betrayed him foully.
Earl Hákon with the help of his kinsmen for three years maintained his power in the Trondheim districts, so that the sons of Gunnhild had no revenue from that province. He fought some battles with the sons of Gunnhild in which many men were slain. Of this Einar Skálaglamm3 makes mention in his poem Vellekla, which he composed about Earl Hákon:
(95.)
112. And the gladsome giver of
gleaming arm rings launched his
broad-spread fleet for battle, nor
brooked delay, ’gainst foemen.
And the hardy whittler of
Hethin’s red-moon-of-battle4
lifted arms to allay their
lust for making trouble.
(96.)
113. Nor was it needful to urge the
Njorth-of-valkyries’-game5 to
start the storm-of-flying-
steel to gladden ravens:
shaking from shield the hail of
shafts sent by his foemen,
the enemy of evil-doers
oaken-hearted lived on.
(97.)
114. Frays full many fought the
far-famed warrior, ere he, at the Æsir’s will, could
oust his foes from Eastland.6
Still further Einar tells how Earl Hákon avenged his father:
(98.)
115. Praises I sing of peerless
prince’s revenge on his
father Sigurth’s slayers:
sword he lifted in victory.
(99.)
116. Rained he showers of shrilling
shafts on faithless hersar,
ushering into Óthin’s
honored hall these heroes.
And the steerer of storm-tossed
steeds-of-Atli7 oft did
Leifi’s-weather launch ’gainst
luckless men of Harald.
As time wore on, friends of both mediated between them, arranging a settlement; because the farmers grew weary of harrying and warfare within the land. And with the help and counsel of influential men an agreement was reached between them, to this effect that Earl Hákon was to retain the same dominions in Trondheim as had had Earl Sigurth, his father; and the kings, the same dominion as had had King Hákon before them, and that peace was confirmed with binding oaths. Then Earl Hákon and Gunnhild were on the best of terms, though at times they schemed against each other and tried who could get the better of the other. So three more years passed. During that time Earl Hákon was in quiet possession of his lands.
Chapter 7. King Harald is Given a Sheepskin Cloak
King Harald most often dwelled in Horthaland and Rogaland, as did several of his brothers. Frequently they dwelled in the Harthanger District. One summer a seagoing ship, owned by Icelanders, arrived from Iceland. It had a cargo of sheepskin cloaks. They steered into the Harthangerfjord, because they had heard that a great multitude was gathered there. But when people came to bargain with them, no one wanted to buy the sheepskins. Then the skipper sought out King Harald, because they were acquainted, and told him about his difficulty. The king said he would go see them, and so he did. King Harald was a kindly disposed man and of a very cheerful disposition. He arrived there with a fully manned skiff and looked at their wares. He asked the skipper, “Will you give me one of your cloaks?”
“Gladly,” said the skipper, “and several, if need be.” Then the king took one of the sheepskin cloaks and hung it over his shoulders, whereupon he boarded the skiff again. But before they rowed away every one of his men had bought a sheepskin. A few days later such a multitude came there who all wanted to buy the cloaks that not a half of them got any. Then the king was called Harald Gráfeldr [Graycloak].
Chapter 8. The Birth of Earl Eirík
One winter Earl Hákon journeyed to the Uppland District where he was entertained, and there he slept with a woman of low birth; and after a while the woman was with child. And when it was born it proved to be a boy. It was sprinkled with water and given the name of Eirík. The mother brought the child to Earl Hákon and declared that he was its father. The earl had the boy brought up by a man called Thorleif the Wise. He lived in Methal Dale. He was a powerful man, wealthy, and a close friend of the earl. Soon Eirík grew to be a promising youth, of very handsome appearance, tall and strong at an early age. The earl showed little regard for him. Earl Hákon also was exceedingly handsome, not of tall stature but very strong, and a man of many accomplishments, shrewd, and a great warrior.
Chapter 9. King Harald and King Guthröth Have a Falling Out
One fall Earl Hákon journeyed to the Uppland District. And when he arrived in Heithmork he was met by King Tryggvi Óláfsson and King Guthröth Bjarnarson. Guthbrand of the Dales also came there. They had a meeting and conferred long and in secret; and they came to the agreement that they were to be mutual friends. Then they parted, each one returning to his own dominions.
Gunnhild and her sons learned about this, and they suspected that some treason against them was planned. They often conferred with one another. And when spring came, King Harald and King Guthröth, his brother, made it known that they planned to go on a viking expedition in summer, either to the west or to the east, as they were accustomed to do. They collected troops and launched their ships, preparing to start.
At their parting banquet, men drank heavily, and much was spoken over their drinks. Finally, they engaged in a matching of men, and they got to talking about the kings themselves. Someone said that King Harald was the foremost among the brothers in all respects. That made Guthröth furious, and he said he was in no wise inferior to Harald, and added that he was ready to test that. Soon both of them were so furious that they challenged one another and took to their weapons. But others who were wiser and less intoxicated checked them and went between them. Thereupon each boarded his ships, and there was little expectation that they would keep together. Guthröth sailed east [and south] along the land; but Harald steered out upon the high sea, announcing that he meant to sail west across the sea. But once he got outside the island belt he steered east along the land in the open sea. King Guthröth sailed the fairway within the islands and on across the Foldfjord. From there he sent word to King Tryggvi inviting him to join them and go freebooting into the Baltic during the summer. King Tryggvi was inclined to do so and gave a favorable answer. Learning that Guthröth had but a small fleet he joined him with one skiff. They met at Veggir, west of Sótaness. But when they went to confer with one another, King Guthröth’s men fell upon and slew King Tryggvi and twelve men with him. He is buried at a place now called Tryggvi’s Cairn.
Chapter 10. King Harald Slays King Guthröth Bjarnarson
King Harald for the most part sailed the outer course. He steered into the Foldfjord [Óslófjord] and arrived at Túnsberg during the night. There he learned that King Guthröth [Bjarnarson] was being entertained not far away inland. King Harald and his troops came there at night and surrounded the house. Guthröth and his followers issued out of it, and there was a short fight before King Guthröth fell with many of his men. Then King Harald returned and joined King Guthröth, his brother. Together they subdued all of the District of Vík.
Chapter 11. Harald Flees from the Sons of Gunnhild to Sweden
King Guthröth Bjarnarson had married an excellent woman of good birth. They had a son whose name was Harald. He was sent to Hrói the White, a king’s steward in Grenland,1 to be fostered by him. Hrói’s son was Hrani the Widely-Travelled. He and Harald were of about the same age and were foster brothers. After his father Guthröth’s fall Harald who was called Grenski [the Grenlander] fled first to the Uppland District, together with his foster brother Hrani and a few men. There he stayed for a while with kinsmen of his. The sons of Eirík searched diligently for the men who were bound by agreements with them,2 and most of all for those who could be suspected of rising against them. Harald’s kinsmen and friends advised him to leave the country. Then Harald the Grenlander went east to Sweden and look
ed for a place on board a ship to join men who wished to go on a viking expedition to acquire possessions. Harald was a most accomplished man.
Tósti was the name of a man in Sweden, one of the noblest and most powerful there of those who were not of princely birth. He was a great warrior and had been for a long time on viking expeditions. He was called Skoglar-Tósti. Harald the Grenlander joined his company, following Tósti in his expeditions in summertime; and Harald was esteemed highly by everybody. In the winter following, Harald stayed with Tósti. Sigríth was the name of Tósti’s daughter, a handsome and very haughty young woman. Later on she was married to the Swedish king, Eirík the Victorious, and their son was Óláf of Sweden, who afterwards ruled that country. Eirík died of a sickness at Uppsala, ten years after the fall of Styrbjorn.
Chapter 12. Earl Hákon Avoids the Sons of Gunnhild
The sons of Gunnhild collected a great force in Vík and sailed north along the land, summoning troops and ships from every district, and gave it to be understood that they were steering north to Trondheim against Earl Hákon. The earl was informed of this and collected troops and procured himself ships. And when he heard how great a fleet the sons of Gunnhild had, he proceeded south to Mœr, ravaging the countryside and killing many men. Then he sent back his ’army of Trondheim farmers, and himself harried in both North and South Mœr and in Raums Dale. He had his spies out all the way south of the headland of Stath, to inform himself about the fleet of the sons of Gunnhild. And when he heard that they had anchored in the Fjord District,1 waiting for favorable winds to sail north of Stath, he sailed south, rounding that promontory far out to sea, so that his sails could not be seen from the land, then proceeded east [south] along the land far out to sea, and got to Denmark, from where he made his way east into the Baltic, harrying there during the summer. The sons of Gunnhild sailed north to Trondheim with their fleet and stayed there a long time, collecting all the tribute and revenues. And as the summer wore on, Sigurth Slefa and Guthröth settled down there while Harald and his other brothers, together with the troops they had levied during the summer, returned to the east.
Chapter 13. Earl Hákon Regains His Possessions
In the fall, Earl Hákon sailed to Helsingjaland where he drew up his ships [for winter], then travelled overland through Helsingjaland and Jamtaland, then west over the Keel till he arrived in Trondheim. At once men began to gather about him, and he procured ships. But when the sons of Gunnhild learned this they embarked on their ships and sailed out of the [Trondheim] fjord. Earl Hákon proceeded to Hlathir and resided there during the winter, while the sons of Gunnhild remained in Mœr; and each of the two parties made descents on the other, killing many people. Earl Hákon held onto his dominions in Trondheim and resided there most often in the winter, but in summer he sometimes marched east over to Helsingjaland, got his ships ready, and sailed into the Baltic on viking expeditions. But sometimes he resided in Trondheim and had an army on foot, and then the sons of Gunnhild could not maintain their power north of Stath.
Chapter 14. King Sigurth Rapes Klypp’s Wife and Is Slain by Him
One summer Harald Graycloak sailed with his fleet north to Permia, harried there, and had a great battle with the Permians on the bank of the Dvína River in which Harald was victorious and killed many people, whereupon he plundered the land far and wide and acquired an immense amount of property. Glúm Geirason makes mention of this:
(100.)
117. Eastward saw I the athelings’
awer redden his broadsword
where Permian folk, frightened,
fled their burning dwellings.
Good fame got him youngish
gold-bestower on Dvína’s
banks, in fiercest battle
braving the storm-of-arrows.
King Sigurth Slefa came to the estate of the hersir Klypp, the son of Thórth Hortha-Kárason, a powerful chieftain of noble birth. Klypp was not at home at the time, but Álof, his wife, gave the king a good welcome, entertaining him with a banquet at which there was much drinking. Álof, the wife of Hersir Klypp, was the daughter of Ásbjorn and the sister of Járn-Skeggi who dwelled north in Yrjar. Hreithar was the brother of Ásbjorn and the father of Styrkár, the father of Eindrithi, the father of Einar Thambar-skelfir. In the night the king went to Álof’s bed and lay with her against her will. Then he departed. Later in fall King Harald and his brother Sigurth travelled up to Vors and summoned the farmers there to an assembly. At the assembly the farmers attacked them and wanted to kill them, but they escaped and left that place. King Harald went to the Harthanger District, and King Sigurth, to Alreksstath. And when Hersir Klypp learned that, he and his kinsmen gathered together and fell upon him. Vémund Volubrjót headed them. And when they came to the farm they made for the king. Klypp ran the king through with his sword, and he died; but in the same moment Erling the Old slew Klypp.
Chapter 15. Earl Hákon Again Seeks Refuge in Denmark
King Harald Graycloak and his brother, King Guthröth, collected a large army from the eastern part of the country, and with it proceeded north to Trondheim. As soon as Earl Hákon learned that, he gathered troops and sailed south to Mœr to harry there. His father’s brother, Grjótgarth, was charged to defend the land for the sons of Gunnhild. He summoned a force, as the kings had bidden him to. Earl Hákon sailed against him and gave him battle, and there fell Grjótgarth, and two earls with him and many men. Einar Skálaglamm makes mention of this:
(101.)
118. Hardy Hákon did with
helmet-hail1 o’ermaster—
waxed therewith the wine of
Way-Farer2—his enemies:
overbold, three athelings,
earls’ sons, in Thrótt’s-showers3—
glory gained thereby the
gallant earl—dropped lifeless.
Thereupon Earl Hákon sailed into the open sea and by the outer course south along the land. He finally came to Denmark and journeyed to the court of Harald Gormsson, the king of Denmark, who welcomed him, and there he stayed that winter. At the court of the Danish king there was also a man called Harald. He was the son of Knút Gormsson and the nephew of King Harald. He had just returned from a viking expedition on which he had been for a long time and had gotten an immense amount of property. He was called Gold-Harald, and he thought himself well entitled to succeed to the throne of Denmark.
Chapter 16. King Erling Is Slain by the Farmers
King Harald and his brothers sailed north with their fleet and into the Trondheimfjord, and met no resistance. They levied tribute and taxes and exacted all the king’s revenues, making the farmers pay large contributions, because the kings had received little income from the Trondheim District for a long time, since Earl Hákon had resided there with many troops and had been embroiled with the kings.
In the fall King Harald proceeded to the southern provinces, together with those troops who came from there; but King Erling remained behind with his force. He had still many claims outstanding against the farmers and made hard conditions for them, but the farmers grumbled menacingly and were ill pleased with their losses. And in the winter the farmers gathered a large force and proceeded to where King Erling was being entertained, and attacked him. And there King Erling fell, and many of his men.
During the time when the sons of Gunnhild ruled in Norway there were bad seasons, and they became worse the longer they ruled, and the farmers attributed that to the kings, and also complained that they were grasping and treated the farmers harshly. It went so far that the people in all parts hardly had any grain or fish. In Hálogaland there was such famine and starvation that scarcely any grain grew there. The snow lay in all parts in midsummer, and the cattle had to stay in their stalls. As Eyvind Skáldaspillir said in a verse, once he came out and snow was falling fast:
(102.)
119. It snows on Svolnir’s yokemate.1
So, like the Finns, have we
our bud-eaters2 bound in
barn in mi
ddle summer.
Eyvind composed a drápa about all Icelanders,3 and they rewarded him by each farmer giving him a silver coin, and this was three pennies of silver in weight and white when scratched. But when the silver was collected at the Althing,4 it was decided to have a smith purify the silver. Later on, a cloak fibula was made of it, and after the smith had received his reward5 the fibula weighed fifty marks. This fibula they sent to Eyvind, but Eyvind had it cut into pieces and bought himself cattle for it. And in the spring there arrived a school of herrings at a certain outlying fishing station. Eyvind manned a rowboat with his man servants and tenants and rowed to the place where the herring had drifted. He spoke this verse:
(103.)
120. Let us row our restless
roller-horse from northward,
for our hunger to haul the
herring-school tail-feathered,
and see if, gracious Gerth-of-
gold-rings,6 the sea-silver7
dipped from the deep by men with
dragnets, could be sold us.
And all his money had been so entirely spent to buy the cattle that he had to buy the herrings with his arrows. He spoke this verse:
(104.)
121. A clasp I got, as goodly
gift sent me from Iceland,
which for a herd of cattle
wholly I dispended.
Then I sold for sea-fish—
seasons bad did cause this—
nearly all my arrows.
Erstwhile was I richer.
The Saga of Óláf Tryggvason
Chapter 1. Queen Ástríth Flees and Gives Birth to Óláf
Ástríth was the name of King Tryggvi Óláfsson’s wife. She was a daughter of Eirík Bjóthaskalli whose home was at Oprostathir.1 He was a powerful chieftain. Now after Tryggvi’s fall Ástríth fled secretly with all the 968 possessions she could carry with her. She was accompanied by her foster father, called Thórólf Lousebeard, and he never left her. But other faithful friends of hers went to find out what could be learned about her enemies and where they were.
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