Heimskringla; Or, The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway
that the bondes promised to wait quietly until the messengers came back
whom Bergliot had sent to the Uplands to her relative, Hakon Ivarson.
Fin then went out to Orkadal with the men who had accompanied him to
the town. From thence he went up to Dovrefield, and eastwards over the
mountains. He went first to his son-in-law, Earl Orm, who was married to
Sigrid, Fin's daughter, and told him his business.
48. OF FIN AND HAKON IVARSON.
Then Fin and Earl Orm appointed a meeting with Hakon Ivarson; and when
they met Fin explained his errand to Hakon, and the offer which
King Harald made him. It was soon seen, from Hakon's speech, that he
considered it to be his great duty to avenge the death of his relative,
Eindride; and added, that word was come to him from Throndhjem, from
which he might expect help in making head against the king. Then Fin
represented to Hakon how much better it would be for him to accept of as
high a dignity from the king as he himself could desire, rather than to
attempt raising a strife against the king to whom he was owing service
and duty. He said if he came out of the conflict without victory, he
forfeited life and property: "And even if thou hast the victory,
thou wilt still be called a traitor to thy sovereign." Earl Orm also
supported Fin's speech. After Hakon had reflected upon this he disclosed
what lay on his mind, and said, "I will be reconciled with King Harald
if he will give me in marriage his relation Ragnhild, King Magnus
Olafson's daughter, with such dower as is suitable to her and she will
be content with." Fin said he would agree to this on the king's part;
and thus it was settled among them. Fin then returned to Throndhjem, and
the disturbance and enmity was quashed, so that the king could retain
his kingdom in peace at home; and the league was broken which Eindride's
relations had made among themselves for opposing King Harald.
49. OF THE COURTSHIP OF HAKON IVARSON.
When the day arrived for the meeting at which this agreement with Harald
should be finally concluded, Hakon went to King Harald; and in their
conference the king said that he, for his part, would adhere to all that
was settled in their agreement. "Thou Hakon," says he, "must thyself
settle that which concerns Ragnhild, as to her accepting thee in
marriage; for it would not be advisable for thee, or for any one, to
marry Ragnhild without her consent." Then Hakon went to Ragnhild, and
paid his addresses to her. She answered him thus: "I have often to feel
that my father, King Magnus, is dead and gone from me, since I must
marry a bonde; although I acknowledge thou art a handsome man, expert in
all exercises. But if King Magnus had lived he would not have married
me to any man less than a king; so it is not to be expected that I will
take a man who has no dignity or title." Then Hakon went to King Harald
and told him his conversation with Ragnhild, and also repeated the
agreement which was made between him and Fin, who was with him, together
with many others of the persons who had been present at the conversation
between him and Fin. Hakon takes them all to witness that such was the
agreement that the king should give Ragnhild the dower she might desire.
"And now since she will have no man who has not a high dignity, thou
must give me such a title of honour; and, according to the opinion of
the people, I am of birth, family and other qualifications to be called
earl."
The king replies, "When my brother, King Olaf, and his son, King Magnus,
ruled the kingdom, they allowed only one earl at a time to be in the
country, and I have done the same since I came to the kingly title; and
I will not take away from Orm the title of honour I had before given
him."
Hakon saw now that his business had not advanced, and was very ill
pleased; and Fin was outrageously angry. They said the king had broken
his word; and thus they all separated.
50. HAKON'S JOURNEY TO DENMARK.
Hakon then went out of the country with a well-manned ship. When he came
to Denmark he went immediately to his relative, King Svein, who received
him honourably and gave him great fiefs. Hakon became King Svein's
commander of the coast defence against the vikings,--the Vindland
people, Kurland people, and others from the East countries,--who
infested the Danish dominions; and he lay out with his ships of war both
winter and summer.
51. MURDER OF ASMUND.
There was a man called Asmund, who is said to have been King Svein's
sister's son, and his foster-son. This Asmund was distinguished among
all by his boldness and was much disliked by the king. When Asmund came
to years, and to age of discretion, he became an ungovernable person
given to murder and manslaughter. The king was ill pleased at this,
and sent him away, giving him a good fief, which might keep him and his
followers well. As soon as Asmund had got this property from the king he
drew together a large troop of people; and as the estate he had got from
the king was not sufficient for his expenses he took as his own much
more which belonged to the king. When the king heard this he summoned
Asmund to him, and when they met the king said that Asmund should remain
with the court without keeping any retinue of his own; and this took
place as the king desired. But when Asmund had been a little time in
the king's court he grew weary of being there, and escaped in the night,
returned to his former companions and did more mischief than ever.
Now when the king was riding through the country he came to the
neighbourhood where Asmund was, and he sent out men-at-arms to seize
him. The king then had him laid in irons, and kept him so for some time
in hope he would reform; but no sooner did Asmund get rid of his chains
than he absconded again, gathered together people and men-at-arms and
betook himself to plunder, both abroad and at home. Thus he made great
forays, killing and plundering all around. When the people who suffered
under these disturbances came to the king and complained to him of their
losses, he replied, "Why do ye tell me of this? Why don't you go to
Hakon Ivarson, who is my officer for the land-defence, placed on purpose
to keep the peace for you peasants, and to hold the vikings in check?
I was told that Hakon was a gallant and brave man, but I think he is
rather shy when any danger of life is in the way." These words of the
king were brought to Hakon, with many additions. Then Hakon went with
his men in search of Asmund, and when their ships met Hakon gave battle
immediately--and the conflict was sharp, and many men were killed. Hakon
boarded Asmund's ship and cut down the men before his feet. At last he
and Asmund met and exchanged blows until Asmund fell. Hakon cut off his
head, went in all haste to King Svein and found him just sitting down
to the dinner-table. Hakon presented himself before the table, laid
Asmund's head upon the table before the king, and asked if he knew it.
The king made no reply, but became as red as blood in the face. Soon
after the king sent him a message, ordering him to leave his service
immediately. "Tell him I will do him no harm; but I cannot keep watch
over all our relations." (1)
ENDNOTES: (1) This incident shows how strong, in those ages, was the tie
of relationship, and the point of honour of avenging its
injuries--the clanship spirit.--L.
52. HAKON IVARSON'S MARRIAGE.
Hakon then left Denmark, and came north to his estates in Norway. His
relation Earl Orm was dead. Hakon's relations and friends were glad to
see Hakon, and many gallant men gave themselves much trouble to bring
about a reconciliation between King Harald and Hakon. It was at last
settled in this way, that Hakon got Ragnhild, the king's daughter, and
that King Harald gave Hakon the earldom, with the same power Earl Orm
had possessed. Hakon swore to King Harald an oath of fidelity to all the
services he was liable to fulfill.
53. RECONCILIATION OF KING HARALD AND KALF.
Kalf Arnason had been on a viking cruise to the Western countries ever
since he had left Norway; but in winter he was often in the Orkney
Islands with his relative, Earl Thorfin. Fin Arnason sent a message to
his brother Kalf, and told him the agreement which he had made with King
Harald, that Kalf should enjoy safety in Norway, and his estates, and
all the fiefs he had held from King Magnus. When this message came to
Kalf he immediately got ready for his voyage, and went east to Norway to
his brother Fin. Then Fin obtained the king's peace for Kalf, and when
Kalf and the king met they went into the agreement which Fin and the
king had settled upon before. Kalf bound himself to the king in the same
way as he had bound himself to serve King Magnus, according to which
Kalf should do all that the king desired and considered of advantage
to his realm. Thereupon Kalf received all the estates and fiefs he had
before.
54. FALL OF KALF ARNASON.
The summer following (A.D. 1050) King Harald ordered out a levy, and
went to Denmark, where he plundered during the summer; but when he came
south to Fyen he found a great force assembled against him. Then
the king prepared to land his men from the ships and to engage in a
land-fight. He drew up his men on board in order of battle; set Kalf
Arnason at the head of one division; ordered him to make the first
attack, and told him where they should direct their assault, promising
that he would soon make a landing with the others, and come to their
assistance. When Kalf came to the land with his men a force came down
immediately to oppose them, and Kalf without delay engaged in battle,
which, however, did not last long; for Kalf was immediately overpowered
by numbers, and betook himself to flight with his men. The Danes pursued
them vigorously, and many of the Northmen fell, and among them Kalf
Arnason. Now King Harald landed with his array; and they soon came on
their way to the field of battle, where they found Kalf's body, and bore
it down to the ships. But the king penetrated into the country, killing
many people and destroying much. So says Arnor:--
"His shining sword with blood he stains,
Upon Fyona's grassy plains;
And in the midst of fire and smoke,
The king Fyona's forces broke."
55. FIN ARNASON'S EXPEDITION OUT OF THE COUNTRY.
After this Fin Arnason thought he had cause to be an enemy of the king
upon account of his brother Kalf's death; and said the king had betrayed
Kalf to his fall, and had also deceived him by making him entice his
brother Kalf to come over from the West and trust to King Harald's
faith. When these speeches came out among people, many said that it was
very foolish in Fin to have ever supposed that Kalf could obtain the
king's sincere friendship and favour; for they thought the king was the
man to seek revenge for smaller offences than Kalf had committed against
the king. The king let every one say what he chose, and he himself
neither said yes or no about the affair; but people perceived that the
king was very well pleased with what had happened. King Harald once made
these verses:--
"I have, in all, the death-stroke given
To foes of mine at least eleven;
Two more, perhaps, if I remember,
May yet be added to this number,
I prize myself upon these deeds,
My people such examples needs.
Bright gold itself they would despise,
Or healing leek-herb underprize,
If not still brought before their eyes."
Fin Arnason took the business so much to heart that he left the country
and went to Denmark to King Svein, where he met a friendly reception.
They spoke together in private for a long time; and the end of the
business was that Fin went into King Svein's service, and became his