Heimskringla; Or, The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway
replied, that he should now take his wine-bags, the Varings. The king
says that he would not throw away his jewels, and allow so few men,
however bold they might be, to attack so vast an army. Then Thorer
Helsifig, who at that time was leader of the Varings replied to the
king's words, "If there was burning fire in the way, I and my people
would run into it, if I knew the king's advantage required it." Then the
king replied, "Call upon your holy King Olaf for help and strength."
The Varings, who were 450 men, made a vow with hand and word to build a
church in Constantinople, at their own expense and with the aid of other
good men, and have the church consecrated to the honour and glory of the
holy King Olaf; and thereupon the Varings rushed into the plain. When
the heathens saw them, they told their king that there was another troop
of the Greek king's army come out upon the plain; but they were only a
handful of people. The king says, "Who is that venerable man riding on
a white horse at the head of the troop?" They replied, "We do not see
him." There was so great a difference of numbers, that there were sixty
heathens for every Christian man; but notwithstanding the Varings went
boldly to the attack. As soon as they met terror and alarm seized the
army of the heathens, and they instantly began to fly; but the Varings
pursued, and soon killed a great number of them. When the Greeks and
Franks who before had fled from the heathens saw this, they hastened to
take part, and pursue the enemy with the others. Then the Varings had
reached the waggon-fortification, where the greatest defeat was given to
the enemy. The heathen king was taken in the flight of his people, and
the Varings brought him along with them; after which the Christians took
the camp of the heathens, and their waggon-fortification.
MAGNUS ERLINGSON'S SAGA.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS.
With this saga, which describes a series of conflicts, Snorre's
"Heimskringla" ends. King Eystein died in 1177, but Magnus Erlingson
continued to reign until his death in 1184. The conflicts continued
until the opposition party was led to victory by King Sverre.
The only skald quoted is Thorbjorn Skakkaskald.
1. OF MAGNUS ERLINGSON'S BEGINNING.
When Erling got certain intelligence of the determinations of Hakon and
his counsellors, he sent a message to all the chiefs who he knew had
been steady friends of King Inge, and also to his court-men and his
retinue, who had saved themselves by flight, and also to all Gregorius's
house-men, and called them together to a meeting. When they met, and
conversed with each other, they resolved to keep their men together; and
which resolution they confirmed by oath and hand-shake to each other.
Then they considered whom they should take to be king. Erling Skakke
first spoke, and inquired if it was the opinion of the chiefs and other
men of power that Simon Skalp's son, the son of the daughter of King
Harald Gille, should be chosen king, and Jon Halkelson be taken to
lead the army; but Jon refused it. Then it was inquired if Nikolas
Skialdvarson, a sister's son of King Magnus Barefoot, would place
himself at the head of the army; but he answered thus:--It was his
opinion that some one should be chosen king who was of the royal race;
and, for leader of the troops, some one from whom help and understanding
were to be looked for; and then it would be easier to gather an army.
It was now tried whether Arne would let any of his sons, King Inge's
brothers, be proclaimed king. Arne replies, that Kristin's son, she was
the daughter of King Sigurd the Crusader, was nearest by propinquity
of descent to the crown of Norway. "And here is also a man to be his
adviser, and whose duty it is to take care of him and of the kingdom;
and that man is his father Erling, who is both prudent, brave,
experienced in war, and an able man in governing the kingdom; he wants
no capability of bringing this counsel into effect, if luck be with
him." Many thought well of this advice.
Erling replied to it, "As far as I can see or hear in this meeting, the
most will rather be excused from taking upon themselves such a difficult
business. Now it appears to me altogether uncertain, provided we begin
this work, whether he who puts himself at the head of it will gain any
honour; or whether matters will go as they have done before when any
one undertakes such great things, that he loses all his property and
possibly his life. But if this counsel be adopted, there may be men
who will undertake to carry it through; but he who comes under such an
obligation must seek, in every way, to prevent any opposition or enmity
from those who are now in this council."
All gave assurance that they would enter into this confederacy with
perfect fidelity. Then said Erling, "I can say for myself that it would
almost be my death to serve King Hakon; and however dangerous it may
be, I will rather venture to adopt your advice, and take upon me to lead
this force, if that be the will, counsel, and desire of you all, and if
you will all bind yourselves to this agreement by oath."
To this they all agreed; and in this meeting it was determined to take
Erling's son Magnus to be king. They afterwards held a Thing in the
town; and at this Thing Magnus Erlingson, then five years old, was
elected king of the whole country. All who had been servants of King
Inge went into his service, and each of them retained the office and
dignity he had held under King Inge (A.D. 1161).
2. KING MAGNUS GOES TO DENMARK.
Erling Skakke made himself ready to travel, fitted out ships, and had
with him King Magnus, together with the household-men who were on the
spot. In this expedition were the king's relatives,--Arne; Ingerid, King
Inge's mother, with her two sons; besides Jon Kutiza, a son of Sigurd
Stork, and Erling's house-men, as well as those who had been Gregorius's
house-men; and they had in all ten ships. They went south to Denmark to
King Valdemar and Buriz Heinrekson, King Inge's brother. King Valdemar
was King Magnus's blood-relation; for Ingebjorg, mother of King
Valdemar, and Malmfrid, mother of Kristin, King Magnus's mother, were
cousins. The Danish king received them hospitably, and he and Erling
had private meetings and consultations: and so much was known of their
counsels, that King Valdemar was to aid King Magnus with such help as
might be required from his kingdom to win and retain Norway. On the
other hand, King Valdemar should get that domain in Norway which his
ancestors Harald Gormson and Svein Forked-beard had possessed; namely,
the whole of Viken as far north as Rygiarbit. This agreement was
confirmed by oath and a fixed treaty. Then Erling and King Magnus made
themselves ready to leave Denmark, and they sailed out of Vendilskage.
3. BATTLE OF TUNSBERG.
King Hakon went in spring, after the Easter week, north to Throndhjem,
and had with him the whole fleet that had belonged to King Inge. He held
a Thing there in the merchant-town, and was chosen king of the whole
country. Then he made Sigurd of Reyr an earl, and gave him an earldom,
and afterwards proceeded southwards with his followers all the way
to Viken. The king went to Tunsberg; but sent Earl Sigurd east to
Konungahella, to defend the country with a part of the forces in case
Erling should come from the south. Erling and his fleet came to Agder,
and went straight north to Bergen, where they killed Arne Brigdarskalle,
King Hakon's officer, and came back immediately against King Hakon. Earl
Sigurd, who had not observed the journey of Erling and his followers
from the south, was at that time east in the Gaut river, and King Hakon
was in Tunsberg. Erling brought up at Hrossanes, and lay there some
nights. In the meantime King Hakon made preparations in the town. When
Erling and his fleet were coming up to the town, they took a merchant
vessel, filled it with wood and straw, and set fire to it; and the wind
blowing right towards the town, drove the vessel against the piers.
Erling had two cables brought on board the vessel, and made fast to two
boats, and made them row along as the vessel drove. Now when the fire
was come almost abreast of the town, those who were in the boats held
back the vessel by the ropes, so that the town could not be set on fire;
but so thick a smoke spread from it over the town, that one could not
see from the piers where the king's array was. Then Erling drew the
whole fleet in where the wind carried the fire, and shot at the enemy.
When the townspeople saw that the fire was approaching their houses,
and many were wounded by the bowmen, they resolved to send the priest
Hroald, the long-winded speaker, to Erling, to beg him to spare them and
the town; and they dissolved the array in favour of Hakon, as soon
as Hroald told them their prayer was granted. Now when the array of
towns-people had dispersed, the men on the piers were much thinned:
however, some urged Hakon's men to make resistance: but Onund Simonson,
who had most influence over the army, said, "I will not fight for Earl
Sigurd's earldom, since he is not here himself." Then Onund fled,
and was followed by all the people, and by the king himself; and they
hastened up the country. King Hakon lost many men here; and these verses
were made about it:--
"Onund declares he will not go
In battle 'gainst Earl Sigurd's foe,
If Earl Sigurd does not come,
But with his house-men sits at home.
King Magnus' men rush up the street,
Eager with Hakon's troop to meet;
But Hakon's war-hawks, somewhat shy,
Turn quick about, and off they fly."
Thorbjorn Skakkaskald also said:--
"The Tunsberg men would not be slow
In thy good cause to risk a blow;
And well they knew the chief could stain
The wolves' mouths on a battle-plain.
But the town champion rather fears
The sharp bright glance of levelled spears;
Their steel-clad warrior loves no fight
Where bowstring twangs, or fire flies bright."
King Hakon then took the land-road northwards to Throndhjem. When Earl
Sigurd heard of this, he proceeded with all the ships he could get the
seaway north-wards, to meet King Hakon there.
4. OF ERLING AND HAKON.
Erling Skakke took all the ships in Tunsberg belonging to King Hakon,
and there he also took the Baekisudin which had belonged to King Inge.
Then Erling proceeded, and reduced the whole of Viken in obedience to
King Magnus, and also the whole country north wheresoever he appeared up
to Bergen, where he remained all winter. There Erling killed Ingebjorn
Sipil, King Hakon's lenderman of the north part of the Fjord district.
In winter (A.D. 1162) King Hakon was in Throndhjem; but in the following
spring he ordered a levy, and prepared to go against Erling. He had with
him Earl Sigurd, Jon Sveinson, Eindride Unge, Onund Simonson, Philip
Peterson, Philip Gyrdson, Ragnvald Kunta, Sigurd Kapa, Sigurd Hiupa,
Frirek Keina, Asbjorn of Forland, Thorbjorn, a son of Gunnar the
treasurer, and Stradbjarne.
5. OF ERLING'S PEOPLE.
Erling was in Bergen with a great armament, and resolved to lay a
sailing prohibition on all the merchant vessels which were going north
to Nidaros; for he knew that King Hakon would soon get tidings of him,
if ships were sailing between the towns. Besides, he gave out that it
was better for Bergen to get the goods, even if the owners were obliged
to sell them cheaper than they wished than that they should fall into
the hands of enemies and thereby strengthen them. And now a great many
vessels were assembled at Bergen, for many arrived every day, and none
were allowed to go away. Then Erling let some of the lightest of his
vessels be laid ashore, and spread the report that he would wait for