Heimskringla
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Harald Graycloak laid this proposition before Gunnhild and others of his friends, and there were many different opinions about it. Some thought there was something suspicious about a journey such as was proposed for them. But the most of them urged him to undertake it, because at that time there was such a famine in Norway that the kings hardly managed to feed their followers. It was then that the fjord where the kings resided most often received the name of Harthanger.2 The season in Denmark was fairly good, so people thought they might get provisions from there if King Harald received fiefs and revenues there. So before the messengers departed it was decided that King Harald would sail to Denmark in the summer, to meet with the king of Denmark and receive of him what had been offered.
Chapter 13. Earl Hákon Plans Gold-Harald’s Death
In the following summer King Graycloak sailed to Denmark with 976 three warships. One was captained by Hersir Arinbjorn from the Fjord District. King Harald sailed from Vík to the Limfjord and anchored at Háls. He was told that the Danish king would be there very soon. But when Gold-Harald learned of his arrival, he sailed to that place with nine warships. Before, he had equipped that force to go on a viking expedition. Earl Hákon likewise had equipped his ships for the same purpose. He had twelve ships, all of large size. And when Gold-Harald had sailed away, Earl Hákon said to the king,
“Now I don’t know but we shall row on a levy of war and yet will have to pay a fine for not obeying the summons. Very likely Gold-Harald will now kill Harald Graycloak. And then he is likely to be the king in Norway. Do you believe he will be faithful to you, once you have given him such power? Because this winter he said to me he would kill you if chance offered. Now I shall win Norway for you and slay Gold-Harald if you pledge me your faith that I shall have no difficulty in being reconciled with you for that deed. I shall then become earl under you, confirming that by oaths, and with your support win Norway for you and afterwards possess myself of the land under your suzerainty and pay you tribute; then you will be a greater king than your father if you have dominion over two nations.” The king and the earl agreed on these terms. Thereupon Hákon departed with his fleet to search for Gold-Harald.
Chapter 14. Gold-Harald Fells Harald Graycloak
Gold-Harald arrived at Háls in the Limfjord and immediately challenged Harald Graycloak to do battle with him. And although Harald had a smaller force he straightway disembarked and made ready for the fight, putting his troops in battle array. And before the hostile forces met, Harald Graycloak incited his troops with fiery words to draw their swords, and at once ran forward to the head of his column, mowing down people right and left. As says Glúm Geirason in his Gráfeldardrápa:
(105.)
122. Words unwavering spoke the
war-play’s royal urger
gallant, who with gore his
glaive reddened in battle.
Hardy Harald bade his
henchmen draw from scabbard—
well that pleased the warriors—
wound-snakes for bloody combat.
There fell King Harald Graycloak. As says Glúm Geirason:
(106.)
123. Harald, fond of horses,
had to lie, the roller-
steed’s-steerer, on the spreading
strands of Eylimi’s inlet.1
Fell the fire-of-rivers2
free-handed giver at Háls thorp.
Caused the cunning double-tongued
comrade of kings3 this slaying.
With him fell most of Harald’s men. Hersir Arinbjorn fell there. Fifteen years had then passed since the death of Hákon, Æthelstān’s foster 976 son, and thirteen, since the death of Sigurth, earl of Hlathir. Priest Ari Thorgilsson says that Earl Hákon resided thirteen years on his patrimony in Trondheim before the fall of Harald Graycloak, and that during the last six years of Harald Graycloak’s life Hákon and the sons of Gunnhild fought one another, with one or the other fleeing the land.
Chapter 15. Earl Hákon Defeats and Hangs Gold-Harald
Shortly after the fall of Harald Graycloak, Earl Hákon encountered Gold-Harald and gave battle to him. Hákon was victorious, Gold-Harald was captured, and Hákon had him hanged on a gallows. Thereupon Hákon sought out the king and had little difficulty in achieving a reconciliation with him about the killing of his kinsman Gold-Harald. Thereupon King Harald summoned an army from all over his kingdom and sailed abroad with six hundred [720] ships. Along with him were Earl Hákon and Harald of Grenland, the son of King Guthröth, and many other chieftains who had fled from their possessions in Norway to escape the sons of Gunnhild. Coming from the south, the Danish king sailed his fleet into Vík, and the people all swore allegiance to him. When he arrived at Túnsberg a great multitude went over to him, and King Harald gave to Earl Hákon all the troops that had joined him in Norway, and bestowed on him the government of Rogaland, Horthaland, Sogn, the Fjord District, South Mœr, Raums Dale, and North Mœr—these seven districts King Harald bestowed on Earl Hákon to govern, with the same stipulations under which Harald Fairhair had given them to his sons; with this exception, however, that Hákon was to have possession, there and in Trondheim, of all royal estates and revenues. He was also to have the royal revenues he needed if an enemy invaded the land. To Harald of Grenland he gave Vingulmork, Westfold, and Agthir to Lithandisness,1 together with the title of “King” and let him in every way have the same power as before him his kinsmen had had and Harald Fairhair had given his sons. Harald of Grenland was eighteen years at the time, and later on became a man of importance. Thereupon King Harald of Denmark returned to his country with all his Danish troops.
Chapter 16. Gunnhild and Her Sons Flee Norway
Earl Hákon sailed north along the land with his fleet. Now when Gunnhild and her sons learned of these happenings they tried to collect a force, but were not successful. They resorted to the same plan as before and sailed west across the sea together with all those who would follow them, going first to the Orkneys, where they remained for a while. Before that time the sons of Thorfith Hausakljúf, Hlothvir and Arnvith, Ljót and Skúli, had ruled there as earls.
Earl Hákon took possession of all the land and resided in Trondheim that year. As says Einar Skálaglamm in his poem of Vellekla:
(107.)
124. Shires seven the silken
circlet’s1 wearer—startling
turn things took then—blameless
to his earlship added.
In the summer, when Earl Hákon sailed along the land from the south and the people of the land swore him allegiance, he commanded that throughout his dominions all people were to maintain the heathen temples and the sacrifices [in them]; and he was obeyed. As is said in the poem Vellekla:
(108.)
125. High the prince bade hold all
holy places in honor,
eke the fanes, ’mong folk far-
famed, which had been ravaged
ere the thewful Thór-of-shields2 with
thin-edged wand-of-wounds had—
guided was he by godheads—
gained the rule of Norway.
(109.)
126. And the glorious godheads
go back to their offerings.
Furthers that the folkland’s
far-famed warshield-reddener.3
Now grows the earth as erstwhile;
as before, again now
stand, undisturbed, in their
stead the blessed Æsir.
(110.)
127. Under the earl lies now
all the land of Norway
north of Vík; so widely
wields his power Hákon.
The first winter Hákon ruled over Norway, shoals of herring came near land all over the country, and during the fall before, the grain had matured wherever it had been sowed. And in the spring farmers provided themselves with seed corn, so that most of them could sow their fields, and a good season was promising.
Chapter 17. King Ragnfröth Invade
s Norway
King Ragnfröth, a son of Gunnhild, and Guthröth, another son—these alone were still living of the sons of Eirík and Gunnhild. As says Glúm Geirason in his Gráfeldardrápa:
(111.)
128. Half my hopes of riches
have now vanished, since in
dart-storm1 Harald died, the
doughty war-lord, lately.
But I know that both his
brothers—have full many
pinned their hopes for pelf on
princes twain—will help me.
After he had been one winter in the Orkneys, Ragnfröth outfitted an expedition and then sailed east to Norway with select troops and large ships. When he arrived in Norway he learned that Earl Hákon was in Trondheim. Then Ragnfröth steered north around Cape Stath and harried in South Mœr, and some people swore him allegiance; as often happens when bodies of warriors pass through a land, when those who are exposed to danger seek help, each where he thinks most likely.
Earl Hákon learned that there were hostilities south in Mœr. Then he procured ships and sent round the war-arrows. He got ready the fastest he could and sailed out of the fjord with a goodly force. He met Ragnfröth in the northern part of South Mœr, and gave battle to him at once. He had a larger fleet but smaller ships. There was a hard fight, and Ragnfröth had the upper hand. They fought about the forecastles, as was the custom then. There was a current in the sound, and all the ships drifted to landward. The earl also had his ships rowed stern foremost to where he thought it best to go on shore. And when the ships touched bottom, the earl with all his troops left the ships and drew them up on land so that their foes should not be able to pull them into the water. Then the earl put his troops in battle array on land and taunted Ragnfröth to come ashore. Ragnfröth laid his ships alongside the land, and the two forces shot at each other for a long time. Ragnfröth did not choose to go on land, and with that they parted.
Ragnfröth steered his fleet south around Stath Headland, because he was afraid of the land troops if [many of them] joined Earl Hákon. But the earl did not wish to do battle with him because he considered the difference in the size of ships too great against himself. So in the fall he sailed north to Trondheim, but King Ragnfröth had sway over all the land south of Stath—the Fjord District, Sogn, Horthaland, and Rogaland. He had many followers 978 about him during the winter. And when spring set in he summoned a levy and got a large force together. He went about all these districts to procure troops, ships, and the provisions he needed.
Chapter 18. Earl Hákon Puts Ragnfröth to Flight
When spring came, Earl Hákon summoned troops from all the northern part of the country. A great force came to him from Hálogaland and Naumu Dale; and also from Byrtha to Stath he was joined by troops from all lands along the sea. Reinforcements came to him from all the Trondheim districts as well as from Raums Dale. It is said [in poems] that he had troops from four folk. Seven earls followed him, and together they had a huge number of men. As is said in Vellekla:
(112.)
129. Thereupon the prince, the
peace of Mœr’s defender,
salty waves did sail to
Sogn, eager for battle.
Out of the folklands four, the
Frey-of-Hethin’s-stormblast1
led forth all the levy—
lay that in his purpose.
(113.)
130. Eke on their swift sail-steeds
seven raven-gladdening
hersar hurried, joining
Hákon, to the conflict.
Rang all Norway’s realm when
reddeners-of-bucklers2
clashed in carnage—bloody
corpses floated past headlands.
With all this force Earl Hákon rounded Cape Stath, sailing south. Then he heard that King Ragnfröth with his fleet had moved into the Sogn District. So he proceeded there and encountered Ragnfröth. The earl moved his ships to the land and marked out a battlefield3 for King Ragnfröth, choosing his ground. As is said in Vellekla:
(114.)
131. Waged the wide-famed chieftain
war-play, slaughtering many.
Again then Hákon gathered
galleys, his sword to redden.
Bade the buckler’s-destroyer
beach the rudder-horses,
and in order of battle
endlong ’rayed his warriors.
Then there was a very great battle. Earl Hákon had a much larger force and was victorious. This happened on Thinganess, where Sogn and Horthaland meet. King Ragnfröth fled to his ships, but he lost three hundred [360] of his men. As is said in Vellekla:
(115.)
132. Stern the struggle, ere the
stalwart bonders’ leader
under eagles’ beak could
eftsoons thrust4 three hundred.
Seaward sailing then his
sloops of war, the active
gold-dispender grim—a
gain was that—his foes dogged.
After this battle King Ragnfröth fled from Norway, and Earl Hákon restored the country to peace and let the great army which had been under his leadership during the summer return north, but himself remained there that fall and winter.
Chapter 19. Earl Hákon’s Children by Thóra
Earl Hákon had married Thóra, daughter of Skagi Skoptason, a man of high rank. She was an unusually beautiful woman. Their sons were Svein and Heming. Bergljót, their daughter, later married Einar Thambarskelfir. Earl Hákon was a great lover of women and had many children. One of his daughters was named Ragnhild. He gave her in marriage to Skopti Skagason, brother of Thóra. The earl loved Thóra so much that he favored her kinsmen above all others; and especially Skopti, his son-in-law, he valued most of all her relatives. The earl assigned great revenues to him in Mœr; and whenever they were on an expedition by sea, Skopti was to moor his ship next to the earl’s, and no one was to presume to moor his ship between them.
Earl Hákon’s ships at anchor during the night.
Chapter 20. Earl Eirík Slays Skopti Skagason
One summer when Earl Hákon had summoned a fleet, Thorleif the Wise was the skipper of one of his ships. Eirík, who was by then some ten or eleven years old, was on board with him. And when they dropped anchor in harbors in the evening, Eirík would have it that they should choose their berth next to the earl’s ship. But when they arrived south in Mœr, Skopti, the earl’s son-in-law, joined them with a well-manned warship. And when rowing toward the fleet, Skopti called out to Thorleif to move out of the place where they were moored to make room for his ship. Eirík replied quickly, requesting Skopti to find another berth. Earl Hákon overheard this—that his son Eirík thought himself so important that he did not care to yield to Skopti—and he called out at once, demanding that Thorleif remove his ship, or else it would be worse for them and that they might expect a drubbing.
When Thorleif heard this he called to his men and bade them undo the hawsers [with which they had made fast to the earl’s ship], and they did so. Then Skopti moved in the space he was accustomed to occupy next to the earl’s ship.
Whenever the two met, Skopti was to inform the earl of all happenings, and the earl was to tell him if he had heard of them before him. He was called Tidings-Skopti.
In the following winter Eirík stayed with his foster father Thorleif, but early in spring Eirík procured for himself a company of men. Thorleif gave him a skiff with fifteen rowers’ benches, and with all equipment, tenting, and provisions. Then Eirík sailed out of the fjord and south to Mœr. Tidings-Skopti, with a skiff with fifteen rowers’ benches, and all manned, was travelling from one of his estates to another. Eirík steered up to him and gave battle. There Skopti fell, but Eirík gave quarter to the men who were still living. As says Eyólf Dáthaskáld1 in his Bandadrápa:
(116.)
133. Fell the young prince, fearless—
fatal was that battle—
late at eve on the enemy;
when the wound-flame’s wielder,2
war-play eager—oft he
wolves fed on the flesh of
fallen foe—slew Skopti.
(117.)
134. Hardy hoard-dispender3
hastened death for Hákon’s
steward—bloody the struggle—
stoutly battled Skopti.
Was then the wayfaring
wealth-bestower slain by
sovran’s scion in combat.
Seized the land by gods’ will.4
Then Eirík sailed south along the land and finally arrived in Denmark. There he sought King Harald Gormsson at his court, and stayed with him during the winter. But in spring the Danish king sent Eirík north to Norway after bestowing on him the title of “earl” and the revenues of Vingulmork and Raumaríki, under the same conditions as the vassal kings had had before. As says Eyólf Dáthaskáld:
(118.)
135. Few of the folklord’s years were,
fight-filled—hear my poem—
spent on his sea-serpent5
sleek in southern waters,
ere the athelings, ever
eager for storm-of-arrows,
had the young helm-clad
hero rule over folk-lands.
Earl Eirík in time became a great chieftain.
Chapter 21. Óláf Tryggvason Leaves Hólmgarth
All this time Óláf Tryggvason was in Gartharíki, greatly favored by King Valdamar and loved by the queen. King Valdamar made him chieftain over the troops which he dispatched to defend his country. Óláf fought some battles, and the command of this army was in good hands. He himself kept a company of warriors, given him by the king, at his own expense. Óláf was very free-handed with his men and thus became popular. But as often happens when foreigners gain power or acquire such great fame, beyond that got by men of the country, he was envied by many for being greatly favored by the king and no less by the queen. Many warned the king against giving Óláf too much power, “because, if he will lend himself to inflict harm on you or the land, a man with such achievements and so popular is most risky for you to have. Nor, for that matter, do we know what he and the queen are always talking about.”1