In the spring following King Harald sailed south along the land with his fleet and subdued the Fjord District. Thereupon he sailed [south and]2 east along the land till he arrived in Vík. King Harald set Earl Hákon, the son of Grjótgarth, over the Fjord District, giving him that district to govern. But when the king had left for the east, Earl Hákon sent word to Earl Atli the Slender, telling him to remove himself from Sogn and be earl in Gaular Dale as he had been before. Atli replied that King Harald had assigned the Sogn District to him and that he would keep it until he had spoken to King Harald about it. The earls quarrelled about this until both gathered troops. They met in Fjalir, in Stafaness Bay, and fought a big battle. Earl Hákon fell there, and Earl Atli was mortally wounded. His men brought him to Atley Island, and there he died. As says Eyvind Skáldaspillir:
(37.)
37. Was Hákon,
Hogni’s-daughter’s-
tree,3 fey when
to fight he went;
and his life
lost in combat
Frey’s offspring4
on Fjalir strand.
(38.)
38. Blended was
with blood the wave,
as friends fell,
faithful to him,
and wound-gore
warm of warriors,
in Ygg’s-storm5
by Stafaness.
Chapter 13. King Harald Regains the Eastern Districts
King Harald arrived with his fleet in Vík in the east and sailed to the town of Túnsberg. There was a market town there, at that time. King Harald had then been in Trondheim for four years and had not come to Vík in all that time. He learned then that Eirík Eymundarson, the king of Sweden, had taken possession of Vermaland, levying tribute on all the Forest Districts. All the land north to the Svína Sound and that west along the coast—that is, West Gautland—the Swedish king claimed as his own; and he levied tribute from it. He had set over it an earl by the name of Hrani the Gautish. His domain extended from the Svína Sound to the Gaut Elf River. He was a powerful earl.
King Harald had been told of the declaration of the Swedish king that he would not stop before acquiring as large a realm in Vík as had had Sigurth Hring or Ragnar Lothbrók, his son; that is, Raumaríki and Westfold, all the way to Grenmar, as well as Vingulmork and all the land to the south of that. Throughout these districts many chieftains and other men had given their allegiance to the Swedish king.
This highly displeased King Harald and he called an assembly of the farmers there in Fold.1 He accused them of treason against himself. Some farmers managed to prove their innocence, and some had to pay fines, others were punished. In this wise he travelled about that district during the summer. In the fall he went into Raumaríki and proceeded in the same fashion, repossessing himself of that district. Then he learned that Eirík, the king of Sweden, was on his royal progress2 about Vermaland with his bodyguard.
Chapter 14. Áki Entertains Both King Eirík and King Harald
King Harald marched his army eastward through the Eith Forest and arrived in Vermaland. He arranged to have himself entertained there. A certain man, Áki by name, was the most powerful farmer in Vermaland. He had great wealth and was then an old man. He sent messengers to King Harald to invite him to a feast, and the king promised to come on the day agreed on. Áki also invited King Eirík to a feast, arranging it for the same day. Áki had a large and old hall. And now he had a new banquet hall built, no less in size, and had it constructed most carefully. He had this hall decorated with new tapestry, and the old one, with the old furnishings.
Now when the kings arrived for the banquet, King Eirík and his company was assigned to the old hall, but King Harald and his followers, to the new one. The same procedure was followed with the table service: King Eirík and his company all had old drinking vessels and horns, gilt and beautifully ornamented; and King Harald and his men had all new drinking vessels and horns, all adorned with gold. They were polished and smooth as glass. The drink was equally excellent in both places.
Yeoman Áki had before been King Hálfdan’s man. Now when the day came when the entertainment was to come to an end, the kings made ready to leave, and their mounts were brought out. Then Áki stepped before King Harald, leading his twelve-year-old-son Ubbi. Áki said, “If you, sir king, consider me worthy of your friendship, seeing the good will I have shown you in the feast I prepared for you, then repay my son for it. I give him to you to be your squire.” The king thanked him with many fair words for his hospitality and assured him of his complete friendship. Thereupon Áki produced splendid gifts for the king.
Then Áki went up to the Swedish king. King Eirík was all clad by then, ready to depart, and he was in rather an ill humor. Áki presented him with noble gifts, but the king gave short answers and mounted his horse. Áki accompanied him on his way and spoke to him. A forest was near by, and their road lay through it. And when [the king and] Áki reached the forest, the king asked him, “Why did you make a difference in the hospitality you showed me and King Harald in giving him the best of everything? You know very well that you owe me allegiance.”
Áki replied, “I believed, sir king, that the hospitality I showed you and your men at this banquet was in no wise inferior. And as to the old service from which you drank, the reason for that is that you are old now, whereas King Harald is in the full flower of his youth, and that is why I gave him new table service. But as to your reminding me that I am your man, why, I consider it no less true that you are my man.” Then the king drew his sword and gave him his deathblow. Then he rode on.
When King Harald was about to mount his horse, he requested that Yeoman Áki be sent for. But when men searched for him, some ran to the place where King Eirík had ridden. They found Áki dead there, turned back, and told the king. And when he heard this he called out his men to avenge Yeoman Áki. Then King Harald rode the way King Eirík had taken until they became aware of each other. Then both parties rode the fastest they could until King Eirík came to the forest that separates Gautland from Vermaland. Then King Harald turned back to Vermaland, took possession of it, and slew King Eirík’s men wherever he found them. In winter he returned to Raumaríki.
Chapter 15. King Harald Regains Vingulmork
In the course of the winter King Harald proceeded to Túnsberg to join his fleet. He got the ships ready, and after crossing the [Ósló]fjord eastward he put the whole of Vingulmork under his rule. He was aboard his warships all winter and harried in Ranríki. As says Thorbjorn Hornklofi:1
(39.)
39. Fain outside would he
drink ale at Yule-tide,
the fray-loving folk-warder,
and Frey’s-game2 play there.
Even half-grown, he hated
the hearth-fire cozy,
the warm women’s room,
and the wadded down-mittens.
The men from Gautland collected forces over all the country.
Chapter 16. King Harald Invades Gautland
In the spring, as soon as the thaws came, the Gautlanders drove stakes into the Gaut Elf to prevent King Harald from going up the river. King Harald steered his ships into the river and anchored by the stakes while harrying the land on both sides and burning the villages. As says Hornklofi:
(40.)
40. South of the sea did the
sater-of-ravens1 conquer
land and lieges, fighting,
loved and kept by godheads;
and the hero harbored,
helm-clad, in the river
by the stakes his storm-tossed
stags-of-linden2 safely.
Then the Gautlanders came riding with a large army and gave battle to King Harald. There was very great loss of life, and King Harald was victorious. As says Hornklofi:
(41.)
41. Whetted hounds-of-bucklers3
whining—crashed battle-axes,
clanked spearshafts—there cut down
caitiff Gautish warriors,<
br />
when that Harald over
hosts of foes gained victory—
loud the din of light-winged
lances hurled, above them.
Chapter 17. King Harald Conquers Vermaland
King Harald harried far and wide in Gautland and fought many battles on both sides of the river. Most often he was victorious, and in one of these battles Hrani the Gautish fell. Then King Harald took over all the land north of the river and west of Lake Vænir as well as all of Vermaland. And when he returned from there, he appointed his marshal Guthorm to defend the land, leaving a considerable force with him. He himself proceeded to the Upplands and dwelled there for a while, then marched north over the Dofra Mountains to Trondheim where he stayed for a long time. At this time he began to have children. By Ása he had these sons: Guthorm was the oldest; then came Hálfdan the Black and Hálfdan the White—they were twins—and Sigfröth was the fourth. All of them were brought up in Trondheim and reared as became their state.
Chapter 18. King Harald Is Victorious in the Battle of Hafrsfjord
Tidings came from the south that the people of Horthaland and 872 Rogaland, of Agthir and Thelamork gathered an army and planned a rebellion. They had ships, weapons, and a great host. The originators of this uprising were Eirík, the king of Horthaland, Súlki, the king of Rogaland, and his brother, Earl Sóti; also, Kjotvi the Wealthy, king of Agthir, and his son Thórir Haklang; and from Thelamork the two brothers, Hróald Hrygg and Hadd the Hard.
As soon as King Harald became aware of these tidings he collected an army, launched his ships, and outfitted his troops, then sailed south along the land with many troops from every district. When he had rounded the promontory of Stath, King Eirík, who had by that time gathered all the troops he could expect to get, learned of that and proceeded south to join the force he knew would arrive from the east. So the entire fleet [of the enemies of Harald] met north of Jathar and put into the Hafrsfjord. There, King Harald and his fleet lay anchored.
The ships made ready at the battle of Hafrsfjord.
At once there began a great battle which was both violent and long-lasting. But finally King Harald was victorious. King Eirík fell there, as well as King Súlki and Earl Sóti, his brother. Thórir Haklang fell. By that time his entire ship had been cleared of men. Then King Kjotvi fled to a small island where it was easy to make resistance. Following that their entire force fled, some by ship, some up on land, and from there south around Jathar. As says Hornklofi:
(42.)
42. Heard hast how the high-born one
in the Hafrsfjord fought,
the keen-eyed king’s son,
’gainst Kjotvi the Wealthy.
Came their fleet from the east,
eager for combat,
with gaping figureheads
and graven ship-prows.
(43.)
43. Were they laden with franklins
and linden shields unstained,
with Westland1 spearshafts
and Welsh broadswords.
Their berserkers bellowed
as the battle opened,
the wolf-coats2 shrieked loud
and shook their weapons.
(44.)
44. Their strength would they try,
but he taught them to flee,
the lord of the Eastmen3
who at Útstein dwells.
His steeds-of-Nokkvi4 he steered out
when started the battle.
Then boomed the bucklers
ere a blow felled Haklang.
(45.)
45. The thick-necked atheling
behind isle took shelter:
he grew loath, ’gainst Lúfa5
his liege-lands to hold.
Then hid under benches
and let their buttocks stick up
those who were wounded,
but thrust their heads keelward.
(46.)
46. Their shoulders shielded
the shifty heroes—
were they showered with sling-shot—
with the shingles-of-Gladhome.6
Home from Hafrsfirth
hastened they eastward,
fled by way of Jathar,
of their ale-cups thinking.
Chapter 19. King Harald’s Rule over Norway Causes an Exodus
After this battle, no further resistance was made to King Harald in Norway. All of his greatest antagonists had fallen, though some had fled the country. And that was a very great multitude; because at that time extensive lands that were previously uninhabited were settled—for instance, Jamtaland and Helsingjaland, though both of these had been settled to some extent before by Norwegians. During the times of warfare when King Harald brought Norway under his domination, foreign lands such as the Faroes and Iceland were settled [by Norwegians]. There was a great exodus to the Shetlands, and many of the nobility fled King Harald as outlaws and went on viking expeditions to the west, staying in the Orkneys and the Hebrides in winter, but in summer harrying in Norway where they inflicted great damage. But also many of the nobility pledged their allegiance to King Harald, entered his service, and helped to build up the country with him.
Chapter 20. King Harald Fetches Gytha
King Harald had now become sole ruler of all Norway. Then he called to mind what that proud maiden had said to him. Then he sent his messengers to her and had her brought to him to share his couch. The following were their children: Álof was the eldest, then came Hrœrek, then Sigtrygg, Fróthi, and Thorgils.
Chapter 21. King Harald’s Wives and Their Sons by Him
King Harald had many wives and many children. He married Ragnhild, the daughter of King Eirík of Jutland. She was called Ragnhild the Powerful. Their son was Eirík Bloodyaxe.1 Still further he married Svanhild, the daughter of Earl Eystein. Their children were Óláf Geirstatha-Álf, Bjorn, and Ragnar Rykkil. Still further King Harald married Áshild, the daughter of Hring Dagsson of Hringaríki. Their children were Dag and Hring, Guthröth Skirja, and Ingigerth. It is told that when King Harald married Ragnhild the Powerful, he let go eleven of his wives. Hornklofi makes mention of this:
(47.)
47. The high-born liege-lord
chose the lady from Denmark,
broke with his Rogaland loves
and his lemans of Horthaland,
the maidens of Hálogaland
and of Hathaland eke.
Each one of King Harald’s children was brought up where his mother’s kin lived. The king’s commander, Guthorm, sprinkled with water the eldest son of King Harald and bestowed his name on him. He adopted that boy, acted as his foster father, and had him along east in Vík. He was raised there at the court of Harald’s commander, Guthorm. Guthorm was sole governor of the lands around Vík2 and in the Uppland districts when the king himself was absent from those parts.
Chapter 22. King Harald Clears the Western Isles of Vikings
King Harald learned that vikings harried in the Westlands who during the winter stayed in the islands beyond the sea. Therefore every summer he equipped ships and men to search for them in islands and outlying skerries; and wherever the vikings became aware of the presence of his fleet they all fled, and most of them took to the sea. But when he grew tired of this, one summer King Harald sailed across the sea with his fleet. He first came to the Shetland Islands, where he slew all vikings who did not escape by flight. Then he sailed to the Orkneys, and there cleaned out all vikings. From there he sailed all the way to the Hebrides and harried there. He killed many vikings who previously had had men and ships. He had many a battle there. But when he arrived west [south], in Man, the population there had heard what depredations he had made in those lands, and all the people fled to Scotland, so that the land was altogether void of people, and all chattels had been removed, too. So that when King Harald and his men went on land, they found no booty. As says Hornklofi:
(48.)
48. The ships’ lord shields many
shore
-ward sent—oft times the
sea-king on sandy foreshore
sword-play urged—to harry,
ere from their fight-strong
foe all of the Scotsmen
timidly took to flight, and
toward the mainland hied them.
It was at this time that Ívar, the son of Earl Rognvald of Mœr, fell in battle. To make up for that loss King Harald, when he sailed back east, gave Earl Rognvald dominion over the Orkneys and the Shetland Islands; but Rognvald promptly gave both lands to his brother Sigurth; and the latter remained behind in the west when the king returned to Norway. Before that, he had bestowed the earldom on Sigurth. Then Thorstein the Red, the son of Óláf the White and of Auth the Deep-Minded, joined him, and they harried in Scotland, taking possession of Caithness and of the Hebrides as far as Ekkjalsbakki.1 Sigurth slew Melbrigthi Tooth, a Scottish earl, and fastened his head to his saddle straps. The calf of his leg struck the tusk protruding from the skull, mortification set in, and he died from it. He is buried by Ekkjalsbakki. Thereupon Guthorm, his son, ruled the islands one year, and died childless. Then vikings, both Danes and Norwegians, settled in the islands.
Chapter 23. King Harald Has His Hair Cut and Combed
King Harald was being entertained in Mœr at Earl Rognvald’s estate. By that time he had taken possession of the entire country. Then the king had a bath prepared for himself. He had his hair combed and dressed. Earl Rognvald cut his hair, which had gone uncut and uncombed for ten years. Then, people called him Harald Lúfa; but afterwards Earl Rognvald gave him the name of Harald Fairhair, and everyone who saw him said that this was a most appropriate name, because his hair was both long and beautiful.
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