Erling Haaland and his father bought a rare 1594 Norwegian royal chronicle for 1.3 million kroner. They then donated it to Time Municipality for display at Bryne Library. The record-setting book is undergoing conservation assessment before its planned public exhibition. As a result, it will connect new generations with Norway’s literary and Viking-era heritage in 2026.

Thekabarnews.com—Norwegian football star Erling Haaland and his father, Alfie Haaland, have donated a rare 16th-century royal chronicle to their home municipality. This ensures that the historic volume will eventually enter public display instead of disappearing into a private collection.

The pair acquired Mattis Størssøn’s 1594 edition of the Norwegian royal sagas at an auction in December 2025. They paid 1.3 million Norwegian kroner, including fees—approximately $134,000 at the reported exchange rate. This set a record for a Norwegian book sold at auction, according to Finansavisen.

In March 2026, the Manchester City striker announced that he would donate the book to the Time municipality. Consequently, Bryne Library will exhibit it near the community where he grew up.

“I have never been a great reader, but I want the book always to lie open so people can read about those who came from my area, from Bryne and Jæren,” Haaland said in the municipality’s Norwegian-language statement, as reported by Stavanger Aftenblad.

The compact volume contains Mattis Størssøn’s abridged translation of medieval Norwegian royal sagas. It also includes material associated with Icelandic historian and poet Snorri Sturluson.

A Copenhagen printer published the work in 1594, before Norway had its own printing press, and historians regard it as the country’s oldest printed national history. This is quoted by the Store norske leksikon.

The chronicle traces Norwegian rulers and stories connected to the Viking Age and Middle Ages. It preserves material that has shaped Norway’s historical and literary identity.

Contrary to widely shared social-media claims, Haaland did not acquire the only surviving copy of the 1594 edition. Contemporary reporting describes the auctioned volume as the only complete copy then held in private ownership.

Scholarly research has identified fewer than 10 surviving copies, including six in public libraries and two in private collections.

The footballer purchased the book specifically for public benefit. His family and foundation are working with Time Municipality and Bryne Library to create secure exhibition conditions.

Norway’s National Library has also examined the centuries-old volume to determine how much light, movement and prolonged display it can safely withstand. Bryne Library expects to receive the book in autumn 2026, according to Stavanger Aftenblad.

Haaland has connected the donation with a reading competition for local primary and lower-secondary students. Haaland will invite the winning classes to attend a Norway international match with him at Ullevaal Stadium.

“We have our roots here in the municipality, and we all have deeper roots that can be found in the stories of Snorri’s royal sagas,” Alfie Haaland said.