The Heimskringla on Birkebeins
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 36. Eystein Eysteinson And The Birkebeins.
attestation: The followers wrapped birch bark around their legs when their clothes wore out, earning them the name 'Birkebeins' from the bondes.
"Their clothes being worn out, they wound the bark of the birch-tree about their legs, and thus were called by the bondes Birkebeins."
attestation: The Birkebeins won three pitched battles against the bondes and nearly failed only at Krokaskog where a large force opposed them.
"They had several battles with the bondes with various success; and the Birkebeins held three battles in regular array, and gained the victory in them all. At Krokaskog they had nearly made an unlucky expedition"
attestation: The Birkebeins spent two years (1175-1176) in Viken before appearing in the northern parts of the country.
"They were two years (A.D. 1175-1176) in Viken before they showed themselves in the northern parts of the country."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 37. Birkebeins, King Eystein, And Skakke.
- attestation: The Birkebeins consisted principally of hill-men, Elfgrims, and many from Thelemark, and were all well armed.
"The Birkebeins' troop consisted principally of hill-men and Elfgrims, and many were from Thelemark; and all were well armed."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 41. Eystein Proclaimed King.
attestation: In early winter 1177, the sons of Gudrun from Saltnes -- Jon Ketling, Sigurd, and William -- joined the Birkebeins in the town.
"When the Birkebeins, in the beginning of winter (A.D. 1177), came again into the town, the sons of Gudrun from Saltnes, Jon Ketling, Sigurd, and William, joined them"
attestation: The Birkebeins marched from Nidaros through Orkadal to the Uplands, Thoten, Hadaland, and Ringerike, numbering nearly 2000 men and subduing the country throughout.
"when they proceeded afterwards from Nidaros up Orkadal, they could number nearly 2000 men. They afterwards went to the Uplands, and on to Thoten and Hadaland, and from thence to Ringerike, and subdued the country wheresover they came."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 42. The Fall Of King Eystein.
attestation: The Birkebeins had more men but their array broke when they rushed onto the beaten road only a few at a time.
"as they thought their force was larger than his, which it actually was, they resolved to fight; but when they hurried forward to the road only a few could advance at a time, which broke their array"
attestation: The Birkebeins' banner was cut down, those nearest gave way, and the rout began with Magnus's men killing fleeing Birkebeins one after another.
"Then the Birkebeins' banner was cut down; those who were nearest gave way and some took to flight. King Magnus's men pursued them, and killed one after the other as they came up with them."
attestation: An unnoticed Birkebein sitting in the corner at Rafnnes sprang up when he saw Eystein's corpse and struck King Magnus on the neck with an axe, but was pulled aside, causing the blow to hit lower in the shoulder.
"A man was sitting on a bench in the corner, and he was a Birkebein, but nobody had observed him; and when he saw and recognised his chief's body he sprang up suddenly and actively, rushed out upon the floor, and with an axe he had in his hands made a blow at King Magnus's neck between the shoulders. A man saw the axe swinging, and pulled the king to a side, by which the axe struck lower in the shoulder, and made a large wound."
attestation: The Birkebein was killed where he stood, and it was discovered that he had dragged his entrails across the floor; his bravery was highly praised.
"It was discovered that he had dragged his entrails after him over the floor; and this man's bravery was highly praised."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 43. Of The Birkebeins.
attestation: The Birkebeins were hardy and the boldest of men under arms, but wild and reckless when they had a strong force.
"They were a hardy people, and the boldest of men under arms; but wild, and going forward madly when they had a strong force."
attestation: The Birkebeins lacked good counsellors and men accustomed to ruling or leading an army by law; the majority overruled the knowledgeable few.
"They had few men in their faction who were good counsellors, or accustomed to rule a country by law, or to head an army; and if there were such men among them who had more knowledge, yet the many would only allow of those measures which they liked, trusting always to their numbers and courage."
attestation: After the defeat, surviving Birkebeins scattered: some to the eastern borders, some to Sweden, and most to Thelemark where their families lived.
"Some went east to the borders, some went all the way east to Svithjod; but the most of them went to Thelemark, where they had their families."
attestation: All the Birkebeins fled because they had no hope of getting their lives from King Magnus or Earl Erling.
"All took flight, as they had no hope of getting their lives from King Magnus or Earl Erling."