King Magnús continued with his forces north to Norway and remained there during the winter. But when spring came, King Magnús collected a large army and proceeded south to Denmark. And when he arrived there he learned that the Wends in Jómsborg had thrown off their allegiance to him. There the kings of Denmark had had a large earldom—it was they who had founded Jómsborg; and it had become a mighty stronghold. But when King Magnús heard this news he summoned a large fleet from Denmark, and in summer proceeded to Wendland with all his forces, and it was a mighty army. Of this Arnór Jarlaskáld speaks in this verse:
(39.)
406. 1Hear now how the scion of heroes
harried on the Wendish folklands,
in this burden; fortune-favored
fared his ships from shipyard rollers;
hardly ever had a ruler
high-born launched more ships—’t was rued by
Wends—the foaming main to furrow,
frosty-prowed—against that folk-land.
And when King Magnús arrived in the land of the Wends he steered to Jómsborg and quickly conquered that fortified place. He slew a multitude of people there, burned the fort and [laid waste] the land far and wide, ravaging it severely. About this Arnór Jarlaskáld spoke this verse:
(40.)
407. Skylding king! With fire then fell you
furiously upon the heathen,
made great carnage, keen-eyed rapine-
queller, bloody, south by Jómsborg;
heathen hosts durst nowise shield their
halls within the ample breastworks:
fire and hurtling flame, high-blazing,
frightened townsmen, king, awe-stricken.
Many people in Wendish lands offered their submission to King Magnús, but many more fled. Then King Magnús returned to Denmark and prepared his winter quarters there, dismissing his army, both the Danish forces and also those that had come with him from Norway.
Chapter 25. Svein Úlfsson Makes Himself Master of Denmark
The same winter that Svein Úlfsson had received power over all the Danish realm and had established friendly relations with a great number of important persons, he had himself given the title of king; and in this he had the consent of many chieftains. But in the spring, when he learned that King Magnús was coming south from Norway with a large army, Svein betook himself to Scania, and from there to Gotland and to Sweden to his kinsman Emund, the king of Sweden, and remained there with him during the summer, but had spies out in Denmark to warn him of the movements of King Magnús and to learn how great an army he had. And when he learned that King Magnús had dismissed a large part of his army, and also that he himself had gone south to Jutland, then he, Svein, rode down from Sweden together with large forces which the Swedish king had procured for him. And when he arrived in Scania the people there received him well and regarded him as their king. Then a great number of men joined him. Thereupon he proceeded to Seeland and was well received there. He made himself master of all the land. Then he went over to the island of Fjón [Funen] and took possession of all the islands. The people all submitted to him. Svein had a large army and many ships.
Chapter 26. A Wendish Army Invades Denmark
King Magnús learned about those events, and also that the Wends had gathered an army: Then King Magnús collected a large force, and quickly gathered troops from all over Jutland. Then Otto, the duke of Saxony from Brunswick joined him. He had as wife Úlfhild, a daughter of King Saint Óláf and [thus] a sister of King Magnús. The duke had a large military force. The Danish chieftains urged King Magnús to march against the Wendish army and not let that heathen host overrun the country and lay it waste; and the plan was adopted that the king should lead his army south to Heithabý. Now when King Magnús lay encamped by the Skotborgará River in the Hlýrskógs Heath, his spies brought him news that the Wendish army was near and also, that they had so great a host that no one could count them and that King Magnús could not possibly make head against such a multitude and had no other choice but to flee. Nevertheless King Magnús wanted to do battle if there was any chance of gaining the victory. But most men advised against it, and all were of one mind, that the Wends had an invincible army. But Duke Otto rather urged him to fight them. Then the king had the trumpets blown for all his army to gather, and all men put on their armor and lay under the open sky at night beneath their shields; because they were told that the army of the Wends had come near. And the king was very distressed. It seemed to him an ill chance if he were compelled to flee, because he had never had that experience. He slept little during the night and said his prayers.
Chapter 27. King Magnús’ Dream
The next day was Michaelmas Eve [September 28th]. Now toward 1043 dawn the king fell asleep and dreamed that he saw Holy King Óláf, his father, and that he spoke to him: “Are you much distressed now and fearful because the Wends advance against you with a big army? You must not fear the heathen though they be many. I shall be with you in this struggle. Go to battle when you hear my horn.” But when the king awoke he told [the men about him] his dream. Then it was bright daylight. Then all the army heard the ringing of a bell aloft, and those of King Magnús’ men who had been in Nitharós thought that it sounded like the pealing of Gloth [Glad]. That was the bell King Óláf had given the Church of Saint Clement in Kaupang.
Chapter 28. Magnús Defeats the Wends on Hlýrskógs Heath
Then King Magnús arose and ordered the trumpets to be blown for the army to arise. By that time the host of the Wends was advancing toward them over the river. Then all the king’s army arose and marched against the heathen. King Magnús cast off his shirt of mail. His outermost garment was a kirtle of red silk. He grasped the battle-axe Hel which had been King Óláf’s own. He ran ahead of all the others against the enemy and at once, wielding the axe with both hands, hewed down one man after the other. As says Arnór Jarlaskáld:
(41.)
408. Strode then forth to strife the
stout-hearted sea-king, with
broad-axe brandished, and doffed his
byrnie, for battle eager.
With both his hands the haft of
Hel he grasped; and Heaven’s
Warder—unscathed in skirmish,
skulls he cleft—gave victory.
This battle did not last long. The king’s men fought most fiercely. And wherever they met, the Wends fell as thick as waves at high tide, and those who stood in the rear turned to flee and were slaughtered like cattle. The king himself pursued them east over the heath, and the whole heath was strewn with their dead. As Thjóthólf says in this verse:
(42.)
409. In host, Harald’s nephew
hardy—was the ravens’,
starved long, strongest hunger
stilled—foremost of all stood.
Widely, Wends lay scattered.
Was, where Magnús battled
the heath hidden by corpses
hewn down, in several miles’ breadth.
It is common report that there never has been as great a carnage in the north lands in Christian times as that of the Wends on Hlýrskógs Heath. But of the army of King Magnús only a few fell though many were wounded. After the battle King Magnús had the wounds of his men dressed, but there were not as many physicians in the army as were needed. Then the king went to the men who to him seemed suitable and felt of their hands. And after he had felt their palms, stroking them, he selected twelve men who seemed to him to have the softest palms and said that they were to bandage the men’s wounds. None of them had ever bandaged wounds before, but they all became most excellent physicians. There were two Icelanders among them, Thorkel Geirason of Lyngar and Atli, the father of Bárth the Black in Selar Dale, and from them are descended many physicians in later times.
After this battle the news of the miracle which King Saint Óláf had performed was spread far and wide in all lands; and all men declared it was in vain for anyone to fight against King Magnús Ól�
�fsson, because King Óláf, his father, stood so close to him that no one could offer him resistance because of that.
Chapter 29. King Magnús Is Victorious over Svein
Thereupon King Magnús marched with his army against Svein, whom he called his earl even though the Danes called him king. King Magnús procured ships and equipped his army. Both sides collected large forces. Many chieftains from Scania, Halland, Funen were in Svein’s army, whereas King Magnús had mostly Norwegians and Jutlanders. Then he proceeded with his fleet against Svein. They met before Westland by [the island of] Ré.1 A great battle was fought there, and it ended with King Magnús winning the victory and Svein being put to flight with great losses. He fled back to Scania for he had a hiding-place in Gautland for refuge when needed. But King Magnús returned to Jutland and had his winter quarters there with a great army, setting a watch over his ships. Of this speaks Arnór Jarlaskáld in this verse:
(43.)
410. Ready was the ruler at
Ré to go to battle.
Welsh swords before Westland
wide then reddened Magnús.
Chapter 30. King Magnús Defeats Svein at Árós
Svein Úlfsson at once boarded his ships when he learned that King Magnús had disembarked. He collected all the troops he could and during the winter went about Seeland and Funen and the [other Danish] islands; and toward Yule he proceeded south [north] to Jutland, first sailing to the Limfjord. Many submitted to him there, and from some he took tribute. Others went to join King Magnús. And when King Magnús learned what Svein was about, he proceeded to his ships, accompanied by his Norwegian troops which were then in Denmark, and by some Danish ones, and sailed north along the land. Svein was in Árós [Aarhus] at that time and had a large army. When he learned of the approach of the army of King Magnús he pulled his troops out of the town and prepared for battle.
Now when King Magnús had heard where Svein was and he knew that he was close to him, he called his troops together and spoke to them as follows:
“We have learned now that the earl and his army are close by. I am told he has a large army. I shall now make known to you what my intention is. I shall take the offensive against the earl and do battle with him even though our force is somewhat smaller than his. As before, we shall put our confidence in God himself and in Holy King Óláf, my father. He has several times before given us victory when we went to battle and often had a smaller force than our enemies. Now I want my men to be prepared to advance against them; and as soon as they come near we shall row at them and at once do battle. So let all my men be prepared to fight.”
Thereupon they put on their armor, each preparing himself and his space in the ship for battle. King Magnús’ fleet rowed forward until they caught sight of the earl’s fleet and immediately rowed to the attack. Svein’s men armed themselves and tied their ships together, and at once a hard battle began. As the skald Thjóthólf says in this verse:
(44.)
411. Clashed the shields of king and
keen-eyed earl but lately—
broke out bitter play-of-
blades ’twixt sea-glow-keepers,1
so men could not remember
maid-of-Hethin’s2 conflict—
din of darts was made by
dauntless warriors—fiercer.
They fought about the forecastle, so that only those who were there could exchange blows, but those who stood in the space right behind them dealt thrusts with their halberds, while all those who stood farther back hurled thong-javelins, darts, or gaffs. Still others threw stones or other missiles, and those who stood about the mast shot with bows and arrows. This is mentioned by Thjóthólf:
(45.)
412. Splintering spears, heard I,
sped fast—wolves on corpses
bloody gorged, bucklers were
battered—in that onset.
Men made use, as most they
might—sword-slain lay many
warriors—waxed the din of
war—of rocks and arrows.
(46.)
413. Unwearied, bowmen bent their
bows to wing keen arrows.
Surely, of shots fell Thronders
short in nowise, that day.
Thong-sped darts were thrown so
thickly that one could not—
was hail of hissing arrows
heard—e’en see between them.
We are told here how violent the exchange of missiles was. At the beginning of the battle King Magnús first stood in a rampart of shields; but when it seemed to him that the attack was being pushed too slowly he ran from behind the shield-castle and along the length of the ship, calling out aloud and urging his men on, and going to the very front where blows were exchanged. And when his men saw that, everyone egged on his neighbor, and there was great shouting throughout the host. As says Thjóthólf:
(47.)
414. ’Monished each his mate in
Magnús’ ranks, with briskness—
was their prompting put to
proof—to fall on the enemy.
So the battle raged most fiercely. In that onset the forecastle of Svein’s ship and the space in front of the mast were cleared of men. Then King Magnús himself, together with his bodyguard, boarded Svein’s ship, and thereupon the king’s men, one after the other; and they attacked so sharply that Svein’s men gave ground. And then King Magnús cleared that ship of men, and afterwards one ship after the other. Then Svein fled, and also a large part of his fleet. Many of his men fell, and many others were given quarter. As says Thjóthólf in this verse:
(48.)
415. The warder-of-keel-wagons3
went aboard, unquailing—
famous was that—the foc’sl
fair of Earl Svein’s vessel.
We fought so fewer grew the
followers of the earl there.
Big the booty, as we
boarded and cleared their bottoms.
(49.)
416. Earl Svein’s fleet, defeated,
fell back—great the slaughter,
ere the keen-eyed king gave
quarter to the warriors.
1043 This battle was fought on the last Sunday before Yule [December 18]. As says Thjóthólf:
(50.)
417. Fiercely, heard I, that fray was
fought—the trees-of-combat4
strove in storm-of-Óthin5
stoutly—on a Sunday.
Floated, fated to perish,
fey men’s—drowned were many,
cruel carnage fleeing—
corpses on every billow.
King Magnús captured seven of Svein’s ships there. As says Thjóthólf:
(51.)
418. Cleared then Óláf’s kinsman
keel-wains seven, and victory
won—scarce will the women
weep at home in Norway.
And stíll further:
(52.)
419. Lost have Earl Svein’s luckless
liege-men in storm-of-arrows—
hard was the hail-of-darts—their
home-coming—at Árós.
Winter storms will stir there
steersmen’s skulls and leg bones—
wind-whipped waves o’er dead men
wash—on shelving sand banks.
Svein straightway fled to Seeland in the night with such ships as had escaped and wanted to stay with him. But King Magnús anchored his ships by the land and let his force straightway disembark in the night; and early on the following morning they returned after making a great raid in the countryside. This is mentioned by Thjóthólf:
(53.)
420. Warrior’s heads were hit by
hard stone-casts but lately—
their battle array was breached and
broken—that crushed their helmets.
Booty great we gathered,
gotten above in Denmark—
reconquer cannot Svein his
&
nbsp; country—where we anchored.
Chapter 31. King Magnús Pursues Svein
King Magnús immediately sailed north [south] to Seeland with his fleet in pursuit of Svein. But as soon as King Magnús’ fleet arrived, Svein at once fled on land with his army. King Magnús pursued them in their flight and killed those whom they overtook. As says Thjóthólf:
(54.)
421. With one voice Seeland’s women
wished to know in truth who
bore the banner:1 many
blood-reddened shields had there.
Fearful, many fled through
forests in mad terror—
fast their feet did carry
fugitives—to Ringstath.
(55.)
422. All were the earl’s shoulders
up to his neck muddy:
Much I marvel if the
master of Lund2 can hold out.
But yesterday the darts did
drop o’er swamp and heather
as Svein the strong to sea-coast
slunk with dragging banner.
Magnús’ men put farms to the torch in Seeland.
Then Svein fled over to the island of Funen, but King Magnús harried in Seeland, burning down far and wide the houses of those who in fall had joined Svein’s army. As says Thjóthólf:
(56.)
423. Up had the earl to yield his
aim, that winter, of kingship.
Right well didst thou, war-lord,
ward thy country, Magnús.
Risk didst thou, ring-giver,
raging strife ’neath war-shield.
Near to death was Canute’s stout
nephew in that battle.
(57.)
424. Wrathfully didst, Raumers’3
ruler, set all dwellings—
hadst all barns of bonders4
burned to gleeds—on fire.
Repay and punish wouldst thou,
prince, with like for like, for
scathe done by them—they scattered,
scuttling—the earl’s followers.
Chapter 32. King Magnús Ravages Funen
Heimskringla Page 66