Heimskringla

by Snorri Sturluson

  And when the king awoke he said, “Why did you wake me and not let me have my dream out?”

  Finn replied, “You are not likely to dream anything more fitting than to be awake and make ready to fight the host that is moving against us. For do you not see how near the crowd of farmers is to us?”

  The king answered, “They are still so distant that it would have been better if I had kept on sleeping.”

  Then Finn said, “What then did you dream, sire, that you think it better if I had not waked you?”

  Then the king told him his dream—that he thought he saw a high ladder and that he mounted it up into the air so far that the heavens opened before him, so tall was the ladder. “I had come to the topmost rung,” he said, “when you waked me.”

  Finn said, “This dream does not seem to me so good as it might seem to you. I should think this signifies your death, unless it be only some dream phantasm that occurred to you.”

  Chapter 215. Arnljót Gellini Joins the King’s Ranks

  One other thing happened after King Óláf had arrived at Stiklarstathir a certain man came to him. But that alone was not so strange, because many came to him from the surrounding country. The novelty was this that this man was not like the other men who at that time had come to the king. He was so tall that no one else in height came up to his shoulders. He was of very handsome appearance and fair-haired. He was well-armed. He had a fine helmet and a corselet of chain mail and a red shield, and was girt with a beautifully adorned sword. In his hand he carried a large spear inlaid with gold, with a shaft so thick that it filled your hand.

  This man approached the king, greeted him, and asked whether the king would accept his service. The king asked him what was his name, his extraction, and from what part of the country he hailed. He answered, “I have kinsfolk in Jamtaland and Helsingjaland. My name is Arnljót Gellini. Let me first of all recall to your mind that it was I who aided your men whom you had sent to Jamtaland to fetch your tribute there. I entrusted them with a silver dish which I sent you as a token that I wished to be your friend.” The king then asked him whether or no he was a Christian. He said concerning his faith that he believed in his own power and strength.

  “That belief has so far sufficed me; but now I mean rather to believe in you, sire.”

  The king replied, “If you will believe in me, then you must believe what I shall teach you. This you are to believe, that Jesus Christ created heaven and earth and all human beings; and that after death all shall go to him who are good and have the right faith.”

  Arnljót replied, “I have heard the White Christ spoken of, but I do not know what is his function and where his dominion lies. Now I shall be willing to believe all you tell me. I shall entrust myself to you altogether.”

  Thereupon Arnljót was baptized. The king taught him all of the faith which seemed most necessary for him to know. He assigned him to the front rank and to stand before his banner. There stood also Gauka-Thórir and Afra-Fasti with their band.

  Chapter 216. The Army of the Farmers

  We have to tell now, from the point where we turned aside, how the landed-men and farmers had gathered an unconquerable army as soon as they learned that the king had departed from Gartharíki in the east and had arrived in Sweden. And when they heard that the king had come from the east to Jamtaland and intended to proceed from there across the Keel to Vera Dale they moved this army to the inner reaches of the Trondheimfjord and there gathered together everyone, free men as well as thralls, and then proceeded up the Vera Dale. They had so great a host that there was no one who had ever seen so large a force gathered in Norway. And as is apt to be the case in such a large army, there were all kinds of people in it. There were a goodly number of landed-men and a great multitude of powerful farmers, yet the great mass was made up of cotters and laborers. And the main part of it consisted of men gathered in the Trondheim Districts. That army was violently enraged against the king.

  Chapter 217. Of Bishop Sigurth

  As was written above, Knút the Powerful had subdued all of Norway and had set Earl Hákon to rule it. As bishop for his court he had given him a priest called Sigurth.1 He was of Danish origin and had long been with King Knút. This bishop was a man of vehement temper and unusual eloquence. He gave King Knút all the support he could, and was most hostile toward King Óláf. This bishop was in the farmers’ army and often spoke to them, urging them strongly to make resistance to King Óláf.

  Chapter 218. Bishop Sigurth Harangues the Farmers

  Bishop Sigurth spoke at a meeting of the council [of the farmers], attended by a great multitude. He made the following speech:

  “A great multitude has gathered here now, so great that there is hardly a chance of ever seeing a greater host of men born here in this poor land. And this great host should stand you in good stead. There is sufficient need for that if this Óláf still insists on wanting to make war on you. Already in his youth he accustomed himself to rob and kill men, and in so doing went about far and wide. And finally he turned to this land and began by making enemies of the best and most powerful men, King Knút [among them], whom all are in duty bound to serve. He took possession of this land which is tributary to him [Knút], and the same he did to King Óláf of Sweden; and he drove Earl Svein and Earl Hákon from their inherited possessions. But most ruthlessly he treated his own kin, driving all kings out of the Uppland provinces; though to be sure that was justified in some measure, because earlier they had broken faith with King Knút and abandoned their allegiance to him while supporting this Óláf in all his evil designs. Then their friendship came to an end, as was to be expected. He inflicted mutilations on them, and appropriated their dominions, and thus he destroyed all princely races in the land. And you probably know how he later dealt with the landed-men: the most prominent ones he killed, while many had to flee the country for him. Also, he has fared far and wide about this country with robber hordes, burned the countryside, and killed and robbed the people. Who, indeed, is here of men of mark who does not have to avenge himself on him for great losses he inflicted on him? Now he comes with an army of foreigners, most of whom are people from the woods, highwaymen, or other robbers. Do you think he is likely to be gentle with you now, coming with this rabble when [before] he committed such depredations when all who followed him warned him against that? I consider it advisable for you to remember the words of King Knút—what he counseled you to do in case Óláf tried to regain the land, how you should maintain the liberty, which King Knút promised you: he bade you resist and drive off such gangs of bandits. Now is the time for you to make head against them and strike down these miscreants for eagle and wolf [to feed on], letting everyone lie there where he is cut down, unless you would rather drag their corpses into the woods or rock piles. Let no one be so bold as to move them into churches, because they are a pack of vikings and evil-doers.” And when he stopped speaking, the men made great acclaim, and said they would do as he had counseled.

  Bishop Sigurth addresses the farmers.

  Chapter 219. Hárek and Thórir Refuse the Leadership of the Farmers

  The landed-men who had gathered there had a meeting and discussed arrangements as to how the line of battle should be drawn up and who should be in command of the army. Then Kálf Árnason spoke up and said that Hárek of Thjótta was the man best suited to be in command of this array, “because he is of the line of Harald Fairhair. The king is greatly incensed at him for the slaying of Grankel, and he will be most dangerously exposed if Óláf regains his power. Also Hárek is most experienced in warfare and a man of great ambition.”

  Hárek replied that men in their prime were better suited [to be the leader]; “but I am now an old man,” he said, “and infirm and little fitted for battle. Also, I am a kinsman of Óláf, and though he may lay little stress on that in his relations with me, yet it is not seemly for me to be more prominent in this battle than anyone else in our company. But you, Thórir, are well suited to be our leader in fighting
against King Óláf. Also, you have sufficient reason for so doing. Not only do you have to take revenge on him for the slaying of your kinsmen but also for his driving you from all your possessions as an outlaw. Additionally, you have promised King Knút as well as your kinsmen to avenge Ásbjorn. Or do you think you will ever have a better chance than now to avenge yourself on Óláf for all the wrongs he has done you?”

  Thórir answered him as follows: “I do not trust myself to bear the standard against King Óláf or to be made the leader of this army. It is the Thronders who have the greatest host here. I know their overweening pride and that they are not likely to obey me or any other from Hálogaland. But there is no need to remind me of the wrongs I have to repay Óláf for. I remember the loss of [kins]men, for Óláf took the lives of four men, and all distinguished by birth and high worth; my brother’s son Ásbjorn, Thórir and Grjótgarth, my sister’s sons, and their father, Olvir; and I owe it to each of them to avenge them. Now as to myself, I have chosen eleven of my housecarls who are briskest; and I think that we will not need fear comparison with others when it comes to exchanging blows with Óláf, if chance offers to do so.”

  Chapter 220. Kálf Ámason Cautions the Leaders of the Farmers

  Then Kálf Árnason spoke up, “We shall have to be on our guard lest the business we are engaged in does not end with mere talk, now that this army has been gathered together. We shall need to do more if we are to do battle with King Óláf than having everyone shirk the responsibility for undertaking a difficult job; because we may well expect that, even though Óláf possibly has a smaller army compared with ours, it has a fearless leader and all his troops can be counted on to be loyal to him. Now if we are somewhat nervous—we who should by all means be the leaders of our force—and will not encourage and exhort the troops, nor lead them, then the great mass of the army will straightway lose heart, and everyone will take to looking out for himself. And though a great army is gathered here, we are likely to be put to a severe test when we meet King Óláf and his troops in battle; and we are certain of defeat unless we, their leaders, be brisk and the whole army rush forward with one accord. And unless that is the case, then it would be best for us not to risk battle; and then the other alternative will evidently be for us to take our chance at Óláf’s mercy; and he was harsh when he had less cause to be so than now. Yet I know that there are men in his army that I could count on for obtaining quarter if I sought it. Now if you are agreed, then you, brother-in-law Thórir, and you, Hárek, shall put yourselves under the standard we shall all raise and also follow. Let us all be brisk and keen in the business we have undertaken, and let us advance against them with our army of farmers in such a fashion that they will not detect any fear in us. And that will inject courage in the hearts of everybody if we proceed cheerfully to put our troops in battle order and fire their hearts.”

  When Kálf had finished they all were agreed with him and said they would do as he would have them. Then all were agreed to have Kálf as leader of the troops and have him station everyone as he thought fit.

  Chapter 221. The Battle Array of the Farmers

  Kálf set up the standard and stationed his housecarls under it, and with them, Hárek of Thjótta and his company. Thórir the Hound and his men stood in front of the standards at the head of the formation. And a chosen band of farmers was on both sides of Thórir, men who were the keenest and best armed. This, [the center of the army], was both long and deep, and in it were men from Trondheim and Hálogaland. To the right of this formation there was placed another, and at the left side of the center stood the men from Rogaland, Horthaland, Sogn, and the Fjords, and there was set up the third standard.

  Chapter 222. Thorstein the Shipbuilder Vows Vengeance on King Óláf

  There was a certain man called Thorstein the Shipbuilder. He was a merchant and a great artificer, a big and strong man, of great energy in all matters, and also one who had committed many manslaughters. He had had a falling out with the king, and the king had taken from him a new and large ship which Thorstein had built. It was on account of Thorstein’s deeds of violence and as a weregild that the king had exacted this. Thorstein had joined the farmers’ army. He went in front of the lines to where stood Thórir the Hound and said, “I want to be in this company, Thórir, right by you, because if Óláf and I meet I mean to be the first to strike him, if I manage to get close enough to him, and thus repay him for his seizing my ship, one of the best among trading vessels.” Thórir and his men received him into their ranks.

  Chapter 223. Kálf Árnason Exhorts the Troops

  Now when the battle order of the farmers was established, the landed-men spoke to them, exhorting the troops to watch their position, where each one was stationed, beneath which standard was his place, how far from his banner or how near to it. They asked the men to be alert and quick to take their places when the trumpets sounded and they heard the signal, and then keep step; because they still had to advance their army a very long distance, and there was a chance that their lines might break during the march. Then they fired the spirits of the troops. Kálf said that all men who had a grievance against King Óláf and a revenge to exact against him were to advance under those standards which were to meet those of Óláf, and be mindful of the wrongs he had done them—they would not ever have a better chance to avenge themselves for what he had inflicted on them, and thus liberate themselves from the oppression and thralldom he had subjected them to. “A coward he,” he said, “who does not fight most bravely, because the men who stand against you [all] have been offenders against the law, and they will not spare you, given the chance.” There was a tremendous acclaim given his speech, and men fired one another throughout the army.

  Chapter 224. The Rearguard of Both Armies Lags

  Thereupon the farmers with their army proceeded to Stiklarstathir. There stood King Óláf with his army. At the head of their troops marched Kálf and Hárek with their standard. Now when the armies met, fighting did not start right away, because the farmers delayed the attack for the reason that their troops by no means had advanced equally, so they waited for the detachments that had lagged. Thórir the Hound with his company brought up the rear, because he was assigned to see to it that no troops stayed behind when the battle cry was heard and the armies were in touch with one another, and so Kálf and his men waited for Thórir. The farmers had this watchword to urge themselves on to battle: “Forward, forward, farmer folk.”

  King Óláf also made no attack to begin with because he was waiting for Dag and his troops. Then the king saw Dag and his men coming. We are told that the farmers had no less than hundred times a hundred [14,400] men. As says Sigvat:

  (147.)

  336. Heavy my heart that Óláf

  had a small force only

  from the east: unfalt’ring,

  firmly gripped he his sword-hilt.

  Had by half the enemy’s

  henchmen greater numbers.

  Checked that the warriors’ chieftain.

  Chide I no one for faint heart.

  Chapter 225. The King and Kálf Árnason Exchange Words

  When both armies were [thus] stationary and men could recognize one another, the king said, “Why are you, Kálf, on that side, seeing that we parted as friends south in Mœr? It ill befits you to fight against us and shoot fatal shots into our ranks, because there are four brothers of yours with me here.”

  Kálf replied, “Much goes differently, sire, than would be most fitting. You parted with us in such a fashion that it was necessary for me to make peace with those on the other side. Now each of us has to stay where he is; but if I had my way we still could come to an agreement.”

  Then Finn1 answered, “About Kálf this is to be noted, that when he speaks fair he is about to do ill.”

  The king said, “It may be, Kálf, that you wish to come to an agreement, but it seems to me that the farmers do not look like having peaceful intentions.”

  Then Thorgeir of Kviststathir said
, “You are now going to have such peace [from us] as many a one before has had at your hands, and now you will be repaid for it.”

  The king replied, “You do not need to be so eager to meet us, because victory will not be granted you today over me—for did I not raise you from a lowly station to power?”

  Chapter 226. King Óláf Fights in the Front Ranks

  By that time Thórir the Hound had arrived with his company and surged forward in front of the standard, calling out, “Forward, forward, farmer folk!” They raised the battle cry and let fly both arrows and spears. Thereupon the king’s men raised their battle cry and urged each other on with the rallying cry they had been taught: “Forward, forward, Christ’s men, cross men, king’s men!” Now when the farmers who were stationed outermost in the wing heard this, they called out the same as they heard others call out. But when the other farmers heard that, they thought they were king’s men and attacked them, thus fighting their own men, and many fell before they recognized each other.

  The weather was fair and the sun shone from a clear sky. But 1030 when the battle started there came a redness in the sky and also over the sun and before the battle ended it was as dark as at night. [July 29th.]