Heimskringla
Page 31
Chapter 28. The Sons of Æthelred Cannot Cope with the Power of Knút
In the spring they all, King Óláf and the sons of King Æthelred, sailed east [north] and landed at a place called Jungufurtha.1 There they disembarked their troops and went up to the stronghold. They found many there who had promised them assistance. They conquered the castle and killed a great number. But when King Knút’s generals learned this they collected troops, and soon had such a large force that the sons of King Æthelred did not have the power to hold out against them and chose rather to withdraw west [south] to Rouen. Then King Óláf parted company with them, not wanting to go to France. He sailed north along the English coast all the way up to Northumberland. He anchored in the harbor called Fyrir Valdi [before the Wolds]2 and fought a battle there with the townsmen in which he gained the victory and much booty.
Chapter 29. Óláf Returns to Norway
King Óláf left his warships behind there and equipped two merchantmen for sailing thence, and on them he had two hundred and twenty [260] men, all furnished with full mail, a picked crew. In the fall he sailed north, and at sea they experienced violent gales which put them in great peril; but because they had a good crew and the luck of the king with them, everything turned out well. As says Óttar:
(30.)
219. Ready made you merchant-
men twain to sail eastward.
With danger oft you dallied,
dauntless peer-of-Skjoldungs.1
Would the savage sea have
sunk your merchant ships if,
warrior, worser crew had
wielded oars aboard them.
And still further:
(31.)
220. Ye feared not nor flinched, as ye
fared o’er the wide ocean.
Abler crew will not ever
heir of war-lord come by.
Towering breakers oft tested
tackle and ship, ere that
mighty king, you made the
midway coast of Norway.
In this verse we are told that King Óláf made land in the middle of 1014 Norway’s [west] coast. The name of the island on which they first touched land is called Sæla,2 beside the Promontory of Stath. Then the king said that he believed that it was a lucky day for him since they had made land at Sæla [luck] in Norway and remarked that it most likely was a good omen that it had happened so. Then they went upon the island. There the king slid with one foot on a patch of clay, but steadied himself on the other knee. Then he said, “Now I fell.”
Then Hrani said: “You fell not, sire; you set fast foot on the land.”
The king laughed and said, “That may be, if God so wills.” Then they boarded their ships again and sailed south to Úlfa Sound.3 There they learned that Earl Hákon was south in Sogn and that he was expected to come north as soon as there was a favorable breeze; also that he had only one ship.
Chapter 30. Óláf Upsets Earl Hákon’s Ship and Exiles Him
When he had come south of Fjalir, King Óláf steered his ships out of the usual course and into the Sauthunga Sound1 and then anchored. The ships lay on either side of the sound and had a thick cable stretched between them. At that very time Earl Hákon Eiríksson rowed toward the sound with a fully manned warship. They believed that the two ships in the sound were merchantmen, and so rowed on into the sound between them; whereupon King Óláf’s men hauled up the cable right under the keel of the earl’s ship, using windlasses. And as soon as it took hold, the stern turned up and the stem plunged down, so that the sea fell in over the gunwale of the forepart, swamping the ship, which then overturned. King Óláf fished up Earl Hákon and all those they managed to reach and capture, some they killed and some were drowned. As says Óttar:
(32.)
221. Tookst thou, ravenous raven’s
ring-dight feeder, youthful
Hákon’s handsome roller-
horse, and all his crew eke.
Hither didst thou, hero,
hie thee, while quite young still;
nor could the earl, crestfallen,
keep thee from thy own land.
Hákon was brought up into the king’s ship. He was the handsomest man they had ever seen. His hair was abundant and fair as silk, and fastened about his head with a golden fillet. He sat down by the mast. Then said King Óláf, “It is certainly true what is said about your kin, that you are of handsome appearance. But luck has deserted you now.”
Hákon replied, “It is not that luck has deserted us. It has long been the case that now the one, now the other of two parties have lost out. Thus as between your kin and mine, victory has been, now yours, now ours. I am but little over the years of childhood. Nor were we prepared to defend ourselves, we never suspected that an attack would be made on us. It may be that we are more successful another time.”
Then King Óláf replied, “Has it not entered your mind, earl, that events have taken such a turn that in the future you may have neither victory nor defeat?”
The earl said, “This is in your power, sire, to decide this time.”
Then said King Óláf, “What will you do on your part, earl, if I let you go where you will, hale and unharmed?” The earl asked what he demanded. The king said, “Nothing else but that you leave the land and thus give up your dominion and swear oaths that you and your kin will henceforth not fight against me.” The earl made answer to the effect that he would do so. And then Earl Hákon swore with oaths that he would never after fight against King Óláf, nor defend Norway by warlike measures against him nor attack him. Thereupon King Óláf gave him and all his men quarter. The earl received back the ship he had had before, and they rowed away. This is mentioned by Skald Sigvat:
(33.)
222. Declared the king, of fame most
covetous, that needs in
Sauthung Sound, the ancient,
seek he must Earl Hákon.
There, the thewful ruler
that earl met who, although
youthful, had to no one yielded
yet in rank and high birth.
Chapter 31. Earl Hákon Joins the Court of King Knút
After this encounter the earl got himself ready the quickest he could to leave the country, and sailed west to England. There he met King Knút, his maternal uncle, and told him all how matters had gone between him and King Óláf. King Knút made him most welcome. He appointed him a member of his bodyguard and gave him much power in his dominions. Earl Hákon now remained with Knút for a long time.
When Svein and Hákon had governed Norway, they came to an agreement with Erling Skjálgsson, which was sealed by Áslák, a son of Erling’s, marrying Gunnhild, a daughter of Earl Svein. Erling and Áslák both were to have all those revenues which King Óláf Tryggvason had given Erling. Then Erling became a close friend of the earls and they confirmed that by binding oaths.
Chapter 32. Ásta Prepares for Óláf’s Homecoming
King Óláf the Stout sailed east [south] along the land and in many places had meetings with the farmers; and many swore allegiance to him, but some who were relatives or friends of Earl Svein opposed him. For this reason, King Óláf proceeded east to Vík as fast as he could and steered his force there. When he arrived in Westfold, he drew his ships ashore and then proceeded inland. Many people welcomed him there who had been acquaintances or friends of his father. Thereabout in Fold resided also many of his kinfolk. In the fall he went inland to visit his stepfather, King Sigurth, and arrived there early one morning. And when King Óláf drew near to the estate, some servant men ran up to the house and into the [living] room. Within sat Ásta, the mother of King Óláf, together with some other women. The men told her about King Óláf approaching and that he could be expected forthwith.
Ásta immediately arose and ordered both men and women to bestir themselves and put everything in the best possible order. She had four woman servants take [down] the [cloth] ornaments of the room and quickly decorate [the walls] with tapestries and also the
benches. Two man servants put straw on the floor, two set up the dressers for the decanters, two set the table, two brought in the viands. Still another two she sent off, two bore in the ale, and all others, women and men, went out into the courtyard. The two who had been sent off, looked up King Sigurth and brought him his robes of state and also his horse with gilt saddle and the bridle all set with enamel and precious stones and gilt. Four men she sent four ways into the district to invite all chieftains to come to the banquet she was preparing to welcome her son. All the others in the establishment she ordered to put on their best clothes, and to those who had no clothes that were suitable, she lent clothes befitting them.
Chapter 33. Ásta’s Messengers Find King Sigurth in the Fields
King Sigurth was out in the fields when the messengers came to him to tell him the news and inform him of all the preparations Ásta had made. There were many men with him. Some were cutting the grain, some bound it in sheaves, some carted the grain to the barn, some stacked it on ricks or piled it. And the king, together with two other men, now went about on the field, now to the place where the grain was piled up. Concerning his apparel we are told that he wore a blue kirtle and blue leggings, and shoes which were laced high up on his calf; also, a gray cloak with a wide gray hood and a veil about his face.1 He had a staff in his hand topped by a gilt silver ferrule with a ring in it.
As to what manner of man King Sigurth was, we are told that he was a hard worker, a good husbandman who managed his property and farm, attending to household matters himself. He was not given to display, and was rather taciturn. He was one of the wisest men then living in Norway, and the richest in chattels. He was of a peaceful disposition and not aggressive. Ásta, his wife, was open handed and of a proud disposition. Their children were these: Guthorm was the eldest, then came Gunnhild, then Hálfdan, then Ingiríth, then Harald.
Those sent out to Sigurth spoke as follows: “This message were we to deliver from Ásta, that it appeared to her to be of the greatest importance that you behave in a lordly fashion; and she prayed that in this business you should comport yourself more like Harald Fairhair in your behavior than like Hrani Thinnose, your maternal grandfather or like Earl Nereith the Old, even though the latter were exceedingly wise.”
The king replied, “Important news you bring me, and much stress you put on it. A great to-do Ásta made before about people who were less closely related to her; and I see that she is still of the same mind. She certainly bestirs herself about this business with much energy, if only she will see her son off in the same grand fashion as she now welcomes him. It would seem to me that, if things are to proceed in this fashion, then those who take such hazards are little concerned about either their goods or their life. This man, King Óláf, will have to contend with overwhelming odds, because against him and his ambitions, if he persists in them, he has the enmity of both the king of Denmark and the king of Sweden.”
Chapter 34. Ásta and Sigurth Welcome Óláf
After King Sigurth had said this, he sat down and had his men pull off his shoes and instead put on his feet cordovan boots and fasten on them golden spurs. Then he took off his cloak and kirtle and dressed himself in garments of costly material, with a scarlet cloak over it. He girded on his sword, put a gilt helmet on his head, and mounted his horse. He sent his workmen into the district and had thence thirty men, all well-dressed, who rode back to his estate with him. And when they came riding into the courtyard in front of the living quarters, he saw on the other side of the courtyard the standard of King Óláf advancing, with Óláf under it, and a hundred [120] men in his company, all well accoutered.
Then the men were given quarters in the various buildings. From his horse King Sigurth welcomed his stepson King Óláf and his company and invited him into the house for a banquet; but Ásta went up to her son, kissed him, and asked him to stay with her, telling him that he was welcome to share all with her, both land and people. King Óláf graciously thanked her for her offer. She took him by the hand and led him into the room and to the high-seat. King Sigurth assigned men to take care of their clothing and to feed grain to their horses, then went to his high-seat. This feast [of welcome] was made with the greatest magnificence.
Chapter 35. Óláf Divulges His Plans
Now on a certain day, when King Óláf had not been there so very long, he asked King Sigurth his stepfather, his mother Ásta, and his foster father Hrani to have a private conference with him. Then he spoke as follows.
“As you know,” he said, “I have returned to Norway after having been away for a long time. And all that time my men and I have had nothing for our support but what we gained in warfare, risking in many places both life and soul. Many a man through no fault of his own has been deprived by us of his property, and some, of their lives, too, while foreigners dispose of the possessions which my father, and his father, and one after the other of our kinsmen owned, and to which I am entitled. Nor are they satisfied with that, but have appropriated what has belonged to our kinsmen who in direct line are descended from Harald Fairhair. To some they give a share of it, to others, nothing at all. Now I shall disclose to you what has been in my mind for a long time, which is that I mean to regain my paternal inheritance; nor shall I go to see either the king of Denmark or the king of Sweden to ask them any favor, although they have for some time called their own what was the heritage after Harald Fairhair. Rather, to tell you the truth, do I intend to seek my patrimony at the point of the sword and request for that purpose the support of all my kinsmen and friends and of all those who will go with me in this business. And I shall pursue this claim to the effect that either I shall take possession of all that dominion which they took from King Óláf Tryggvason, my kinsman, or else fall in the land of my fathers.
“Now I shall expect of you, kinsman Sigurth, and of the other men in this land who are born to possession of ancestral property according to the laws given by Harald Fairhair, that you will not be so devoid of pride as not to wish to rise and do away with this disgrace to our family and that you will risk your all to support him who is willing to be your leader in restoring the power of our family. But whether or no you are willing to show your manhood in this business, I know the temper of the people and that all would be eager to escape servitude under foreign chieftains as soon as they have the confidence that this can be accomplished.
“I have not broached this matter to anyone before, because I know you are a wise man and can judge best how to proceed in this business—whether we should talk this over secretly with some men or forthwith bring it up publicly before all the people. I have [already] shown my teeth to our enemy by capturing Earl Hákon. He has fled the country now, after giving me by solemn agreement that part of the realm which he possessed before. So now I consider it will be easier to fight Earl Svein alone than when both were there to defend the land against us.”
King Sigurth made this reply: “These be matters of no little importance you are revolving, King Óláf. And which, so far as I can judge, bear witness more to your ambition than to your foresight; and indeed it was to be expected that there would be a big difference between my unpretentious ways and your grandiose plans; because even when you were scarcely out of childhood, you were full of ambition and overbearing in everything that concerned you. And now you have won much experience in battles and have adopted the ways of foreign chieftains. Now I know that if you have gone so far in this matter, it will be useless to try to stop you. For that matter, it is only natural that it must weigh heavily on the minds of men who have the spirit of enterprise that all the race of Harald Fairhair and his kingdom have fallen to such low estate. But I will not be bound by any promises before I know the views and the measures of the other kings in the Uppland districts. Now it is well that you have informed me of your intentions before you make them known to all the people. I shall promise you my good offices with the kings and also with other chieftains and countrymen. Likewise, I shall put my property at your disposal to further
your enterprise. But as to making this known to the people, I don’t care to do so before ascertaining what success may be expected, and what support gotten, for this great undertaking; because I shall want you to consider that you will engage in no small undertaking, if you enter into a contest with Óláf, king of Sweden and with Knút, who now is king in both England and Denmark; and you will have to take strong measures if you expect any success. Yet I don’t think it unlikely that you will have good support, because the people are fond of new measures. That was the case before, when Óláf Tryggvason came here and all welcomed him, yet he did not live to have the royal power for long.”
At this point Ásta spoke as follows: “So far as I am concerned, my son, I will tell you that I rejoice in you, and all the more, the more you prosper. I shall spare nothing I have to further your progress, though I can help little with my counsels. But if I had the choice, I would rather have you become supreme king of Norway, even though you lived to rule no longer than Óláf Tryggvason, than be no more of a king than Sigurth Sýr and die of old age.”
After these words had been spoken, they broke off the conference. King Óláf remained there for a while with all his followers. On alternate days King Sigurth served them at table, either with fish and milk or with meat and ale.
Chapter 36. Sigurth and the Uppland Kings Debate Whether to Aid Óláf
In those days there were many kings in the Upplands who ruled over shires, and most were descended from the race of Harald Fairhair. Two brothers, Hrœrek and Hring, ruled over Heithmork; and Guthröth, over Guthbrands Dale. A king also ruled in Raumaríki, and there was another who governed Thótn and Hathaland. In the Valdres District, too, there was a king. King Sigurth had arranged for a meeting with the district kings at a place in Hathaland, to which meeting came also Óláf Haraldsson. And there Sigurth brought up before them the designs of his stepson Óláf, and asked for their support, both as to troops, advice, and their consent, recounting to them how necessary it was for them to throw off the yoke which the Danes and Swedes had laid upon them, and that now there was a man who would lead them in these plans. And he recounted before them the many deeds of prowess Óláf had performed in his journeys and expeditions.