The Heimskringla on Harald Sigurdson

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 75. King Olaf'S Half-Brothers.

• attestation: Young Harald played with wood chips as warships while his brothers built farmsteads.

  "Harald was busy with chips of wood, sailing them, in his sport along the edge. The king asked him what these were; and he answered, these were his ships of war"

• attestation: Harald desired house-servants in such numbers that they would consume Halfdan's cows in a single meal.

  "so many I would like to have as would eat up my brother Halfdan's cows at a single meal"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 207. Of Harald Sigurdson'S Proceedings.

• attestation: When news of Olaf's return reached Norway, his friends gathered; the most distinguished was Harald Sigurdson, Olaf's half-brother, who was fifteen years old but stout and manly as a full-grown man.

  "The most distinguished man in this flock was Harald Sigurdson, a brother of King Olaf, who then was fifteen years of age, very stout, and manly of growth as if he were full-grown."

• attestation: Harald led 600 men from the Uplands eastward through Eid forest to Vermaland, then through forests into Sweden to find King Olaf.

  "there were in all 600 men when they proceeded from the uplands, and went eastward with their force through Eid forest to Vermaland."

• attestation: Many other brave men besides Harald gathered to support King Olaf's cause, forming a force that crossed through Eid forest and into Sweden to locate him.

  "Many other brave men were there also; and there were in all 600 men when they proceeded from the uplands, and went eastward with their force through Eid forest to Vermaland."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 221. King Olaf Comes To Stiklestad.

• attestation: Harald declared he would tie the sword-handle to his hand if he was too weak, and composed a verse vowing to hold his wing with heart and hand and bring his mother a blood-stained shield.

  ""Certainly I shall be in the battle, for I am not so weak that I cannot handle the sword; and as to that, I have a notion of tying the sword-handle to my hand.""

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 245. Of The King'S Brother, Harald Sigurdson.

• attestation: Harald Sigurdson was severely wounded at Stiklestad and rescued by Ragnvald Brusason, who brought him to a bonde who healed his wounds in secret.

  "Harald Sigurdson was severely wounded; but Ragnvald Brusason brought him to a bonde's the night after the battle, and the bonde took in Harald, and healed his wound in secret"

• attestation: Harald was fifteen years old when King Olaf fell at Stiklestad.

  "Harald Sigurdson was fifteen years old when King Olaf fell."

• attestation: Harald and Ragnvald traveled secretly over the mountains through waste forests to Jamtaland, then east to King Jarisleif in Russia.

  "They went secretly over the mountains, and through the waste forests, and came out in Jamtaland."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 5. Harald'S Expedition In The Land Of The Saracens (Serkland).

• attestation: When the whole Greek army assembled for summer campaigns, Harald kept his men out of the main fighting under pretense of saving them, but fought desperately when commanding alone.

  "When the whole army was thus assembled Harald kept his men out of the battle, or wherever he saw the least danger, under pretext of saving his men; but where he was alone with his own men only, he fought so desperately that they must either come off victorious or die."

• attestation: Harald's independent victories made the troops insist he should be sole commander, while Gyrger the Greek general accomplished nothing on his own.

  "It thus happened often that when he commanded the army he gained victories, while Gyrger could do nothing. The troops observed this, and insisted they would be more successful if Harald alone was chief of the whole army"

• attestation: After the split, Harald always gained victories and booty with the Varangians and Latin men, while the Greeks returned to Constantinople having accomplished little.

  "Then it was seen what each could do. Harald always gained victories and booty; but the Greeks went home to Constantinople with their army, all except a few brave men, who, to gain booty and money, joined themselves to Harald"

• attestation: Harald went westward to Africa, which the Varangians called Serkland, where he was strengthened with many men and took eighty castles, some by surrender and others by storm.

  "He then went with his troops westward to Africa, which the Varings call Serkland, where he was strengthened with many men. In Serkland he took eighty castles, some of which surrendered, and others were stormed."

• attribution: Thiodolf the skald composed verses about Harald's African conquests, praising him for laying low eighty towers taken from the Saracen foe.

  "The serpent's bed of glowing gold He hates--the generous king, the bold! He who four score towers laid low, Ta'en from the Saracenic foe."

• attestation: After his campaigns in Africa, Harald proceeded to Sicily to continue his military conquests.

  "He then went to Sicily."

• attestation: Harald left the Greek army with the Varangians and Latin men, taking them under his sole command to pursue his own campaigns independently.

  "Harald accordingly left the army with the Varings and the Latin men, and Gyrger on his side went off with the Greek troops."

• attestation: Some brave Greeks defected from Gyrger to join Harald's command, motivated by the prospect of booty and money under his successful leadership.

  "all except a few brave men, who, to gain booty and money, joined themselves to Harald, and took him for their leader."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 6. Battle In Sicily.

• attestation: In Sicily, Harald besieged a strong and populous castle whose thick walls could not be broken, and whose defenders had ample provisions.

  "Now when Harald came to Sicily he plundered there also, and sat down with his army before a strong and populous castle. He surrounded the castle; but the walls were so thick there was no possibility of breaking into it, and the people of the castle had enough of provisions"

• attestation: Harald devised a stratagem using bird-catchers to capture small birds nesting inside the castle that flew to the woods by day for food.

  "He made his bird-catchers catch the small birds which had their nests within the castle, but flew into the woods by day to get food for their young."

• attestation: Harald had small splinters of tarred wood bound to the birds' backs, smeared with wax and sulphur, and set alight; the birds flew to their nests under the reed and straw roofs, starting a massive fire.

  "He had small splinters of tarred wood bound upon the backs of the birds, smeared these over with wax and sulphur, and set fire to them. As soon as the birds were let loose they all flew at once to the castle to their young, and to their nests, which they had under the house roofs that were covered with reeds or straw."

• attestation: The fire spread from house to house until the whole castle was in flames, forcing the defenders to come out and beg for mercy from the same army they had long defied.

  "Thus one house after the other was set on fire, until the castle itself was in flames. Then the people came out of the castle and begged for mercy; the same men who for many days had set at defiance the Greek army and its leader."

• attestation: Harald granted life and safety to all who asked quarter and made himself master of the castle.

  "Harald granted life and safety to all who asked quarter, and made himself master of the place."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 7. Battle At Another Castle.

• attestation: Harald came to another castle that was both full of people and too strong to break into, standing on a flat hard plain.

  "There was another castle before which Harald had come with his army. This castle was both full of people and so strong, that there was no hope of breaking into it. The castle stood upon a flat hard plain."

• attestation: Harald ordered a tunnel dug from a concealed stream bed to beneath the castle, with men working day and night in rotating shifts while the rest of the army feinted attacks.

  "Then Harald undertook to dig a passage from a place where a stream ran in a bed so deep that it could not be seen from the castle. They threw out all the earth into the stream, to be carried away by the water. At this work they laboured day and night, and relieved each other in gangs; while the rest of the army went the whole day against the castle"

• attestation: The tunnel emerged beneath a stone hall's floor inside the castle; the Varangians broke through towards daybreak and found castle-men eating and drinking, completely unsuspecting.

  "When they got to the end of it they dug over their heads until they came upon stones laid in lime which was the floor of a stone hall. They broke open the floor and rose into the hall. There sat many of the castle-men eating and drinking, and not in the least expecting such uninvited wolves"

• attestation: The Varangians attacked with swords, killed some defenders, and others seized the castle gate to let the whole army in; Harald took possession along with immense booty.

  "the Varings instantly attacked them sword in hand, and killed some, and those who could get away fled. The Varings pursued them; and some seized the castle gate, and opened it, so that the whole body of the army got in."

• attestation: Quarter was granted to all defenders who surrendered, and Harald found an immense booty inside the captured castle.

  "many asked quarter from the troops, which was granted to all who surrendered. In this way Harald got possession of the place, and found an immense booty in it."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 8. Battle At A Third Castle.

• attestation: The third castle Harald besieged was the greatest, strongest, richest, and most populated of all, surrounded by great ditches that prevented the tactics used on the previous castles.

  "They came to a third castle, the greatest and strongest of them all, and also the richest in property and the fullest of people. Around this castle there were great ditches, so that it evidently could not be taken by the same device as the former"

• attestation: After a long fruitless siege, the castle defenders grew bold, opened their gates, drew up on the walls, and jeered at the Varangians as unfit for battle.

  "When the castle-men saw this they became bolder, drew up their array on the castle walls, threw open the castle gates, and shouted to the Varings, urging them, and jeering at them, and telling them to come into the castle, and that they were no more fit for battle than so many poultry."

• attestation: Harald instructed his men to feign indifference, explaining that an assault would fail since the defenders could drop weapons on them from above and control all castle gates.

  "if we do make an assault we can effect nothing, as they can throw their weapons under their feet among us; and if we get in the castle with a party of our people, they have it in their power to shut them in. and shut out the others; for they have all the castle gates beset with men."

• attestation: Harald ordered his men to go unarmed onto the plain nearest the castle, playing games to show contempt for the defenders, while staying out of bow-shot.

  "Our men shall go out upon the plain nearest to the castle; taking care, however, to keep out of bow-shot. All our men shall go unarmed, and be playing with each other, so that the castle-men may see we do not regard them or their array."

• attestation: This psychological stratagem of deliberate contempt went on for several days without anything happening, as Harald waited for the defenders' overconfidence to create an opening.

  "Thus it went on for some days, without anything being done."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 82. Earl Toste'S Expedition To Norway.

• attestation: Harald Sigurdson initially resisted, saying Northmen distrusted the English and had no desire for an English campaign.

  "The king replied that the Northmen had no great desire for a campaign in England, and to have English chiefs over them there. "People say," added he, "that the English are not to be trusted.""

• attestation: Harald decided to invade England in summer, sending message-tokens through all Norway ordering a levy of half of all men able to carry arms.

  "King Harald sent a message-token through all Norway and ordered out a levy of one-half of all the men in Norway able to carry arms."

• attestation: Some praised Harald's record and believed he could conquer England, while others warned that England was full of people and the Thingmen warriors each worth two of Harald's best.

  "the men-at-arms, who were called Thingmen, were so brave, that one of them was better than two of Harald's best men."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 83. Gyrd'S Dreams.

• attestation: King Harald's invasion fleet assembled at the Solunds, numbering nearly 200 warships plus provision-ships and small craft.

  "King Harald had nearly 200 ships beside provision-ships and small craft."

• attestation: Before departing Nidaros, Harald went to King Olaf's shrine, unlocked it, clipped the saint's hair and nails, then locked it and threw the keys into the Nid river (or overboard past Agdanes).

  "he went to King Olaf's shrine, unlocked it, clipped his hair and nails, and locked the shrine again, and threw the keys into the Nid."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 85. King Harald'S Dream.

• attestation: King Harald dreamt of meeting his brother King Olaf in Nidaros, who sang verses warning of Harald's impending death and that crows would feed on his corpse.

  "King Harald also dreamt one night that he was in Nidaros, and met his brother, King Olaf, who sang to him these verses"

• attestation: Before leaving Throndhjem, Harald proclaimed his son Magnus as king over Norway during his absence.

  "Before King Harald left Throndhjem, he let his son Magnus be proclaimed king and set him as king over Norway while he was absent."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 86. Battle At Scarborough.

• attestation: Harald sailed out into the ocean, landing first in Shetland and then Orkney, where he collected a great armed force and the earls Paul and Erlend, sons of Earl Thorfin.

  "he himself landed in Shetland, but a part of his fleet in the Orkney Islands. King Harald stopped but a short time in Shetland before sailing to Orkney, from whence he took with him a great armed force, and the earls Paul and Erlend, the sons of Earl Thorfin"

• attestation: Harald landed at Klifland in England, plundered the coast, and subdued it without opposition.

  "he sailed, leaving Scotland and England westward of him, and landed at a place called Klifland. There he went on shore and plundered, and brought the country in subjection to him without opposition."

• attestation: At Skardaburg (Scarborough), Harald made a great fire on a hill and pitched burning wood down into the town with forks, setting it ablaze house by house until it surrendered.

  "Then he brought up at Skardaburg, and fought with the people of the place. He went up a hill which is there, and made a great pile upon it, which he set on fire; and when the pile was in clear flame, his men took large forks and pitched the burning wood down into the town"

• attestation: Harald then sailed south to Hellornes, defeated an assembled opposing force, and gained victory.

  "the king proceeded south along the land, and brought up at Hellornes, where there came a force that had been assembled to oppose him, with which he had a battle, and gained the victory."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 87. Of Harald'S Order Of Battle.

• attestation: Harald sailed to the Humber, up the river, and landed. Two earls, Morukare and his brother Valthiof, held Jorvik (York) with an immense army.

  "Thereafter the king sailed to the Humber, and up along the river, and then he landed. Up in Jorvik were two earls, Earl Morukare, and his brother, Earl Valthiof, and they had an immense army."

• attestation: Harald drew up his battle line at the Usa river with one arm at the river's edge and the other extending along a deep, broad ditch with a morass.

  "King Harald now went on the land, and drew up his men. The one arm of this line stood at the outer edge of the river, the other turned up towards the land along a ditch; and there was also a morass, deep, broad, and full of water."

• attestation: Harald placed his banner and thickest forces next to the river, with his weakest men at the ditch. The English earls advanced slowly down the river with their troops.

  "The king's banner was next the river, where the line was thickest. It was thinnest at the ditch, where also the weakest of the men were."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 88. The Battle At The Humber.

• attestation: Harald ordered the charge sounded and advanced his banner 'Land-ravager,' making so severe an assault that the English broke into flight.

  "King Harald saw that the English array had come to the ditch against him, he ordered the charge to be sounded, and urged on his men. He ordered the banner which was called the Land-ravager to be carried before him"

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 89. Of Earl Toste.

• attestation: After the Humber victory, all people in the nearest districts submitted to Harald. He advanced to take York and positioned his army at Stamford Bridge.

  "After the battle now told of, all people in the nearest districts submitted to Harald, but some fled. Then the king advanced to take the castle, and laid his army at Stanforda-bryggiur (Stamford Bridge)"

• attestation: York's people surrendered without further resistance, sending a message offering to deliver the castle into Harald's power. A Thing was held where hostages were given.

  "The men of the castle therefore determined, in a council, to send a message to King Harald, and deliver up the castle into his power."

• attestation: Harald planned to appoint officers, give laws, and bestow fiefs at a Thing inside the castle on Monday morning.

  "A Thing was appointed within the castle early on Monday morning, and then King Harald was to name officers to rule over the town, to give out laws, and bestow fiefs."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 90. Of King Harald'S Landing.

• attestation: On Monday morning, King Harald Sigurdson divided his forces, sending two-thirds ashore and leaving one-third to guard the ships.

  "On Monday, when King Harald Sigurdson had taken breakfast, he ordered the trumpets to sound for going on shore. The army accordingly got ready, and he divided the men into the parties who should go, and who should stay behind. In every division he allowed two men to land, and one to remain behind."

• attestation: The weather was uncommonly fine and hot, so the men left their armor behind, going ashore with only shields, helmets, spears, swords, and some bows.

  "The weather was uncommonly fine, and it was hot sunshine. The men therefore laid aside their armour, and went on the land only with their shields, helmets and spears, and girt with swords"

• attestation: As they approached the castle, a great army appeared with shining shields and bright armor like 'glancing ice.' Harald halted and consulted Earl Toste about whether it was hostile.

  "a great army seemed coming against them, and they saw a cloud of dust as from horses' feet, and under it shining shields and bright armour."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 91. Of Earl Toste'S Counsel.

• attestation: Harald recognized the approaching force as hostile and acknowledged the English king was present, calling for sensible counsel.

  "Let us now fall upon some good sensible counsel; for it is not to be concealed that this is an hostile army and the king himself without doubt is here."

• attestation: Harald declared the English would have 'a hard fray' before the Norsemen gave themselves up for lost.

  "The Englishmen shall have a hard fray of it before we give ourselves up for lost."

• attestation: Toste deferred to Harald's judgment while making clear he had no wish to flee. Harald ordered the banner Land-ravager set up, carried by Frirek.

  "Then King Harald ordered his banner Land-ravager to be set up; and Frirek was the name of him who bore the banner."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 92. Of King Harald'S Army.

• attestation: Harald formed his army into a wide ring with the line bent back so both wings met, equally thick all round with shields overlapping front and rear.

  "Then King Harald arranged his army, and made the line of battle long, but not deep. He bent both wings of it back, so that they met together; and formed a wide ring equally thick all round, shield to shield"

• attestation: The king and his chosen bodyguard stood inside the circle with the banner, while Earl Toste held a separate position with a different banner.

  "The king himself and his retinue were within the circle; and there was the banner, and a body of chosen men. Earl Toste, with his retinue, was at another place, and had a different banner."

• attestation: Harald designed the ring formation specifically to counter horsemen who charge vigorously then wheel away, and ordered bowmen placed near the center.

  "The army was arranged in this way, because the king knew that horsemen were accustomed to ride forwards with great vigour, but to turn back immediately."

• attestation: Harald ordered the front rank to set spear-shafts on the ground aimed at charging horsemen's breasts, and the second rank to target the horses' breasts.

  "they who stand in the first rank shall set the spear-shaft on the ground, and the spear-point against the horseman's breast, if he rides at them; and those who stand in the second rank shall set the spear-point against the horse's breast."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 93. Of King Harald Godwinson.

• attestation: King Harald Sigurdson rode a black horse to inspect his array but the horse stumbled and he fell. He quipped: 'A fall is lucky for a traveller.'

  "He was upon a black horse, and the horse stumbled under him, so that the king fell off. He got up in haste and said, "A fall is lucky for a traveller.""

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 94. Of The Troop Of The Nobility.

• attestation: After the horseman departed, Harald Sigurdson learned the negotiator had been Harald Godwinson himself, and regretted not killing him: 'this Harald should never have carried back the tidings of our men's slaughter.'

  "That was by far too long concealed from me; for they had come so near to our army, that this Harald should never have carried back the tidings of our men's slaughter."

• attestation: Harald Sigurdson observed that the English king was 'but a little man, yet he sat firmly in his stirrups.'

  "King Harald Sigurdson observed to his men, "That was but a little man, yet he sat firmly in his stirrups.""

• attribution: Harald Sigurdson composed a battle verse calling for advance without helmets or mail-coats, relying on hearts that never knew fear.

  "Advance! advance! No helmets glance, But blue swords play In our array."

• attestation: Harald's coat of mail was called Emma; it was so long it reached to mid-leg and so strong no weapon had ever pierced it.

  "His coat of mail was called Emma; and it was so long that it reached almost to the middle of his leg, and so strong that no weapon ever pierced it."

• attribution: Harald composed a second, improved verse declaring the Norsemen fight with courage and skill standing in place of armor in 'hild's bloody field.'

  "In battle storm we seek no lee, With skulking head, and bending knee, Behind the hollow shield."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 95. Of The Beginning Of The Battle.

• attestation: The English cavalry could not break the Northmen's spear wall, so they rode in circles around the ring formation, probing for weakness.

  "It was no easy matter for the English to ride against the Northmen on account of their spears; therefore they rode in a circle around them."

• attestation: The Northmen broke formation pursuing what seemed like weak English assaults, which was a feint: the English then rode in from all sides with arrows and spears.

  "when the Northmen thought they perceived that the enemy were making but weak assaults, they set after them, and would drive them into flight; but when they had broken their shield-rampart the Englishmen rode up from all sides, and threw arrows and spears on them."

• attestation: Harald Sigurdson raged into the thickest fighting, hewing with both hands so that neither helmet nor armor could withstand him, driving the English near to flight.

  "King Harald then was in a rage, and ran out in front of the array, and hewed down with both hands; so that neither helmet nor armour could withstand him, and all who were nearest gave way before him."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 96. Fall Of King Harald.

• attestation: King Harald Sigurdson was struck by an arrow in the windpipe, which proved his death-wound. He fell along with all who had advanced with him, except those who retired with the banner.

  "King Harald Sigurdson was hit by an arrow in the windpipe, and that was his death-wound. He fell, and all who had advanced with him, except those who retired with the banner."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 100. Fall Of King Harald Godwinson.

• attestation: The Battle of Hastings occurred nineteen days after Harald Sigurdson's fall at Stamford Bridge.

  "This was the nineteenth day after the fall of King Harald Sigurdson"

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 102. Of Olaf Haraldson'S Expedition To Norway.

• relationship: Harald Sigurdson was the father of Maria, who died in Orkney.

  "Maria, a daughter of Harald Sigurdson"

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 103. Of King Harald Sigurdson.

• attestation: One year after Harald Sigurdson's fall, his body was transported from England to Nidaros and buried in Mary church, which he had built.

  "One year after King Harald's fall his body was transported from England north to Nidaros, and was buried in Mary church, which he had built"

• attestation: Harald Sigurdson was renowned above all men for wisdom, resourcefulness, boldness, bravery, and luck until his dying day.

  "King Harald distinguished himself above all other men by wisdom and resources of mind; whether he had to take a resolution suddenly for himself and others, or after long deliberation. He was, also, above all other men, bold, brave, and lucky, until his dying day"

• attestation: Harald was handsome with yellow hair, a short beard, long mustaches, and one eyebrow somewhat higher than the other; his height was five ells.

  "King Herald was a handsome man, of noble appearance; his hair and beard yellow. He had a short beard, and long mustaches. The one eyebrow was somewhat higher than the other. He had large hands (1) and feet; but these were well made. His height was five ells"

• attestation: Harald was stern and cruel in avenging opposition, equally severe to friends and foes who opposed his will.

  "He was stern and severe to his enemies, and avenged cruelly all opposition or misdeed"

• attestation: Harald was fifty years old at his death, having been fifteen at the Battle of Stiklestad alongside his brother King Olaf.

  "King Harald was fifty years old when he fell. We have no particular account of his youth before he was fifteen years old, when he was with his brother, King Olaf, at the battle of Stiklestad"

• attestation: In thirty-five years after Stiklestad, Harald was never free from care and war.

  "He lived thirty-five years after that, and in all that time was never free from care and war"

• attestation: Harald never fled from battle but used cunning to escape when greatly outnumbered, always choosing the course that proved wisest.

  "King Harald never fled from battle, but often tried cunning ways to escape when he had to do with great superiority of forces"

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 104. King Harald And King Olaf Compared.

• attestation: Harald marauded for glory and power, forcing people under his dominion, and died in another king's kingdom.

  "King Harald, again, marauded to obtain glory and power, forced all the people he could under his power, and died in another king's dominions"

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 105. King Magnus'S Death.

• attestation: After Harald Sigurdson's death, Danish king Svein declared the peace between Norway and Denmark expired, as it was only valid during their lifetimes.

  "After King Harald Sigurdson's death the Danish king Svein let it be known that the peace between the Northmen and the Danes was at an end, and insisted that the league between Harald and Svein was not for longer time than their lives"

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 3. Fashion Of King Olaf'S Court.

• attestation: Previous kings including Harald drank from deer-horns and passed ale across the fire from the high-seat.

  "King Harald, and the kings before him, used to drink out of deer-horn; and the ale was handed from the high-seat to the otherside over the fire"

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 22. Habits And Manners Of Harald'S Sons.

• attestation: King Sigurd was stout, strong, brisk in appearance, with light brown hair and an ugly mouth but otherwise well-shaped countenance, and excelled in both conversation and physical exercises.

  "King Sigurd was a stout and strong man, of a brisk appearance; he had light brown hair, an ugly mouth; but otherwise a well-shaped countenance. He was polite in his conversation beyond any man, and was expert in all exercises."

• comparison: Sigurd and Eystein were both ungovernable and restless, though Eystein was the more reasonable of the two.

  "When King Sigurd grew up he was a very ungovernable, restless man in every way; and so was King Eystein, but Eystein was the more reasonable of the two."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 26. King Inge And Sigurd Hold A Thing.

• attestation: King Sigurd killed King Eystein's court-man Harald the Viken man (a house-owner in Bergen) and the priest Jon Tapard, son of Bjarne Sigurdson.

  "King Sigurd had killed King Eystein's court-man Harald, the Viken man, who owned a house in Bergen, and also the priest Jon Tapard, a son of Bjarne Sigurdson."

• attestation: Sigurd and Inge had been co-kings of Norway for nineteen years by A.D. 1155.

  "Sigurd and Inge had then been nineteen years kings of Norway (A.D. 1155)."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 27. Of Gregorius Dagson.

• attestation: King Sigurd accused Gregorius of inventing the charges against him and threatened that the golden helmet would soon be doffed.

  "Then King Sigurd stood up and said it was a false accusation that King Inge had made against him and his brother, and insisted that Gregorius had invented it; and insinuated that it would not be long, if he had his will, before they should meet so that the golden helmet should be doffed"

• attestation: Sigurd Skrudhyrna was killed by King Sigurd's courtmen Halyard Gunnarson and Sigurd son of Eystein Trafale, reportedly by order of King Sigurd.

  "King Sigurd's courtmen, Halyard Gunnarson, and Sigurd, a son of Eystein Trafale, had killed him; and people suspected it was done by order of King Sigurd."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 28. Of King Sigurd'S Fall.

• attestation: King Sigurd sat drinking in Sigrid Saeta's house, ready for battle but not expecting an assault.

  "King Sigurd sat and drank in Sigrid Saeta's house ready for battle, although people thought it would not come to an assault at all."

• attestation: King Sigurd's men hewed down houses and most of his followers surrendered for quarter.

  "They hewed down the houses, and many of King Sigurd's men left him, and surrendered for quarter."

• attestation: Sigurd went into a loft with his gilt shield and tried to be heard, but was shot at so thickly he could not remain.

  "Then King Sigurd went up into a loft, and desired to be heard. He had a gilt shield, by which they knew him, but they would not listen to him, and shot arrows at him as thick as snow in a snow-shower"

• attestation: Sigurd and his court-man Thord Husfreyja from Viken tried to reach King Inge to beg for life, but both were instantly killed.

  "he went out from thence, and with him his court-man Thord Husfreyja from Viken. They wanted to come where King Inge was to be found, and Sigurd called to his brother King Inge, and begged him to grant him life and safety; but both Thord and Sigurd were instantly killed"

• attestation: King Sigurd was interred in the old Christ church on the holm, and King Inge gave Gregorius the ship Sigurd had owned.

  "King Sigurd was interred in the old Christ church out on the holm. King Inge gave Gregorius the ship King Sigurd had owned."

• attestation: The battle was fought on a Friday, fourteen days before Saint John the Baptist's day (June 10, 1155).

  "It was fought on a Friday, and fourteen days before Saint John the Baptist's day (June 10, 1155)."