Many of Hákon’s men had fallen, but not any other chieftains. Of Ingi’s troops few were slain but many wounded. Hákon fled up on land, but King Ingi proceeded north to Vík with his fleet. Both he and Grégóríús dwelled there during the winter. But when some of King Ingi’s men returned to Bergen from the battle, [including] Bergljót and his brothers, the sons of Ívar of Elda, they killed Níkolás Beard, who had been King Hákon’s steward, and then returned to their home north in Trondheim. King Hákon arrived in the north before Yule, and Sigurth sometimes stayed in his home at Reyr. Grégóríús had been permitted by Ingi to give him quarter and that he should have possession of all his properties, because Grégóríús and Sigurth were closely related.
King Hákon was in Kaupang during Yule, and one evening during Yule some of his men fought in the guardsmen’s hall, with the result 1160 that seven were killed and many wounded. And after the eighth day of Yule his followers went to Elda, [headed by] Álf Hrothi, the son of Óttar Birting, with nearly eighty men. They arrived there early in the evening, when the people inside were drunk, and set fire to the hall. They came out to defend themselves. There fell Bergljót, the son of Ívar, and Ogmund, his brother, together with many others. Nearly thirty men had been inside.
During the winter, Andréás, the son of Símun, died north in Kaupang. He was the foster brother of King Hákon, and his death was greatly mourned. Erling Skakki and the followers of King Ingi who were in Bergen talked about sailing north, that winter, and capturing Hákon, but nothing came of it. Grégóríús sent the message from Konungahella in the east, that if he were as near to Hákon as was Erling, he would not sit quiet in Bergen when Hákon had friends of King Ingi and their companions killed in Trondheim.
Chapter 12. Grégóríús and Erling Fight Each Other in Bergen
King Ingi and Grégóríús sailed to Bergen in spring. But as soon as Hákon and Sigurth learned that Ingi had left Vík, they journeyed the landway east to Vík. Now when King Ingi and his fleet arrived in Bergen, a feud arose between Halldór Brynjólfsson and Bjorn Níkolásson. [One time] when one of Bjorn’s housecarls met one [of Halldór’s] down by the piers he asked him why he looked so pale. He answered that he had had himself bled. “I would not become so deadly pale when bled as you are.”
“And I believe,” said the other, “that you would stand it worse and in less manly fashion.”
It took no more than that to start an altercation. Then one word brought on the other until they bandied words and then fought with one another. Then the word came to Halldór Brynjólfsson that one of his housecarls was wounded on the piers. That was when Halldór was drinking in a house near by. Then he went to that place; but before that, some of Bjorn’s housecarls had [joined the fray], and it seemed to Halldór his men were being overborne and so [he and his men] shoved Bjorn’s housecarls and struck them. Then Bjorn Bukk was told that the men from Vík were beating his housecarls down by the piers. Then Bjorn and his men armed themselves and ran down to avenge their men, and much blood was shed. Then Grégóríús was told that Halldór, his kinsman needed help, that his housecarls were being cut down outside on the Street. Thereupon Grégóríús and his men quickly put on their coats of mail and hastened down to them. Then Erling Skakki learned that Bjorn, his sister’s son, was fighting with Halldór and Grégóríús down by the piers and that he needed help. Then he hurried there with a great force and asked people to aid him, saying that it would be a disgrace for them “if one man from Vík is to get the better of us here in our native town—that would be an everlasting reproach to us.”
King Ingi reconciles Erling and Grégóríús.
Fourteen men fell in that encounter, of which nine were killed outright and five died of the wounds they received, and many were wounded. Then word reached King Ingi that Grégóríús and Erling were fighting each other down by the piers, and he hastened there, intending to separate them, but could not prevail upon them, because both were so much beside themselves with fury. Then Grégóríús called out to King Ingi, begging him to go away as he could do nothing about it as matters stood and declaring it would be the greatest mischance if anything happened to him, “because one never knows who might want to do some mischief if he thought he had the chance.” Then the king betook himself away. But when the worst fight was over, Grégóríús and his men went up to Saint Nicholas Church, followed by Erling and his men and called out to one another. Then King Ingi approached them again and reconciled them, and then both desired that he should be sole arbiter between them. At that time information reached them that Hákon was in Vík, so King Ingi and Grégóríús sailed east with a great fleet of ships. But when they arrived in the east, Hákon and his men fled, and it came to no battle. Then King Ingi proceeded up the fjord to Ósló, but Grégóríús remained in Konungahella.
Chapter 13. Hákon and Sigurth Escape from Grégóríús
Shortly afterwards, Grégóríús got news that Hákon and his men were at a place called Saurbýir. That is up toward the forests. He went there, arriving at night, and thought that Hákon and Sigurth were in the larger of the houses there, and put it to the torch. However, Hákon and Sigurth were in the smaller house, and when they saw the fire, they hastened to help the others. There fell Munán, the son of Áli the Shieldless, who was a brother of King Sigurth, King Hákon’s father. Grégóríús and his men slew him as he was about to help those who were burned in the house. They made their way out, but many were killed there.
Ásbjorn Jalda managed to get out of the building, sorely wounded. He was a great viking. A farmer encountered him, and Ásbjorn asked the man to let him escape, saying he would give him money in return. The farmer replied he would rather do what he had a mind to do. And saying he had often stood in dread of him he gave him a mortal blow.
Hákon and Sigurth managed to escape, but many of their men were slain. Then Grégóríús returned east [south] to Konungahella. A short time afterwards, Hákon and Sigurth came to the estate of Halldór Brynjólfsson at Vettaland, set fire to the buildings and burned them down. Halldór issued [from the burning building] and was at once cut down, as were his housecarls. Altogether, nearly twenty men were slain. Sigríth, his wife, Grégóríús’ sister, they let escape to the forest, clad only in her nightgown. They captured Ámundi, son of Gyrth Ámundason and Gyríth, daughter of Dag, and sister’s son of Grégóríús, and took him away with them. He was five years of age then.
Chapter 14. Grégóríús Falls Crossing a River to Attack Hákon
Grégóríús was informed of these happenings and was greatly affected by them. He made careful inquiries where Hákon and his men were. Then he left Konungahella toward the end of Yule with a large force. They arrived at Fors on the thirteenth day of Yule [January 7th] and lodged 1161 there overnight. He had the matins read for him on the last day of Yule and afterwards, the gospel. That was on a Saturday. And when Grégóríús and his men caught sight of Hákon’s force, it seemed to them much smaller than theirs. A river ran between them where the encounter took place. It is called Befja.1 The ice on it was unreliable, because the flood-tide from the sea flowed under the ice. Hákon and his men had chopped holes in the ice and covered them [with snow], so that one could not see them. When Grégóríús arrived at the river he remarked that the ice seemed unreliable to him and said it was advisable to proceed to the bridge which spanned the river a little ways above. The farmers [in his army] made the remark that they did not know what was the reason he did not dare to attack the enemy by crossing the ice, seeing how small their force was. They thought the ice safe enough, that maybe he was fey.2 Grégóríús replied, saying it had rarely been necessary to urge him to attack, and that they did not need to do that now, either. And he bade them keep up with him and not remain standing on the shore if he ventured on to the ice, that it was their counsel to walk on unsafe ice, which he was unwilling to do—“and yet I will not refuse your challenge,” he said, and ordered his banner to be borne forward, and advanced upon the ice. But as so
on as the farmers saw that the ice was unsafe, they turned back.
Grégóríús broke through the ice, but not too deeply. He cautioned his men to proceed warily, but not more than some twenty men followed him, the remainder had all turned back. A man in Hákon’s troop shot at him, hitting him in the throat. Grégóríús fell there and the twenty men with him, and that was the end of his life. It was everybody’s opinion that he had been the greatest chieftain among the landed-men of Norway in the memory of men then living, and that he was the man best disposed to us Icelanders ever since the passing of King Eystein the Elder. His body was brought up to Hofund and buried in Gimsey3 at the nunnery there. At that time, Baugeith, Grégóríús’ sister, was abbess there.
Chapter 15. King Ingi Vows to Avenge Grégóríús
Two king’s stewards were sent to Ósló with the news of what had happened. And when they arrived there, they requested to speak with the king. He asked what news they had to tell him. “The death of Grégóríús Dagsson,” they said.
“How did such a calamity come about?” asked the king. They told him. The king answered, “Then those prevailed who had little experience.” It is told that he was so affected that he cried like a child. And when he had regained his composure, he said this, “I had wanted to join Grégóríús as soon as I had heard of the slaying of Halldór, because I thought for certain that he would not remain inactive long before proceeding to avenge Halldór. But these people here considered that nothing was as important as this Yule banquet and that nothing ought to interrupt it. Because I know for sure that if I had been there, they would have proceeded with greater circumspection, or else Grégóríús and I would have gone to one and the same banquet.1 There now has passed away the man who has done most for me and has kept the land together for me. Until now I had thought that death would not separate us for long. Now I shall do my utmost to proceed against Hákon and his band, and then one of two things will happen: either I shall fall or else triumph over Hákon and his men. Nor is a man like Grégóríús avenged sufficiently, even though all of them perish.” Somebody made answer and said it would not be hard to find them, that they meant to encounter him here.
Kristín, the daughter of King Sigurth and first cousin of Ingi resided in Ósló at that time. The king learned that she intended to leave the town. He sent a messenger to inquire why she wanted to do so. She said she thought there was too much commotion there and that it was not a place for women to remain in. The king requested her not to depart. “If we are successful, as I believe, you will be safe here; but if I fall, my friends will not be able to attend to my body. And then you shall ask to be permitted to do so. And in so doing you will repay me for having treated you kindly.”
Chapter 16. Hákon’s Army Approaches Ósló
On the evening of Saint Blasius’ Mass [February 3rd] the information 1161 was brought to King Ingi that Hákon could be expected to arrive before the town. Then King Ingi by trumpet signal called together his troops out of the town, and when counted by tallies there were nearly forty hundred [4800] men. The king ordered the battle array to be long and not more than five men deep. Then some spoke to the king, advising him not to take part in the fighting, that there was much at stake if he did—“but let your brother Orm head the army.”
Ósló. From Íslenzk Fornrit, Vol. 28. Courtesy of Hið Íslenzka Fornritafélag, Reykjavík.
The king replied: “If Grégóríús were alive and here, and I had fallen and he had to avenge me, I don’t think he would go into hiding, but would take part in the battle. And though I be less fit [for fighting] than he was, because of my disabilities, I shall be no less willing to fight than he; and don’t think for a moment that I shall not be in the battle.”
It is told that Gunnhild, who had been the wife of Símun and Hákon’s foster mother, had a sorceress sit by a crossroads and conjure spirits to have Hákon win the victory, and it was foretold that they must fight against Ingi at night, but never in daytime, and that they might have success then. Thórdís Skeggja was the name of the woman who is said to have practiced sorcery to procure victory for Hákon, but I cannot vouch for that.
Símun Skálp had gone into town and lain down to sleep when the battle cry waked him. But as night wore on the information came to King Ingi that Hákon and his army were approaching on the ice, for the fjord was frozen all the way from the town to the island of Hofuthey [Main Island].1
Chapter 17. King Ingi Refuses to Flee
King Ingi and his army then went out upon the ice and he placed his battle array in front of the town. Símun Skálp was in the wing which extended to Thrælaborg; and in the wing which was based on Nunnusetr, there were Guthröth, king over the Hebrides, who was the son of Óláf Klíning, and Jón, the son of Svein Bergthórsson Bukk. And when Hákon approached the battle lines of King Ingi, both armies raised the war cry. Both Guthröth and Jón made signs to Hákon’s force, letting them know where they stood. Thereupon Hákon’s men turned toward them, and Guthröth’s troops promptly fled—they numbered nearly fifteen hundred [1800] men. And Jón and a large force with him went over to Hákon and fought together with them. King Ingi was told that. He said, “There is a great difference between my friends. Never would Grégóríús have done that while he lived.”
Then the king was advised by some to mount a horse, to leave the battle, and ride to the Raumaríki District. “There you will find plenty of men even today.”
“I have no desire to do so,” said the king. “I have often heard you say, and I think there was truth in it, that Eystein, my brother, was little favored by fortune, once he took to flight, and he was well equipped with the qualities that adorn a king. Now it is easy to see how, with my disability, I shall have little success, if I do what caused him so much trouble, considering the difference between us in health and strength in every respect. I was two years old when I was chosen to be king in Norway, and now I am fully twenty-five. It seems to me I have had more difficulties and responsibilities in my kingship than pleasure and ease. I have had many battles, sometimes with a bigger force [at my command], sometimes with a smaller one. I have been most fortunate in that I never had to flee. May God dispose of my life, how long it shall last; but I shall never take to flight.”
Chapter 18. King Ingi Falls in Battle
Now when Jón and his followers had broken the battle array of King Ingi, the men there and many in positions near them, fled, so that the ranks broke and fell into disorder, and then Hákon’s troops attacked strongly. By that time it was almost dawn. Then an attack was made on the standard of King Ingi, and in this charge fell King Ingi; but Orm, his brother, kept up the battle. Then many fled up into the town. Twice after the fall of the king, Orm went up into the town to encourage the troops, and both times he returned onto the ice, keeping up the battle. Then Hákon and his men attacked the wing headed by Símun Skálp, and in this charge there fell of Ingi’s force Guthbrand Skáfhoggsson, the brother-in-law of the king; but Símun Skálp and Hallvarth Hikri were pitted against each other and battled with their troops and gradually drifted up to Thrælaborg. In this charge both Símun and Hallvarth fell.
Orm, the king’s brother, made a praiseworthy stand, yet in the end had to flee. That same winter Orm had been betrothed to Rogna, daughter of Níkolás Mási. Before, she had been the wife of King Eystein Haraldsson, and the marriage was to be celebrated the Sunday after. Saint Blasius’ Mass was on a Friday. Orm fled to Sweden to his brother Magnús, who ruled there at that time. Their brother, Rognvald, had an earldom there. They were the sons of Ingiríth and Heinrek the Halt. He was the son of Svein Sveinsson, king of Denmark.
Kristín Kingsdaughter1 tended to King Ingi’s body, and he was interred in the stone wall on the south side of Saint Hallvarth’s Church, outside the choir. He had then been king for twenty-five years. In that battle many fell on both sides, yet many more of Ingi’s men. On Hákon’s side, Árni Fríreksson was among the casualties. Hákon and his men ate up the marriage feast and took an imme
nse amount of booty besides.
Chapter 19. Kristín Has a Spy Listen to Hákon’s Council
Thereupon King Hákon subjected all the country to his rule, putting his men into all districts and likewise the towns. King Hákon and his followers held their meetings in Saint Hallvarth’s Church when discussing the government of the country. Kristín Kingsdaughter gave money to the priest who had charge of the church keys, to conceal one of her men in the church so he could listen to what Hákon and his followers talked about. And when she got to know what their plans were she sent word to Erling Skakki in Bergen, her husband, never to trust them.
Chapter 20. King Óláf’s Sword Hneitir Is Given to His Church in Miklagarth
As was written before, at the Battle of Stiklarstathir King Óláf when he was wounded had cast away his sword Hneitir. Now a certain man, of Swedish origin, had broken his own sword and picked up the sword Hneitir and fought with it. That man escaped from the battle and, together with other fugitives, got back to Sweden and returned to his farm. He had the sword in his possession all his life, and after him, his son; and then one after the other of his kinsfolk had it. And whoever handed it on to another told the name of the sword and whence it came.
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