Many other strange things King Eystein did to the people of Trondheim. Owing to this warfare and tumult many chieftains fled the country, and many people abandoned their homes. Ketil Jamti, the son of Earl Onund of Sparabú, went east over the Keel,3 together with a great many others, taking along their livestock. They cleared the forests and cultivated a large district. Later, this was called Jamtaland. Ketil’s grandson was Thórir Helsing. On account of some slayings he left Jamtaland and journeyed west through the forests that are there, establishing himself, and many followed him. That is now called Helsingjaland. It extends as far as the sea to the east. [Before that] the Swedes had cultivated Helsingj aland in its eastern part along the sea.
At one time when King Harald Fairhair cleared his way to dominion [in Norway], again a great multitude of people fled the country, both from Nauma Dale and Trondheim, and still more settlements were established east in Jamtaland. Some went all the way to Helsingjaland. The people from Helsingjaland traded with Sweden and were subject in all respects to Sweden; but the people of Jamtaland were nearly in the middle [between Norway and Sweden], and no one paid much attention to that before Hákon arranged for peaceful agreements and trading with Jamtaland and made friends of the chieftains there. Thereafter they came west to meet him and promised obedience and tribute to him, swearing allegiance to him because they had heard only good about him. They preferred to attach themselves to him, rather than to the Swedish king, because they were of Norwegian descent; and he established laws and statutes for them. So did all those of Helsingjaland who had their kin north [west] of the Keel.
Chapter 13. King Hákon Sets About Christianizing Norway
King Hákon was a confirmed Christian when he arrived in Norway. But since the land was altogether heathen and much idolatry prevailed, and also because there were many great chieftains and he considered that he much needed their help and the friendship of the people, he adopted the course of practicing Christianity secretly, keeping Sundays and fasting on Fridays. He had it established in the laws that the Yule celebration was to take place at the same time as is the custom with the Christians. And at that time everyone was to have ale for the celebration from a measure of grain, or else pay fines, and had to keep the holidays while the ale lasted. Before that, Yule was celebrated on midwinter night, and for the duration of three nights. It was his plan that when he had firmly established himself and had the whole country in his power, that he then would have the gospel preached. He proceeded at first in this fashion that he coaxed those who were dearest to him into becoming Christians. As a result, what with his popularity, many let themselves be baptized, and some stopped making sacrifices. During most of the time he resided in Trondheim, for that was the part of the country with the most resources.
But when King Hákon considered that he had the support of some men wielding power enough to uphold Christianity, he sent to England for a bishop and other priests. And when they arrived in Norway, King Hákon made it known that he would have the gospel preached in the whole country. But the people of Mœr and Raums Dale referred the matter to the people of the Trondheim District to decide. At that time King Hákon had some churches consecrated and appointed priests for them. And when he came to Trondheim he summoned an assembly with the farmers and urged them to adopt Christianity. They made answer, saying that they would refer the matter to the Frostathing Assembly1 and expressed the wish that all should come there who belonged to the various districts around the Trondheimfjord: they would then decide about this difficult matter.
Chapter 14. The Heathen Yule Celebration Described
Sigurth, earl of Hlathir, was a most ardent heathen worshipper, as had been Hákon, his father. Earl Sigurth maintained all sacrificial feasts there in Trondheim on the king’s behalf. It was ancient custom that when sacrifice was to be made, all farmers were to come to the heathen temple and bring along with them the food they needed while the feast lasted. At this feast all were to take part in the drinking of ale. Also all kinds of livestock were killed in connection with it, horses also; and all the blood from them was called hlaut [sacrificial blood], and hlautbolli, the vessel holding that blood; and hlautteinar, the sacrificial twigs [aspergills]. These were fashioned like sprinklers, and with them were to be smeared all over with blood the pedestals of the idols and also the walls of the temple within and without; and likewise the men present were to be sprinkled with blood. But the meat of the animals was to be boiled and to serve as food at the banquet. Fires were to be lighted in the middle of the temple floor, and kettles hung over them. The sacrificial beaker was to be borne around the fire, and he who made the feast and was chieftain, was to bless the beaker as well as all the sacrificial meat. Óthin’s toast was to be drunk first—that was for victory and power to the king—then Njorth’s and Frey’s, for good harvests and for peace. Following that many used to drink a beaker to the king. Men drank toasts also in memory of departed kinsfolk—that was called minni [memorial toast].
Sigurth was a most open-handed man. He did what brought him much fame—he made a great sacrificial banquet at Hlathir, defraying all outlays himself. This is mentioned by Kormák Ogmundarson1 in his drápa in honor of Sigurth:
(68.)
68. Bring not there your beer, vat-
brewed, to lord free-handed,
nor fare with baskets filled with
food.—The gods tricked Thjatsi.2
All shun to fall foul of
fender-of-the-temple,3
fain to be the famed one’s
friend.—Fought Gram4 for riches.
Chapter 15. Ásbjorn of Methalhús Opposes the King
King Hákon came to the Frostathing Assembly, and a very large number of farmers attended it. When they met, King Hákon made a speech. He began by saying that it was his bidding and his request, addressed to freeholders and husbandmen alike, of high and low estate, and so to all the people, young men and old, rich and poor, women as well as men, that all should let themselves be baptized and believe in one God, Christ, the son of Mary, and stop all idolatry and heathen worship; that they should keep holy every seventh day, abstaining from work, and fast every seventh day.
Ásbjorn of Methalhús answers the king.
But no sooner had the king proposed this to the people than there was a great muttering. The farmers complained that the king wanted to deprive them of their livelihood, that they could not cultivate the land in that fashion. But the working men and thralls thought they could not work unless they had food. They said, too, that it was a failing of King Hákon’s, as it was of his father and their kinsmen, that they were stingy of food, even though they were generous in giving gold.
Ásbjorn of Methalhús in Gaular Dale stood up to make answer to what the King had proposed, and spoke as follows.
“It was our thought, King Hákon,” he said, “the time you had held our first assembly here in the Trondheim District and we had chosen you king and received from you the title to our ancestral possessions, that very heaven had come down to earth; but now we don’t know what to think, whether we have regained our liberty or whether you are going to make us thralls again with the strange proposal that we should abandon the faith our fathers have had before us, and all our forefathers, first in the time when the dead were burned, and now in the age when the dead are buried. And they were better men than we, and yet this faith has served us very well. We have put so much trust in you that we have let you have your way about all the laws and statutes of our land. Now it is our will, and all the farmers are agreed on this, to obey the laws you have given us here at the Frostathing Assembly and to which we consented. We all want to follow you and to have you be our king so long as one of us farmers who are at the assembly now is alive, if you, sir king, will observe moderation and ask only that of us which we can give you and which is within reason.
“But if you mean to pursue this so high-handedly as to contend against us with force and compulsion, then all of us farmers have made up our minds to desert you
and choose another leader, one who will help us freely to have the faith we wish to have. Now you, sir king, shall decide on one of these alternatives before the assembly disperses.”
The farmers gave loud acclaim to this speech and said that it was this they wanted.
Chapter 16. Earl Sigurth Mediates between the King and the Farmers
When silence was restored, Earl Sigurth made this answer: “It is the intention of King Hákon to agree with you farmers, and to let nothing stand between him and your friendship.” The farmers said that it was their wish that the king should make sacrifice to procure for them good crops and peace, as his father had done. Thereupon the muttering ceased and they ended the assembly.
Afterwards Earl Sigurth talked with the king and warned him that he should not refuse altogether to do as the farmers would have it—that nothing else would do: “As you yourself could hear, sir king, this is the will and imperious demand of the chieftains and thereby of all the people. In good time we shall devise some way or other, sir king, to accomplish this [i.e. your aims].” And the king and the earl were agreed on this course of action.
Chapter 17. Hákon Is Forced to Participate in the Sacrifice
In fall, at the beginning of winter there was a sacrificial feast at Hlathir, and the king attended it. Before that, if present at a place where heathen sacrifice was made, he was accustomed to eat in a little house apart, in the company of a few men. But the farmers remarked about it that he did not occupy his high-seat when there was the best cheer among the people. The earl told him that he should not do that; and so it came that the king occupied his high-seat [on this occasion].
Earl Sigurth persuades the king to yield.
But when the first beaker was served, Earl Sigurth proposed a toast, dedicating the horn to Óthin, and drank to the king. The king took the horn from him and made the sign of the cross over it.
Then Kár of Grýting said, “Why does the king do that? Doesn’t he want to drink of the sacrificial beaker?”
Earl Sigurth made answer, “The king does as all do who believe in their own might and strength, and dedicated his beaker to Thór. He made the sign of the hammer over it before drinking.” People said no more about it that evening. Next day when people had seated themselves at the tables, the farmers thronged about the king, saying that now he must eat the horse meat.1 That, the king would not do under any condition. Then they asked him to drink the broth from it. He refused to do that. Then they asked him to eat the drippings from it. He would not do that, either, and they came near to making an attack on him. Earl Sigurth said he would help them come to an agreement, asking them to cease their tumult; and he asked the king to gape with his mouth over the handle of the kettle on which the smoke of the broth from the horse meat had settled, so that the handle was greasy from it. Then the king went up to it and put a linen cloth over the handle and gaped with his mouth over it. Then he went back to his high-seat, and neither party was satisfied with that.
Chapter 18. The People of Trondheim Destroy Three Churches
In the winter following, the Yule feast was prepared for the king at Mærin. But when Yuletime approached, the eight chieftains who had most to do with the sacrifices in the whole Trondheim District arranged for a meeting between them. The four of them were from the outer parts of the Trondheim District: Kár of Grýting, Ásbjorn of Methalhús, Thorberg of Varness, Orm of Ljoxa; and from the inner parts of the Trondheim District, Blótólf of Olvishaug, Narfi of Staf in Vera Dale, Thránd Haki of Eggja, Thórir Beard of Húsabœ on the Inner Island. These eight men engaged themselves that the four from the outer districts were to destroy the Christianity [there was], and the four of the inner districts were to force the king to sacrifice. The men from the outer parts sailed with four ships south to Mœr, killed three priests, and burned down three churches, then returned. But when King Hákon and Earl Sigurth came to Mærin with their troops, the farmers were there in very great numbers. The first day at the banquet the farmers thronged in upon him and asked him to sacrifice, or else they would force him to. Then Earl Sigurth mediated between them, and in the end King Hákon ate a few bits of horse liver. Then he drank all the toasts the farmers poured for him without making the sign of the cross. But when the banquet was finished, the king and the earl forthwith proceeded to Hlathir. The king was much put out and immediately left the Trondheim District, saying that he would come another time and with greater forces and then repay the people of Trondheim the hostility they had shown him. Earl Sigurth besought the king not to bear down on them for this and said that it would not do for him to make rash vows of vengeance or to harry people within his kingdom, least of all in the Trondheim District which had the most resources. The king was so enraged that no one durst speak to him. Leaving the Trondheim District he went south to Mœr, and resided there during the winter and the spring. But as summer approached he gathered an army, and it was rumored that he would proceed with it against the people of Trondheim.
Chapter 19. The Sons of Eirík Invade Norway but Are Repulsed
At that time King Hákon had gone on board his fleet, and he had a great force. Then came to him the information from the southern part of the country that the sons of King Eirík had come to Vík from Denmark and that they had driven King Tryggvi Óláfsson from his ships at Sótaness in the east of the country. They had harried far and wide in Vík, and many had sworn allegiance to them. Now when the king learned all this he considered that he needed help and sent word to Earl Sigurth and other chieftains from whom he could expect support, to come to him. Earl Sigurth joined King Hákon with a very large force. In it were all those men from Trondheim who in the winter had done most to compel the king to sacrifice. By the intercession of Earl Sigurth they were all reconciled with the king. Thereupon King Hákon sailed south along the land. But when he came south around Stath Promontory, he learned that the sons of Eirík had arrived in North Agthir; and then both hosts advanced against each other and met at the Island of Kormt. Both armies went on shore and fought on Ogvaldsness. Both sides were of very great strength. It was a fierce battle. King Hákon went to the attack with vigor where stood King Guthorm, the son of Eirík, with his troops, and they exchanged blows. There fell King Guthorm, and his banner was cut down, and a great many of his men fell too. Then flight started in the ranks of the sons of Eirík. They fled to their ships and rowed away, having lost a great number. Guthorm Sindri makes mention of this:
(69.)
69. Battle-slain men above, the
breaker-of-armrings let then
sword-blades sing their strident
song on the ness of Ogvald.
There the Frey-of-flashing-
firebrands-of-combat1
left for dead the doughty
din-of-shields’ awakener.2
King Hákon embarked on his ships and pursued the sons of Gunnhild on their eastward flight. Both fleets sailed the fastest they could till they came to East Agthir, when the sons of Eirík made for the open sea and sailed south to Jutland. Guthorm Sindri makes mention of this:
(70.)
70. Oft the elmbow’s-twanger’s
heirs did feel the power of
bold—in my mind I bear it—
Baldr-of-keen-edged wound-snakes.3
Kept the steerer-of-keels his
craft at sea, while fled the
ill-starred kinsmen all of
Eirík, pursued by him.
Then King Hákon returned north to Norway. But the sons of Eirík remained in Denmark for a long time.
Chapter 20. King Hákon Sets the Ship-Levies and Orders Beacons Installed
After this battle King Hákon incorporated into the laws for all the land along the seas, and as far inland as the salmon goes upstream, that all districts were divided into “ship-levies”; and these he parcelled out among the districts. It was stated in the laws how many ships there were in every district, and how many large ones were to be furnished when a general levy was called; and a general levy was enj
oined whenever a foreign army was in the land. Along with this it was ordered that whenever there was a general levy, beacons were to be lit on high mountains, so that one could be seen from the other. It is said that news of the levy travelled from the southern-most beacon to the northernmost borough in seven nights.
Chapter 21. Peace Prevails in Norway
The sons of Eirík were constantly engaged in viking expeditions in the Baltic, but sometimes they harried in Norway as was written above. But King Hákon ruled in Norway and was greatly beloved. There were good crops in the land and peace prevailed.
Chapter 22. The Sons of Eirík Approach without Warning
When Hákon had been king over Norway for twenty years the 954 sons of Eirík came from the south out of Denmark with a large army. A great part consisted of men who had been with them in their viking expeditions, yet many more were Danish troops which Harald Gormsson had furnished them. They had a strong favorable wind, sailing from Vendil, and arrived at Agthir. Then they continued north along the land, sailing day and night. But the beacons had not been kindled because it was the custom that they were kindled starting from the east along the land, but the approach of the enemy had not been sighted there in the east. Another reason was that the king had placed severe fines on the men responsible if beacons were kindled for no good reason. [It had so happened that when] warships and vikings had harried outlying islands, the people had often thought they were the sons of Eirík. Then the beacons had been kindled and there was a great rush to arms in all the land. [Each time, however,] the sons of Eirík had returned to Denmark, not having been reinforced by any Danish troops; and sometimes the invaders were other vikings. This had greatly enraged the king since it caused labor and expense and nothing was gained by it. The farmers also complained when their interests were concerned, whenever it happened.
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