Heimskringla: History of the Kings of Norway 9780292748347

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BeimsKRinGLfl History of tbe Kings of tlorway

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peimSKRTHGLR history of the Kings of ftorway

by Snorri Sturluson

Translated with Introduction and Notes by

Lee M. Hollander

PUBLISHED FOR

THE AMERICAN-SCANDINAVIAN

FOUNDATION

BY THE

U N I V E R S I T Y OF T E X A S PRESS, AUSTIN

International Standard Book Number 978-0-292-73061-8 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 64-10460 Copyright © 1964 by the American-Scandinavian Foundation Copyright © renewed 1992 by Elizabeth Hollander Nelson All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America Seventh paperback printing, 2009 Requests for permission to reproduce material from this work should be sent to: Permissions University of Texas Press P.O. Box 7819 Austin, TX 78713-7819 www.utexas.edu/utpress/about/bpermission.html @The paper used in this book meets the minimum requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (R1997) (Permanence of Paper).

Contents Introduction Snorri's Foreword

ix 3

The Saga of the Ynglings

6

Ynglinga saga

The Saga of Half dan the Black

51

Halfdanar saga Svarta

T h e Saga o f Harald Fairhair

59

Harolds saga Hdrjagra

The Saga of Hakon the Goo

96

Hdkonar saga G6$a

T h e Saga o f Harald Graycloa

Harolds saga Grdjeldar T h e Saga o f Olaf Tryggvaso

128 144

dlafs saga Tryggvasonar

Saint Olaf's Saga

245

Qlajs saga Helga

The Saga o f Magnus t h e Goo Magnuss saga ins G68a The Saga of Harald Sigurtharson (Hardruler)

538 577

Harolds saga Sigurdarsonar

T h e Saga o f Olaf t h e Gentl

664

Olafs saga Kyrra

T h e Saga o f Magnus Bareleg

668

Magnuss saga Berjostts

The Saga of the Sons of Magnus

Magnussona saga The Saga of Magnus the Blind and Harald Gilli

688 715

Magnuss saga Blinda ok Harald Gilla

The Saga of the Sons of Haral

736

Haraldssona saga

The Saga of Hakon the Broadshouldered

768

Hakonar saga Herdibre&s

The Saga of Magnus Erlingsson

789

Magnuss saga Erlingssonar

Index

827

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS The illustrations in this volume are by Halfdan Egedius, Christian Krohg, Gerhard Munthe, Eilif Peterssen, Erik Werenskiold, and Wilhelm Wetlesen. They are reproduced courtesy of Gyldendal Norsk Forlag, Oslo, Norway.

T h e Seeress Chants Incantations against Visbu Ingj aid and Gautvith Come to Svipdag the Blind Svipdag's Sons and Their Warriors Storm the Hall of Seven Kings King Hogni and His Men Ride into Sweden Half dan the Black Prepares for Battle Queen Ragnhild's Dream King Halfdan Breaks through the Ice Gytha Sends King Harald's Messengers Away The Captive King Gryting Is Led before King Harald The Battle of Solskel The Ships Made Ready at the Battle of Hafrsfjord King Hakon Addresses the Assembly Asbjorn of Methalhus Answers the King Earl Sigurth Persuades the King to Yield King Hakon Advances against the Danes Queen Gunnhild Incites Her Sons Earl Hakon's Ships at Anchor during the Nigh Earl Hakon Puts the Clerics on Land Earl Sigvaldi Makes a Vow at the Arvel Geirmund Brings the News of the Approach of the Jomsvikings The Hailstorm during the Battle of Hjorunga Bay Sigurth Buason, Thorkel Leira, and Earl Eirik Then Sigrith Said, "This May Well Be Your Death!" The Sorcerers Die on the Skerries Guthroth Eiriksson's Men Harry in Vik The Long Serpent The Allied Kings See Olaf Tryggvason's Ships Sail By "Too Soft, Too Soft Is the King's Bow. Eirik's Men Board the Long Serpent The Victors Return from the Battle of Svolth King Olaf Breaks London Bridge The King Has the Trumpets Blown The King of Sweden Flies into a Rage Thorgny the Lawspeaker at the Uppsala Assembly

18 37 39 42 52 55 58 60 62 66 74 97 108 110 122 132 159 167 176 178 182 183 201 202 219 220 232 238 239 243 253 280 305 319

Illustrations

Thorarin Shows the King His Ugly Fe King Olaf's Expedition to Fetch His Bride The Farmers' Army King Olaf Addresses the Farmers The King Walks through the Lines of Erling's Men Thorir the Hound with the Spear, Sealkiller Thorir's Men Return to the Ships with Their Booty Karl of Moer Sits Down to Count the Silver Thorir Reveals the Ring Given Him by King Knut Tunsberg in the Time of Saint Olaf King Olaf Travels through the Eith Forest Knut's Emissary Bribes Bjorn the Marshal "It Will Be Monday Tomorrow, Sire! Gauka-Thorir and Af ra-Fasti Meet the King Bishop Sigurth Addresses t h e Farmer Magnus t h e Good Meets Hortha-Knu Magnus' Men Put Farms to the Torch in Seeland Harald Storms a Walled City When It Dawns They See the Danish Fleet Saint Olaf and the Cripple Walk over London Bridge Thormoth Eindrithason Slays Hall on the Ice Styrkar Kills the English Farmer Egil Is Hanged At Sunrise Magnus and His Men Go on Land The Kings Ride to Jordan King Sigurth and His Men Ride into Miklagarth Horsemen Guard the Farm Sigurth Leaves the King T h e People Flee from Konungahell The Priests Are Set Adrift Hreithar Grotgarthsson Seeks to Rescue King Magnus Simun Skalp Discovers King Eystein King Ingi Reconciles Erling and Gregorius Erling a n d H i s M e n Wade t h e Ri King Magnus Erlingsson Receives Homage The Birchlegs Attack Nikolas' Residence

vii

328 331 370 371 384 391 404 431 456 459 475 481 484 492 506 544 568 584 605 620 639 657 673 684 695 697 716 720 725 730 746 766 779 801 806 818

LIST OF MAPS Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and the Baltic Countries) facing page xxvi

The Trondheim District Nitharos (about 1200) The British Isles Bergen (about 1200) Oslo (about 1200)

205 529 648

722 783

Introduction In Snorri Sturluson the northern world has had a historian who in many ways can be compared with Thucydides and in some is in nowise inferior to his Greek counterpart. And considering the great disparity in general culture and intellectual advancement between his times and Periclean Greece we may marvel all the more at Snorri's genius. His work is unique in European historiography in presenting us with a continuous account of a nation's history from its beginnings in the dim prehistoric past down into the High Middle Ages. The protagonists of both ' 'nature*' and "nurture" as influence on the development of a man will find support in the ancestry and the upbringing of Snorri. He was born in 1179 (or 1178) at Hvamm in western Iceland. His father, Sturla Thortharson,1 was a shrewd and grasping landholder, descended in a direct line from that canny leader, Snorri the Priest, who in many ways played a dominant part in early Icelandic affairs. Snorri's mother, Guthny, was the daughter of Bothvar Thortharson, who reckoned among his ancestors the redoubted fighter and great poet, Egil Skallagrimsson, as well as the lawspeaker and able skald, Markus Skeggjason; while on the spindle side she was likewise a descendant of Snorri the Priest. So much for his ancestry. While Snorri was still a child of three or four there occurred an incident which was to have a decisive influence on his life and career. As we are told in the Sturlunga saga, that rather chaotic but most informative chronicle of the internecine struggles in Iceland during the thirteenth century, a dispute had arisen about an inheritance between a certain priest, Pal Solveson, and Bothvar. The latter's case was being argued by Sturla when, exasperated by the lengthy wrangling, Thorbjorg, Pal's wife, rushed at Sturla with a knife, exclaiming, "Why shouldn't I make you like him you most want to be like, and that is Othin,"2 and with that she aimed at Sturla's eye; but persons standing near pushed her so that the blow struck Sturla on the cheek, in1

According to Old Germanic custom the first name is a person's real name, the second, a patronymic (or sobriquet). See the Guide to Pronunciation which follows "Magniiss saga Erlingssonar." 2 Cthin, the supreme deity of the Norsemen, was represented as one-eyed and guileful.

Heimskringla

X

flicting a big wound. A fight appeared imminent between the two parties, but Sturla ordered his followers to put up their swords, proposing that Pal agree to pay a compensation for his wife's attack—which he set so high that it would have beggared Pal.3 But later, through the intercession of the great Jon [Joan] Loptsson, it was lowered considerably. To mollify Sturla, Jon offered to foster his youngest son, Snorri, at his estate of Oddi. Now to grasp the import of this offer we must bear in mind that he who offered fosterage to another man's child thereby acknowledged himself inferior in rank. As a fact Jon Loptsson was at the time the most powerful as well as the most high-born chieftain in Iceland. Jon's father, Lopt Saemundarson, had married a daughter of King Magnus Barelegs of Norway;4 and his grandfather, Saemund, a kinsman of the Earl of Moer, enjoyed an almost legendary respect for his wisdom and for the learning he had acquired when studying in France. Oddi, the family estate in south Iceland, had since Saemund's time been the seat of the highest culture the island could boast of, and functioned informally as a kind of school for clerics. It was a place where a knowledge of the common law of the land was handed down and in whose atmosphere the study of history, of skaldship, and of course of Latin, were cultivated. We do not know why Jon offered fosterage to Snorri in preference to his two (legitimate) older brothers, Thord and Sigvat. Is it possible that he discerned signs of unusual precocity in a child so young? It is tempting to think so. But we may take it for granted that, with so wise and responsible a foster father, the child, and then the youth, early imbibed the respect for learning and culture prevailing at Oddi. And we may be certain that his knowledge of the law, his grasp of history, his profound insight into the nature of skaldship, were derived from instruction there. When Jon Loptsson died (1197) Snorri, then about nineteen, seems to have continued living at Oddi. Snorri's own father had died, and his widow —from all we can infer, a gifted but extravagant woman—had run through Snorri's share of his patrimony. To set the young man up in the world, a marriage was arranged for him with Herdis, only child of Bersi the Wealthy; and when he died a few years later, Snorri moved with her to Bersi's estate of Borg, which was also the ancestral home of Snorri's family. Meanwhile Snorri had with all the impetuousness of youth plunged into the politics of his time and had quickly amassed a fortune, most likely in the same un3

Sturlunga saga, edited by K&lund (Copenhagen: 1906-1911), I, 113. As Snorri himself relates with evident satisfaction. See his "Magnuss saga Erlingssonar,'r chapter 21. 4

Introduction

xi

scrupulous and ruthless manner he exhibited in his later dealings. With the inheritance from Bersi went the possession of a go3or8 (gothi-dom), to which in the course of time others were added, so that Snorri soon became a powerful chieftain. The institution of the goS? was peculiar to Iceland. It had come down from heathen times—Christianity had been adopted in 1000 A.D. by resolution of the Althing—and survived till after the middle of the thirteenth century when it was superseded by royal subordinates. The goSi (or temple priest) had both religious and secular prerogatives and duties. His office could be inherited or bought and sold or held in partnership, even loaned. The farmers and cotters of his bailiwick, known as his thingmen, had to pay toll to the temple and, later, to the church, and render the goSi services. All their minor disputes were referred to him for settlement; and he on his part, like a feudal lord, afforded them protection. In all likelihood Snorri's marriage to Herdis was only a cold-blooded means of acquiring wealth. In the year 1206 he left her in Borg, with what arrangements we know not. She had borne him a son and a daughter. He himself moved to the estate of Reykjarholt, some twenty-five miles to the east of Borg. He had acquired this property by an agreement with the priest Magnus Palsson, who then put himself and his family under Snorri's protection. Snorri is said to have been skilful in all he undertook. To this day one may see one of his improvements on this estate, a walled circular basin, some three feet deep and about twelve feet across, which is filled with water from one of the many hot springs in the Reykja Valley. No doubt it was originally roofed over so that it could be used at any time. That Snorri as a comparatively young man was elected lawspeaker for the Althing, the yearly general assembly, bespeaks the respect of his peers for his ability. He occupied this responsible post during two periods, from 1215 to 1218 (when he went abroad), and then again from 1222 to 1231. As the laws were not written to begin with, the lawspeaker's duties involved pronouncing the letter of the law in any case of doubt; and in Iceland, in particular, reciting the body of the law once a year before the assembled Althing. Needless to say, especially considering the inveterate propensity of Icelanders for litigation, an intimate knowledge of the law offered manifold opportunities for enriching one's self by taking advantage of the subtleties, the ambiguities, the dodges of the law. And Snorri seems to have made good use of this advantage—and made many enemies thereby. The years while he lived at Reykjarholt were filled with feuding in which Snorri was by no means always the gainer. At a somewhat later time Snorri entered into a "community ownership"

xii

Heimskringla

with Hallveig, widowed daughter of Orm, reputed to have been the richest woman in Iceland at that time, and "received into custody the property of her sons, Klaeng and Orm, eight-hundred hundreds (ounces of silver). Then Snorri had far greater wealth than any other man in Iceland."5 Not that he had lived without concubines, both at Borg and Reykjarholt—that was fairly common practice during the Sturlung Period, nor was it particularly frowned upon. At least three are mentioned by name, and he engendered a number of children with them. Winter in subarctic Iceland with its darkness and inclement weather and long periods of enforced idleness always has been the time when people gave themselves up most to the cultural activities for which the short and hectic summer months offered little leisure. No doubt it was so, too, in Snorri's time; and there is no doubt, either, that Snorri kept up the interests awakened and fostered in him during his youth at Oddi. We hear that he composed a poem now lost, but most likely adulatory, about the Norwegian Earl Hakon Galinn, a nephew of King Sverri, and was rewarded with the gift of a sword, a shield, and a coat of mail, together with an invitation to visit this influential lord. And probably nothing would have suited the ambitious young chieftain better than a chance to get his hands into the larger affairs of the continent. Poems reportedly composed by him about Kings Sverri and Ingi also indicate attempts to insinuate himself into the graces of the royal house of Norway. But the earl died in 1214, and Snorri's plans had to be postponed, especially since most likely he knew that he was selected as the lawspeaker for the following year. In this connection it is well to bear in mind that though separated from the motherland Norway by broad and stormy seas, for over three hundred years attachment to it never waned in Iceland. The language had scarcely changed, bonds of kinship in Norway were kept intact, intellectual and commercial relations were never interrupted. Young Icelanders of birth in surprising numbers took passage to the "old country" to acquire a knowledge of the world, and returned enriched with experience, incidentally having sold their cargoes of wool and homespun for good money and things not readily obtainable at home. They brought back with them news of changes abroad—news told and avidly Jstened to at meetings of the Althing and the local assemblies. For one like Snorri, raised in a family that boasted of royal connections, the pageant of contemporary history would naturally rouse in5 Sturlunga saga, I, 373. The great, or long, hundred is equal to 120 in our system of enumeration; so this would be 115,200 ounces of silver, an enormous fortune for those times.

Introduction

xiii

terest in what had happened in bygone times and would stimulate a desire to write a connected history of the motherland. The oppdttunity for travel came at last in 1218, when Snorri was forty and at the height of his powers. At that time Hakon the Fourth of Norway, the grandson of the adventurer king, Sverri, and then a boy of thirteen, had ascended the throne. The affairs of state were conducted for him by his uncle, Earl Skull, as regent; and it was to him Snorri attached himself. It may have been a case of like to like, Skuli resembling Snorri in his ambitious, unscrupulous—and indecisive—disposition. One can imagine the two travelling together about the countryside of southern Norway on government errands, with the lively commercial town of Tunsberg (Tonsberg), at that time serving as the royal residence, as their headquarters, Snorri eagerly absorbing and storing in his mind the amazing information about topography and local history which was to stand him in such good stead later. In late summer Snorri by himself made a side trip to visit the lawspeaker of (Swedish) West Gautland (Gotland), who had married the widow of Earl Hakon. We can think of him as travelling in the footsteps of Skald Sigvat two hundred years before him, going by way of Oslo, Sarpsborg, the Eidskog Forest, till reaching Skara (near Lake Vanern), and gathering there and on the way that detailed information about Swedish conditions exhibited in the seventy-seventh chapter of his Olafs saga Helga. In the fall he returned, possibly by boat down the lordly Gaut Elf River (Gota Elf River) to Konungahella where he took ship for Trondheim to rejoin the king and Earl Skuli. If the trip was accomplished leisurely, sailing only in the daytime, Snorri could have been afforded an insight into the fantastically complicated coast line of western Norway. In the spring following (1220) the court journeyed south to Bergen. Snorri had made himself very useful, among other ways, by composing a bloody altercation between Icelanders and the townsmen of Bergen which had assumed dangerous proportions, almost threatening war. For that, the king rewarded him by conferring on him the title of "landed-man" (approximately "'baron"). Even before that, both the king and Earl Skuli had appointed him skutilsveinn (approximately "chamberlain"). For the home journey, Skuli presented him with a ship and "fifteen lordly gifts," after Snorri had composed a poem about him, now lost except for the refrain. It had been the ambition of several Norwegian kings to subject distant Iceland by conquest to their rule as they had done in the case of the Orkneys and the Faroes; and the recent altercation had suggested this anew to both King Hakon and Skuli. But Snorri was able to 'dissuade them, promising to

xiv

Heimskringla

accomplish this by peaceful means. However, after his return to Iceland he did not bestir himself in the least to keep that promise—whether because he had changed his mind or because he had never meant to do so, having given the promise only to save his country from warfare and destruction, we shall never know. The action is in line with his ambiguous diaracter. Rumors of this secret deal with the king had gone before him, and when Snorri set foot on land he was met with lampoons and distrust. Nevertheless, born diplomat as he was, he overcame all suspicions, regaining the confidence of his compatriots to the extent that he was chosen lawspeaker for the second time, holding that influential post for ten years. And by conducting successful lawsuits and advantageously marrying off three daughters he was soon again considered the most powerful man in Iceland. It was in these years, presumably, that he composed the works which cause posterity to consider him the most versatile and gifted man of letters in medieval Iceland, nay in the whole North—the Prose Edda, Heimskringla, and, possibly, the Egils saga. Later, circumstances worsened again for Snorri. He fell out with his eldest brother, Sigvat, who had a juSt cause against Snorri because of the depredations of the latter's favorite but ungovernable son Oroekja on his properties and thingmen. In revenge, Sigvat fell upon Snorri (1236) and drove him out of house and home at Reykjarholt; on which occasion Snorri showed little physical courage and determination. It was, possibly, in order to escape his many enemies, or (who knows?) perhaps with a forlorn hope of regaining his possessions through the help of Skuli, that Snorri ventured a second journey to Norway (1237), this time accompanied by Oroekja, even though he might have known that he was under heavy suspicion there for having gone back on his promise to deliver Iceland to the king—sufficient reason for him to avoid King Hakon and associate only with, now, Duke Skuli. Whether Snorri was aware of the dangerous tension which had been building up between the two men we do not know. In the fall of 1238 news was brought to Norway of the bloody Battle of Orlygsstathir in which both Sigvat and his son Sturla were killed. This strongly affected the king, who had hoped to find in Sigvat a more willing tool to bring Iceland under his sway, and also Snorri, who after all mourned his brother. Yet here was his chance to regain his properties and influence. So in the following spring, directly counter to the express order of the king, but with the connivance of Duke Skuli, he sailed back to Iceland. The rumor preceded him that Skuli had conferred on him the title of earl. Once more Snorri succeeded in re-establishing himself. But he was then struck a hard blow in the death of Hallveig, to whom he appears to have been

Introduction

xv

sincerely attached. All the more we wonder at his cupidity an and the earl drove his horse into it, leaving his cloak lying there. Both entered a cave which later was called Earl's Cave. Then they fell asleep. And when Kark awoke he told the earl his dream—that a black and ugly man went by the cave, and that he was afraid he might enter it. But this man told him that Ulli was dead. The earl said that this probably meant that Erlend had been slain. Then Thormoth Kark fell asleep again and was restless in his sleep, and when he awoke, he told his dream, that he saw that same man come down again [to them] and that he asked him to tell the earl that now all ways of retreat were barred. Kark told the earl his dream, and he feared it meant that he had but a short time to live. Then he arose and they went to the farm Rimul. There he sent Kark in to

Saga of Claf Tryggvason

191

Thora, asking her to come out secretly to him. This she did, and welcomed him. The earl asked her to hide him for some days until the farmers had dispersed. "They will search for you here," she said, "both inside and outside my house, because many know that I would gladly help you all I can. But there is one place here on my farm where I would not be likely to look for a man such as you are, and that is the pigsty." They went up to it. The earl said, "Here we shall bed us down. The main thing is to save one's life." Then the thrall dug a deep pit, carrying the dirt away and then covering the excavation with timbers. Thora told the earl the news that Olaf Tryggvason had entered the fjord and slain his son Erlend. Thereupon the earl and Kark went down into the pit, and Thora covered it with timbers and swept dirt and dung over it and drove the swine over it. That pigsty was beneath a big boulder. Chapter 49. The Thrall Kark Murders Earl Hakon Olaf Tryggvason sailed into the fjord with five warships, whilst Erlend, the son of Earl Hakon, with three warships rowed toward him from within the fjord. But when the ships approached each other, Erlend suspected hostilities and rowed toward land. Now when Olaf saw the warships coming toward him out of the fjord he thought it was Earl Hakon and bade his crews row after them as fast as they could. But when Erlend and his men had nearly reached the land they ran aground and leapt overboard, trying to get ashore. Olaf's ships followed in hot pursuit. Olaf saw an unusually handsome man take to swimming. He seized the tiller of his rudder and hurled it at that man. The blow struck Erlend, the earl's son, on the head, breaking his skull. That was his death. Olaf and his men killed many there; some escaped by flight, and to some they gave quarter, and from them they learned what had happened [in the land]. Olaf was told then that the farmers had driven away Earl Hakon and that he had fled and that his followers had spread to all the winds. Then all farmers came to see Olaf, and both he and the farmers were glad to meet, and right away agreed on their common purpose. The farmers chose him king over them, and all resolved to search for Earl Hakon. They marched up Gaular Dale, because all thought it most likely that the earl was at Rimul if he was on any farm; for Thora was his most intimate friend in that valley. They went there and searched for the earl without and within and did not find him. Then Olaf had a meeting [with the people]

192

Qlajs saga Tryggvasonar

outside in the farm yard. He stood on the great boulder beside the pigsty and spoke to them and promised he would both honor and endow with riches the man who would kill Earl Hakon. This was heard by both the earl and Kark. They had a light with them. The earl said, ''Why are you so pale and sometimes as black as the earth? Is it that you will betray me?" "No," said Kark. "We were born in one and the same night," said the Earl, "and it is not likely that much time will elapse between our deaths." King Olaf left as evening approached. And when it became night, the earl kept awake, but Kark fell asleep and carried on in his dream. Then the earl waked him and asked him what he had dreamed. He said, "I dreamed I was at Hlathir and Olaf Tryggvason laid a golden necklace about my neck." The earl answered, "That signifies that Olaf will put a blood-red ring about your neck when you meet him. So have a care. But by me you will always be treated well, as I have done always, so do not betray me." Then both stayed awake, as though each watched the other. But toward daybreak the earl fell asleep and soon he carried on in his sleep, and so badly that he bent down heels and neck as though he meant to rise, and uttered a loud and dreadful cry. But Kark grew frightened and alarmed. He took a big knife from his belt and cut the earl's throat, then slashed it clean 995 through, and that was Earl Hakon's death. Then Kark cut off the earl's head and ran away with it. Next day he entered the estate at Hlathir and presented the earl's head to King Olaf. He also told about what had happened between Earl Hakon and him, as was written above. Thereupon King Olaf had him led away and beheaded. Chapter 50. The Heads of Earl Hakon and Kark Are Stoned Then King Olaf and a multitude of farmers with him went to the Island of Nitharholm1 taking with them the heads of Earl Hakon and of Kark. This island was at that time used for putting to death thieves and evildoers, and a gallows stood there. The king had the heads of Earl Hakon and of Kark fastened to it. Thereupon the whole multitude came with great shouts and stoned them, saying that they should fare thus like every other villain. Then they sent men up to Gaular Dale who hauled away Hakon's trunk and burned it. There was such fierce hatred against Earl Hakon among the Tronders that no one might call him by any other name than the evil earl. 1

At the mouth of the Nith River.

Saga of dlaf Tryggvason

193

And that name stuck to him for a long time. But the truth of the matter is that he had many qualifications for leadership: first, an exalted lineage, and therewith shrewdness and sagacity to use his power, briskness in battle as well as a lucky hand in winning the victory and slaying his enemies. As says Thorleif Rauthfeldarson:2 160. Hakon, heard we under heaven no doughtier earl than thou—but greater grew thy glory from wars—to govern. Athelings nine to Othin— feeds the raven on flesh of fallen men—spread far thy fame aye—thou didst send forth.

(143.)

Earl Hakon exceeded everyone in generosity, and it was great ill fortune that a chieftain such as he should have died as he did. But the reason for this was chiefly that the time,had come when heathen worship and idolators were done away with and Christianity took their place. 2

An Icelandic skald.

Chapter 51. Olaf Tryggvason Is Accepted as King over Norway In the general assembly in Trondheim, Olaf Tryggvason was chosen king over all the land, as Harald Fairhair had been. On that occasion all the multitudinous crowd of people would not have it otherwise than that Olaf Tryggvason should be king. Thereupon Olaf went about the whole country and was given the oath of fealty. All the people of Norway swore allegiance to him, even those chieftains in the Uppland districts and in Vik who before had held their lands in fief from the King of Denmark. They now became King Olaf's men and held their lands from him. Thus he made his royal progress about the country the first winter and the summer thereafter. Earl Eirik, the son of Hakon, and his brother Svein, as well as other kinsmen and friends of theirs fled the land, seeking refuge in Sweden with King Olaf of Sweden, and were welcomed there. As says Thorth Kolbeinsson: 161. Curber of outlaws!1 Cut short (144.) caitiff traitors a little 996

1

Earl Eirik.

194

Glafs saga Tryggvasonar

while since—harsh is fate oft— Hakon's, thy father's, life-span, what time Tryggvi's kinsman2 to this land came, which the atheling3 erst had conquered, over the sea from Westlands. 162. Much in mind had Eirik— (145.) more than thought was—'gainst the sower-of-wealth:4 certes such was to be looked for. Wrothly sought the Swedish sovran's help—durst no one hinder that—the Thronders thane.5 That tribe proved stubborn. 2

King Olaf. Earl Hakon. 4 King enjoying her favor. He also stayed with King Onund, her brother, and received from him ten marks of burnt [silver]. So we are told in his Knuts

Saga of Magnus the Good

547

drapa* Sigvat often asked merchants who had dealings with Holmgarth what they could tell him about Magnus Olaf sson. He spoke this verse: (17.) 384. Once more would I—nor are wasted your words, often praising high the princeling— ply you with my questions: little ask I, though littlest love-birds—but I doubt not the king's sop craves now home to come—oft fare between us. 3

Nothing of this has come down to us.

Chapter 9. Sigvat Joins Queen Astrith and Magnus on Their Journey to Norway Now when Magnus Olafsson arrived in Sweden from Russia, Sigvat was there with Queen Astrith, and they were all overjoyed. Then Sigvat spoke this verse: 385. Boldly back to your homeland— bounden am I to aid you— faring, may'st thou, King Magnus, make claim of lands and liegemen. Gone had I to Garthar gladly—thy name I gave thee1— messages must have reached you, Magnus, from thy kinsfolk.

(18.)

Thereupon Sigvat joined Queen Astrith to accompany Magnus to Norway. Sigvat spoke this verse: 386. Pleased I am—to people plainly I say it—Magnus, —God's good grace it is—that guided well your life is. Few would be the folk-lands, famous king, that could then boast that equal heir e'er, Olaf, a father engendered. 1

See "Olafs saga Helga," chapter 122.

(19.)

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And when Magnus had become king in Norway, Sigvat stayed with him and was in high favor. When Queen Astrith and Alfhild, the king's mother, had had some words with each other, he spoke this verse: 387. Let thou, Alfhild, Astrith (20.) uppermost sit at table, thousandfold though your standing, thanks to God, have risen. Chapter 10. Magnus Enshrines Saint Olafs Body King Magnus had a shrine made adorned with gold and silver and inlaid with jewels. And that shrine was like a coffin, both as to size and shape, with a portico underneath, and above, a cover fashioned like a roof, and surmounting it, dragonheads as gable ends. On the back of the cover were hinges, and in front, hasps closed with [lock and] key. Thereupon King Magnus had the sacred remnants of King Olaf reposited in this reliquary. Many miracles happened there at this sanctuary of King Olaf. About these Sigvat the Skald spoke this verse: 388. A golden shrine for good and gallant King Saint Olaf— high I hold fore'er his holiness—was made then. Many a man, quickly mended, wends from the holy saint's sepulchre, and many, seeing who blind came there.

(21.)

Then it was written into the laws everywhere in Norway that the memorial day of King Olaf was to be kept holy. And then that day was kept as holy as the greatest of festivals. This is mentioned by the skald Sigvat: 389. It behooves us to hold e'er (22.) holy—God has given power to sainted prince—with pure spirit his mass day. Seemly, to celebrate the sainted Olafs death day, the ruler's who with red goldrings adorned my arms both.

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Chapter 11. Thorir the Hound Makes a Pilgrimage to Jerusalem Thorir the Hound left the country shortly after the fall of King Olaf. Thorir journeyed to Jerusalem, and it is the opinion of many that he never returned. Sigurth was the name of the son of Thorir the Hound. He was the father of Rannveig, the wife of Joan, who was the son of Arni Arnason. Their children were Vithkun of Bjarkey and Sigurth the Hound, Erling and Jarthruth. Chapter 12. Asmund Grankelsson Slays Harek of Thjotta Harek of Thjotta resided at home on his estates until the time when Magnus Olafsson came into the land and had become king. Then Harek journeyed south to Trondheim to meet King Magnus. At that time Asmund Grankelsson was with the king. Now when Harek had arrived in Nitharos and stepped on land from his ship, Asmund was standing by the side of the king in the gallery [of the house he resided in]; and they saw Harek and recognized him. Asmund said to the king, "Now I want to repay Harek for the slaying of my father." He had in his hand a small axe with a broad blade that was beaten out thin. The king looked at him and said, "Take my axe rather." That one had a wedge-shaped edge and was thick. And he continued, "I am thinking, Asmund, that the bones of that fellow are likely to be hard." Asmund took the axe and stepped down from the house; and below, on the cross street, Harek and those with him met him coming up from the river. Asmund struck him on the head with such force that the axe at once cleft his skull. It was a mortal blow. But Asmund returned to the house and rejoined the king, and the whole edge of the axe had been knocked off. Then the king said, "Now how would that thin axe have served you? It seems to me this one is ruined now." Thereupon King Magnus gave Asmund a fief and a stewardship in Halogaland, and there exist many and long accounts of the dealings between Asmund and the sons of Harek. Chapter 13. Thorgeir Makes the King Listen to Him At first it was Kalf Arnason who wielded most power under King Magnus. But then some people reminded the king on what side Kalf had stood at Stiklarstathir. And then it became more difficult for Kalf to have influence with the king. Once, when there were many men gathered about the king to plead their causes, a certain man appeared before him to present

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to him his necessary business. It was a man who has been mentioned before, Thorgeir from Sul in Vera Dale.1 The king paid no attention to his words but listened to those who were close to him. Then Thorgeir spoke to the king in such a loud voice that all heard who were near by: 390.

2

Speak thou with me, Magnus, king! I followed faithfully your father Olaf. A broken brain-pan bore I thence, when to death they did the dear ruler. But you favor who foully left him, the traitors who had truck with the devil.

(23.)

Then some shouted him down, and others bade Thorgeir leave the hall. The king told him to approach, and then attended to his business so that Thorgeir was well pleased, and the king promised him his friendship. 1 2

See "dlafs saga Helga," chapter 203. The following lines are in the fornyrSislag meter.

Chapter 14. Kalf Arnason Flees the Wrath of King Magnus A short time later King Magnus was at a reception at Haug in Vera Dale. And when the king sat at table, Kalf Arnason sat on one side of him, and on the other, Einar Thambarskelfir. By that time things had gone so far that the king acted coolly toward Kalf and honored Einar most. The king said to Einar, "We two shall ride to Stiklarstathir today. I want to see the marks of what happened there." Einar answered, "It isn't I who can tell you about that. Let Kalf, your foster father, go with you. He will be able to tell you what happened there." Now when the tables had been removed, the king made ready to go. He said to Kalf, "I shall want you to go with me to Stiklarstathir." Kalf said that he was not bound to do so. Thereupon the king arose and said rather angrily, "Go you shall, Kalf!" Then he left the hall. Kalf quickly dressed and said to his attendant, "You are to go to Egg

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and tell my men servants to bring all my belongings onto the ship before sunset/' The king rode to Stiklarstathir, and Kalf with him. They dismounted and went to the place where the battle had been fought. Then the king said to Kalf, "Where is the place the king fell?" Kalf answered and pointed to the place with the shaft of his spear. "Here he lay when he fell," he said. The king said, "And where were you then, Kalf?" He answered, "Here where I am standing now." The king said, and his countenance was blood red, "In that case your axe might have reached him." Kalf said, "My axe did not reach him." Thereupon he went up to his horse, leaped on its back, and rode off together with all his men; but the king rode back to Haug. Kalf arrived in Egg by nightfall. His ship lay there ready for sailing, with all his movable goods aboard and manned with a crew of his men servants. They immediately sailed out of the fjord at night. Thereupon Kalf sailed day and night as the wind permitted. He crossed the sea westward and remained there a long time, harrying in Scotland, Ireland, and the Hebrides. Of this Bjarni Gullbrarskald speaks in his flokk about Kalf: 391. Well-disposed, unwavering (24.) —worthy of that were you— was Harald's nephew,1 heard I, wholly to you; until that enemies steadily stirred up strife between you, in envy. Ill will come to Olaf's heir through this your discord. 1

That is, Harald Hardruler's, Magnus.

Chapter 15. Sigvat Is Chosen by Lot to Warn the King King Magnus appropriated Vigg, which Hrut had owned, and Kviststathir, which had been Thorgeir's1 property; also Egg with all the goods Kalf had left behind. And he took possession of many other large estates which had belonged to those who had fallen in the yeomen's army at Stiklarx

Not to be confused with Thorgeir Flekk; see "dlafs saga Helga," chapter 203 and chapter 13 above.

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stathir. Also, he dealt out heavy punishment to those who had fought against King Olaf in that battle. Some, he drove out of the country, and from some he took great sums of money, and in the case of still others he had their cattle slaughtered. Then the farmers began to murmur and said to one another, "What can this king be thinking of, breaking thus [against us] the laws which King Hakon the Good has given us? Doesn't he remember that we have never tolerated acts of injustice? He is likely to have the same fate as his father and other chieftains whom we have slain when we grew weary of their overbearing and lawlessness/' This dissatisfaction was widespread throughout the country. The people of the Sogn District collected their forces and let it be known that they would fight King Magnus if he came there. King Magnus was in Horthaland then and had stayed there a very long time with a large army and seemed on the point of proceeding north to the Sogn District. The king's friends became aware of this, and came together for a conference, twelve of them; and they agreed to cast lots to select a man to inform the king of this dissatisfaction; and it was managed in such fashion as to fall on Sigvat the Skald. Chapter 16. Warned by Sigvat, Magnus Mends his Ways Sigvat composed a flokk which bears the name of Berspglisvisur [Outspoken Verses].1 And in it he began by telling the king that they thought he had hesitated too long about acting on their advice to reconcile himself with the yeomen when they threatened to rise up against him. He spoke [this verse]: 392. Sternly stressed it Sigvat: "Strive not with the Sognings, embattled 'gainst thee and bitter!" But I shall fight if need be. Seize we our swords then, and sadly do as he orders, if but thereby, king, we bate the hateful discord.

(2.5.)

In the same poem are also these verses: 393. Hakon fell at Fitjar: folk named him the Good, and 1

Probably preserved in its entirety.

(26.)

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held most high and loved him, halt who called on outlaws; folk e'er and aye remember ^thelstan's foster son:2 they keep his laws right loyally, loath e'er to forget him. 394. Right were rich and poor to rally round the Olafs: these kings gave their crops and cattle the peace they needed: both Harald's heir and Tryggvi's hardy son strove e'er to heed and uphold the evenhanded laws made by them.

(27.)

395. Beware lest wroth thou wax at (28.) warnings, frankly uttered by men of wisdom, mainly meant for thine own honor. But they lie, worse laws thy lieges have now, say they, prince, than which were promised, previously at Olf Sound.3

2 3

396. Whoever eggs thee, atheling, eager for battle—oft thy blade with blood is red—to break thy promise given? Constant a king should e'er be, keeping his pledges. Nowise folk-warder, befits thee false to be and mainsworn.

(29.)

397. Whoever eggs thee, atheling, to axe the farmers' cattle? Unheard for hero is't to harry in his country.

(30.)

See "Haralds saga Harfagra," chapter 39. Probably to the effect to let bygones be bygones.

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To youthful king such cursed counsel never was given: weary of sack thy warriors, ween I, wrathful the farmers. 398. Guard thee 'gainst the groundless gossip of folk which borne is hitherward—one's hand should, hanger-of-thieves, move slowly. A faithful friend is he who, feeder-of-greedy ravens, gives thee goodly warning: the gorge of yeomen has risen!

(31.)

399- Warning take thou, warlord— (32.) wise is't to stave off danger— hoary men of whom I heard are set against thee; 'tis parlous, prince, if franklins put their heads together, suddenly grow silent, sinking noses cloakward. 400. This they ever think on: thou, king, takest from them farmlands that their fathers farmed: they rise against thee! Robbery recks it the yeoman, routed from his freehold by high-handed rulings of henchmen, at thy bidding.

(33.)

This warning the king took in good part. Many others also pleaded like words before the king. The result was that the king took counsel with the wisest men, and they agreed on the laws [to be followed]. Thereupon King Magnus ordered the law-book written down which is still kept in Trondheim and is called Gragas [Grey Goose].4 King Magnus then became popular 4

Probably from the color of its parchment binding.

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and beloved of all the people. Because of this he was called Magnus the Good. Chapter 17. Of the Successors of King Knut Harald, the king of the English, died five years after the death of Knut the Powerful, his father. He was interred at the side of his father in Winchester. After his death, Hortha-Knut, Harald's brother, another son of Knut the Old, succeeded him on the throne of England. He then was king of both England and the Danish realm. This dominion he ruled for two years. He died from sickness in England and is buried in Winchester by the side of his father. After his death, Eadward the Good was made king of England. He was the son of King ^Ethelred and Queen Emma, the daughter of Richard, the earl of Rouen. King Eadward was the brother of Harald and Hortha-Knut by the same mother. Gunnhild was the name of the daughter of Knut the Old and Emma. She was married to Emperor Henry [Heinrich] in Saxland [Germany]. He was called Henry the Generous. Gunnhild lived for three years in Saxland before she became sick. She died two years after the demise of King Knut, her father. Chapter 18. Magnus Succeeds Hortha-Knut King Magnus Olaf sson learned of the death of Hortha-Knut. Thereupon he at once sent his envoys south to Denmark with the message to the men who had bound themselves with oaths, the time the covenant and the special terms were drawn up between Hortha-Knut and him, and reminded them of their words; and he added that he would right away in the following summer come to Denmark himself with his army; and concluded by saying that he would take possession of the entire Danish realm, according to the covenant and special terms agreed upon, or else fall in combat with his army. Thus says Arnor Jarlaskald: 401. Powerful the prince's (34.) parlance—and deeds followed— as the wilding-wolf-brood's warlike-sater swore that ready he was, to ravening ravens a prey, in grimmest shield-clash fighting fey to fall, or else rule Denmark.

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Chapter 19. King Magnus Sails to Denmark Thereupon King Magnus collected his forces. He summoned to him stewards and powerful yeomen and got himself warships. And when these forces came together they proved to be picked men, excellently outfitted. He had seventy ships when he sailed from Norway. Thus says Thjotholf: 402. Forthwith, fearless, didst thou (3-5.) fare to eastward, since that seventy sailships had been summoned by thy stewards; south then foamed they swiftly— salt waves Visund cleft—with hoisted sails and halyards holding secret converse. Here it is mentioned that King Magnus then had [the ship called] the great Bison, which Holy King