Chapter 24. Ganger-Hrólf Is Outlawed
Rognvald, the earl of Mœr, was a very close friend of King Harald, and the king held him in high esteem. Rognvald was married to Hild, a daughter of Hrólf Nefja. Their sons were Hrólf and Thórir. Earl Rognvald had sons also from a concubine, one called Hallath, a second, Einar, a third, Hrollaug. These were full-grown when their brothers born in wedlock were still children.
Hrólf was a great viking. He was of such great size that no horse could bear him, so he always journeyed on foot. He was called Ganger-Hrólf. He harried much in Baltic lands. One summer when he returned from a viking expedition in the east to Vík, he raided there. King Harald was in Vík then, and was greatly incensed when he learned this, because he had interdicted most severely depredations within the country. The king announced at the assembly that he had made Hrólf an outlaw in Norway. When Hild, Hrólf’s mother, learned that, she went up to the king and begged him to forgive Hrólf. But the king was so enraged that it was of no avail. Then Hild spoke this verse:
(49.)
49. You banish Nefja’s namesake:1
now you oust as outlaw
him the holders’ brother.2
Why so heady, ruler?
’Tis ill ’gainst wolf3 to be wolfish,
warrior, such wolf opposing.
Hard that wolf will harry
your herds, once he runs to the forest.
Ganger-Hrólf then sailed west to the Hebrides, and from there west [south] to Valland [France] where he harried and conquered a great earldom which he peopled to a large extent with Norwegians, and it was later called Normandy. From Hrólf are descended the earls of Normandy. The son of Ganger-Hrólf was William, the father of Richard, the father of the second Richard, the father of Robert Longspear, the father of William the Bastard, king of England. From him all later kings of England are descended.
Queen Ragnhild died three years after coming to Norway. After her death Eirík, her son by King Harald, went to be fostered by Hersir Thórir in the Fjord District and was raised there.
Chapter 25. King Harald Consorts with Snœfrith and Is Bewitched by Her
One winter King Harald made his royal progress about the Uppland districts and had a Yule banquet prepared for himself at Thoptar. On Yule eve, when the king sat at table, a certain Finn called Svási came to the door and sent word to the king to come out to him. The king became angry at this message, and the same man who had carried the message to him bore out the king’s anger with him. But Svási for all that bade him go in again and tell the king that he was the same Finn whom the king had allowed to set his tent on the other slope of the hillside there. The king came out and promised him to go along; which he did with the encouragement of some of his men, while others tried to dissuade him.
When he got there, Snœfrith, Svási’s daughter, and a most beautiful woman, arose to meet him. She poured a cup of mead for the king, and he took both the cup and her hand; and immediately it was as if a hot fire coursed through his body, and he desired to lie with her that same night. But Svási declared that could not be except with his consent and unless the king married her lawfully. This the king did and betrothed himself to Snœfrith, and loved her so madly that he neglected his kingdom and all his duties. They had four sons, one was called Sigurth Hrísi [Bastard], another, Hálfdan Hálegg [Longshanks], the third, Guthröth Ljómi [the Radiant], and the fourth, Rognvald Rettilbeini [the Straightlimbed].
Thereafter Snœfrith died, but her color changed in no-wise, so she was as ruddy as when she was alive. The king kept sitting by her side, imagining that she would come to life again. And this continued for three years that he sorrowed over her as dead, whereas all the people sorrowed over him as being bewitched. To cure him of it there came to him Thorleif the Wise who freed him of this sorcery by wheedling him first in this wise:
“It is not strange, sir king, that you remember so beautiful and noble a woman and honor her by bedding her on down and costly fabrics as she bade you do; but your honor is less than is seeming to you and her in this that she is lying overlong in the same raiment, and it would be more fitting for her to be moved and have the bedclothes shifted under her.”
And no sooner did they raise her body from the bed than stench and foul smell and all kinds of odors of corruption rose from the corpse. They hastened to make a funeral pile and to burn her. But before that her entire body became livid, and all kinds of worms and adders, frogs and toads and vipers crawled out of it. So her body was reduced to ashes, and the king was brought back to his senses and reason, and swore off his folly. Thereafter he governed his kingdom, regained his strength, and had joy of his liegemen, and they of him, and the kingdom of both.
Chapter 26. Thjóthólf Intercedes with the King for His Sons by Snœfrith
After King Harald had become clear of the deception of the Finnish woman he became so incensed that he drove off the sons he had with her and did not want to see them any longer. But Guthröth Ljómi sought out Thjóthólf of Hvinir, his foster father, and begged him to go with him before the king, for Thjóthólf was a close friend of the king. The king was in the Uppland districts at the time. So they journeyed there, and when they arrived at the king’s estate late in the evening they seated themselves near the door and let no one see who they were. The king walked about on the floor, looking at the benches, for a banquet had been prepared and the mead mixed. Then he spoke this verse to himself:
(50.)
50. Far too fond are ever,
find I, of the mead cups
my old hoary henchmen.
Why so many here now?
Then Thjóthólf made answer:
(51.)
51. Upon our heads have we,
hoard-despoiler,1 many
wounds from combat with thee:
were not too many there then.
Thjóthólf removed his hood, and the king recognized him then and welcomed him. Then Thjóthólf prayed the king not to scorn his own sons—“because they would be eager enough to have had better lineage on their mother’s side if you had granted it to them.” The king promised him that and bade him take Guthröth home with him where he had been before, and sent Sigurth and Hálfdan to Hringaríki, and Rognvald, to Hathaland. And they obeyed the king’s command. They all grew up to be gallant men, well trained in all accomplishments. Now King Harald stayed quietly within his realm, and there reigned peace with good seasons.
Chapter 27. Earl Rognvald’s Son Einar Becomes Earl over the Orkneys
Rognvald, the Earl of Mœr, learned of the death of his brother Sigurth, and also that the vikings had settled in his lands. Then Rognvald sent his son Hallath west with a large force. He was given the title of earl and took possession of the lands as soon as he arrived in the Orkneys. But both in fall, in winter, and in spring vikings visited the islands, raiding the nesses and committing depredations. Then Earl Hallath grew tired of residing in the islands, and he resigned the title of earl and took the rank of hǫldr [franklin], whereupon he returned to Norway.
When Earl Rognvald learned this he was mightily ill-pleased with Hallath’s behavior and said that his sons were likely to be unlike their parents. Then Einar answered, “You have set little value upon me, and there has been little affection wasted on me. I shall sail west to the islands if you will provide me with some force, and I shall promise you what you will be mightily pleased with, and that is that I shall never return to Norway.”
Rognvald said that he would be well pleased if he never returned—“because I hardly expect that your kinsmen will be honored in you, because on your mother’s side they are all thralls.” Rognvald provided Einar with one warship, equipping it for him with a crew.
In the fall Einar sailed across the North Sea. When he arrived in the Orkneys he found anchored there vikings in two ships, headed by Thórir Tréskegg and Kálf Skurfa. Einar at once gave battle and was victorious, and both fell. Then this verse was spoken:
(52.)
52. Then gave he
Tréskegg to the trolls,
Turf-Einar killed Skurfa.
He was called Turf-Einar because he had peat cut and used it instead of firewood since no forests grew on the Orkneys.1 Thereafter Earl Einar made himself earl over the islands and was a man of power. He was a man of ugly appearance and one-eyed, yet sharpsighted as few.
Chapter 28. King Eirík Emundarson Dies
Marshal Guthorm most often resided at Túnsberg and had under him the governance of the entire District of Vík during the king’s absence, and was responsible for its defence. There were many depredations committed by vikings in that province, and there was much disturbance of the peace inland in Gautland, during the lifetime of King Eirík Emundarson. Eirík died when King Harald Fairhair had been king of Norway for ten years. 870 Bjorn, the son of Eirík, ruled Sweden after him for fifty years. He was the father of Eirík the Victorious and of Óláf, the father of Styrbjorn. Marshal Guthorm died of a sickness in Túnsberg. Then King Harald gave the governance of all that province to Guthorm, his son, and set him over it as chieftain.
Chapter 29. Hálfdan and Guthröth Kill Earl Rognvald
When King Harald had reached forty years, many of his sons were full fledged. All of them were mature early. They began to be discontented that the king did not grant them power but set an earl over every district, and they considered earls of lower rank than they were.
It happened one spring that Hálfdan Hálegg and Guthröth Ljómi with a large force of men came upon Rognvald, the earl of Mœr, surrounded his house, and burned him in it with sixty men. Thereupon Hálfdan seized three men-of-war, found a crew for them, and then sailed west across the sea. But Guthröth saw no other alternative than to surrender to King Harald, and the king sent him east [south] to Agthir. The king then set Thórir, a son of Earl Rognvald, over Mœr and gave him Álof, one of his daughters, in marriage. She was called Árbót.1 Earl Thórir the Silent then had the same realm to govern as had had Earl Rognvald, his father.
Chapter 30. Earl Einar Avenges His Father’s Death
Hálfdan Hálegg arrived in the Orkneys without warning, and Earl Einar fled at once from the islands, but returned soon the same fall and surprised Hálfdan. They met in battle, and Hálfdan fled at nightfall after a short fight. Einar and his men passed the night in the open without tents; but in the morning as soon as it was light enough they hunted for the fugitives round about the islands and killed all where they caught them. Then Earl Einar said, “I don’t know whether out there on Rínansey [North-Ronaldshay] I see a man or a bird—sometimes it lifts itself up, and sometimes it lies down.” Then they went there and found Hálfdan Hálegg there [hiding] and caught him. In the evening, before he went into battle, Earl Einar recited this verse:1
(53.)
53. From Hrólf’s hand, nor either
from Hrollaug’s, perceive I
spear dispatched against the
spiteful foes of Rognvald.
And this evening, as we
enter battle savage,
over his drink dawdles,
deedless, silent Thórir.
Afterwards, Earl Einar went up to Hálfdan and cut the “blood eagle” on his back, in this fashion that he thrust his sword into his chest by the backbone and severed all the ribs down to the loins, and then pulled out the lungs; and that was Hálfdan’s death. Then Einar spoke this verse:
(54.)
54. Richly avenged I Rognvald—
righteous the norns’ judgment—
has the folk-warder fallen.
My fourth part2 have I done now.
Heap now, hardy swains, on
Hálfdan—victory won I—
gravel on his grave for
gold which he demanded.
Then Earl Einar took over the Orkneys as he had done before. But when these tidings came to Norway, the brothers of Hálfdan were filled with resentment and considered [that Hálfdan’s death] ought to be avenged, and many others agreed with them. But when Earl Einar heard that, he spoke this verse:
(55.)
55. Are there athelings many
eager to take my life; and
goodly grounds indeed I
gave them for their vengeance:
Forsooth, though, no one knows whose
neck, when fallen in battle,
under the iron claws of
eagles will be riven.
Chapter 31. Earl Einar Acquires the Allodial Rights in the Orkneys
King Harald summoned a force and assembled a large fleet, whereupon he sailed west to the Orkneys. But when Earl Einar learned that the king had arrived from the east, he sailed over to [Caith]ness. It was at this time that he recited this verse:
(56.)
56. Many a fair-bearded fellow
faces outlawry for
killing cattle; but I, for
king’s son’s fall in the Orkneys.
The royal wrath, they say, I
risk, for I have dented
heavily Harald’s ’scutcheon;
my heart, though, quakes little.
The messengers with proposals [for an agreement] passed between the king and the earl, and the result was that a meeting was arranged between them; and when they met, the earl submitted his case to the king’s decision, and the king imposed upon the earl and all Orkney people a fine of sixty marks of gold. The farmers considered that too high a mulct, so the earl offered to pay it all himself if he were given all the allodial rights1 in the islands. To this they agreed, chiefly because the small farmers owned little land, whereas the large landowners thought they could redeem their property rights whenever they wanted. So the earl paid out the whole sum to the king. Thereupon the king returned east in the fall. So it came that in the Orkneys for a long time afterwards the earls possessed all the allodial rights until Sigurth Hlothvisson restored them.
Chapter 32. Eirík Meets Gunnhild in Finnmark and Marries Her
King Harald’s son Guthorm had under him the defence of the Vík District, and he sailed with his warships about the outer reaches [of the Ósló fjord]. But when he lay anchored in the arms of the [Gaut Elf] River, Solvi Klofi came up and gave battle to him. There Guthorm fell.
Hálfdan the Black and Hálfdan the White were on a viking expedition and harried in the lands east of the Baltic. They fought a great battle in Esthland [Esthonia], and Hálfdan the White fell there.
Eirík was fostered in the Fjord District by Hersir Thórir, the son of Hróald. King Harald loved him best of all his sons and held him in highest estimation. When Eirík was twelve years old, King Harald gave him five warships, and he went raiding, first in the Baltic, then south around Denmark and about Frísland and Saxland, and he was four years on this expedition. After that he sailed west across the sea, harrying in Scotland, Bretland [Wales], Ireland, and Valland [France], and passed four more years there. Then he sailed north to Finnmark [Lappland] and all the way to Bjarmaland [Permia], where he fought a great battle and was victorious.
When he returned to Finnmark, his men found in a hut a woman so beautiful that they had never seen the like of her. She gave her name as Gunnhild and said that her father dwelled in Hálogaland and that his name was Ozur Toti.
“I have dwelt here,” she said, “to learn sorcery from two Finns who are the wisest here in Finnmark. Just now they are gone on a hunt. Both want to marry me, and both are so clever that they can follow a track like dogs, both on open ground and on hard frozen snow. They run so well on skis that nothing can escape them, whether humans or animals; and whatever they shoot at they hit. In this way they have killed all men who have approached here. And if they become enraged the ground turns about as they look at it, and any living thing falls down dead. Now you must not encounter them, if you value your lives, unless I hide you here in the hut. And then we shall try if we can kill them.”
They agreed to that, and she hid them. She took a linen sack which they thought contained ashes. She put her hand in it and strewed the contents about the hut, both outside and i
nside.
Shortly afterwards the Finns returned home. They asked who had been there. She said that no one had been there. The Finns thought it strange that they had followed tracks right to the hut but then did not find them. They kindled a fire and prepared their food. And when they had eaten their fill, Gunnhild made up her bed. But the last three nights had passed in this wise that Gunnhild slept, but the others had kept awake with mutual jealousy. Then she said, “Come here now, and each of you lie on his side of me.” They were glad to do so. She put an arm around the neck of both. They soon fell asleep, but she roused them. Then they soon fell asleep again, and so soundly that she was scarcely able to wake them. They fell asleep again, and now she was not able to wake them by any means; she even set them up, but they kept on sleeping. Then she took two large bags and placed them over their heads, tying them fast under their arms. Then she made a sign to the king’s men, and they leapt forward, killed them, and dragged them out of the hut.
During the night there came such a tremendous thunderstorm that they could not proceed, but in the morning they went to their ship, taking Gunnhild along and bringing her to Eirík. Then Eirík and his men sailed south to Hálogaland. There, he summoned Ozur Toti and declared that he wanted to marry his daughter, and Ozur assented. So Eirík married her and took her along south with him.
Chapter 33. King Harald Partitions the Realm among His Sons
When King Harald was fifty years old, many of his sons were full ca. 900 grown, and some, dead. Many of them committed deeds of violence in the country and disagreed among themselves. They drove some earls of the king from their possessions, and even killed some. Then King Harald called a great assembly in the eastern part of the country to which he especially summoned the people in the Uppland districts. There he bestowed the title of “king” on all his sons and put this into the laws that each of his descendants was to inherit a kingdom after his father, and an earldom, each who was of his kin on the female side. He partitioned the land between them, giving Vingulmork, Raumaríki, Westfold, Thelamork to Óláf, Bjorn, Sigtrygg, Fróthi, and Thorgisl; and Heithmork and Guthbrands Dale he gave to Dag, Hring, and Ragnar. To the sons of Snœfrith he gave Hringaríki, Hathaland, Thótn and the districts adjoining. To Guthorm he had given the governance of Ranríki between the [Gaut Elf] River to the Svína Sound. As was written above, he had been assigned the defence of the land on the eastern boundary.
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