The Heimskringla on Egil Ulserk
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 23. Of Egil Ulserk.
attestation: Egil Ulserk, a very old bonde who had been exceptionally strong and had carried King Harald Harfager's banner, argued against retreat.
"there was a bonde there, by name Egil Ulserk, who was a very old man, but in former days had been strong and stout beyond most men, and a hardy man-at-arms withal, having long carried King Harald Harfager's banner."
attestation: Egil invoked his service under Harald, saying Harald always fought regardless of numbers and always won, and that Hakon would never receive counsel to flee from his men.
"I was in several battles with thy father Harald the king, and he gave battle sometimes with many, sometimes with few people; but he always came off with victory. Never did I hear him ask counsel of his friends whether he should fly--and neither shalt thou get any such counsel from us, king"
attestation: Egil Ulserk expressed gladness that after the long peace he might die in battle following his chief rather than of old age on a straw bed, reflecting the pagan belief that dying in bed was a shameful end.
"At one time the peace had lasted so long I was afraid I might come to die the death of old age, within doors upon a bed of straw, although I would rather fall in battle following my chief."
attestation: In the pagan Norse worldview, dying on a sickbed was considered a derogatory end for any man of celebrity.
"In all the sagas of this pagan time, the dying on a bed of sickness is mentioned as a kind of derogatory end of a man of any celebrity."
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 24. Battle At Fredarberg.
attestation: Egil Ulserk devised a stratagem: he took ten men with ten banners and marched them along the ridge so their banners appeared over the hilltop, simulating a large flanking force.
"Then Egil Ulserk set up the ten banners he had with him, and placed the men who carried them so that they should go as near the summit of the ridge as possible, and leaving a space between each of them."
attestation: The false banner ruse worked: Eirik's sons' men on the upper flank saw the banners and panicked, believing a large force was coming behind them, triggering a general flight.
"when the men who stood uppermost in the line of the troops of Eirik's sons saw so many flying banners advancing high over the edge of the ridge, they supposed a great force must be following, who would come behind their army"
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 26. King Gamle And Ulserk Fall.
- attestation: Egil Ulserk led the vanguard of Hakon's forces and personally fought King Gamle, grievously wounding him, but Egil himself fell in the fighting along with many others.
"Egil Ulserk was in front, and in advance of Hakon's men, and made a stout attack. He and King Gamle exchanged blows with each other, and King Gamle got a grievous wound; but Egil fell, and many people with him."