The Heimskringla on Hakon the Good

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 40. Birth Of Hakon The Good.

• attestation: The boy Hakon grew handsome, large, and resembled his father King Harald.

  "The boy soon grew handsome, large in size, and very like his father King Harald."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 43. Hakon, The Foster-Son Of Athelstan, Is Baptized.

• attestation: Hakon was called Athelstan's foster-son, and was an accomplished skald, larger, stronger, and more beautiful than other men.

  "He was henceforth called Athelstan's foster-son. He was an accomplished skald, and he was larger, stronger and more beautiful than other men"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 1. Hakon Chosen King.

• attestation: Hakon, Athelstan's foster-son, was in England in AD 934 when he heard of his father King Harald's death and immediately prepared to depart.

  "Hakon, Athelstan's foster-son, was in England at the time (A.D. 934) he heard of his father King Harald's death, and he immediately made himself ready to depart."

• attestation: Hakon sailed north to Throndhjem and allied with Sigurd, earl of Hlader, the ablest man in Norway.

  "Hakon sailed northwards to Throndhjem, where he went to Sigurd earl of Hlader who was the ablest man in Norway."

• attestation: Hakon promised Earl Sigurd great power if Sigurd supported his bid for kingship.

  "they made a league with each other, by which Hakon promised great power to Sigurd if he was made king."

• attestation: At the Thing, people compared Hakon to a young Harald Harfager reborn when they heard him speak.

  "the people said to each other, two and two, as they heard him, "Herald Harfager is come again, grown and young.""

• attestation: Hakon offered the bondes udal rights to their own land in exchange for their support, winning unanimous approval.

  "He promised, on the other hand, to make all the bondes udal-holders, and give every man udal rights to the land he lived on."

• attestation: The Throndhjem people accepted fifteen-year-old Hakon as king, and he assembled a court and bodyguard.

  "the Throndhjem people took Hakon, who was then fifteen years old, for king; and he took a court or bodyguard, and servants, and proceeded through the country."

• comparison: Word spread rapidly through Norway that unlike Harald who made the people vassals and unfree, Hakon wished well to every man and offered to restore udal rights.

  "Harald had made all the people of the land vassals, and unfree; but this Hakon wished well to every man, and offered the bondes to give them their udal rights again"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 2. King Hakon'S Progress Through The Country.

• attestation: In early winter 935, King Hakon went to the Uplands and was proclaimed king at every Thing he attended.

  "Early in winter (935), the king went to the Uplands, and summoned the people to a Thing; and there streamed all to him who could come. He was proclaimed king at every Thing"

• attestation: Hakon then proceeded east to Viken where Trygve, Gudrod, and many others came to complain about Eirik's tyranny.

  "he proceeded eastward to Viken, where his brother's sons, Trygve and Gudrod, and many others, came unto him, and complained of the sorrow and evil his brother Eirik had wrought."

• attestation: Hakon gave Trygve the title of king over Ranrike and Vingulmark, and Gudrod the title of king over Vestfold.

  "King Hakon gave Trygve and Gudrod the title of kings, and the dominions which King Harald had bestowed on their fathers. Trygve got Ranrike and Vingulmark, and Gudrod, Vestfold"

• attestation: Since Trygve and Gudrod were still children, Hakon appointed able men to govern their domains and gave them half the scat and revenues.

  "as they were young, and in the years of childhood, he appointed able men to rule the land for them. He gave them the country on the same conditions as it had been given before,--that they should have half of the scat and revenues with him."

• attestation: Toward spring, King Hakon returned north over the Uplands to Throndhjem.

  "Towards spring King Hakon returned north, over the Uplands, to Throndhjem."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 3. Eirik'S Departure From The Country.

• attestation: Hakon assembled a great army at Throndhjem in early spring; the people of Viken also raised forces to join him against Eirik.

  "King Hakon, early in spring, collected a great army at Throndhjem, and fitted out ships. The people of Viken also had a great force on foot, and intended to join Hakon."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 6. Battle In Jutland.

• attestation: After Eirik's departure, King Hakon subdued all of Norway and generally stayed in the western and central districts (Fjord, Sogn, Hordaland, Rogaland) while Earl Sigurd governed Throndhjem.

  "King Hakon, Athelstan's foster-son, subdued the whole of Norway. The first winter (A.D. 936) he visited the western parts, and then went north, and settled in Throndhjem."

• attestation: Learning of Eirik's death and his sons' lack of foothold in England, Hakon went east to Viken and then pursued Danish raiders to Jutland.

  "When King Hakon heard of his brother Eirik's death, and also that his sons had no footing in England, he thought there was not much to fear from them, and he went with his troops one summer eastward to Viken."

• attestation: Hakon chased Danish plunderers from Viken to Halland and then across to Jutland, where he plundered the coast.

  "when they heard that King Hakon was come with a great army, they got out of the way, to Halland; and those who were nearest to King Hakon went out to sea, and over to Jotland (Jutland)."

• attestation: In a great battle in Jutland, Hakon fought so boldly that he went before his banner without helmet or mail, and won decisively.

  "King Hakon fought so boldly, that he went forward before his banner without helmet or coat of mail. King Hakon won the victory, and drove the fugitives far up the country."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 7. Battle In Eyrarsund (The Sound).

• attestation: Hakon sailed southward to Sealand seeking vikings, rowing two cutters into the Eyrarsund (the Sound).

  "Then Hakon steered southwards with his fleet to seek the vikings, and so on to Sealand. He rowed with two cutters into the Eyrarsund"

• attestation: With only two ships, Hakon attacked eleven Vindland viking ships and defeated them all, clearing their decks.

  "he found eleven viking ships, and instantly attacked them. It ended in his gaining the victory, and clearing the viking ships of all their men."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 8. King Hakon'S Expedition To Denmark.

• attestation: Hakon plundered and raided widely in Sealand, killing some, taking prisoners, and collecting ransoms without opposition.

  "Thereafter King Hakon carried war far and wide in Sealand; plundering some, slaying others, taking some prisoners of war, taking ransom from others, and all without opposition."

• attestation: Hakon proceeded along the coast of Skane, pillaging and killing Danish and Vindish vikings, then went east to Gautland and extracted great ransom.

  "Then Hakon proceeded along the coast of Skane, pillaging everywhere, levying taxes and ransome from the country, and killing all vikings, both Danish and Vindish. He then went eastwards to the district of Gautland, marauded there, and took great ransom from the country."

• attestation: Hakon returned in autumn AD 946 with immense booty and spent the winter in Viken defending against Danes and Gautlanders.

  "King Hakon returned back in autumn with his army and an immense booty; and remained all the winter (A.D. 946) in Viken to defend it against the Danes and Gautlanders"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 9. Of King Trygve.

• attestation: In spring AD 946, Hakon went north and set his nephew King Trygve over Viken to defend it, giving him property and Danish territories subject to scat.

  "In spring (A.D. 946) King Hakon went north, and set his brother's son, King Trygve, over Viken to defend that country against enemies."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 11. King Hakon As A Law-Giver.

• attestation: During Hakon's reign in Norway there was good peace, with no harm done to life or goods between bondes and merchants

  "As long as Hakon was king in Norway, there was good peace between the bondes and merchants; so that none did harm either to the life or goods of the other."

• attestation: Hakon was remarkably cheerful, clever in words, condescending, and a man of great understanding

  "King Hakon was of a remarkably cheerful disposition, clever in words, and very condescending. He was a man of great understanding also"

• attestation: Hakon established the Gula-thing's laws on the advice of Thorleif Spake and the Frosta-thing's laws on the advice of Earl Sigurd

  "He gave out the Gula-thing's laws on the advice of Thorleif Spake (the Wise); also the Frosta-thing's laws on the advice of Earl Sigurd, and of other Throndhjem men of wisdom."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 12. The Birth Of Earl Hakon The Great.

• attestation: King Hakon poured water over the boy and gave him his own name; the child grew up to be a mighty earl after his father

  "King Hakon poured water over, and gave him his own name. The boy grew up, and became in his day a mighty and able man, and was earl after his father"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 14. Jamtaland And Helsingjaland.

• attestation: The Jamtaland people freely submitted to Hakon, preferring his Norwegian rule over Swedish authority because of his good character.

  "they saw nothing but what was good in him, and being of Norwegian race they would rather stand under his royal authority than under the king of Sweden"

• attestation: Hakon gave the Jamtaland and Helsingjaland people laws and rights to their land after they pledged obedience and taxes.

  "he gave them laws, and rights to their land. All the people of Helsingjaland did the same"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 15. Hakon Spreads Christianity.

• attestation: Hakon was a good Christian upon arriving in Norway but practiced his faith privately because the country was entirely heathen.

  "King Hakon was a good Christian when he came to Norway; but as the whole country was heathen, with much heathenish sacrifice, and as many great people, as well as the favour of the common people, were to be conciliated, he resolved to practice his Christianity in private."

• attestation: Hakon kept Sundays and Friday fasts privately, and observed some major holy days.

  "But he kept Sundays, and the Friday fasts, and some token of the greatest holy-days."

• attestation: Hakon enacted a law aligning the Yule festival with the Christian Christmas; previously Yule began at mid-winter (December 14) with slaughter night and lasted three days.

  "He made a law that the festival of Yule should begin at the same time as Christian people held it, and that every man, under penalty, should brew a meal of malt into ale, and therewith keep the Yule holy as long as it lasted."

• attestation: Hakon first tried to convert those closest to him; many accepted baptism out of friendship, and some abandoned sacrifices.

  "He went to work first by enticing to Christianity the men who were dearest to him; and many, out of friendship to him, allowed themselves to be baptized, and some laid aside sacrifices."

• attestation: Hakon sent to England for a bishop and priests; when they arrived, he consecrated churches and installed priests in Throndhjem.

  "he sent a message to England for a bishop and other teachers; and when they arrived in Norway, Hakon made it known that he would proclaim Christianity over all the land."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 17. The Frosta-Thing.

• attestation: King Hakon came to the Frosta-thing, attended by a vast multitude from all districts of the Throndhjem country.

  "King Hakon came to the Frosta-thing, at which a vast multitude of people were assembled."

• attestation: Hakon publicly urged all people -- great and small, rich and poor, men and women -- to accept baptism, believe in Christ, abandon sacrifices and heathen gods, keep the seventh day holy, and fast on the seventh day.

  "they should all allow themselves to be baptized, and should believe in one God, and in Christ the son of Mary and refrain from all sacrifices and heathen gods; and should keep holy the seventh day, and abstain from all work on it, and keep a fast on the seventh day."

• attestation: The bondes responded with great murmur, complaining the king wanted to take their labor and old faith, and that the land could not be cultivated under such restrictions.

  "They complained that the king wanted to take their labour and their old faith from them, and the land could not be cultivated in that way."

• attestation: Laborers and slaves protested they could not work without meat, and criticized King Hakon's family as generous with money but stingy with food.

  "The labouring men and slaves thought that they could not work if they did not get meat; and they said it was the character of King Hakon, and his father, and all the family, to be generous enough with their money, but sparing with their diet."

• attestation: The bondes' core argument was that they elected Hakon to restore their udal rights, not to impose a foreign faith by force.

  "We bondes, King Hakon, when we elected thee to be our king, and got back our udal rights at the Thing held in Throndhjem, thought we had got into heaven"

• attestation: The bondes pledged to follow Hakon as king, obey his laws, and stand by him as long as a living man remained -- provided he used moderation.

  "we will follow thee, and have thee for our king, as long as there is a living man among us bondes here in this Thing assembled. But thou, king, must use some moderation towards us"

• attestation: The bondes demanded that King Hakon offer sacrifice for peace and a good year, following the custom of his father.

  "The bondes replied, that it was their desire that the king should offer a sacrifice for peace and a good year, as his father was want to do"

• attestation: The Frosta-thing concluded around 950 AD with Hakon and Sigurd agreeing to accommodate the bondes' insistence on traditional sacrifice.

  "And in this resolution the king and earl agreed (A.D. 950)."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 18. King Hakon Offers Sacrifices.

• attestation: A harvest sacrifice festival was held at Hlader, and King Hakon attended despite his custom of eating separately during such pagan gatherings.

  "there was a festival of sacrifice at Hlader, and the king came to it. It had always been his custom before, when he was present at a place where there was sacrifice, to take his meals in a little house by himself"

• attestation: The bondes pressured Hakon to sit in his high-seat at the sacrifice feast, and Earl Sigurd persuaded the king to comply.

  "the bondes grumbled that he did not seat himself in his high-seat at these the most joyous of the meetings of the people. The earl said that the king should do so this time."

• attestation: The bondes pressed Hakon to eat horse-flesh, then to drink the soup, then to taste the gravy, but he refused all, nearly provoking violence.

  "the bondes pressed the king strongly to eat of horse-flesh; and as he would on no account do so, they wanted him to drink of the soup; and as he would not do this, they insisted he should at least taste the gravy; and on his refusal they were going to lay hands on him."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 19. Feast Of The Sacrifice At More.

• attestation: King Hakon prepared a Yule feast in More where eight chiefs conspired to meet, four from outside Throndhjem and four from within.

  "The winter thereafter the king prepared a Yule feast in More, and eight chiefs resolved with each other to meet at it."

• attestation: The eight chiefs split their conspiracy: four pledged to root out Christianity in Norway, and four to force the king to sacrifice to the gods.

  "These eight men bound themselves, the four first to root out Christianity in Norway, and the four others to oblige the king to offer sacrifice to the gods."

• attestation: At the More feast, Hakon was forced to eat horse-liver and drink the bondes' goblets without making the sign of the cross.

  "the king took some bits of horse-liver, and emptied all the goblets the bondes filled for him without the sign of the cross"

• attestation: After the feast, Hakon angrily threatened to return to Throndhjem with armed forces, but Earl Sigurd counseled restraint since Throndhjem was where Norway's strength lay.

  "Earl Sigurd entreated the king not to take it amiss of the bondes; adding, that it was not wise to threaten them, or to make war upon the people within the country, and especially in the Throndhjem district, where the strength of the land lay"

• attestation: Hakon withdrew south to More for the rest of the winter and into spring, assembling men with reported intent to attack the Throndhjem people around 950 AD.

  "He went out from Throndhjem, and proceeded south to More, where he remained the rest of the winter, and on to the spring season (A.D. 950); and when summer came he assembled men"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 20. Battle At Ogvaldsnes.

• attestation: Just as Hakon prepared to move against the Throndhjem people, he received news that Eirik's sons had arrived from Denmark to Viken and driven King Trygve Olafson from his ships at Sotanes.

  "King Eirik's sons had come from Denmark to Viken and had driven King Trygve Olafson from his ships at Sotanes, and then had plundered far and wide around in Viken"

• attestation: Hakon sailed south along the coast, learned that Eirik's sons had reached North Agder, and the two forces met at Kormt where they fought at Ogvaldsnes.

  "he heard that Eirik's sons were come to North Agder. Then they advanced against each other, and met at Kormt. Both parties left their ships there, and gave battle at Ogvaldsnes."

• attestation: Hakon pursued Gunhild's sons southward along the coast to East Agder, from where they fled by sea to Jutland around 950 AD.

  "both parties sailed all they could sail, until they came to East Adger, from whence Eirik's sons set out to sea, and southwards for Jutland (A.D. 950)."

• attestation: After Hakon's victory at Ogvaldsnes, he returned northwards to Norway while Eirik's sons remained in Denmark for an extended period.

  "King Hakon returned then northwards to Norway, but Eirik's sons remained a long time in Denmark."

• attestation: The battle at Ogvaldsnes was a large engagement where both sides brought great forces and fought fiercely.

  "Both parties had a great force, and it was a great battle. King Hakon went forward bravely"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 21. King Hakon'S Laws.

• attestation: After the battle at Ogvaldsnes, King Hakon established a law dividing all inhabited coastal land into ship-raths by district, specifying the number and size of ships each district must provide.

  "King Hakon after this battle made a law, that all inhabited land over the whole country along the sea-coast, and as far back from it as the salmon swims up in the rivers, should be divided into ship-raths according to the districts"

• attestation: The ship-rath system obligated all inhabitants to mobilize whenever a foreign army came to the country.

  "For this outfit the whole inhabitants should be bound whenever a foreign army came to the country."

• attestation: Hakon also ordered a system of beacon fires on hilltops so that a war-signal could travel from the southernmost beacon to the northernmost Thing-seat in Halogaland in seven days.

  "beacons should be erected upon the hills, so that every man could see from the one to the other; and it is told that a war-signal could thus be given in seven days, from the most southerly beacon to the most northerly Thing-seat in Halogaland"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 22. Concerning Eirik'S Sons.

• attestation: Eirik's sons plundered the Baltic coasts and sometimes Norway, but Hakon's reign brought general good peace, good seasons, and he was the most beloved of kings.

  "so long as Hakon ruled over Norway there was in general good peace, and good seasons, and he was the most beloved of kings."

• attestation: After about twenty years of Hakon's rule (954 AD), Eirik's sons came from Denmark with a powerful army supplemented by a still greater Danish force provided by King Harald Gormson.

  "When Hakon had reigned about twenty years in Norway (A.D. 954), Eirik's sons came from Denmark with a powerful army, of which a great part consisted of the people who had followed them on their expeditions; but a still greater army of Danes had been placed at their disposal by King Harald Gormson."

• attestation: The beacon warning system failed because Hakon had imposed heavy penalties for false alarms, and previous false signals from viking raids had made the bondes skeptical.

  "the beacons were not fired, because it had been usual to look for them lighted from the east onwards, and nobody had observed them from the east coast; and besides King Hakon had set heavy penalties for giving false alarm"

• attestation: King Hakon was at Birkistrand on the island of Frede in North More with only his bodyguard and local bondes when news of the invasion reached him.

  "King Hakon was at that time in the island Frede, in North More, at a place called Birkistrand, where he had a dwelling-house, and had no troops with him, only his bodyguard or court, and the neighbouring bondes he had invited to his house."

• attestation: The recurring false beacon alarms from viking raids had cost the country trouble and money, and left the bondes frustrated with the warning system.

  "The bondes also suffered by these false alarms when they were given uselessly"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 23. Of Egil Ulserk.

• attestation: Spies informed King Hakon that Eirik's sons lay with a great army just south of Stad, prompting a council of war.

  "The spies came to King Hakon, and told him that Eirik's sons, with a great army, lay just to the south of Stad."

• attestation: Hakon declared he was most inclined to fight, sent out war-arrows to summon reinforcements, and gathered men in all haste.

  "the king himself declared he was most inclined to fight with such strength as they could gather. It was so determined. The king split up a war-arrow, which he sent off in all directions"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 24. Battle At Fredarberg.

• attestation: Eirik's sons sailed north around Stad and found King Hakon with nine ships under Fredarberg in Feeysund, while they had twenty ships on the south side of the same cape.

  "King Hakon had nine ships, with which he lay under Fredarberg in Feeysund; and Eirik's sons had twenty ships, with which they brought up on the south side of the same cape, in Feeysund."

• attestation: Hakon challenged Eirik's sons to fight on land at Rastarkalf, a flat field at the foot of a ridge which he had marked out with hazel boughs as a combat ground.

  "King Hakon sent them a message, asking them to go upon the land; and telling them that he had hedged in with hazel boughs a place of combat at Rastarkalf"

• attestation: Hakon drew up his army in a long line to prevent being surrounded by the larger enemy force.

  "Let us draw up in a long line, that they may not surround us, as they have the most men."

• attestation: Hakon pursued the fleeing enemy vigorously, killing many as they routed.

  "King Hakon now pushes on briskly with his people, pursuing the flying, and killing many."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 25. Of King Gamle.

• attestation: Hakon engaged Gamle's regrouped forces and now held numerical advantage, pressing the attack with sharp conflict.

  "when King Hakon and his men came thither, there was again sharp conflict; but now Hakon had most people."

• attestation: Eirik's sons' forces retreated south along the hill; Hakon pursued relentlessly, trapping and killing some who fled west over a steep ridge, and not stopping until the last man was killed.

  "Gamle's men retreated towards this ground; but Hakon followed so closely that he killed some, and others ran west over the ridge, and were killed on that side of it. King Hakon did not part with them till the last man of them was killed."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 26. King Gamle And Ulserk Fall.

• attestation: King Hakon then arrived with his main force and fought with devastating ferocity, cutting men down on both sides and killing one upon another.

  "King Hakon pushed on, cutting down men on both sides of him, and killing the one upon the top of the other."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 27. Egil Ulserk'S Burial-Ground.

• attestation: Hakon seized the ships abandoned by Eirik's sons on the beach and had them dragged ashore.

  "King Hakon took all the ships of the sons of Eirik that had been left upon the strand, and had them drawn quite up, and brought on the land."

• attestation: Hakon ordered Egil Ulserk and his fallen warriors buried in ships covered with earth and stones.

  "Then he ordered that Egil Ulserk, and all the men of his army who had fallen, should be laid in the ships, and covered entirely over with earth and stones."

• attestation: Ship burial mounds from this battle are visible south of Fredarberg.

  "King Hakon made many of the ships to be drawn up to the field of battle, and the hillocks over them are to be seen to the present day a little to the south of Fredarberg."

• attestation: Eyvind Skaldaspiller's verse credits Hakon with driving Eirik's sons and their Guatland host out to sea.

  "Proud swelled our warriors' hearts when he Drove Eirik's sons out to the sea, With all their Guatland host: but now Our warriors weep--Hakon lies low!"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 28. News Of War Comes To King Hakon.

• attestation: Hakon Athelstan's foster-son had been king for twenty-six years after his brother Eirik left Norway.

  "King Hakon, Athelstan's foster-son, had been king for twenty-six years after his brother Eirik had left the country"

• attestation: Around 960 AD, Hakon was feasting at Fitjar on the island Stord in Hordaland.

  "it happened (A.D.

960. that he was at a feast in Hordaland in the house at Fitjar on the island Stord"

• attestation: Hakon's watchmen observed many warships approaching from the south while the king was at supper.

  "just as the king was seated at the supper-table, his watchmen who were outside observed many ships coming sailing along from the south"

• attestation: Hakon had imposed heavy penalties on those who raised false war alarms, making his men reluctant to report the approaching fleet.

  "none thought it advisable to be the bearer of an alarm of war to the king, as he had set heavy penalties on those who raised such alarms falsely"

• attestation: Hakon praised Eyvind's bravery, saying he was too brave a fellow to bring false alarms.

  "Thou art too brave a fellow, Eyvind, to bring us any false alarm of war."

• attestation: Hakon considered retreating northward by ship but acknowledged they faced a much greater force than ever before.

  "we must now fight against a much greater force than we ever had against us before; although we thought just the same the last time we fought against Gunhild's sons."

• attestation: Hakon's men declared they would rather fall bravely than flee before the Danes.

  "they answered that they would rather fall bravely and like men, than fly before the Danes; adding, that they had often gained the victory against greater odds of numbers."

• attestation: Hakon armed himself with the sword Kvernbit, a gilt helmet, a spear called Kesja, and a shield.

  "The king put on his armour, and girded on his sword Kvernbit, and put a gilt helmet upon his head, and took a spear (Kesja) in his hand, and a shield by his side."

• attestation: Hakon organized his court retainers and bondes into one body and raised his banner for battle.

  "He then drew up his courtmen and the bondes in one body, and set up his banner."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 29. The Armament Of Eirik'S Sons.

• attestation: Eirik's sons had a six-to-one numerical advantage over Hakon's forces at Stord.

  "it is said that their force was not less than six to one,--so much stronger in men were Eirik's sons."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 30. King Hakon'S Battle Array.

• attestation: Hakon threw off his armour before the battle began, as recorded in Eyvind Skaldaspiller's Hakonarmal.

  "he threw off his armour before the battle began. So sings Eyvind Skaldaspiller, in Hakmarmal"

• attestation: Hakon chose strong and brave men for his personal guard, following the practice of his father King Harald.

  "King Hakon selected willingly such men for his guard or court-men as were distinguished for their strength and bravery, as his father King Harald also used to do"

• attestation: Hakon and Thoralf advanced ahead of the banner in battle, cutting down enemies on both sides.

  "Then King Hakon, and Thoralf with him, went in advance of the banner, cutting down on both sides of them."

• attestation: Eyvind Skaldaspiller's verse describes Hakon's sword cleaving helmets like ice and splitting Gotland warriors' armor.

  "About each Gotland war-man's head Helm splits, like ice beneath the tread, Cloven by the axe or sharp swordblade"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 31. Fall Of Skreyja And Askman.

• attestation: Hakon was conspicuous in battle because the sun glanced off his helmet, drawing many weapons toward him.

  "King Hakon was very conspicuous among other men, and also when the sun shone his helmet glanced, and thereby many weapons were directed at him."

• attestation: Hakon shouted back at Eyvind Skreyja, challenging him to come and find the king of the Norsemen.

  "King Hakon shouted to Eyvind, "Come on as thou art coming, and thou shalt find the king of the Norsemen.""

• attestation: Hakon killed Eyvind Skreyja with his sword Kvernbit, hewing through helm and head down to the shoulders with a two-handed blow.

  "Now the king takes his sword Kvernbit with both hands, and hewed Eyvind through helm and head, and clove him down to the shoulders."

• attestation: After the deaths of Eyvind Skreyja and Alf Askman, Eirik's sons' army broke and fled.

  "After this fall of the two brothers, King Hakon pressed on so hard that all men gave way before his assault. Now fear came over the army of Eirik's sons, and the men began to fly"

• attestation: Hakon was struck by an arrow called a "flein" in his arm below the shoulder during the pursuit.

  "Then flew an arrow, one of the kind called "flein", into Hakon's arm, into the muscles below the shoulder"

• attestation: Others say nobody could tell who shot Hakon, which the author considers most likely given the density of missiles.

  "Others again say that nobody could tell who shot the king, which is indeed the most likely; for spears, arrows, and all kinds of missiles flew as thick as a snow-drift."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 32. Hakon'S Death.

• attestation: Hakon's wound bled so heavily that it could not be stopped, and he weakened as the day wore on.

  "the blood ran from it so much and so constantly, that it could not be stopped; and when the day was drawing to an end his strength began to leave him."

• attestation: Hakon wished to travel to his house at Alreksstader but only made it as far as Hakonarhella Hill before becoming nearly lifeless.

  "he told his men that he wanted to go northwards to his house at Alreksstader; but when he came north, as far as Hakonarhella Hill, they put in towards the land, for by this time the king was almost lifeless."

• attestation: Hakon had only one child, a daughter named Thora, and no son.

  "He had only one child, a daughter, called Thora, and had no son."

• attestation: On his deathbed Hakon asked his men to send word to Eirik's sons that they should be kings over Norway.

  "Now he told them to send a message to Eirik's sons, that they should be kings over the country"

• attestation: Hakon expressed a wish to leave Norway for a Christian land and do penance if he survived.

  "if fate," added he, "should prolong my life, I will, at any rate, leave the country, and go to a Christian land, and do penance for what I have done against God"

• attestation: Hakon died at the little hill on the shore-side where he had been born.

  "Shortly afterwards Hakon expired, at the little hill on the shore-side at which he was born."

• attestation: Hakon was mourned by both friends and enemies, who said Norway would never see such a king again.

  "So great was the sorrow over Hakon's death, that he was lamented both by friends and enemies; and they said that never again would Norway see such a king."

• attestation: Hakon was buried in a great mound at Saeheim in North Hordaland, in full armour and best clothes but with no other goods.

  "His friends removed his body to Saeheim, in North Hordaland, and made a great mound, in which they laid the king in full armour and in his best clothes, but with no other goods."

• attestation: Hakon's followers spoke over his grave in heathen fashion and wished him in Valhalla.

  "They spoke over his grave, as heathen people are used to do, and wished him in Valhal."

• attestation: In Hakonarmal, Hakon questions why the ruler of battles dealt victory so harshly at Stord.

  "Thoughtful, said Hakon, 'Tell me why Ruler of battles, victory Is so dealt out on Stord's red plain? Have we not well deserved to gain?'"

• attestation: Hakon reproached Odin for snatching him from victory, but Odin told him to enjoy the joy of Valhalla.

  "'Methinks,' said he, great Odin's will Is harsh, and bodes me further ill; Thy son from off the field to-day From victory to snatch away!' But Odin said, 'Be thine the joy Valhal gives, my own brave boy!'"

• attestation: Bragi told Hakon that eight brothers welcomed him to Valhalla's cheer.

  "And Brage said, 'Eight brothers here Welcome thee to Valhal's cheer, To drain the cup, or fights repeat Where Hakon Eirik's earls beat.'"

• attestation: Hakon asked to keep his gear — helm, sword, mail-coat, axe, and spear — in Valhalla.

  "Quoth the stout king, 'And shall my gear, Helm, sword, and mail-coat, axe and spear, Be still at hand! 'Tis good to hold Fast by our trusty friends of old.'"

• attestation: The poem praises Hakon for having saved the temples from harm, earning welcome from the whole council of the gods.

  "Well was it seen that Hakon still Had saved the temples from all ill (1); For the whole council of the gods Welcomed the king to their abodes."

• attestation: Hakon, though Christian, favored the old religion and spared Odin's temples, earning his place in Valhalla.

  "Hakon, although a Christian, appears to have favoured the old religion, and spared the temples of Odin, and therefore a place in Valhal is assigned him."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 1. Government Of The Sons Of Eirik.

• attestation: After Hakon's death, Eirik's sons took sovereignty of Norway, with Harald as the eldest and highest in dignity.

  "When King Hakon was killed, the sons of Eirik took the sovereignty of Norway. Harald, who was the oldest of the living brothers, was over them in dignity."

• attestation: Earl Sigurd negotiated to receive the same power in Throndhjem under Gunhild's sons as he had held under Hakon.

  "Earl Sigurd was to get the same power in the Throndhjem land which he had possessed under King Hakon, and on that they considered themselves at peace."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 6. History Of Hakon, Sigurd'S Son.

• attestation: Earl Sigurd was killed two years after King Hakon's fall, around 962 AD.

  "Earl Sigurd was killed two years after the fall of King Hakon (A.D. 962)."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 147. Of The Jamtaland People.

• attestation: Under Hakon Athelstan's foster-son, the Jamtalanders voluntarily submitted to Norwegian rule and paid scat.

  "While Hakon Athelstan's foster-son was over Norway there was peace, and merchant traffic from Throndhjem to Jamtaland; and, as he was an excellent king, the Jamtalanders came from the east to him, paid him scat, and he gave them laws"

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 17. Of The Free-Speaking Song ("Bersoglisvisur").

• comparison: Sigvat held up Hakon the Good, who died at Fitjar, as a model king who rejected viking rule and won the people's love through just laws

  "Hakon, who at Fitiar died,-- Hakon the Good, could not abide The viking rule, or robber train, And all men's love he thus did gain. The people since have still in mind The laws of Hakon, just and kind"