norvegicarum (history of Norway, written in Latin
) was published in four folio volumes. It was the first comprehensive presentation of Norwegian history since Snorri Sturluson
's Heimskringla
. The work covers Norwegian history, from its earliest beginnings until 1387. The focus – and the strength of the work – lies in the older, medieval history. Torfæus had at his disposal a number of medieval Old Norse saga
manuscripts, and he was a pioneer in using these as source material. He reworked this Old Norse
literature into a coherent Latin history. As well, he built on a large amount of historical narratives in Latin, both medieval and more recent. Thus, the work is based on a mixed foundation of medieval Old Norse saga tradition and contemporary continental Latin culture.
Through his adaptation this Norse literary tradition became known to a large public – Dano-Norwegian
as well as European. What was written during the next century about older Norwegian history was almost invariably based on Torfæus's work. Ludvig Holberg
praised the work as "one of the most impressive and wonderful histories ever to have seen the light." Torfæus died on July 31, 1719 in Stangeland, Karmøy.
A Norwegian state-funded project is currently in the process of translating all of his work into Norwegian.
He was married twice, 1.) on July 9, 1665, with the widow Anna Hansdatter (1620–16.12.1695), daughter of Hans Gabrielsen Kvinesdal and Sofie, and 2.) in 1709 with Anne Hansdatter Gammel (c. 1660–1723), daughter of councilman Hans Pedersen Gammel and Marie Clausdatter.
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, born May 27, 1636, at Engey, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, and educated at the University of Copenhagen
University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen is the oldest and largest university and research institution in Denmark. Founded in 1479, it has more than 37,000 students, the majority of whom are female , and more than 7,000 employees. The university has several campuses located in and around Copenhagen, with the...
. He lived and worked for most of his life in Kopervik
Kopervik
Kopervik is the largest city on the island of Karmøy in the county of Rogaland, Norway and is the administrative centre of the municipality of Karmøy, and Kopervik have 8,192 inhabitants. It is part of the traditional district of Haugaland. -Population:...
, Karmøy
Karmøy
Karmøy is a municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. It is located southwest of the city of Haugesund in the traditional district of Haugaland....
, Norway. In 1667 he was appointed royal antiquary of Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, and in 1682 King Christian V of Denmark
Christian V of Denmark
Christian V , was king of Denmark and Norway from 1670 to 1699, the son of Frederick III of Denmark and Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
appointed him Royal Historian of the Kingdom of Denmark-Norway. He translated several Icelandic works into the Danish language and was the author of Historia Vinlandiœ Antiquœ (1705); Grœnlandia Antiqua (1706); and Historia Rerum Norvegicarum (four volumes, 1711).
In 1711, Torfæus's Historia rerum Norvegicarum (history of Norway, written in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
) was published in four folio volumes. It was the first comprehensive presentation of Norwegian history since Snorri Sturluson
Snorri Sturluson
Snorri Sturluson was an Icelandic historian, poet, and politician. He was twice elected lawspeaker at the Icelandic parliament, the Althing...
's Heimskringla
Heimskringla
Heimskringla is the best known of the Old Norse kings' sagas. It was written in Old Norse in Iceland by the poet and historian Snorri Sturluson ca. 1230...
. The work covers Norwegian history, from its earliest beginnings until 1387. The focus – and the strength of the work – lies in the older, medieval history. Torfæus had at his disposal a number of medieval Old Norse saga
Norse saga
The sagas are stories about ancient Scandinavian and Germanic history, about early Viking voyages, the battles that took place during the voyages, about migration to Iceland and of feuds between Icelandic families...
manuscripts, and he was a pioneer in using these as source material. He reworked this Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
literature into a coherent Latin history. As well, he built on a large amount of historical narratives in Latin, both medieval and more recent. Thus, the work is based on a mixed foundation of medieval Old Norse saga tradition and contemporary continental Latin culture.
Through his adaptation this Norse literary tradition became known to a large public – Dano-Norwegian
Dano-Norwegian
Dano-Norwegian is a linguistic term for a koiné that evolved among the urban elite in Norwegian cities during the later years of the union between the Kingdoms of Denmark and Norway . It is from this koiné that Riksmål and Bokmål developed...
as well as European. What was written during the next century about older Norwegian history was almost invariably based on Torfæus's work. Ludvig Holberg
Ludvig Holberg
Ludvig Holberg, Baron of Holberg was a writer, essayist, philosopher, historian and playwright born in Bergen, Norway, during the time of the Dano-Norwegian double monarchy, who spent most of his adult life in Denmark. He was influenced by Humanism, the Enlightenment and the Baroque...
praised the work as "one of the most impressive and wonderful histories ever to have seen the light." Torfæus died on July 31, 1719 in Stangeland, Karmøy.
A Norwegian state-funded project is currently in the process of translating all of his work into Norwegian.
Family
Torfæus' parents were Icelandic governor Torfi Erlendsson (1598–1665) and Tordis Bergsveinsdóttir (1602–69).He was married twice, 1.) on July 9, 1665, with the widow Anna Hansdatter (1620–16.12.1695), daughter of Hans Gabrielsen Kvinesdal and Sofie, and 2.) in 1709 with Anne Hansdatter Gammel (c. 1660–1723), daughter of councilman Hans Pedersen Gammel and Marie Clausdatter.
Works
- Commentatio historica de rebus gestis Færeyansium seu Færøensium, Copenhagen 1695
- Orcades seu rerum Orcadensium historiae, Copenhagen 1697 (English trans. 1866)
- Series dynastarum et regum Daniæ, Copenhagen 1702
- Historia Vinlandiæ antiquæ, Copenhagen 1705 (English trans. 1891, Norwegian 2004)
- Historia Hrolfi Kraki, Copenhagen 1705
- Gronlandia antiquæ, Copenhagen 1706 (new edi. w/notes 1947)
- Trifolium historicum, Copenhagen 1707
- Historia rerum Norvegicarum, 4 b., Copenhagen 1711
- Torfæana (brevveksling), Copenhagen 1777
- Arne Magnusson – Brevveksling med Torfæus, rel. by K. Kålund, Copenhagen 1916
Non-published material
- Torfæus' copybooks and letters is located in Det arnamagnæanske institut, Copenhagen University
- handwritten translations at Det kgl. Bibliotek, Copenhagen