The Old Norse–Icelandic Hagiography of St Ambrose of Milan: Manuscript Tradition, Sources, and Composition

Abstract

In the sixth century, the Roman Catholic Church recognized St. Ambrose of Milan as one of the Latin Fathers1 and elevated him to the rank of Doctor of the Church in the late thirteenth century, alongside Sts. Augustine, Jerome, and Gregory.2 During his office, he worked in close proximity to the imperial court in Milan, which was then the capital of the Western Roman Empire, and established personal ties with the Valentinian and Theodosian dynasties. His firm defense of orthodoxy in every aspect of society, along with his governance capabilities which he had acquired before his election to the bishopric, made him an influential figure in the politics of his times. His hagiography and its reelaborations celebrate Ambrose as pastor (shepherd of souls) and defensor ecclesiae (defender of the Church). In Iceland, his cult is first attested in the late twelfth century, and a Norse version of his legend, Ambrósíuss saga biskups, was produced between the late twelfth and the thirteenth century. This article discusses the Old Norse–Icelandic version of the legend of St. Ambrose, its manuscript tradition, and its composition. Yet despite the centrality of his life and theology in the Christian world, scholars have devoted little attention to Ambrósíuss saga. The only critical text