The Sagas of the Icelanders

by Smilely, Jane

  There was general approval at the king’s speech, especially among the Christians. The heathens, however, left it to Kjartan to answer as he saw fit.

  Kjartan then spoke: ‘We thank the king for promising us a fair peace. You tempt us most to adopt your faith by forgiving us our offences with gentle words, when our fate is completely in your hands. I do not intend to adopt the Christian faith here in Norway unless my regard for Thor remains just as low the next year after I return to Iceland.’

  The king then said with a smile, ‘From the way Kjartan behaves it is apparent that he puts more trust in his own strength and his weapons than in Thor and Odin.’

  The meeting was then adjourned. Many men close to the king urged him to force Kjartan and his men to convert, and felt it unwise to have so many heathen men at such close quarters.

  To this the king responded angrily, saying that to his mind many of the Christians did not conduct themselves as well as Kjartan or his men, ‘and such men are worth waiting for’.

  That winter the king had many useful works carried out. He had a church built and the town enlarged considerably. This church was completed by Christmas, and Kjartan suggested to his men that they go near enough to observe the services held by Christian men. Many of his men supported the idea, which they felt would prove amusing. The group included Kjartan and Bolli, along with Hallfred and many other Icelanders.

  The king was urging listeners to convert. He spoke both eloquently and at length, and his speech met with general approval among the Christians.

  When Kjartan and his men had returned to their quarters, they began discussing what they thought of the king during this festival which Christian men regarded as the second most important to their religion – ‘since the king did say, in our hearing, that it was on this night that the prince was born in whom we are to believe, if we do the king’s bidding’.

  Kjartan said, ‘The king gave me the impression from the first time I saw him that he was an exceptional man, and that impression has been confirmed every time that I have seen him in public since. But I have never been so impressed by him as I was today. It seems to me that our welfare depends upon our believing this God whom the king supports to be the one true God. I doubt that the king is now any more eager to have me convert than I am to be baptized. The only thing that keeps me from going to see him right away is how late in the day it is, as the king will be dining. We will need a whole day if all of our company are to be baptized.’

  Bolli expressed his full agreement and said Kjartan should decide for them.

  The king learned of the discussion between Kjartan and his men before his dinner was over, for he had an informer in each of the heathen men’s quarters.

  He was extremely pleased at the news and said, ‘Kjartan has proved the truth of the saying, “Festivals are a time of fortune.”’

  Early that next morning, as the king was on his way to church, Kjartan approached him on the street with a large following. He greeted the king warmly and said he had a request to make of him.

  The king replied just as warmly, and said he knew of his request, and ‘I will grant it with pleasure.’

  Kjartan said they should not waste time but fetch the holy water, and warned they would need plenty of it.

  The king answered with a smile, ‘Yes, Kjartan, and we wouldn’t say you charged too high a price though it cost us more than that water.’

  Kjartan and Bolli were then baptized along with all their crew and many others. It took place on the second day of Christmas, before morning service. Afterwards the king invited Kjartan, along with his kinsman Bolli, to his Christmas feast. According to most of the reports, Kjartan swore his allegiance to King Olaf the same day as he removed his white baptismal clothing, as did Bolli. Hallfred was not baptized that day, because he demanded that the king himself should bear witness to his baptism, which the king did two days later.

  Kjartan and Bolli remained among the king’s followers for the remainder of the winter. Both because of his family and his prowess, Kjartan was the king’s favourite, and it is said that he was so popular that none of the king’s men was jealous of him. It was also generally agreed that never had a man come from Iceland who could compare with Kjartan. Bolli was also a very capable man and was highly thought of by worthy men. The winter passed and as spring came everyone made ready for his journey, whatever direction that might take.

  41 Kalf Asgeirsson approached Kjartan to ask him what his plans were for the summer.

  ‘I had been thinking,’ Kjartan answered, ‘that we might sail to England, where there are good trade markets for Christians. But I want to discuss it with the king before I make a firm decision, because he did not seem much in favour of my journey when we spoke of it this spring.’

  Kalf then left and Kjartan went to speak to the king, greeting him warmly. The king responded just as warmly and asked what he and his comrade had been speaking of. Kjartan told him of their plans and said that he had come to bid the king give him leave to make the journey.

  The king replied, ‘I will give you a choice, Kjartan: you can travel to Iceland this summer to convert the people there to Christianity, either by persuading them or by force. If you feel this journey to be too difficult, then I will not let you go elsewhere. I consider your talents should be put to better use by serving noble men than in making your fortune as a merchant.’

  Kjartan chose to stay with the king rather than go on a missionary voyage to Iceland.

  He said he did not wish to set himself up against his kinsmen. ‘And I can well imagine that my father, and the other chieftains who are my close kin, will be less unwilling to do your bidding while I am here in your hands and enjoying your hospitality.’

  The king said, ‘You are making a wise and honourable choice.’

  The king gave Kjartan a complete suit of newly made clothes of scarlet. They suited him very well, as people said that he and King Olaf were men of the same size when measured.

  King Olaf sent his own royal cleric, a man named Thangbrand, to Iceland. His ship sailed into Alftafjord, where he spent the winter at Thvotta with Hall of Sida. He preached the Christian faith with both fair words and dire punishments. Thangbrand killed two men who most opposed his teachings.

  Hall converted that spring and was baptized the Saturday before Easter along with all of his household. Gizur the White was also baptized, along with Hjalti Skeggjason and many other chieftains, but the great majority were opposed, and relations between the Christians and heathens soon grew dangerously tense. A number of chieftains made plans to kill Thangbrand and others who supported him. The hostilities eventually drove Thangbrand to Norway, where he made a report on his journey to King Olaf and added that the Icelanders would not adopt Christianity.

  The king grew very angry at his words and said that many an Icelander would feel the consequences if they failed to come to their senses. At the Althing that same summer Hjalti Skeggjason was sentenced to outlawry for blasphemy. The case was prosecuted by Runolf Ulfsson, one of the country’s leading men, who lived at Dal under the Eyjafjoll mountains. That summer Gizur sailed abroad, accompanied by Hjalti, made land in Norway and travelled directly to King Olaf. and his followers. The king received them well, and praised their actions and invited them to become his men, which they accepted.

  Sverting, the son of Runolf of Dal, had been in Norway that winter and had intended to sail for Iceland in the summer. His ship was loaded and moored at the dock awaiting favourable winds. The king forbade him to sail and said that no ship would sail for Iceland that summer. Sverting then went to the king and pleaded his case, asked for his leave to sail and said that it meant a great deal for him not to have to unload the cargo again.

  The king answered him angrily, ‘Fitting enough that the son of that sacrificing heathen stays where he least wants to be,’ and Sverting remained.

  The winter passed without event.

  The following summer the king sent Gizur and Hjalti to Iceland as missi
onaries once more, but he kept four men behind as his hostages: Kjartan Olafsson, Halldor, the son of Gudmund the Powerful, Kolbein, the son of Thord Frey’s Godi, and Sverting, the son of Runolf of Dal.

  Bolli arranged passage for himself with Gizur and Hjalti and went to his kinsman Kjartan. ‘I’ve made preparations to leave now. I’d wait for you over the winter, if there was much chance you’d be freer to travel then than now, but I’m fairly sure that the king is determined to keep you here. I also take for granted that you remember little that might entertain you in Iceland when you’re conversing with the king’s sister Ingibjorg.’

  Ingibjorg was staying with the king at the time and was considered to be among the most beautiful women in Norway.

  Kjartan replied, ‘Don’t go saying things like that, but do give my regards to our kinsmen and friends.’

  42 After that Kjartan and Bolli parted. Gizur and Hjalti sailed from Norway and had a good voyage. They made land at the time of the assembly in the Westman Islands and went from there to the mainland, where they called a meeting and spoke to their kinsmen. Later they went to the Althing and urged men to convert to the new religion, both eloquently and at length, after which all the people of Iceland converted to Christianity.

  Bolli rode home to Hjardarholt with his uncle Olaf who had welcomed him heartily. After he had been home for some time he rode to Laugar for a visit, and was given a good welcome. Gudrun asked in detail about his journey, and of Kjartan.

  Bolli answered all her questions readily, and said there was little to report of his own travels, ‘but as far as Kjartan is concerned, there’s splendid news of his situation. He is King Olaf’s man and none of the king’s followers is in higher favour. But it wouldn’t surprise me if we saw little of him here at home during the coming years.’

  Gudrun asked if there was any reason for this other than the friendship between him and the king. Bolli told her of the stories about the friendship between Kjartan and Ingibjorg, the king’s sister, and said in his opinion the king would rather marry Kjartan to Ingibjorg than let him leave, if he had his way.

  Gudrun said that this was good news, ‘as only the best of wives is a fair match for Kjartan’, and ended the conversation.

  She walked away blushing. Other people suspected that she hardly thought the news as good as she said.

  Bolli stayed at home at Hjardarholt that summer and had earned himself a great deal of respect as a result of his journey. All of his kinsmen and acquaintances valued his strength and courage highly. Bolli had also made a large profit from his voyage. He often went to Laugar to visit Gudrun. Bolli once asked Gudrun what her answer would be if he asked her to marry him.

  Gudrun replied quickly, ‘There’s no point in even discussing that, Bolli; I’ll marry no man as long as I know Kjartan is still alive.’

  Bolli answered, ‘It’s my guess that you’ll have to sit here alone for a few years yet, if you wait for Kjartan. He could have asked me to give you a message, if he thought it important enough.’

  They exchanged a few more words, then parted in disagreement, and Bolli returned home.

  43 Some time afterwards Bolli was speaking to his uncle Olaf and said, ‘Uncle, I’ve been thinking, now that I feel myself a full-grown man, that I should settle down and get married. I want to ask for your advice and assistance to accomplish this, as I know that most men here listen to what you have to say.’

  Olaf answered, ‘I’d think most women would consider you more than a fitting match. But you wouldn’t have brought the question up if you hadn’t already decided where it should come down.’

  Bolli said, ‘I won’t have to go looking for a wife in distant districts as long as there are such fine women nearby. I want to ask for the hand of Gudrun Osvifsdottir; she is the most renowned of women.’

  Olaf answered, ‘That’s a matter I want no part in. You know, Bolli, just as well as I do that the affection between Kjartan and Gudrun was spoken of everywhere. But if you consider this very important, then if you and Osvif reach an agreement I won’t oppose it. Have you raised the question with Gudrun?’

  Bolli said he had brought the question up on one occasion and she had been rather reluctant – ‘but I expect that it will be first and foremost Osvif who will decide the question’.

  Olaf said he would have to do as he wished.

  Not long after this Bolli rode from Hjardarholt to Laugar, accompanied by eleven followers, among them Olaf’s sons, Halldor and Steinthor. Osvif and his sons welcomed them. Bolli asked to speak to Osvif privately and brought up the question of marriage, asking for the hand of his daughter Gudrun.

  Osvif replied, ‘As you know, Bolli, Gudrun is a widow and as such she can answer for herself, but I will give it my support.’

  Osvif then approached Gudrun and said that Bolli Thorleiksson had arrived, ‘and has asked for your hand in marriage. You are to answer him. I can say without hesitation that if I were to decide, Bolli would not be turned down.’

  Gudrun answered, ‘You’ve been quick to decide this. Bolli brought the question up once with me and I tried to discourage him, and I still feel the same way.’

  Osvif then said, ‘If you refuse a man like Bolli many people will say that your answer shows more recklessness than foresight. But as long as I’m still alive, I intend to direct my children’s actions in matters where I can see more clearly than they.’

  Since Osvif opposed her so, Gudrun did not, for her part, refuse, although she was very reluctant in all respects. Osvif’s sons were also very eager for her to make the match and felt it was an honour for them to have Bolli as their brother-in-law. The upshot of it was that they were betrothed and the date of the wedding set for the Winter Nights.

  Bolli then rode home to Hjardarholt and told his foster-father Olaf of the arrangement. Olaf was not enthusiastic at the news. Bolli was at home until the time came for him to leave for the wedding. He invited his foster-father Olaf and, although Olaf was reluctant to attend, he agreed to it for Bolli’s sake. The feast at Laugar was impressive and Bolli remained there after the wedding for the remainder of the winter. After they were married Gudrun showed little affection for Bolli.

  When summer came and ships began to sail between the two countries, the news that Iceland was completely Christianized travelled to Norway. The news pleased King Olaf exceedingly and he gave his permission for all the men who had been his hostages to sail to Iceland or anywhere else they pleased.

  Kjartan replied to the king, for he had been the spokesman for all the men who had been held hostages, ‘We give you our thanks, and will be heading for Iceland this summer.’

  The king answered, ‘I don’t intend to go back on my word, Kjartan, but I meant it more for the others than for you. In my view you have dwelt here more in amity than detention. I would rather you did not wish to go to Iceland, despite the fact that you have prominent kinsmen there, because I can offer you opportunities in Norway far beyond anything that awaits you in Iceland.’

  To this Kjartan replied, ‘May our Lord reward you for the honour you have shown me from the time I entered your service. But I expect you will grant me permission to leave no less than the others whom you have held here for some time.’

  The king replied that so it would be, but said it would be difficult to find a man the equal of Kjartan outside of the ranks of the noblemen.

  Kalf Asgeirsson had spent the winter in Norway after returning from England with their ship and trading goods. When Kjartan had received the king’s leave to sail to Iceland he and Kalf began to make the ship ready When it was ready to sail, Kjartan paid a visit to the king’s sister Ingibjorg. She received him warmly and made room for him to sit beside her and they conferred together. Kjartan told Ingibjorg that he had made his ship ready for the journey to Iceland.

  To this she answered, ‘I suspect, Kjartan, that you have done so more on your own initiative than because others urged you to leave Norway and return to Iceland.’

  After that they had litt
le to say to one another. Ingibjorg then reached for a nearby casket, from which she took a white head-dress, embroidered with golden threads, which she gave to Kjartan and said she hoped Gudrun Osvifsdottir would enjoy winding this about her head.

  ‘You are to give it to her as a wedding present, as I want Icelandic women to know that the woman you have consorted with here in Norway is hardly the descendant of slaves.’

  There was a covering of fine fabric around the head-dress. The gift was a great treasure.

  ‘I won’t come to see you off,’ said Ingibjorg, ‘but farewell and godspeed.’ Kjartan then stood up and embraced Ingibjorg, and people say the truth is that both of them regretted having to part.

  Kjartan then left to go to the king and tell him he was ready to leave. King Olaf and a large following accompanied Kjartan to his ship where it lay at anchor, with only a single gangway remaining between it and the shore.

  The king then spoke: ‘This sword, Kjartan, I wish to give you as a parting gift. May you carry it with you always, and I predict that no weapon will wound you while you bear it.’

  The sword was very precious and highly decorated. Kjartan thanked the king graciously for all the honour and respect he had shown him while he had been in Norway.