The Heimskringla on Gregorius Dagson
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 21. Of Harald'S Sons.
- attestation: Gregorius Dagson was wealthy, sagacious, and governed the country under King Inge with full authority over royal property.
"Gregorius had much property, and was himself a thriving, sagacious man. He presided in the governing the country under King Inge, and the king allowed him to manage his property for him according to his own judgment."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 26. King Inge And Sigurd Hold A Thing.
attestation: Gregorius Dagson maintained at least ninety men, equipped with helmets, and never attended feasts without bringing all his house-men.
"Gregorius had two long-ships, and at the least ninety men, whom he kept in provisions. He kept his house-men better than other lendermen; for he never took part in any entertainment where each guest brings his liquor, without having all his house-men to drink with him."
attestation: At the Thing on the holm, Gregorius appeared in a gold-mounted helmet and all his men wore helmets.
"He went now to the Thing in a gold-mounted helmet, and all his men had helmets on."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 27. Of Gregorius Dagson.
attestation: Gregorius replied that Sigurd need not long for a confrontation, as he was ready immediately.
"Gregorius replied, that Sigurd need not long so much for this, as he was ready now, if it must be so."
attestation: One of Gregorius's house-men was killed in the street by Sigurd's house-men.
"A few days after, one of Gregorius's house-men was killed out upon the street, and it was Sigurd's house-men who killed him."
attestation: Gregorius arrived in helmet and armour with over 100 armed men, urging King Inge to attack King Sigurd immediately.
"came Gregorius in helmet and armour, and told the king not to be angry, for she was only saying the truth. "And I am now," says he, "come to thy assistance, if thou wilt attack King Sigurd; and here we are, above 100 men in helmets and armour""
attestation: Gregorius warned Inge that if the king remained passive, his friends would be killed one by one, and eventually his royal dignity would be taken.
"Thou wilt frighten thy men from thee in this way; for first they lately killed my house-man, and now thy court-man, and afterwards they will chase me, or some other of thy lendermen whom thou wouldst feel the loss of"
attestation: Gregorius declared he would not stay to be slaughtered like an ox, and that his banner was already flying in the yard.
"Whatever thy other lendermen may do, I will not stay here longer to be slaughtered like an ox; but Sigurd the king and I have a business to settle with each other to-night"
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 28. Of King Sigurd'S Fall.
attestation: Gregorius urged attacking Eystein at Floruvagar and offered to lead the assault, but was overruled; the brothers were partly reconciled without meeting.
"But Gregorius wanted that they should go out against him, thinking there never would be a better opportunity; and offered to be himself the leader."
attestation: Four of Gregorius's men fell in the battle, plus some non-combatants shot on piers or in ships.
"of Gregorius's men there fell four; and also some who belonged to no party, but were shot on the piers, or out in the ships."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 29. Of Gregorius Dagson.
attestation: Gregorius Dagson traveled east to his farm Bratsberg in Hofund after King Eystein's departure.
"Gregorius Dagson also set out to the eastward and came to his farm Bratsberg in Hofund"
attestation: Gregorius thanked Kristin and acknowledged she had behaved nobly, then proceeded to Bergen where he met Erling, who also approved of his wife's actions.
"Gregorius thanked her kindly, and allowed that she had behaved nobly, and as might have been expected of her. Gregorius then proceeded to Bergen, where he met Erling, who thought also that his wife had done well."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 30. Reconciliation Of Eystein And Inge.
- attestation: Gregorius went north to Throndhjem before Yule, and King Inge welcomed him, offering him free use of the king's property since Eystein had burnt Gregorius's house and slaughtered his cattle.
"Then Gregorius went north to Throndhjem, and came there before Yule. King Inge was rejoiced at his safety, and told him to use his property as freely as his own, King Eystein having burnt Gregorius's house, and slaughtered his stock of cattle."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 1. Beginning Of Hakon Herdebreid.
- attestation: Gregorius Dagson was stationed at Konungahella, the most dangerous area, with a strong and handsome body of men defending the country.
"Gregorius Dagson was in Konungahella, where the danger was greatest, and had beside him a strong and handsome body of men, with which he defended the country."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 2. Of Gregorius Dagson.
attestation: Gregorius summoned a Thing for aid but distrusted the bondes and townspeople, then departed with two ships for Viken.
"Gregorius was then in the town, and summoned the bondes and townspeople to a great Thing, at which he desired their aid; but he thought the people did not hear him with much favour, so he did not much trust them."
attestation: Gregorius met Simon Skalp, Haldor Brynjolfson, and Gyrd Amundason (King Inge's foster-brothers) and turned back with them, totaling eleven ships.
"Now when Gregorius had come but a short way north he met Simon Skalp, Haldor Brynjolfson, and Gyrd Amundason, King Inge's foster-brothers. Gregorius was much delighted at this meeting, and turned back with them, being all in one body, with eleven ships."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 3. King Hakon'S Flight.
attestation: Gregorius rowed up the river and defeated Thorliot by letting his ship drift down against him; Thorliot and his men jumped overboard.
"Gregorius rowed up the river, and let the ship drive down with the stream against Thorliot. They shot at each other a while, until Thorliot and his comrades jumped overboard"
attestation: Gregorius's banner-bearer was slain at the gangway; Hal son of Audun Halson took up the banner and bore it onto the pier.
"There the man who carried his banner was slain, just as he was going to step on shore. Gregorius ordered Hal, a son of Audun Halson, to take up the banner, which he did, and bore the banner up to the pier."
attestation: When Gregorius stepped onto the pier, Hakon's men recognized him and gave way on every side; Gregorius drove them from the town twice.
"As soon as Gregorius came upon the pier, and Hakon's men knew him, they gave way, and made room for him on every side."
attestation: Hakon had more than 4000 men against Gregorius's fewer than 400, yet all men agreed this was the most glorious affair Gregorius ever achieved.
"By the report of all men, never was there so glorious an affair as this of Gregorius; for Hakon had more than 4000 men, and Gregorius not full 400."
attestation: Gregorius told Hal Audunson that Icelanders were less agile but none were bolder under arms than they.
""Many men, in my opinion, are more agile in battle than ye Icelanders are, for ye are not so exercised as we Norwegians; but none, I think, are so bold under arms as ye are.""
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 5. Of The Consultations Of King Inge.
attestation: Gregorius urged immediate attack, citing past victories despite being outnumbered and offering to attack wherever it was most difficult.
"Sometimes we and Hakon have met, and generally they had the most people; but, notwithstanding, they fell short in battle against us."
attestation: Gregorius declared he would always attack where others found it most difficult.
"I shall always attack where others may think it most difficult."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 6. Erling'S Speech.
- attestation: Many urged attack anyway, fearing Hakon would flee by land as before; Gregorius suspected Erling was trying to undermine his counsel rather than offering better advice.
"Gregorius said but little; but thought that Erling rather dissuaded from an attack that Gregorius's advice should have no effect, than that he had any better advice to give."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 9. Of King Inge'S Men.
attestation: Gregorius advised King Inge not to join the assault, arguing that everything would be preserved if the king were safe, and offering to lay his own ship against Hakon's largest vessel.
""We have many and fine men; and it is my advice, King Inge, that you do not go to the assault with us, for everything is preserved if you are safe.""
attestation: Gregorius warned that missiles and stones thrown from the high stages on the merchant ships made close proximity more dangerous.
"they have prepared themselves so, that missiles and stones can be thrown from the high stages upon the merchant ships, so that there is less danger for those who are farthest from them."
attestation: Gregorius predicted the conflict between his ship and Hakon's largest would be short, as it had often been in former meetings despite worse odds.
"I shall lay my ship alongside their largest ship, and I expect the conflict between us will be but short; for it has often been so in our former meetings, although there has been a much greater want of men with us than now."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 10. Beginning Of The Battle.
attestation: Gregorius's ship ran aground and heeled over, preventing it from entering battle initially; Hakon's men attacked it from all sides.
"But Gregorius's ship swung upon the ground, and heeled very much over, so that at first she could not come into the battle; and when Hakon's men saw this they laid themselves against her, and attacked Gregorius's ship on all sides."
attestation: Gregorius had Ivar carried to shore so he might escape after severely wounding him, and from then on they were constant friends.
"Gregorius let Ivar be carried to the shore, so that he might escape; and from that time they were constant friends."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 11. King Hakon'S Flight.
- attestation: Gregorius sent word from Konungahella criticizing Erling's inaction in Bergen while Hakon killed King Inge's friends in Throndhjem.
"Gregorius sent word from the east, from Konungahella, that if he were so near as Erling and his men, he would not sit quietly in Bergen while Hakon was killing King Inge's friends"
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 12. The Conflict Upon The Piers.
attestation: The trivial quarrel escalated from words to fighting to a bloody strife on the piers, drawing in Gregorius on Haldor's side and Erling Skakke on his nephew Bjorn's side.
"It was told Gregorius that his relation Haldor required assistance, and that his house-men were being cut down in the street; on which Gregorius and his men ran to the place in their armour. Now it was told Erling Skakke that his sister's son Bjorn was fighting with Gregorius"
attestation: After the tumult subsided, Gregorius went to Nikolas church and Erling followed; King Inge came a second time and pacified them, both agreeing to his mediation.
"when the greatest tumult was over, Gregorius and his men went to Nikolas church, and Erling behind them, calling to each other. Then King Inge came a second time, and pacified them; and both agreed that he should mediate between them."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 13. Munan'S Death.
- attestation: Gregorius attacked Hakon's men at a farm called Saurby beside the forest, setting fire to the largest house where he expected Hakon and Sigurd to be.
"Gregorius hastened there; came in the night; and supposing that King Hakon and Sigurd would be in the largest of the houses, set fire to the buildings there."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 14. Of The Fall Of Gregorius Dagson.
attestation: Gregorius left Konungahella late in Yule, arrived at Fors on the thirteenth day of Yule, and heard vespers on the last day of Yule (a Saturday).
"Gregorius set out from Konungahella late in Yule, and came to Fors the thirteenth day of Yule, where he remained a night, and heard vespers the last day of Yule, which was a Saturday"
attestation: Gregorius wanted to cross by the nearby bridge, recognizing the ice was unsound, but the bonde-troops mocked him and insisted on crossing the ice.
"Gregorius came to the ice on the river the ice appeared to him unsound, he said; and he advised the people to go to the bridge, which was close by, to cross the river. The bonde-troops replied, that they did not know why he should be afraid to go across the ice"
attestation: Gregorius replied it was seldom necessary to encourage him to show bravery, and ordered the banner advanced onto the ice despite his own misgivings.
"Gregorius said it was seldom necessary to encourage him to show bravery, and it should not be so now. Then he ordered them to follow him"
attestation: The bondes turned back when they found the ice unsound, leaving only about twenty men with Gregorius; he fell through the ice.
"As soon as the bondes found that the ice was unsound they turned back. Gregorius fell through the ice, but not very deep"
attestation: A man of Hakon's troop shot an arrow that hit Gregorius under the throat, killing him; ten men fell with him.
"A man of King Hakon's troop shot an arrow at Gregorius, which hit him under the throat, and thus ended his life. Gregorius fell, and ten men with him."
attestation: All men agreed Gregorius was the most gallant lenderman in Norway that anyone then living could remember, and behaved best towards Icelanders since King Eystein the Elder's death.
"It is the talk of all men that he had been the most gallant lenderman in Norway that any man then living could remember; and also he behaved the best towards us Icelanders of any chief since King Eystein the Elder's death."
attestation: Gregorius's body was carried to Hofund and interred at Gimsey Isle nunnery, where his sister Baugeid was abbess.
"Gregorius's body was carried to Hofund, and interred at Gimsey Isle, in a nunnery which is there, of which Gregorius's sister, Baugeid, was then the abbess."