King Eystein also took to flight. He ran into some house and begged for his life and also, that the farmer should hide him. But the farmer killed him and then went to find King Magnús, and found him at Hrafnsness. The king was in the room and warmed himself by the fire, and the room was full of people. Then some men went and brought Eystein’s body into the room. The king bade them come up to it and say whether they recognized Eystein. There was one man sitting on the corner seat, and he was a Birchleg, and no one had paid any attention to him. When this man saw the corpse of his chieftain and recognized it he rose suddenly and quickly. With an axe in his hand he rushed over to where King Magnús stood in the middle of the room and struck at him, and the blow fell on his neck near the shoulders. Some man saw the axe raised aloft and pushed the king away so that the axe glanced toward the shoulder where it made a big gash. Then the Birchleg raised his axe a second time and struck at Orm Kingsbrother. He lay on the raised floor, and when Orm saw that the man wanted to kill him and the blow was aimed at his legs, he quickly threw his feet over his head and the axe struck the beam forming the edge of the dais and stood fast in it. But there were so many weapons driven into this Birchleg by King Magnús’ men that he could hardly fall. And only then did they see that he had dragged his intestines after him on the floor. That man’s bravery was much praised by all. King Magnús’ men kept up the pursuit for a long time, killing all they could lay hands on. Among the fallen was Thorfinn of Snos, and many others from the Trondheim District were slain.
Chapter 43. Of the Ways of the Birchlegs
This band which was called Birchlegs had grown to be a very numerous army. It was composed of tough and weapon-skilled, unruly elements who pursued a headlong, reckless course after they thought they had a sufficient force. In their band they had few who could counsel them or knew the laws and could govern a land or lead an army; and though some few were more able, the great mass of them would do what seemed best to them. They relied on their numbers and their [individual] bravery. Of the force which escaped, many were wounded and had lost both weapons and clothes, and were altogether penniless besides. Some sought refuge in the Markir District, and many in Thelamork, mostly those who had kinsfolk there. Some fled all the way east to Sweden. They all tried to save their lives, for they thought there was little expectation of mercy from King Magnús or Earl Erling.
Chapter 44. King Magnús Wins Fame by the Battle of Ré
King Magnús then returned to Túnsberg, and he became very famous from this victory, because [before] everyone had said that between them Earl Erling was the shield and leader for both of them. But after King Magnús had obtained the victory over so strong and numerous a host with a smaller force of his own, everyone thought that he would surpass all [other generals] and that he would as a warrior become as much greater than the earl as he was younger.
GUIDE TO PRONUNCIATION
Note that all names are stressed on the first syllable. The acute serves to mark long vowels (as for example in Knút).
Vowels:
a as in “artistic”
á as in “father”
e as in “men”
é as in German “mehr”
i as in “it”
í as in “here”
o as in “omit”
ó as in “ore”
ö as in French “boeuf,” German “öffnen”
u as in “would”
ú as in “rule”
æ as in “hair”
œ as in “slur”
y as in French “une,” German “Hütte”
ý as in French “sûr,” German “Tür”
au as in “house”
ei as in French “paysan”
ey as in French “oeil”
j before a vowel is semivocalic, as in Bjarni.
Consonants:
g as in “go,” except before i, y, where it is about like y in “yeast,” and between vowels, where it is as in German “Tage”
h before a consonant as in “when”
s is always voiceless as in “sing,” never voiced as in “wise”
p is voiceless th as in “thin”; ð is the corresponding voiced sound as in “this.”
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Athalbjarnarson, Bjarni. Om de norske kongers sagaer. Oslo: 1937.
Gjessing, G. A. Undersøgelse af Kongesagaens Fremvæxt. Kristiania: 1873-1876.
Halberg, Peter. Snorri Sturleson och Egils saga Skallagrímssonar. Reykjavik: 1962.
Hermannsson, H. Bibliography of the Sagas of the Kings of Norway and Related Sagas and Tales. Vol. III of Islandica. Ithaca, New York: 1910.
——. The Sagas of the Kings (Konunga sögur) and the Mythical-Heroic Sagas (Fornaldar sögur): Two Bibliographical Supplements. Vol. XXVI of Islandica. Ithaca, New York: 1937.
——. Catalogue of the Icelandic Collection Bequeathed by Willard Fiske. Ithaca, New York: 1914.
——. Catalogue of the Icelandic Collection Bequeathed by Willard Fiske: Additions, 1913-1926. Ithaca, New York: 1927.
——. Catalogue of the Icelandic Collection Bequeathed by Willard Fiske: Additions, 1927-1942. Ithaca, New York: 1943.
Jónsson, Finnur. Den oldnorske og oldislandske litteraturs historie. Vol. II. Copenhagen: 1923.
Lie, Hallvard. Studier i Heimskringlas Stil. Oslo: 1937.
Nordal, Sigurthur. Om Olaf den helliges saga. Copenhagen: 1914.
——. Literaturhistorie B. Norge og Island (Nordisk Kultur VIII). Uppsala: 1953. Pp. 217-223.
——. Snorri Sturluson. Reykjavik: 1920.
Paasche, F. Norges og Islands litteratur indtil utgangen av middelalderen. Kristiania: 1924.
——. “Heimskringlas Olafssaga.” Edda, 19 (VI).
——. Snorre Sturlason. Oslo: 1922.
Storm, G. Snorre Sturlasons Historieskrivning. Copenhagen: 1873.
Sveinsson, Einar Ól. The Age of the Sturlungs. Ithaca, New York: 1953.
Wieselgren, P. Författarskapet til Eigla. Lund: 1927.
INDEX
Aal, Jacob: xxv
Absalón, Archbishop: 812
Acre (Palestine?): 695-696
Adrian, Pope: 757-758
Ægir (sea god): xvi, 17
Ægisfjord, Norway: 741
Æneas: 6 n
Æsir: 6 n, 7, 8, 10-12, 126, 136, 155, 365
Æthelred (king of England): 175, 251-259, 555, 575, 641
Æthelstān the Victorious (the True Believer): 92-100, 118, 153, 204, 206, 271 289, 307, 364, 413, 553
Afra-Fasti: 490-491, 493, 504, 512-513
Agnafit, Sweden: 22, 248
Agnar (son of Yngvar): 36, 39
Agnar (king of Westfold): 46
Agni (son of Dag): 22, 38
Ágrip af Noregs konunga sǫgum: xviii
Agthaness, Norway: 90, 189, 417-420, 699, 704, 809
Agthir, Norway: 48, 51, 73-74, 83, 114, 154, 177, 196, 202, 244, 282, 297, 375, 409, 459, 461, 469, 488, 535, 556, 791
Agthir, East: 113, 295
Agthir, North: 112, 287
Áin Helga (Holy River): 440, 444, 446
Áki (farmer): 70-72
Áki (father of Vagn): 175
Álaborg, Denmark: 741, 749, 814
Alcasse, Spain: 691
Aldeigjuborg, Garthariki: 223, 342-343, 537-538, 590
Álf (son of Alrek): 23-25
Álf (son of Yngvar): 36, 39
álfablót: 336 n
álfar (elves): 336 n
Álfar (king of Álfheim) : 48
Álf Askmathr: 119, 122, 123
Álfgeir, King: 49
Álfheim, Norway: 48, 53, 227
Álfhild (wife of Guthröth the Generous): 48
Álfhild (Magnús’ mother): 389-390, 543-544, 548
Álf Hrothi (Óttar Birting’s son): 750, 778, 809
Álfífa (mother of King Svein): 525-526, 528, 530, 534
Algaut, King (father of Gauthild): 37-38
Áli (a sea king): 164
Áli (king of
the Uppland District): 33-34
Áli. See Óláf Tryggvason
Áli the Bold (son of Frithleif): 28
Áli the Shieldless: 780
Allógíá (queen of Gartharíki): 148
Álof (daughter of Hersir Bothvar): 215, 301
Álof (daughter of Óláf the Keen-Eyed): 44
Álof (wife of Hersir Klypp): 140-141
Álof Árbót: 76, 83, 91
Álof the Powerful (wife of Gierthjóf): 32-33
Alptafjord, South: 209
Alrek (son of Agni) 23, 25
Alreksstath, Norway: 91, 124, 141
Althing (Icelandic general assembly): xi, xii, 143, 228, 393-394, 607
Alvini (suitor of Gytha): 172
Ámundi (son of Árni Armóthsson): 368
Ámundi (son of Gyrth Ámundason): 736-737, 747, 756, 780
Ámundi (of Sandvík): 353-354, 362
Andréás (son of Guthorm Graybeard): 758
Andréás (son of Símon Thorbergsson): 753, 768, 778
Andréás Brúnsson: 724-730
Andréás Kelduskítr: 741
Andréás the Deaf (son of Sigurth): 731
Angel’s Ness (Cape Saint Angelo): 697
Anglesey Sound (Menai Strait): 618, 676-677
Angrar at Ness (friend of St. Óláf): 275
Án the Marksman: 227
Apardjón (Aberdeen) Scotland: 754
Apavatn, Norway: 277
Apulia: 694
Ari Einarsson: 745
Arinbjorn (a hersir): 152-153
Ari of Reykjaholar: 742
Ari Thorgeirsson: 814
Ari Thorgilsson the Learned: xvii, 4-5, 153, 473, 533
Arnbjorn (son of Árni Armóthsson): 368, 457
Arnbjorn Ambi: 746-747
Arnfinn (Thorfinn Hausakljúf’s son): 103, 351
Arnfinn from Sogn: 227
Árni (King Ingi’s father-in-law): 762
Árni (son of Árni Armóthsson): 368, 417-419, 449, 474, 514, 527, 534, 549
Árni Armóthsson: 368
Árni Brigitharskalli: 791
Árni Fríreksson: 785
Árni King’s Stepfather: 751, 789-790, 797
Árni Magnússon: xxiv
Árni Sturla: 749, 765
Arnkel (son of Turf-Einar): 99, 351
Arnljót Gellini: 227, 426-428, 504, 512
Arnór of Mœr: 227
Arnór the Earls’ Skald: poems by, 352, 362, 389, 538, 540-541, 555-556, 559, 562-563, 570-571, 573-574, 617, 628, 655-656
Arnvith (kinsman of Solvi Klofi): 67
Arnvith (son of Thorfinn Hausakljúf): 155
Arnvith the Blind: 346-349
Árós (Aarhus), Denmark: 564, 566, 574
Árós (Uppsala), Sweden. SEE Uppsala, Sweden
Ása (daughter of Harald Redbeard): 48-49, 51
Ása (wife of Hálfdan Whiteleg): 45
Ása (wife of Harald Fairhair): 64, 73, 94
Ása-Óthin. SEE Óthin
Ása the Fair: 812
Ása the Wicked (wife or Guthröth): 42-43
Ásbjorn (father of Álof): 141
Ásbjorn (follower of Magnús the Blind): 719
Ásbjorn (foster brother of Orm): 207, 227
Ásbjorn (follower of Harald Fairhair): 68
Ásbjorn Jalda: 780
Ásbjorn of Methalhús: 109, 111
Ásbjorn Selsbani Sigurtharson: xxi, 377-387, 392-393
Ásbjorn Snara: 812
Ásgarth (home of the Æsir): 7, 9, 13
Ásgaut (follower of Harald Fairhair): 68
Ásgaut the Steward: 290-291
Áshild (wife of Harald Fairhair): 76
Áskel (father of Áslák Fitjaskalli): 196, 376
Áskel (King Eirík’s forecastleman): 739
Áskel (son of Olmóth): 196
Áskel of Forland: 793
Áslák (son of Erling): 261, 267, 401, 609, 741
Áslák Erlendsson: 762
Áslák Fitjaskalli: 376-377, 467, 470
Áslák Hákonarson: 737
Áslák Hólmskalli: 182
Áslák of Finney: 488, 516
Áslák of Forland: 670
Áslák the Young (son of Jón): 765, 775
Áslaug (mother of Sigurth Hart): 54
Ásmund (nephew of Svein Ulfsson): 615-616
Ásmund (son of Grankel): 364, 391-393, 422-423, 458-459, 549
Ásmund (son of Sæmund): 724, 728
Ásmundar Bay: 189
Ásmundarvág (Osmundwall): 354
Ásólf at Rein (son of Skúli): 660, 678
Ásta (wife of Harald of Grenland and Sigurth Sýr): 185-186, 200, 245-246, 267-269, 271, 314-315, 337, 397
Ástríth (daughter of Búrizláf): 162, 175, 229, 241-242
Ástríth (daughter of Ogmund): 738
Ástríth (daughter of Óláf of Sweden): marries Óláf Haraldsson, 341
quarrels with Alfhild, 543-548
mentioned, 332, 340, 342-343, 346, 453, 474, 486, 489, 538-540
Ástríth (daughter of Svein Forkbeard): 408
Ástríth (daughter of Tryggvi): 195, 198, 261
Ástríth (wife of Tryggvi Óláfsson): 144-148, 194-195, 215, 301
Athalbjarnarson, Bjarni: xxv
Athalbrikt (a priest): 731
Athalsýsla District, Esthonia: 35, 223
Athils (son of Óttar): 32, 34, 499
Atley Island: 69
Atli (a sea king): 136, 283
Atli (father of Bárth the Black): 563
Atli (legendary king of the Huns): 581
Atli the Fool: 344, 347
Atli the Slender: 53, 69
Áttundaland, Sweden: 39, 41, 315
Aumorth, Norway: 701
Aun (son of Jórund): 27-29
Austrátt, Norway: 209, 612
Austrey (island in the Faroes): 409, 430
Austrfararvísur: 303 n, 335 n
Authbjorn (king of Fjord District): 67-68
Authi the Wealthy: 17
Authun Hallson: 769
Authun the Red: 752
Balagarth Shore, Finland: 250
Baldr (a god): 10
Baldwin (king of Jerusalem): 695-696
Baltic, the: 31, 35, 79, 86, 89, 103, 113, 138-140, 147, 162-164, 185-186, 194, 223, 287, 296-297, 413, 578, 810
Bandadrápa, by Eyólf Dáthaskáld: 160, 222-223
Bárth (a priest): 415
Bárth (father of King Ingi): 660
Barthi (Earl Eirík’s ship): 236, 239
Bárth Jokulsson: 477
Birth Standali Brynjólfsson: 764, 810
Bárth the Black: 563
Bárth the White (Earl Hakon’s steward): 275
Barvík: 443
Bastard (Sigurth of Reyr’s sword): 800
Batald (island): 741
Baugeith (sister of Grégóríús): 781
Befja (river): 781
Benedikt: 737
Bentein Kolbeinsson: 741, 747-748
Bera (wife of Álf): 24
Berg (a friend of Sigvat’s): 436
Bergen, Norway: xiii, xxiv, 660, 665, 699, 704, 718, 719, 724-725, 743, 760, 763-765, 770, 777-778, 786, 790-794, 797, 803, 805, 808-810, 815-816
Bergljót (wife of Einar Thambarskelfir): 159, 376, 609, 612-613
Bergljót (wife of Finn Árnason): 612
Bergljót (son of Ivar Elda): 777-778
Bergljót (wife of Earl Sigurth): 91, 104
Bergthór Bestil: 227
Bergthór Másson: 745
Bergthór of Sundar: 189
Bersi (Law-Bersi): 736
Bersi (son of Skaldtorfa): 284, 400-401
Bersi the Strong: 227
Bersi the Wealthy: x, xi
Bersǫglisvísur, by Sigvat: 552
Berthlu-Kári: 68
Birchlegs, the: 815-820
Birgir (bailiff of Harald Gormsson): 173
Birgir Brosa, Earl: 757, 815
Birkistrand (one of Hákon’s estates): 114
Bishop�
�s Harbor: 809
Bison (St. Óláf’s and Magnús’ ship): 556
Bjarkamál, Old: xxiii, 499
Bjarkey (island): 364, 377, 392-393, 407-408, 420-421, 671, 701
Bjarmaland (Permia): 86, 403-404, 408, 420, 422
Bjarnar saga Hitdœlakappa: 177 n
Bjarnaurar, Norway: 199
Bjarney Island: 470
Bjarni Gullbrárskáld: poems by, 469, 478-479, 515, 543, 551
Bjarni Sigúrtharson: 760
Bjarni the Evil: 803-804
Bjathmynja: 678
Bjathok (mother of King Eystein): 750
Bjorgvin. SEE Bergen, Norway
Bjorn (king of Sweden): 83, 321
Bjorn (friend of Queen Ástríth): 453-454
Bjorn Bukk. SEE Bjorn Níkolásson
Bjorn Egilsson: 737
Bjorn Eitrkveisa: 145-146
Bjorn Níkolásson: 751, 778-779
Bjorn of Stuthla: 227
Bjorn the Chapman: 76, 87, 89, 90-94, 120
Bjorn the Cripplehanded: poems by, 670, 674-677
Bjorn the Stout (St. Óláf’s marshal): on mission to Sweden, 299-302
at Uppsala Assembly, 318-322
mentioned, 288, 294-295, 303, 334, 474, 480-482, 515-516
Black Sea, the: 6, 589
Heimskringla Page 95