The Heimskringla on Erling Skjalgson

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 62. Erling Skjalgson'S Wooing.

• attestation: Olaf found the match suitable but deferred to his sister Astrid; she refused, saying she would rather wait for a better match than marry a man without high office.

  ""It is but of little use that I am a king's sister, and a king's daughter, if I must marry a man who has no high dignity or office. I will rather wait a few years for a better match.""

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 64. Erling Skjalgson'S Wedding.

• attestation: Erling Skjalgson's wedding was held in summer with many attendees, including King Olaf who offered Erling an earldom.

  "Erling Skjalgson had his wedding in summer, and a great many people were assembled at it. King Olaf was also there, and offered Erling an earldom."

• attestation: Erling declined the earldom, saying all his ancestors had been herses, but asked to be made the greatest herse in the country.

  "Erling replied thus: "All my relations have been herses only, and I will take no higher title than they have; but this I will accept from thee, king, that thou makest me the greatest of that title in the country.""

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 106. Olaf Sends Expedition To Vindland.

• attestation: Erling Skjalgson, Olaf's brother-in-law, joined with a well-equipped large ship of thirty rowing benches, along with brothers-in-law Hyrning and Thorgeir.

  "The first man among these was his brother-in-law, Erling Skjalgson, who had with him a large ship of thirty benches of rowers, and which was in every respect well equipt. His brothers-in-law Hyrning and Thorgeir also joined him"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 122. Reconciliation Of The King And Erling.

• attestation: Erling Skjalgson controlled the territory from Sogn Lake to the Naze, where all bondes stood under him despite reduced royal fiefs.

  "Erling Skjalgson held his dominion so, that all north from Sogn Lake, and east to the Naze, the bondes stood under him; and although he had much smaller royal fiefs than formerly, still so great a dread of him prevailed that nobody dared to do anything against his will"

• attestation: Erling acknowledged he would bow to King Olaf but refused to stoop before those of slave descent, even if they held royal office.

  "I freely acknowledge that I am ready to bow my neck to thee, King Olaf; but it is more difficult for me to stoop before one who is of slave descent in all his generation, although he is now your bailiff"

• attestation: A reconciliation was reached: Erling retained his former fiefs, complaints were dropped, and his son Skjalg went to the king as a pledge.

  "Erling should retain the fiefs he formerly had, and every complaint the king had against Erling should be dropped; but Skjalg, Erling's son, should come to the king, and remain in his power"

• attestation: Friends of both parties mediated, arguing that Erling would be the king's most powerful ally if fully reconciled.

  "the friends of both interfered, and entreated that they would be reconciled; saying, that the king never could have such powerful aid as from Erling, "if he was your friend entirely.""

• attestation: Erling's power was so great that the king thought it excessive.

  "the king thought his power too great"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 123. Here Begins The Story Of Asbjorn Selsbane.

• attestation: Erling told Asbjorn that no one dared break the king's corn export order, and it was difficult for him to maintain his relationship with the king.

  "it happened unfortunately that the king had just forbid the sale of corn. "And I know no man here." says he, "who has courage to break the king's order, and I find it difficult to keep well with the king, so many are trying to break our friendship.""

• attestation: Erling smiled and told Asbjorn that Halogalanders knew less of the king's power than southerners.

  "Erling looked at him, smiled through his teeth, and said, "Ye Halogalanders know less of the king's power than we do here""

• attestation: Erling devised a plan for Asbjorn to buy corn from Erling's slaves, who were not subject to the king's export ban.

  "It appears to me probable that my slaves have quite as much corn as you require to buy; and they are not subject to law, or land regulation, like other men"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 125. Of Skjalg, The Son Of Erling Skjalgson.

• attestation: Skjalg Erlingson offered to pay the wergild for Asbjorn's killing of Thorer Sel to spare Asbjorn's life.

  "Skjalg Erlingson stood up, went before the king, and said, "Now may it go, as it often does, that every case will admit of alleviation. I will pay thee the mulct for the bloodshed on account of this man, so that he may retain life and limbs""

• attestation: Skjalg told Thorarin Nefiulfson to ensure Asbjorn was not killed before Sunday, then rushed south to Jadar by rowing boat.

  "Skjalg said to Thorarin Nefiulfson, "If thou wilt have me for a friend, take care that this man be not killed before Sunday." Thereupon Skjalg and his men set off, took a rowing boat which he had, and rowed south as fast as they could, and came to Jadar with the first glimpse of morning"

• attestation: Skjalg burst into Erling's loft at dawn, breaking the door off its nails, to inform him of Asbjorn's imprisonment.

  "Skjalg rushed so hard against the door that it burst asunder at the nails. Erling and the others who were within started up"

• attestation: Erling grasped his shield and sword, thinking someone was pursuing Skjalg.

  "He was in one spring upon his legs, grasped his shield and sword, and rushed to the door, demanding who was there"

• attestation: Skjalg told Erling that Asbjorn sat in chains at Augvaldsnes and urged hasty rescue.

  "I suppose our relation Asbjorn will not think my proceedings too quick; for he sits in chains there in the north at Augvaldsnes, and it would be but manly to hasten back and stand by him"

• attestation: Twelve men had come with Skjalg, and many others followed him out of the hall after the king refused his plea.

  "Twelve men who had come with Skjalg all followed him, and many others went out with him"

• attestation: Skjalg called Asbjorn's murder of Thorer Sel 'done excellently well' despite the king's displeasure.

  "It is ill done, king, in as far as it displeases thee; but the deed is, otherwise, done excellently well"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 127. Erling'S Reconciliation With King Olaf.

• attestation: Erling and his sons assembled nearly 1500 men and sailed to Augvaldsnes on Karmt Island on Sunday.

  "when they reckoned upon their force they found they had nearly 1500 men. With this war-force they set off, and came on Sunday to Augvaldsnes on Karmt Island"

• attestation: Erling's men went directly to the church and freed Asbjorn by breaking off his chains during the Scripture reading.

  "They went directly to the church, took Asbjorn, and broke off his chains. At the tumult and clash of arms all who were outside of the church ran into it"

• attestation: Erling drew up his men on each side of the path from church to hall and confronted the king at the door.

  "Erling and his sons drew up their men on each side of the path which led from the church to the hall, and Erling with his sons stood next to the hall"

• attestation: Erling bowed to the king and asked for reconciliation, offering penalties at the king's discretion to spare Asbjorn's life.

  "Erling took up the word first, and said, "My relation, Asbjorn, it is reported to me, has been guilty of misdemeanor, king; and it is a great one, if he has done anything that incurs your displeasure. Now I am come to entreat for him peace, and such penalties as you yourself may determine""

• attestation: Erling warned that if they did not reconcile now, they would never meet again, turning red in the face.

  "it is my will that we now enter into a reconciliation; for otherwise I expect we shall never meet again." Erling was then as red as blood in the face"

• attestation: Erling gave surety for Asbjorn to the king, who accepted it.

  "Erling gave a surety to the king on his part, which he accepted"

• attestation: Erling withdrew without exchanging salutation with the king.

  "Erling then withdrew with his forces, without exchanging salutation with the king"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 154. King Olaf'S Expedition With His Levy.

• attestation: Erling Skjalgson had left Norway with four or five ships, including a large warship, and sailed west to England to join Canute.

  "Erling Skjalgson had left the country with a great force, and four or five ships. He himself had a large war-ship, and his sons had three of twenty rowing-banks each; and they had sailed westward to England to Canute the Great."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 171. Of Erling Skjalgson And His Sons.

• attestation: Erling Skjalgson and all his sons served in King Canute's army under Earl Hakon during the summer campaign.

  "Erling Skjalgson and all his sons had been all summer in King Canute's army, in the retinue of Earl Hakon."

• attestation: In autumn 1027, Erling returned to Norway with great gifts from Canute, while Thorer remained at Canute's court.

  "In autumn (A.D. 1027) Erling Skjalgson went to Norway with his men, and received great presents from King Canute at parting; but Thorer Hund remained behind in King Canute's court."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 180. King Canute'S Expedition To Norway.

• relationship: Erling Skjalgson met Canute at Egersund and they renewed their alliance.

  "He lay a while in Egersund, where Erling Skjalgson came to him with many people, and King Canute and Erling renewed their league of friendship"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 184. Of King Olaf In His Proceedings.

• attestation: Merchants reported that Erling Skjalgson had assembled a great force at Jadar with many vessels.

  "merchants, who told the king that Erling Skjalgson had collected a great force in Jadar, and that his ship lay fully rigged outside of the land, together with many other vessels belonging to the bondes"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 185. Of King Olaf'S Voyage.

• attestation: Erling Skjalgson sounded the war-horn and pursued Olaf when spies reported the king sailing past.

  "as soon as Erling heard that the king was sailing past from the East, he let the war-horn call all the people on board, and the whole force hastened to the ships, and prepared for battle"

• attestation: Erling's ship was much faster than the others, so he reefed sails to wait for the rest of his fleet.

  "Erling's ship went much faster than the others; therefore he took in a reef in the sails, and waited for the other vessels"

• attestation: Erling took the reef out and outsailed his entire fleet in eager pursuit of Olaf.

  "He took the reef out of the sails of his ship, and outsailed all the others immediately; for Erling was very eager in his pursuit of King Olaf"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 186. Of Erling Skjalgson'S Fall.

• attestation: Erling stood on his quarter-deck with helmet, shield, and sword.

  "Erling stood on the quarter-deck of his ship. He had a helmet on his head, a shield before him, and a sword in his hand"

• attestation: All of Erling's men fell, and his ship was carried by boarding.

  "Erling's men began to fall, and at the same moment his ship was carried by boarding, and every man of his died in his place"

• attestation: Erling alone remained standing after all his men had fallen, asking no quarter and attempting no flight.

  "not a man remained standing in his ship but himself alone; for there was none who asked for quarter, or none who got it if he did ask. There was no opening for flight"

• attestation: Erling defended from the high poop of his ship, which stood above the other ships, resisting attack so long that no known example matched his stand.

  "Erling defended himself so manfully, that no example is known of one man having sustained the attack of so many men so long"

• relationship: Sigvat's verse names Erling as Skjalg's son.

  "Skjalg's brave son no mercy craves"

• attestation: Erling compared himself to an eagle showing its claws when torn asunder.

  "He replies, "The eagle turns his claws in defence when torn asunder.""

• attestation: Erling agreed to surrender, removed his helmet, laid down sword and shield, and went to the forecastle.

  ""That I will," said he; took the helmet off his head, laid down his sword and shield, and went forward to the forecastle deck"

• attestation: The bonde army arrived from the south but made no attack because they lacked leaders and Erling's sons were absent.

  "None of Erling's sons were there, and the bondes therefore made no attack, and the king sailed on his way northwards"

• attestation: Erling Skjalgson was widely regarded as the greatest and worthiest man in Norway who held no high title.

  "it has been a common observation among people, that Erling Skjalgson was the greatest and worthiest man in Norway of those who had no high title"

• attestation: Erling's body was taken to Sole and adorned by the bondes.

  "the bondes took Erling's corpse, adorned it, and carried it with them home to Sole"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 187. Of The Insurrection Of Agder District.

• attestation: Erling's sons were scattered across Throndhjem, Hordaland, and the Fjord district when he died.

  "Of Erling's sons some at that time were north in Throndhjem, some in Hordaland, and some in the Fjord district, for the purpose of collecting men"

• attestation: After Erling's death, a levy was raised in Agder, Hordaland, and Rogaland, and a great army assembled under Erling's sons to pursue Olaf.

  "there was a levy raising in Agder, Hordaland, and Rogaland. Forces were raised and a great army assembled, under Erling's sons, to pursue King Olaf"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 263. King Trygve Olafson'S Fall.

• attestation: The naval battle took place on a Sunday near where Erling Skjalgson had previously fallen, and was described as great and severe.

  "not far from the place where Erling Skjalgson fell. The battle, which took place on a Sunday, was great and severe."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 4. Of Thorer Of Steig.

• attestation: Skjalg Erlingson also joined the conspiracy against Magnus

  "The rich and powerful man, Skjalg Erlingson, also joined their party."