The Gesta Danorum (Books I-IX) on Biorn

The Danish History, > Book Six.

• attestation: The twelve Norwegian brothers included Gerbiorn, Gunbiorn, Arinbiorn, Stenbiorn, Esbiorn, Thorbiorn, and Biorn

  "I record the names of some of them--for the rest have perished in antiquity--Gerbiorn, Gunbiorn, Arinbiorn, Stenbiorn, Esbiorn, Thorbiorn, and Biorn"

• attestation: Biorn possessed a horse of exceptional speed that could cross a torrent no other animal could swim

  "Biorn is said to have had a horse which was splendid and of exceeding speed, so that when all the rest were powerless to cross the river it alone stemmed the roaring eddy without weariness"

• attestation: Biorn also had a ferocious dog, said to have once belonged to the giant Offot, that could singly destroy twelve men

  "he had also a dog of extraordinary fierceness, a terribly vicious brute, dangerous for people to live with, which had often singly destroyed twelve men"

• attestation: Biorn dreamed of a beast from the waters that spouted fire and warned his brothers to search the island

  "Biorn, moved by the revel, said that in his sleep he had seen a beast come out of the waters, which spouted ghastly fire from its mouth"

• attestation: Biorn's ferocious hound was unleashed against Amund's forces when the Danish lines wavered, routing the enemy

  "Biorn, when his ranks gave back, unloosed his hound and sent it against the enemy; wishing to win with the biting of a dog the victory which he could not achieve with the sword"

• attestation: Biorn and Ane fought each other twice, both times sustaining wounds, including on Agdar Ness

  "Both of them left it wounded; and fought another also on Agdar Ness with an emulous thirst for glory"

The Danish History, > Book Nine.

• attestation: Biorn inflicted great slaughter on the enemy without hurt to himself, earning the epithet Ironsides from his impenetrable body

  "Biorn, having inflicted great slaughter on the foe without hurt to himself, gained from the strength of his sides, which were like iron, a perpetual name (Ironsides)"

• attestation: Biorn's victory emboldened Ragnar to undertake wider campaigns against foreign nations

  "This victory emboldened Ragnar to hope that"

• attestation: Biorn Ironsides was one of the most formidable warriors among Ragnar's sons

  "himself, gained from the strength of his sides, which were like iron, a"

• attestation: The nickname Ironsides became permanent and was used throughout later legendary tradition

  "a perpetual name (Ironsides)"