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The Heimskringla on Halfred Vandraedaskald

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 22. Olaf Trygvason'S Marriage.

attribution: Halfred Vandredaskald composed a lay about King Olaf describing his exploits in Bornholm and the East.

"Halfred Vandredaskald tells of these matters in the lay he composed about King Olaf"

attribution: Halfred Vandredaskald described Olaf's campaigns against the Vindland men, Gotlanders, Scania, and Jamtaland men in verse.

"So says Halfred Vandredaskald:--"

attribution: Halfred Vandredaskald composed a verse about Olaf's role in the battle against the Danes.

"This battle is related also by Halfred Vandredaskald in his song on Olaf"

attribution: Halfred Vandredaskald described Olaf's raids on Frisland, Saxland, and Flanders in verse, calling him 'the raven-friend in Odin's dress.'

"The raven-friend in Odin's dress-- Olaf, who foes can well repress, Left Flemish flesh for many a meal With his broad axe of shining steel."

attribution: Halfred Vandredaskald composed a verse recounting Olaf's raids on England, Scotland, Man, the Isles, Ireland, Bretland, and Cumberland.

"Thus tells Halfred Vandraskald of these events"

attestation: Halfred met King Olaf in the street and identified himself as a skald who could compose poetry.

"he who went the foremost saluted the king. The king asked the man his name, and he called himself Halfred.

"Art thou the skald?" said the king.

"I can compose poetry," replied he"

attestation: Halfred agreed to baptism only on the condition that King Olaf personally serve as his godfather.

""If I am baptized," replies he, "it must be on one condition,--that thou thyself art my godfather; for no other will I have.""
attestation: Halfred had previously been in Earl Hakon's court and demanded the king promise never to drive him away.

""I was formerly in Earl Hakon's court; but now I will neither enter into thine nor into any other service, unless thou promise me it shall never be my lot to be driven away from thee.""
attribution: Snorri credits Halfred's lays as the primary source for the accounts of Olaf Trygvason recorded in Heimskringla.

"Out of Halfred's lays we have taken the most of the true and faithful accounts that are here related about Olaf Trygvason"

attestation: The skald Halfred Vandredaskald came from Gautland where he had been with Earl Ragnvald, Ulf's son, who was nephew to Sigrid the Haughty and cousin to Swedish King Olaf.

"Halfred Vandredaskald had come from Gautland, where he had been with Earl Ragnvald, Ulf's son, who had lately come to the government of West Gautland. Ulf, Ragnvald's father, was a brother of Sigurd the Haughty; so that King Olaf the Swede and Earl Ragnvald were brother's and sister's children."
attestation: Halfred reported that Earl Ragnvald was an able, generous, brave chief who desired King Olaf's friendship and wished to marry Ingebjorg.

"he said he was an able chief, excellently fitted for governing, generous with money, brave and steady in friendship. Halfred said also the earl desired much the friendship of King Olaf, and had spoken of making court Ingebjorg, Trygve's daughter."

attestation: The skald Halfred composed a verse recording Olaf's defiant speech, declaring that the king's brave words to his champions would be told far and wide and never forgotten.

"And far and wide the saying bold Of the brave warrior shall be told. The king, in many a fray well tried, To his brave champions round him cried, 'My men shall never learn from me From the dark weapon-cloud to flee.'"