After the battle Earl Eirík took possession of the Long Serpent and much booty, and sailed away with it when the battle had ended. Thus says Halldór:
The victors return from the battle of Svolth.
(170.)
187. Thither on Long Serpent
sailed the helm-clad chieftain1—
bore it a bold crew—to
baleful storm-of-arrows.
After the battle, however,
eagerly took it over
Heming’s high-born brother2—
hot raged sword-fight on it.
Svein, a son of Earl Hákon, was at that time betrothed to Hólmfríth, a daughter of King Óláf of Sweden. Now when the realm of Norway was divided between Svein, the king of Denmark, Óláf, the king of Sweden, and Earl Eirík, then King Óláf’s share comprised four districts in Trondheim, both parts of Mœr, Raums Dale, and Ranríki in the east, from the Gaut Elf River to Svína Sound. All this, King Óláf conveyed to Earl Svein under the same conditions under which vassal kings or earls had held land from suzerain kings. Earl Eirík took over four districts in Trondheim, also Hálogaland, Naumu Dale, the Fjord districts and Fjalir, Sogn, Horthaland, Rogaland, and Agthir all the way south to Lithandisness. As says Thórth Kolbeinsson:
(171.)
188. I know that, not counting
noble Erling, most hersar—
aye I praise the earl—with
Eirík were linked in friendship.
Once the battle was won, they
wielded power from Veiga3—
sword-play raged at Svolth Isle—
south to Agthir and farther.
(172.)
189. Loved all men the liege, and
liked to be his subjects.
Watch, he would, said the ruler,
well over all in Norway.
Svein,4 men from the Southland
say, is dead, his folklands—
few men does fate spare mis-
fortunes—lie deserted.
Then King Svein of Denmark again had possession of the Vík District as he had had before, but granted Earl Eirík Raumaríki and Heithmork. Svein Hákonarson was given an earldom by Óláf of Sweden. Earl Svein was the handsomest man in peoples’ memory. Earl Eirík and Earl Svein were both baptized and accepted the true faith; but during the time they ruled over Norway they let everyone do as he pleased about the keeping of Christianity, whereas they kept well the old laws and all customs of the land, and they were greatly beloved and governed well. Earl Eirík had most to say of all his brothers in matters dealing with the administration of the country.
Saint Óláf’s Saga
Chapter 1. Óláf Is Brought Up at the Estate of Sigurth Sýr
Óláf, the son of Harald of Grenland, was brought up in the establishment of Sigurth Sýr, his stepfather, and his mother Ásta. Hrani the Widely-Travelled lived with Ásta and was Óláf Haraldsson’s foster father. Óláf soon grew to be an accomplished man, handsome and of middle height. Soon, too, he became clever and eloquent. Sigurth Sýr was a most efficient farmer who always kept his men busy, and he himself often went out to see to the fields, the meadows, and the cattle, as well as to the craftsmen and others who were busy with this or that.
Chapter 2. Óláf Mocks Sigurth Sýr
One day, when King Sigurth wanted to ride [on an errand], there was no one home on the farm. He called his stepson to saddle a horse for him. Óláf went to the goat house, took out the largest he-goat that was there, led him forth, and laid the king’s saddle on him, then went and told the king he had a riding-horse ready for him. Then King Sigurth came out and saw what Óláf had done. He said, “It is clear that you don’t care to obey my requests. Very likely your mother thinks it more fitting that I make no more requests of you which are distasteful to you. It is quite evident that we two are not of the same disposition. Very likely you are more proud minded by far than I.” Óláf made no reply but went his way laughing.
Chapter 3. Of Óláf’s Appearance and Character
As he grew up, Óláf Haraldsson was not of tall stature, but of middle height and of stout frame and great strength. His hair was of light chestnut color and his face, broad, of light complexion, and ruddy. His eyes were unusually fine, bright and piercing, so that it inspired terror to look into them when he was furious. Óláf was a man of many accomplishments. He was a good shot, an excellent swimmer, and second to none in hurling spears. He was skilled and had a sure eye for all kinds of handicraft work, whether the things were made for himself or others. He was nicknamed Óláf the Stout. He was bold and ready in speech, mature early in all ways, both in bodily strength and shrewdness; and he endeared himself to all his kinsfolk and acquaintances. He vied with all in games and always wanted to be the first in everything, as was proper, befitting his rank and birth.
Chapter 4. Óláf’s First Viking Expedition
Óláf Haraldsson was twelve years when he went on board a warship for the first time. Ásta, his mother, got Hrani, who was called the King’s Foster Father, to take charge of the crew, together with Óláf, because Hrani had often before been on viking expeditions. When Óláf took over ship and crew, the men gave him the title of “king,” as it was the custom that warrior-kings on a viking expedition, if of royal birth, were forthwith called kings, even though they had no land to govern. Hrani sat by the helm, and therefore some say that Óláf was [only] an oarsman. Still he was king over the crew. They sailed first east [south] along the land, and first to Denmark. So says Óttar the Black1 in a poem on King Óláf:
(1.)
190. Young still, yet you, Óláf,
used early to warlike
deeds, impelled to Denmark
dauntlessly your sea-steeds.
From the north but newly—
knowledge have I of your
progress—cam’st thou, peerless
princeling, seeking glory.
Chapter 5. Óláf Ravages Sweden
And toward fall he sailed east to Sweden and there began to harry and burn all the countryside, for he thought he had good cause to repay the Swedes for having deprived his father of life. Óttar the Black says in clear words that he at that time departed from Denmark and sailed to the east:
(2.)
191. Onward east ye sailed with
oar-dight roller-horses.
Linden shields ye lifted,
liege, on your ships’ gunwales,
hoisted sails and seized the
sea-stirrers,1 too, sometimes.
The main’s mighty swells by
many oars were parted.
(3.)
192. Fear befell the people
forthwith at your coming.
sovran. Sithen didst in
Sweden redden nesses.
Chapter 6. Óláf’s First Battle
That fall, Óláf had his first battle at Sóta Skerry, which is in the Swedish skerries. There he fought with vikings. Their leader was called Sóti. Óláf had a much smaller force, but bigger ships. He stationed his ships between breakers on hidden rocks where it was difficult for the vikings to attack. But Óláf’s men drew the ships which lay nearest up to them with grappling irons and cleared them of their crews. The vikings retired after losing many men. The skald Sigvat1 tells about this engagement in the poem in which he recounted the battles Óláf had fought:
(4.)
193. Bore his long ship,2 launched from
land, the youthful scion of
royal forebears: feared all
folk his wrath thereafter.
Much do I remember
men’s great deeds, as first when
in the east he sated
eagles by Sóta Skerry.
Chapter 7. Óláf Escapes from Lake Mælaren
King Óláf sailed then east along Sweden, thereupon steered into Lake Mælaren, harrying on both shores. He rowed all the way up to Sigtúnir and made fast his ships close to Old Sigtúnir.1 The Swedes say one can still see the stone wall Óláf made f
or the head of his piers. But when fall approached, King Óláf learned that Óláf, the king of the Swedes, had collected a great army, and also, that he had laid an iron chain across Stokk Sound2 and guarded it with a force of men. The Swedish king thought that King Óláf would wait till the lake froze over, and that his force was negligible as he had few men. Then King Óláf sailed to Stokk Sound and found he could not get out. There was a stronghold on the east side of the sound, and an army, south of it. And when they learned that the Swedish king had gone on board his ship and had a great fleet, King Óláf had his men dig a channel through [the low land of the peninsula of] Agnafit, out to the sea. Heavy rains fell at the time.
Now all the rivers and creeks in [that part of] Sweden drain into Lake Mælaren, but there is only one outlet from it to the sea, and that is narrower than many a river. Now when there is heavy rain together with the thawing of the snow, then the waters descend so violently that a torrent flows through Stokk Sound and Lake Mælaren rises so high that it floods the surrounding country.
Now when the channel [Óláf had dug] reached the sea, the water rushed out in a torrent. Then King Óláf had the rudders on his vessels shipped and the sails hoisted to the top. There was a stiff breeze. They steered with the oars, and the ships went swiftly over shallow places, and all of them got out into the sea unscathed. But the Swedes came to Óláf, the king of Sweden, and told him that Óláf the Stout had got out to sea. The Swedish king strongly berated those who should have seen to it that Óláf did not escape. That channel has since that time been called King’s Sound. It cannot be navigated by large ships except at a time when the waters are most torrential.
Some relate that the Swedes became aware of Óláf’s having dug the channel through the neck of land and that the water was rushing out; also, that the Swedes came up with an army, intending to keep Óláf from getting out. But the waters undermined the banks on both sides, which fell and took with them many people, so that a great many drowned. But the Swedes contradict all this and say it is all nonsense that anyone perished there.
In the fall King Óláf sailed to the Island of Gotland and made ready to harry there. But the people met together and sent messengers to the king, offering him tribute from the land. That the king accepted. He took the tribute and dwelled there during the winter. Thus says Óttar:
(5.)
194. Tribute-taker, thou didst
teach the Goths to fear you,
so they did not dare to
draw their swords to ward them.
Fled the islanders—few are
fearless more than thou art.
Wolf-brood’s hunger, hear I
hero, in the east thou satedst.
Chapter 8. Óláf Defeats the Men of Ösel
Here we are told that as soon as spring arrived, King Óláf sailed east to Eysýsla1 to harry. He went up on land, but the men of Eysýsla came down to the shore and fought with them. King Óláf was victorious there, he pursued them, harried, and devastated the land. We are told that at first, when King Óláf arrived in Eysýsla, the farmers offered to pay tribute. But when they arrived with the tribute he marched against them with his troops fully armed; and then it turned out otherwise than the farmers had expected; for they had come down to the shore, not with the tribute, but rather, all armed, and gave battle to the king, as was told before. As says Sigvat the Skald:
(6.)
195. It befell afresh—nor was
foulest treason hidden—
that Óláf arrow-thing2 must
urge on sacked Eysýsla.
Their lives, liege-lord, to their
legs they owed who away ran
nor, wincing, waited there for
wounds where they were stationed.
Chapter 9. Óláf Makes Good His Retreat from Finnland
Afterwards he sailed back to Finnland, harried there, and invaded the country, and all the people fled into the forests, emptying their homes of all property. The king [and his men] went far inland and through some forests, until they came to some valley settlements, called Her Dales. There they found little property and no people. The day wore on, and the king returned toward his ships. But when they passed through the forest, they were attacked fiercely from all sides with arrow shots. The king bade his men protect themselves as best they could and advance against the enemy, but that was difficult as the Finns hid behind trees. And before the king left the forest behind, he had lost many men, and many were wounded before he reached the ships late in the evening. During the night, the Finns with their witchcraft made a furious gale and a storm at sea. But the king bade his men weigh anchor and hoist the sails and cruise before the land during the night. And then, as often afterwards, the king’s luck prevailed over the magic of the Finns. During the night they cruised along the Balagarth Shore1 and from there out to sea. The army of the Finns followed them on land as the king sailed outside. As says Sigvat:
(7.)
196. Stern was the third storm-of-steel
, what time the king in
Her Dale forest fought the
Finnish hordes in combat.
But in the east the ocean’s
ebb-shore parted the vikings.
Past Balagarth’s beaches
beat the liege’s sea-stags.2
Chapter 10. Óláf Wins a Battle against Vikings
Then King Óláf sailed to Denmark. There he met Thorkel the Tall, the brother of Earl Sigvaldi, and Thorkel joined him, because he was at that time all ready to set out on a warlike expedition. So they sailed south along the coast of Jutland, and at a place called Suthrvík1 they won a battle over many viking ships. Such vikings that always were at sea and commanded a large force, had themselves called kings though they had no lands to rule over. King Óláf gave battle to them, and it was a hard one, but he won the victory and much booty. As says Sigvat:
(8.)
197. Began, a fourth time, Gondul’s
game2 Óláf to play there;
and great glory, heard I
gained him the folk-ruler,
when ’twixt prideful princes
peace was rudely broken
asunder there in sedgy
Suthrvík, known in Denmark.
Chapter 11. Óláf Battles the Frisians
Then King Óláf sailed south to Frísia and hove to before the coast of Kinnlimi1 in heavy weather. Then the king disembarked with his men, but the people of the land came riding against them and fought them. So says Skald Sigvat:
(9.)
198. A fifth fray, hard on helmets,
hadst thou, thieves’ subduer—2
thy boats’ bows the storm did
buffet—off Kinnlimi’s shoreline,
when gallant foemen galloped
grimly ’gainst the ruler’s
vessels, and he advanced with
vigor to give them battle.
Chapter 12. King Æthelred Seeks to Regain England
Svein Forkbeard, the king of Denmark, was at that time in England with an army of Danes. He had been there for some time and had the land of King Æthelred in his possession. The Danes had by then conquered most of England, and it had come so far that King Æthelred had fled the country and sought refuge in Valland [France] to the south. The same fall when Óláf had arrived in England, it happened that King Svein had suddenly died at night in his bed; and it is rumored among the English that Edmund the Holy had killed him in the same fashion that Mercurius the Holy slew Julian the Apostate.1 And as soon as Æthelred, the king of the English, had learned that he returned speedily to England. And arriving in his country he sent word to all who would enter into his pay to join him to regain possession of the land. Then a great multitude of men came to his colors, among them King Óláf with a large company of Norwegians. They first attacked London from the Thames, but the Danes held the fortified town. On the other side of the river is a large market town, called Súthvirki [Southwark]. There the Danes had made large preparations, digging a great dyke, and
behind it had erected a wall with timbers, stone, and turf, and kept a large force inside. Æthelred tried to storm the fort, but the Danes defended it, and King Æthelred accomplished nothing.
There was a bridge over the river between the fortified town and Súthvirki, broad enough for two carts to pass one another. On this bridge there were fortifications, both towers and bulwarks of palisades on the downstream side, high enough to reach to a man’s middle. And under the bridge piles were rammed into the bottom of the river. And when an attack was made, the force on the bridge stood there along all its length and defended it.
King Æthelred was greatly concerned how he might win the bridge. He called all the leaders of his army into a conference and sought counsel from them how they might destroy the bridge. Then King Óláf said he would try with his company if the other chieftains would assist him. At that conference it was decided that they should move their forces up against the bridge. Then every leader made ready his troops and his ships.
Chapter 13. Óláf Breaks Down London Bridge
King Óláf had great wicker-work shields made of tough tree 1009 roots and soft wood, and had houses built of wands taken apart and brought upon his ships so that they reached over their sides. Then he had props put under them, both so strong and so high that it was easy to fight under them, and stout enough to resist rocks thrown from above. And when the fleet was ready, they rowed upstream to the attack. But when they approached the bridge, such a hail of arrows and huge rocks met them that neither helmets nor shields protected them and the very ships were greatly damaged. Then many beat a retreat. But King Óláf and his force of Norwegians rowed up close to the bridge and fastened cables around the piles which supported the bridge; then with all their ships [they] rowed downstream with all their might. The piles were dragged along the bottom until they tore loose from the bridge. But because an armed host stood thick on the bridge and there were great heaps of both stones and weapons on it, as soon as the piles were broken from under, the bridge gave way and many fell into the river, whilst all the others fled from the bridge, some into the town and some to Súthvirki. Thereupon [Æthelred’s army] attacked Súthvirki and conquered it. But when the people in the town saw that the river Thames was won so that they could not hinder ships from proceeding up into the land, then they were seized with terror of the ships, gave up the town to King Æthelred, and acknowledged him as king. Thus says Óttar the Black:
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