The Gesta Danorum (Books I-IX) on Hakon

The Danish History, > Book Six.

• attestation: Starkad recalls that eleven princes once followed King Hakon as devoted companions at feast

  "Once we were eleven princes, devoted followers of King Hakon, and here Geigad sat above Helge in the order of the meal."

The Danish History, > Book Seven.

• attestation: Hakon son of Hamund planned to turn his army from the Irish against the Danes to avenge his brother Hagbard

  "Hakon, the son of Hamund, heard of this; but when he was seen to be on the point of turning his arms from the Irish against the Danes in order to avenge his brother"

• attestation: Hakon gathered his fleet at a haven called Herwig (Hosts' Bight) and divided his forces into three parts

  "gathering his fleet into the haven called Herwig in Danish, and in Latin Hosts' Bight, he drew up his men"

• attestation: Hakon sent two-thirds of his ships up the river Susa while he marched overland through wooded country

  "he divided his forces in three, and sent on two-thirds of his ships, appointing a few men to row to the river Susa"

• attestation: Hakon ordered his men to cut and carry branches for camouflage and to march with naked swords, discarding scabbards

  "he told them to cut and carry branches. Also, that nothing might burden their rapid march, he bade them cast away some of their clothes, as well as their scabbards; and carry their swords naked"

• attestation: After victory Hakon conducted an indiscriminate massacre sparing neither women nor children

  "Hakon used his conquest to cruel purpose, and followed up his good fortune so wickedly, that he lusted for an indiscriminate massacre, and thought no forbearance should be shown to rank or sex"

• relationship: Hakon son of Hamund was the son of Hamund

  "Hakon, the son of Hamund"

• attestation: Hakon retreated with a third of his army to his fleet at Herwig, while his colleague Hakon the Proud chose to stay and fight

  "Hakon, alarmed at the gathering of such numbers, went back with a third of his army to his fleet at Herwig, and planned to depart by sea. But his colleague, Hakon, surnamed the Proud, thought that he ought himself to feel more confidence"

• attestation: Hakon and Siwald fought for two days; both generals fell and the remnants of the Danes claimed victory

  "Hakon and Siwald met in an encounter and fought two whole days. The combat was most frightful; both generals fell; and victory graced the remnants of the Danes"

• attestation: The fleet arrived via the Susa after the battle, and Hakon's sailors built a large burial barrow called Hakon's Howe

  "they heaped up, in order to bury the general, a barrow of notable size, which is famous to this day, and is commonly named Hakon's Howe"

• attestation: Hakon son of Hamund fled with three ships to Scotland where he died after two years

  "Hakon, who fled in hasty panic with three ships to the country of the Scots, where, after two years had gone by, he died"