The traces of the battle of the Frigid river in Veraldar saga, Ambrósius saga biskups and its potential echoes in Kirialax saga

This article analyzes and discusses the traces which the Battle of the Frigid River and its protagonists left in two Old Icelandic texts: Veraldar saga from the early thirteenth century, and Ambrósius saga biskups from approximately the same period. The Viking Eugenius in the Icelandic romance Kirialax saga, most likely to have been written in the fourteenth century, might have been modelled on the same historical figure as the one referred to in Veraldar saga and Ambrósius saga. In Veraldar saga, the Emperor Theodosius I is described as being the most important figure of his age, a representative of imperial power and a staunch supporter of Christian orthodoxy, while Eugenius is assigned the minor role of usurper. In Ambrósius saga, the battle is described in detail, with the emphasis on hagiographical elements which evolved around the event during the Late Antiquity. In Kirialax saga, the Viking Eugenius, who might have been borrowed from Veraldar saga, is depicted - together with Attila and Theodoric the Ostrogoth - as one of the efficient and intimidating war leaders who were invading Italy during the Late Antiquity, which, by implication, increases the value of Kirialax's victory over such an enemy