The Heimskringla on Bjorn

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 29. Guthorm'S Death In Tunsberg.

• attestation: Bjorn succeeded his father Eirik as king of Svithjod and reigned for fifty years.

  "After Eirik, his son Bjorn was king of Svithjod for fifty years."

• relationship: Bjorn of Svithjod was father of Eirik the Victorious and of Olaf, who in turn fathered Styrbjorn.

  "He was father of Eirik the Victorious, and of Olaf the father of Styrbjorn."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 38. King Bjorn Kaupman'S Death.

• attestation: Bjorn, son of King Harald, ruled Vestfold and generally lived at Tunsberg, rarely going on war expeditions.

  "King Harald's son, Bjorn, ruled over Vestfold at that time, and generally lived at Tunsberg, and went but little on war expeditions."

• attestation: Bjorn operated merchant ships to other lands, earning him the nicknames Farman (the Seaman) and Kaupman (the Chapman).

  "King Bjorn had also merchant ships on voyages to other lands, by which he procured for himself costly articles, and such things as he thought needful; and therefore his brothers called him Farman (the Seaman), and Kaupman (the Chapman)."

• relationship: Bjorn married well and had a son named Gudrod.

  "He made a good and suitable marriage, and had a son by his wife, who was named Gudrod."

• attestation: King Bjorn was buried in the mound of Farmanshaug at Saeheim.

  "King Bjorn lies in the mound of Farmanshaug at Saeheim."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 44. Eirik Brought To The Sovereignty.

• attestation: After Bjorn the Chapman's death, his brother Olaf took command of Vestfold and fostered Bjorn's son Gudrod.

  "After the death of Bjorn the Chapman, his brother Olaf took the command over Vestfold, and took Bjorn's son, Gudrod, as his foster-child."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 67. Account Of Their Reconciliation.

• attestation: The bondes of Viken desired peace between the kings but none dared raise it directly; they asked Bjorn the marshal to speak to King Olaf.

  "The bondes in Viken spoke with each other about there being nothing for it but that the kings should make peace and a league with each other"

• attestation: Bjorn was reluctant to propose peace, knowing the king would take it ill, but was persuaded by friends.

  "Bjorn was disinclined to do this, and put it off from himself with excuses; but on the entreaties of many of his friends, he promised at last to speak of it to the king"

• attestation: Bjorn addressed the king at a public assembly, pointing out that the war cost the kingdom while the northern territories went unattended.

  "You have now been sitting in Viken one winter and two summers, and the whole country to the north is lying behind your back unseen"

• attestation: Bjorn proposed sending messengers to the Swedish king to offer reconciliation, noting the existing truce with Earl Ragnvald and West Gautland.

  "There is now a truce, agreement, and peace with the earl, and the West Gautland people who are nearest to us; and it appears to the people it would be best that you sent messengers to the Swedish king to offer a reconciliation"

• relationship: Bjorn and Hjalte became close comrades at table after Hjalte's arrival.

  "gave him a seat beside Bjorn the marshal, and Hjalte became his comrade at table. There was good-fellowship immediately between them"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 68. Journey Of Bjorn The Marshal.

• attestation: Bjorn came to a Thing-meeting with eleven companions, horses saddled, ready to depart on the peace embassy.

  "A few days afterwards, when the king was at a Thing-meeting, Bjorn came with eleven others. He says to the king that they were now ready to proceed on their mission"

• attestation: Bjorn and company rode to Earl Ragnvald's court and were well received.

  "Bjorn and his followers rode their way, and came to Earl Ragnvald's court, where they were well received"

• attestation: Bjorn declared he would carry the message to the Swedish king regardless of whether Earl Ragnvald helped, unless death or bonds prevented him.

  "I assure you, earl, that I will actually travel to the Swedish king, and not turn back before I have brought to his ears every word that King Olaf told me to say to him, unless death prevent me, or that I am in bonds"

• attestation: Bjorn thanked the earl and agreed to follow his guidance entirely; the party remained a long time at the earl's house.

  "Bjorn thanked him most kindly, and with the assurance that his advice should rule them altogether. Thereafter Bjorn and his fellow-travellers remained very long in the earl's house"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 70. Of Sigvat The Skald.

• attestation: Before the embassy departed, Sigvat the skald declined to join Bjorn's journey despite their close friendship.

  "It happened that before Bjorn set out from home he asked Sigvat the skald, who at that time was with King Olaf, to accompany him on his journey. It was a journey for which people had no great inclination"

• attribution: Sigvat composed a verse praising Bjorn as a friend who had often pleaded his cause before the king.

  "Bjorn, thou oft hast ta'en my part-- Pleaded with art, And touched the heart. Bjorn! brave stainer of the sword, Thou art my friend--I trust thy word"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 78. Meeting Of Ragnvald And Ingegerd.

• attestation: Bjorn the marshal refused to turn back without meeting the Swedish king, holding Ragnvald to his promise of accompaniment.

  "Bjorn gave the same reply, that he would not turn back until he had met the Swedish king, and said the earl had promised to go with him"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 80. Of The Upsala Thing.

• attestation: Marshal Bjorn publicly delivered King Olaf of Norway's offer of peace with traditional frontiers between Norway and Sweden.

  "King Olaf sends me here with the message that he will offer to the Swedish king peace, and the frontiers that in old times were fixed between Norway and Svithjod"

• attestation: The Swedish king angrily silenced Bjorn when he heard King Olaf of Norway's name and peace proposal.

  "he saw from what root it came, and sprang up, and called out that the man should be silent, for that such speeches were useless"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 81. Thorgny'S Speech.

• attestation: Bjorn returned to Norway and reported the successful outcome to King Olaf, who praised his handling of the mission.

  "Bjorn and his company returned to Norway. When he came to King Olaf he told him the result of his errand, and the king returned him many thanks for his conduct"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 91. Olaf The Norway King'S Counsels.

• attestation: Bjorn argued the peace agreement was made by the strength of the people and Thorgny's power rather than the Swedish king's goodwill

  "the agreement," said he, "which was made, was made more by means of the strength of the people, the power of Thorgny, and the aid of the earl, than by the king's good-will."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 173. Of Bjorn The Bailiff.

• attestation: Bjorn the bailiff was of Gautland family and a friend and relation of Queen Astrid, who gave him farm-management and other offices in upper Hedemark and Osterdal district.

  "There was a man called Bjorn who was of Gautland family, and a friend and acquaintance of Queen Astrid, and in some way related to her. She had given him farm-management and other offices in the upper part of Hedemark."

• attestation: Bjorn was not esteemed by the king nor liked by the bondes, and when swine and cattle went missing he called a Thing and attributed the thefts to forest-dwelling Osterdal people.

  "Bjorn was not in esteem with the king, nor liked by the bondes. It happened in a hamlet which Bjorn ruled over, that many swine and cattle were missing: therefore Bjorn ordered a Thing to be called to examine the matter."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 174. Of Raud'S Sons.

• attestation: Bjorn accused Raud's sons of the thefts at the Thing because he thought them too pert and too finely clothed, but they denied it and the Thing closed without resolution.

  "Bjorn thought they were too pert in their answer, and too fine in their clothes and weapons; and therefore turned his speech against these brothers, and said it was not unlikely they may have committed these thefts."