Kings and nobles are periphrased as land-rulers, land-defenders and gold-breakers. Snorri sets out the hierarchy — emperor, nation-king, jarl/tributary king, hersir/landed-man (counts in Saxony, barons in England), hölðr, retainers/housecarls — and that a prince's men are called his confidants, spokesmen or bench-mates. Twenty-two verse examples.

Þar koma saman kenningar, ok verðr sá at skilja af stöð, er ræðr skáldskapinn, um hvárn kveðit er konunginn, því at rétt er at kalla Miklagarðskeisara Grikkjakonung, ok svá þann konung, er ræðr Jórsalalandi, at kalla Jórsalakonung, svá ok at kalla Rómskonung Rómaborgarkeisara, eða Englakonung, þann er Englandi ræðr. En sú kenning, er áðr var ritat, at kalla Krist konung manna, þá kenning má eiga hverr konungur. Konunga alla er rétt at kenna svá at kalla þá landráðendr eða landsvörðu eða landssæki eða hirðstjóra eða vörð landsfólks. Svá kvað Eyvindr skáldaspillir:

There kennings come together, and the one who directs the poetry must distinguish from the context which king is meant; for it is right to call the emperor of Constantinople king of the Greeks, and likewise to call the king who rules the Holy Land king of Jerusalem, likewise to call the king of Rome the emperor of the city of Rome, or [to call] king of the English him who rules England. But that kenning written before, to call Christ king of men — that kenning any king may have. All kings it is right to periphrase by calling them land-rulers or land-guardians or land-attackers or retinue-leaders or guardian of the land-folk. Thus spoke Eyvindr skáldaspillir:

Ok sem Glúmr kvað Geirason:

And as Glúmr Geirason spoke:

Sem Þjóðólfr kvað:

As Þjóðólfr spoke:

Sem Einarr kvað:

As Einarr spoke:

Rétt er ok um hann konung, er undir honum eru skattkonungar, at kalla hann konung konunga. Keisari er æðstr konunga, en þar næst er konungr sá, er ræðr fyrir þjóðlandi, jafn í kenningum öllum hverr við annan í skáldskap. Þar næst eru þeir menn, er jarlar heita eða skattkonungar, ok eru þeir jafnir í kenningum við konung, nema eigi má þá kalla þjóðkonunga, er skattkonungar eru. Ok svá kvað Arnórr jarlaskáld of Þorfinn jarl:

It is also right, concerning that king under whom there are tributary kings, to call him king of kings. An emperor is the highest of kings, and next is the king who rules a nation-land, equal in all kennings with one another in poetry. Next are those men called jarls or tributary kings, and they are equal in kennings with a king, except that those who are tributary kings may not be called nation-kings. And thus Arnórr jarlaskáld spoke of jarl Þorfinnr:

Þar næst eru í kenningum í skáldskap þeir menn, er hersar heita. Kenna má þá sem konung eða jarl, svá at kalla þá gullbrjóta ok auðmildinga ok merkismenn ok fólksstjóra eða kalla hann oddvita liðsins eða orrostu, fyrir því at þjóðkonungr hverr, sá er ræðr mörgum löndum, þá setr hann til landstjórnar með sér skattkonunga ok jarla at dæma landslög ok verja land fyrir ófriði í þeim löndum, er konungi liggja fjarri, ok skulu þeir dómar ok refsingar vera þar jafnréttir sem sjálfs konungs. En í einu landi eru mörg heruð, ok er þat háttr konunga at setja þar réttara yfir svá mörg heruð sem hann gefr til valds, ok heita þeir hersar eða lendir menn í danskri tungu, en greifar í Saxlandi, en barúnar í Englandi. Þeir skulu ok vera réttir dómarar ok réttir landvarnarmenn yfir því ríki, er þeim er fengit til stjórnar. Ef eigi er konungr nær, þá skal fyrir þeim merki bera í orrostum, ok eru þeir þá jafnréttir herstjórar sem konungar eða jarlar. Þar næst eru þeir menn, er hölðar heita. Þat eru búendr þeir, er gildir eru at ættum ok réttum fullum. Þá má svá kenna at kalla þá veitanda fjár ok gætanda ok sætti manna. Þessar kenningar megu ok eiga höfðingjar. Konungar ok jarlar hafa til fylgðar með sér þá menn, er hirðmenn heita ok húskarlar, en lendir menn hafa ok sér handgengna menn, þá er í Danmörku ok í Svíðjóð eru hirðmenn kallaðir, en í Nóregi húskarlar, ok sverja þeir þó eiða svá sem hirðmenn konungum. Húskarlar konunga váru mjök hirðmenn kallaðir í forneskju. Svá kvað Þorvaldr blönduskáld:

Next in kennings in poetry are those men called hersar. They may be periphrased like a king or jarl, so as to call them gold-breakers and wealth-givers and standard-bearers and folk-leaders, or call one the vanguard-leader of the troop or of battle; because every nation-king who rules many lands sets tributary kings and jarls with him for the governance of the land, to judge the laws of the land and defend the land against war in those lands that lie far from the king, and those judgments and punishments shall be there as valid as the king's own. And in one land there are many districts, and it is the custom of kings to set a justiciar over as many districts as he grants to his authority, and they are called hersar or landed-men (lendir menn) in the Danish tongue, but counts (greifar) in Saxony, and barons (barúnar) in England. They too shall be true judges and true land-defenders over the realm entrusted to their governance. If the king is not near, then the standard shall be borne before them in battles, and they are then as valid army-leaders as kings or jarls. Next are those men called hölðar. Those are the freeholders who are worthy in kindred and in full rights. Them one may periphrase by calling them givers and keepers of wealth and reconcilers of men. These kennings chieftains may also have. Kings and jarls have with them for their following those men called retainers (hirðmenn) and housecarls (húskarlar); and landed-men also have their own liege-men, who in Denmark and Svíþjóð are called retainers, but in Norway housecarls, and they too swear oaths just as retainers do to kings. The housecarls of kings were often called retainers in ancient times. Thus spoke Þorvaldr blönduskáld:

Þetta orti Haraldr konungr Sigurðarson:

This King Haraldr Sigurðarson composed:

Hirðmenn ok húskarla höfðingja má svá kenna at kalla þá inndrótt eða verðung eða heiðmenn. Svá kvað Sighvatr:

Retainers and a chieftain's housecarls may be periphrased by calling them the inner-retinue (inndrótt) or war-band (verðung) or wage-men (heiðmenn). Thus spoke Sighvatr:

Ok enn þetta:

And this too:

Heiðfé heitir máli ok gjöf, er höfðingjar gefa. Svá kvað Óttarr svarti:

Heiðfé [wage-money] means the payment and gift that chieftains give. Thus spoke Óttarr svarti:

Jarlar ok hersar ok hirðmenn eru svá kenndir, kallaðir konungs rúnar eða málar eða sessar. Svá kvað Hallfreðr:

Jarls and hersar and retainers are thus periphrased, called the king's confidants (rúnar) or spokesmen (málar) or bench-mates (sessar). Thus spoke Hallfreðr:

Sem Snæbjörn kvað:

As Snæbjörn spoke:

Svá kvað Arnórr:

Thus spoke Arnórr:

Konungs spjalli, sem Hallfreðr kvað:

The king's confidant, as Hallfreðr spoke:

Svá skal menn kenna við ættir, sem Kormákr kvað:

Men shall be periphrased by their kindred, as Kormákr spoke:

Hann kallaði jarlinn sannreyni konungsins, en Hákon jarl son Sigurðar jarls. En Þjóðólfr kvað svá um Harald:

He called the jarl the true-tester of the king, and Hákon jarl son of Sigurðr jarl. And Þjóðólfr spoke thus about Haraldr:

Ok enn svá:

And again thus:

Ok enn kvað hann:

And again he spoke:

Enn kvað svá Arnórr í Rögnvaldsdrápu:

Again Arnórr spoke thus in the Rögnvaldsdrápa:

Ok enn kvað hann of Þorfinn jarl:

And again he spoke of jarl Þorfinnr:

Ok enn kvað hann:

And again he spoke:

Ok enn kvað Einarr skálaglamm:

And again Einarr skálaglamm spoke:

Skaldic quotations

Eyvindr skáldaspillir (kung = jarðráðendr, landsrådare)

Farmatýs fjörvi næmðu jarðráðendr á Öglói.

The land-rulers [kings] took the life of Farmatýr's [Óðinn's] Sigurðr at Ögló.

Glúmr Geirason (kung = grundar vörðr, markens väktare)

Hilmir rauð und hjalmi heina laut á Gautum. Þar varð í gný geira grundar vörðr of fundinn.

The prince reddened the hollow of the hone [the sword] under his helm upon the Gautar. There the guardian of the land [king] was found in the din of spears [battle].

Þjóðólfr (kung = hirðar stjóri, hirdens styrare)

Hár skyli hirðar stjóri hugreifr sonum leifa arf ok óðaltorfu, ósk mín er þat, sína.

May the high retinue-leader [king], glad of heart, leave to his sons their inheritance and ancestral turf — that is my wish.

Einarr (kung = folkvörðr, folkets väktare)

Snáks berr fald of fræknu folkvörðr, konungs Hörða frama telr greppr fyr gumnum, geðsnjallr skarar fjalli.

The people-guardian [king] of the Hörðar, bold of mind, bears the serpent-headdress [gold] over the bold hair-mountain [head]; the poet tells his renown before men.

Arnórr jarlaskáld (jarl = konungr jarla, jarlarnas konung)

Nemi drótt, hvé sjá sótti snarlyndr konungr jarla. Eigi þraut við ægi ofvægjan gram bægja.

Let the host learn how the bold-minded king of jarls [Þorfinnr] attacked. The overpowering prince did not fail to contend against the sea.

Þorvaldr blönduskáld (om huskarlarna)

Konungr heill ok svá snjallir sókn-örr, við lof görvan óð hafa menn í munni mínn, húskarlar þínir.

Hail king, and likewise the valiant, attack-swift [men] — men have my poem, made to your praise, in their mouths — your housecarls.

Haraldr Sigurðarson (om furstestol och huskarlar)

Fullafli bíðr fyllar, finn ek oft at drífr minna, hilmis stóls, á hæla húskarla lið jarli.

The full-strong [king] awaits the filling of the prince's seat [the throne]; I often find that a smaller troop of housecarls drives at a jarl's heels.

Sighvatr (hird = verðung, krigarskara)

Þat frá ek víg á vatni verðung jöfurs gerðu, nadda él en, nýla, næst tel ek engi in smæstu.

I heard that the prince's war-band waged battle on the water, and a storm of spears newly; I count none of the closest among the least.

Sighvatr (heiðþegar, lönemän)

Þági var sem þessum þengils á jó strengjar mjöð fyr malma kveðju mær heiðþegum bæri.

It was not as though the maiden bore mead to this wage-taker [housecarl] of the prince on the steed of the bowstring [the ship], before the greeting of metals [battle].

Óttarr svarti (hird = inndrótt, inre hird)

Góðmennis þarf ek gunnar glóðbrjótanda at njóta. Hér er alnennin inni inndrótt með gram svinnum.

I need to enjoy the good ember-breaker [gold-breaker] of battle. Here within is a most valiant inner-retinue with the wise prince.

Hallfreðr (storman = grams rúni, furstens förtrogne)

Grams rúni lætr glymja gunnríkr, hinn er hvöt líkar, Högna hamri slegnar heiftbráðr of sik váðir.

The battle-mighty confidant of the prince, whom eggings please, lets Högni's hammer-forged garments [mail-coat] clang about himself, quick to wrath.

Snæbjörn (storman = buðlunga máli, furstarnas talesman)

Stjórnviðjar lætr styðja stáls buðlinga máli hlemmisverð við harðri húflagan skæ dúfu.

The spokesman of princes of the steel's steering-withy [the ship > seafarer] makes the crashing-sword [the oar] support against the hard hull-laying of the wave, the steed of the swell [the ship].

Arnórr (storman = þengils sessi, furstens bänkkamrat)

Bera sýn of mik mínir morðkennds taka enda þess of þengils sessa Þung mein synir ungir.

My young sons see over me ... the heavy hurts of that bench-mate of the battle-famed prince come to an end.

Hallfreðr (storman = konungs spjalli, kungens förtrogne)

Ráð lukusk, at sá, síðan, snjallráðr konungs spjalli átti eingadóttur Ónars viði gróna.

It came about that the wise-counselled confidant of the king afterward possessed Ónarr's only daughter [the earth], grown with trees.

Kormákr (man omskriven med ätt)

Heyri sonr á, Sýrar, sannreynis, fentanna örr greppa lætk uppi jast-Rín, Haralds, mína.

Let the son of Sýr hear: I bring forth my yeast-Rhine [poetry] before men, about the true-tester of Haraldr [Hákon jarl].

Þjóðólfr (om Haraldr)

Vex Óláfs feðr járnsaxa veðr, harðræði hvert svá at hróðrs er vert.

The iron-sword storm [battle] of Óláfr's father [Haraldr] grows, every hard deed such that it is worth praise.

Þjóðólfr (om Haraldr)

Jarizleifr of sá, hvert jöfri brá. Hófsk hlýri fram ins helga grams.

Jarizleifr saw how it went for each prince. The brother of the holy king [Haraldr, brother of St Óláfr] pressed forward.

Þjóðólfr (om Haraldr)

Andaðr er sá, er of alla brá, haukstalla konr, Haralds bróðursonr.

Dead is he who surpassed all, the kin of the hawk-stall [prince], Haraldr's brother's son.

Arnórr, Rögnvaldsdrápa (jarl = Heita konr, Heitis ätt)

Réð Heita konr hleyti herþarfr við mik gerva. Styrk lét oss of orkat jarls mægð af því frægðar.

The army-useful kin of Heiti [the sea-king — Rögnvaldr] made alliance-marriage with me; the jarl's kinship-by-marriage brought me strong renown.

Arnórr (om Þorfinnr; kin ins gamla Rögnvalds)

Bitu sverð, en þar þurðu, þunngör fyr Mön sunnan Rögnvalds kind, und randir ramlig folk, ins gamla.

Swords bit south of Man, and there the thin-wrought mighty hosts of the kin of old Rögnvaldr [Þorfinnr] fell under shields.

Arnórr (Torf-Einars goð)

Ættbæti firr ítran allríks, en ek bið líkna trúra tyggja dýrum, Torf-Einars goð meinum.

God, keep the noble kin-improver of the all-mighty prince [the kin of Torf-Einarr] far from harms — and I pray mercy for the true, precious kings.

Einarr skálaglamm (Hilditanns ætt)

Né ættstuðill ættar ógnherði mun verða, skyldr em ek hróðri at halda, Hilditanns in mildri.

Nor will there be a kin-pillar of the family more generous than the battle-hardener [Hákon]; I am bound to sustain the praise of Hilditönn.