Chapter 34. Ingjald Is Given a Wolf’s Heart to Eat
Road-Onund had a son who was called Ingjald. At that time King Yngvar ruled over Fjathryndaland.1 He had two sons by his wife, Álf and Agnar. They were of about the same age as Ingjald. There were at that time district kings all over Sweden. Road-Onund ruled the district of Tíundaland.1 Uppsala is located there, and there is the place of assembly for all Swedes. Great sacrifices were held there, and many kings came to attend them. They were held in midwinter. And one winter, when a great multitude had come to Uppsala, King Yngvar and his sons were present. They were six years old.
Álf, the son of King Yngvar, and Ingjald, the son of King Onund, set a-going a boys’ game in which each of them was to head his side. And when they played against each other, Ingjald proved to be weaker than Álf, and grew so vexed about it that he cried bitterly. Then Gautvith, his foster brother, came up to him and led him away to Svipdag the Blind, his foster-father, and told him that he had fared ill [because] he was weaker and not a match for Álf, the son of King Yngvar. Then Svipdag said that was a great shame.
The day after, Svipdag had the heart cut out of a wolf and had it steaked on a spit, and then gave it to Ingjald, the king’s son, to eat. And from that time he became the most cruel and most ill-natured of men.2
When Ingjald was grown, Onund asked for him the hand of Gauthild, daughter of King Algaut. He was the son of King Gautrek the Generous, the son of that Gaut after whom Gautland3 is named. King Algaut thought that his daughter would be well married if she were given to the son of King Onund if he had the disposition of his father. The maiden was sent to Sweden, and Ingjald held his wedding feast with her.
Ingjald and Gautvith come to Svipdag the Blind.
Chapter 35. King Onund Is Buried by an Avalanche
One autumn, King Onund journeyed from one of his estates to another, and came to the one called Himinheith. It lies in a narrow valley between high mountains. It had rained heavily, but before that, the mountains had been covered with snow. Then an avalanche of stones and clay descended and buried King Onund and his following. Both the king and many followers perished. As says Thjóthólf:
(24.)
24. Onund was
’neath open sky
with Jónakr’s-
son’s-evil1 slain.
And the Esths’
enemy strong
by bastard
base was murdered;2
and he who
Hogni’s blood shed,
o’erborne was
by bones-of-earth.3
Chapter 36. King Ingjald Burns Six District Kings in His Hall
Ingjald, the son of King Onund, ruled at Uppsala. The Uppsala kings were the most powerful in Sweden, where there were many district kings. From the time Óthin was chieftain in Sweden, the chieftains who resided at Uppsala were the absolute rulers over all Sweden until the death of Agni; but then, as written above [chapter 20], by the division of inheritance among brothers, the rule and the kingdom was divided among the [various] branches of the house, and some kings cleared large forest tracts and cultivated them, thus increasing their dominions.
Now when Ingjald succeeded to the realm and kingdom, there were many district kings, as was written above. King Ingjald had a great banquet prepared at Uppsala for the purpose of honoring King Onund, his father, with a funeral feast. He had made ready a hall in no wise smaller or less stately than the one already at Uppsala, which he called the Hall of Seven Kings. In it were erected seven high-seats. King Ingjald sent messengers through all of Sweden, inviting kings, earls, and other prominent men. To this funeral feast came King Algaut, Ingjald’s father-in-law, and King Yngvar of Fjathryndaland and his two sons, Agnar and Álf. Also, King Sporsnjall of Næríki1 and King Sigverk of Áttundaland.2 Only King Granmar of Suthr-mannaland3 did not come. There, the six kings were assigned seats in the new hall. One high-seat that King Ingjald had had erected remained empty.
All the host that had come there were given seats in the new hall. But for his own bodyguard and all his people King Ingjald had made room in the [old] Uppsala hall.
Svipdag’s sons and their warriors storm the Hall of Seven Kings.
It was custom at that time, when a funeral feast was prepared to honor a [departed] king or earl, that the one who prepared the feast and was to be inducted into the inheritance, was to sit on the step before the high-seat until the beaker called the bragafull4 was brought in; and then he was to stand up to receive it and make a vow, then quaff the beaker, whereupon he was to be inducted in the high-seat which his father had occupied. Then he had come into the [rightful] inheritance to succeed him.
So was done here; and when the beaker was brought in, King Ingjald stood up, seized a large drinking horn, and made the vow that he would increase his dominion to double its size in every direction, or else die. Then he emptied the beaker.
Now when everyone was drunk, King Ingjald told Fólkvith and Hulvith, the sons of Svipdag, to arm themselves and their men when evening approached, as was planned. They went out to the new hall and put it to the torch; the hall blazed up, and the six kings and all their followers were burned [inside]. Those that tried to come out were quickly cut down. Thereupon King Ingjald took possession of all the realms these kings had ruled, and levied tribute on them.
Chapter 37. King Hjorvarth Marries Hildigunn
King Granmar heard these tidings and believed the same fate awaited him unless he took precautions. That same summer King Hjorvarth, who was called an Ylfing,1 came with his fleet to Sweden and anchored in the firth called Myrkva Firth.2 When King Granmar learned that, he sent messengers to him, inviting him and all his men to a banquet. He accepted that, because he had not harried in the realm of King Granmar. And when he arrived at this banquet he was given a great welcome. It was the custom of those kings who resided in their own lands or sat at the banquets they had arranged, that in the evening, when beakers were passed around, two and two were to drink together, in couples, one man and one woman, as far as possible, and those left over were to drink [together] by themselves. Otherwise it was viking law that at banquets all were to drink together.
The high-seat of King Hjorvarth was prepared opposite that of King Granmar, and all his followers sat on the bench [on that side of the hall]. Then King Granmar said to Hildigunn, his daughter, that she should make ready to pour the ale for the vikings. She was an exceedingly handsome woman. She took a silver beaker, filled it and, stepping before King Hjorvarth, she said, “A health to all you Ylfings, in memory of Hrólf Kraki,” and quaffed half of it before handing it to King Hjorvarth. Thereupon he seized the beaker and her hand as well, and said that she should sit by his side. She replied it was not the custom of vikings to drink two and two with women. Hjorvarth replied that for once he would make a change and not abide by the laws of the vikings, but drink two and two with her. Then Hildigunn sat down by his side, and both drank together and had much to say to each other during the evening.
The day after, when Granmar and Hjorvarth met together, Hjorvarth asked for the hand of Hildigunn. King Granmar laid his proposal before Hild, his wife, and other persons of influence, saying that they might expect much help from King Hjorvarth. There was made great acclaim at that, and all considered it advisable; and as a result Hildigunn was betrothed to King Hjorvarth, and he celebrated his marriage with her. It was decided that King Hjorvarth was to remain with King Granmar, because he had no son to defend the realm with him.
Chapter 38. King Ingjald Flees from King Granmar
That same fall King Ingjald collected a force, intending to proceed against Granmar and his son-in-law. He summoned troops from all the districts of which he had taken possession. When Granmar and Hjorvarth learned of this, they collected their forces, and there came to their aid King Hogni and his son who ruled over East Gautland. Hogni was the father of Hild, the wife of Granmar.
King Ingjald landed with all his army, and his forces were larger by far. Then they fough
t a hard battle. But when the battle had lasted but a little while, the chieftains over the districts of Fjathryndaland, West Gautland, Næríki, and Áttundaland took to flight, together with all the men from those districts, and went aboard their ships. Thereafter King Ingjald was hard bestead. He was wounded in many places and so fled to his ships. Svipdag the Blind, his foster father, fell there together with his sons, Gautvith and Hulvith.
King Ingjald then returned to Uppsala, ill-pleased with his venture. He felt certain that the troops he had levied in those parts of his dominions won by him through force had betrayed him.
After that, hostilities persisted between King Ingjald and King Granmar. When this had lasted for a long time, friends of both managed to get them reconciled. The kings arranged for a meeting and met with one another and concluded a peace, between King Ingjald on the one hand, and King Granmar and King Hjorvarth, his son-in-law [on the other]. This peace between them was to last as long as the three kings lived. This was confirmed by oaths and pledges of faith. In the spring folowing, King Granmar went to Uppsala, in order to sacrifice, as was the custom toward beginning of summer, that this peace might last. Then the oracle of staves1 foretold him that he would not live much longer. Thereupon he returned to his kingdom.
Chapter 39. King Ingjald Burns King Granmar and King Hjorvarth in Their Hall
In the fall of that year, King Granmar and King Hjorvarth, his son-in-law, made their royal progress to the island called Sili,1 [there to be entertained] at their estate. And while they were there, King Ingjald fell upon them one night with his army, surrounding their house, and burned them inside with all their followers. Then he subjected all the dominions they had had and set chieftains over them.
King Hogni and his men ride into Sweden.
King Hogni and Hildir, his son, often made incursions in Sweden and slew the men King Ingjald had set over the realm which had belonged to King Granmar, their relative. Hostilities lasted a long time between King Ingjald and King Hogni. Yet King Hogni managed to maintain himself against King Ingjald until his dying day.
King Ingjald had two children by his wife. The elder [a girl] was called Asa, the younger [a boy], Óláf Trételgja (Woodcutter). Gauthild, the wife of King Ingjald, sent the latter to Bóvi, her foster father, in West Gautland. He was raised there together with Saxi, the son of Bóvi, who was called Flettir.
It is said that King Ingjald slew twelve kings, and all by treachery. He was called Ingjald the Wicked. He was king over the greater part of Sweden. He married his daughter Ása to Guthröth, king of Scania. She had the same nature as her father. It was Ása who made him [i.e. her husband] kill his brother Hálfdan. The latter was the father of Ívar the Widefathomer. Ása also brought about the death of her husband, Guthröth.
Chapter 40. King Ingjald and His Daughter Burn Themselves in Their Hall
Ívar the Widefathomer proceeded to Scania after the death of his uncle, Guthröth. He forthwith collected a large force and then advanced on Sweden. Ása the Wicked had before this come to visit her father. King Ingjald was being entertained at Rœning1 when he learned that the army of King Ívar was near at hand. He did not consider that he had a sufficient force to fight against Ívar. He also saw clearly that if he fled, his enemies would fall upon him from all sides. So he and Ása hit on a decision which since has become famous: they had all the people [with them] become dead drunk, then set fire to the hall. It burned down with all the people inside, and King Ingjald also. As says Thjóthólf:
(25.)
25. Raging fire
at Rœning farm
trod Ingjald
while in this life,
when by stealth
in stocking feet
it fell on
the friend-of-gods;2
and this fate
most fitting seemed
to all Swedes
for scion of kings:
to die first
in fiery death,
and end first
his own brave life.
Chapter 41. King Ívar Rules Sweden and Denmark
Ívar the Widefathomer subdued all of Sweden. He also had possession of all the Danish realm and a large part of Saxland, all of the Eastern lands and a fifth of England. From him are descended the kings of Denmark and of Sweden who have ruled there. With Ingjald the Wicked the race of the Ynglings lost their power over the domain of Uppsala, so far as one can follow the line.
Chapter 42. Óláf the Woodcutter Founds the Province of Vermaland
When Óláf, the son of King Ingjald, learned of the death of his father, he departed with all those who would follow him; because all the people in Sweden with one accord rose up to drive out the kin of King Ingjald and all his friends. Óláf first proceeded to Næríki, but when the Swedes learned of his whereabouts he could not remain there. So he proceeded west along forest paths to the river which flows into Lake Vænir from the north and is called Elf [Klar Elf River]. There they settled and cleared the forest, burning it down and cultivating the land. Soon this came to be a populous district. They called it Vermaland.1 The land there afforded good sustenance. But when people in Sweden heard about Óláf clearing the forest, they called him Trételgja [Woodcutter], and considered it an unworthy proceeding.
Óláf married a woman called Sólveig or Solva, a daughter of Hálfdan Goldtooth of Sóleyar, which is west of Vermaland. Hálfdan was the son of Solvi Solvarsson, the son of Solvi the Old, who first cleared the District of Sóleyar.2 The name of Óláf the Woodcutter’s mother was Gauthild. Her mother was Álof, a daughter of Óláf the Keeneyed, king of Næríki. Óláf and Solva had two sons, Ingjald and Hálfdan. Hálfdan was raised in Sóleyar by his maternal uncle Solvi. He was called Hálfdan Whiteleg.
Chapter 43. Hálfdan Whiteleg Takes Possession of Sóleyar and Raumaríki
It was a great multitude that fled out of Sweden before King Ívar. They heard that Óláf Woodcutter had [developed] good conditions for living in Vermaland and so great a multitude drifted there that the land could not give them sustenance. There came a very bad season and famine. They laid the blame for that on the king, as the Swedes are wont to ascribe to their king good seasons or bad. King Óláf was but little given to offer sacrifices. The Swedes were ill-pleased at that and believed it was the cause of the bad harvests. They collected a host and moved on King Óláf. They surrounded his hall and burned him inside, giving him to Óthin and sacrificing him for good crops. That was by Lake Vænir. As says Thjóthólf:
(26.)
26. By bay bight
the building-wolf1
swallowed up
Óláf’s body.
Fornjót’s son2
with flaming heat
smelted off
the Swede king’s mail.
That ruler
of royal race
long before
had left Uppsalir.
Those of the Swedes who were wiser attributed the famine to the fact that the inhabitants were too numerous for the land to support and they believed that it was not the fault of the king. Then they decided to advance with all their numbers westward across the Eith Forest,3 and appeared very unexpectedly in Sóleyar. They killed King Solvi and captured Hálfdan Whiteleg. They elected him their leader and made him king. Then he took possession of Sóleyar. Thereupon he advanced on Raumaríki,4 harried there, and added that district to his dominions.
Chapter 44. Hálfdan Conquers Eastern Norway
Hálfdan Whiteleg was a powerful king. He married Asa, the daughter of Eystein the Hardruler, king of the Upplands. He ruled over Heithmork. They had two sons, Eystein and Guthröth. Hálfdan took possession of much of Heithmork, Thótn, and Hathaland, together with a large part of West-fold.1 He lived to be an old man. He died of a sickness when he was in Thótn, and was afterwards carried to Westfold to be buried in a mound at a place called Skæreith in Skíringssal. As says Thjóthólf:
(27.)
27. All have heard
that Hálfdan Kin
g
then was mourned
by men of peace,
and that Hel,
the howes’-warder,2
in Thótn took
the thane from life.
And Skæreith
in Skíringssal
droops above
the dead thane’s bones.
Chapter 45. Hálfdan Takes Over Vermaland
Ingjald, the brother of Hálfdan, had been king over Vermaland; but after his death King Hálfdan took possession of Vermaland, levying tribute and placing earls over it during his lifetime.1
Chapter 46. King Eystein Is Knocked Overboard and Killed by a Sailyard
Eystein, the son of Hálfdan Whiteleg, who ruled after him over Raumaríki and Westfold, married Hild, the daughter of Eirík, the son of Agnar, king of Westfold. Agnar, the father of Eirík, was the son of King Sig-trygg of Vendil. King Eirík had no son. He died during the lifetime of King Hálfdan Whiteleg. Then Hálfdan and his son Eystein took possession of all of Westfold. Eystein ruled over Westfold whilst he lived.
At that time a king ruled in Varna1 whose name was Skjold. He was greatly skilled in magic. King Eystein proceeded to Varna with several warships and plundered there, taking whatever he found—clothing and other valuables and farm tools. They slaughtered the cattle by the seashore for provision and then departed. King Skjold came to the seashore with his army. King Eystein had by that time departed and had got across the fjord, and Skjold saw their sails. Then he took his cloak, swung it about, and blew against it. King Eystein was sitting by the rudder as they rounded the Island of Jarlsey, when another ship sailed close by. There was some swell. The sailyard of the other ship knocked the king overboard, and that was his death. His men got hold of his corpse and brought it to Borró where a funeral mound was erected over him on the ridge by the sea near Vathla.2 As says Thjóthólf:
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