The Heimskringla on Kalf Arnason

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 175. Thorer'S Death.

• attestation: Thorer's execution was detested both in the Uplands and in the Throndhjem country where he had many connections; Kalf Arnason took the death especially hard since Thorer had been his foster-son.

  "This deed was much detested in the Uplands, and not less in the Throndhjem country, where many of Thorer's connections were. Kalf took the death of this man much to heart, for he had been his foster-son in childhood."

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

• attestation: Kalf Arnason and all the sons of Arne were among the chiefs with King Olaf at this time.

  "There were many chiefs and lendermen at this time with King Olaf, and all the sons of Arne"

• attestation: Kalf Arnason urged Olaf to advance to Throndhjem and fight Earl Hakon despite being outnumbered.

  "Kalf Arnason urged much to advance to Throndhjem, and fight Earl Hakon, notwithstanding the difference of numbers"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 188. Death Of Aslak Fitiaskalle.

• attestation: Kalf Arnason and other lendermen deserted Olaf and went to join Earl Hakon.

  "some of his people left him; among others, Kalf Arnason, with many other lendermen and ship commanders, who all went to meet Earl Hakon"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 194. Of Kalf Arnason.

• attestation: Kalf Arnason went north with Earl Hakon to Throndhjem and was invited to enter the earl's service, but first went home to his farm at Eggja

  "Kalf Arnason went with Earl Hakon north to Throndhjem, and the earl invited him to enter into his service. Kalf said he would first go home to his farm at Eggja"

• attestation: Kalf's wife Sigrid was angry at King Olaf for ordering the killing of her first husband Olver and her two sons

  "he found his wife Sigrid much irritated; and she reckoned up all the sorrow inflicted on her, as she insisted, by King Olaf. First, he had ordered her first husband Olver to be killed."

• attribution: Kalf said it was much against his will that Thorer was killed and that he had offered a money-penalty, and that he lost his brother Arnbjorn when Grjotgard was killed

  "Kalf says, it was much against his will that Thorer was killed. "I offered money-penalty for him," says he; "and when Grjotgard was killed I lost my brother Arnbjorn at the same time.""

• attestation: Kalf came to Nidaros, agreed to enter the earl's service with great fiefs, and had the greater part of the interior Throndhjem country under him

  "Kalf did not decline the invitation, but came directly to Nidaros, and waited on the earl, who received him kindly. In their conversation it was fully agreed upon that Kalf should go into the earl's service, and should receive great fiefs."

• attestation: Kalf sailed west to England in spring after hearing King Canute would travel from Denmark to England

  "Kalf rigged out a ship that belonged to him, and when she was ready he put to sea, and sailed west to England; for he had heard that in spring King Canute was to sail from Denmark to England"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 231. Of The Lendermen.

• attestation: Kalf Arnason proposed Harek of Thjotta as army leader, citing his descent from Harald Harfager's race and his enmity with Olaf over the murder of Grankel.

  "Kalf Arnason said that Harek of Thjotta was best fitted to be the chief of this army, for he was descended from Harald Harfager's race."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 232. Kalf Arnason'S Speech.

• attestation: Kalf Arnason urged the other chiefs not to shrink from leadership, warning that without confident leaders the great bonde army would collapse.

  "if we who should be the leaders of this army show any fear, and will not encourage the army and go at the head of it, it must happen that with the great body of our people the spirit will leave their hearts"

• attestation: Kalf acknowledged that King Olaf's army, though smaller, had an intrepid leader whose men would be true and obedient in battle.

  "King Olaf has not many people compared to this army of ours, the leader of them is intrepid, and the whole body of them will be true to him, and obedient in the battle."

• attestation: Kalf said that if they could not fight confidently, the only alternative was to seek King Olaf's mercy, however harsh.

  "If it cannot be so, we had better not risk a battle; and then it is easy to see that nothing would be left us but to shelter ourselves under King Olaf's mercy"

• attestation: Kalf proposed that Thorer and Harek join him under one banner, and all concurred, choosing Kalf as army leader.

  "When Kalf had ended they all concurred in what he proposed, and all would do what Kalf thought of advantage. All desired Kalf to be the leader of the army"

• attestation: Kalf noted that men in Olaf's ranks would secure his life and peace if he sought it, but he chose to fight.

  "I know there are men in his ranks who would secure my life and peace if I would seek it."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 233. How The Lendermen Set Up Their Banners.

• attestation: Kalf Arnason raised his banner and drew up his house-servants alongside Harek of Thjotta and his men.

  "Kalf Arnason then raised his banner, and drew up his house-servants along with Harek of Thjotta and his men."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 235. Of The Preparations Of The Bondes.

• attestation: Kalf invited all who had grievances against King Olaf to place themselves under the banner advancing against Olaf's own banner.

  "Kalf invited all the men who had any injury to avenge on King Olaf to place themselves under the banner which was advancing against King Olaf's own banner."

• attestation: Kalf declared that anyone who did not fight boldly that day should be held a useless coward.

  "Let him," says he, "be held a useless coward who does not fight this day boldly"

• attestation: Kalf's speech was received with loud applause and shouts of encouragement throughout the army.

  "Kalf's speech was received with loud applause, and shouts of encouragement were heard through the whole army."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 237. Meeting Of The King And The Bondes.

• attestation: Kalf replied that circumstances forced him to seek peace with those who remained, and suggested reconciliation.

  "You parted from us so that it was necessary to seek peace with those who were behind in the country."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 240. King Olaf'S Fall.

• relationship: Kalf Arnason's two relations Olaf and Kalf stood at his side; Kalf was a son of Arnfin Arnmodson and a brother's son of Arne Arnmodson.

  "On the one side of Kalf Arnason stood his two relations, Olaf and Kalf, with many other brave and stout men. Kalf was a son of Arnfin Arnmodson, and a brother's son of Arne Arnmodson."

• attestation: Kalf struck Olaf on the left side of the neck, though sources disagree on whether Kalf delivered that wound.

  "Then Kalf struck at him on the left side of the neck. But all are not agreed upon Kalf having been the man who gave him the wound in the neck."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 241. Beginning Of Dag Hringson'S Attack.

• attestation: Kalf Arnason, Harek of Thjotta, and Thorer Hund counterattacked Dag with their combined forces, overwhelming him with numbers and forcing his retreat.

  "Kalf Arnason, Harek of Thjotta, and Thorer Hund turned against Dag, with the array which had followed them, and then Dag was overwhelmed with numbers; so he betook himself to flight"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 243. Of Kalf Arnason'S Brothers.

• attestation: Kalf Arnason found his brothers Thorberg and Fin on the battlefield; Fin threw a dagger at Kalf and called him a faithless villain and traitor to his king.

  "Kalf Arnason searched for his brothers who had fallen, and found Thorberg and Fin. It is related that Fin threw his dagger at him, and wanted to kill him, giving him hard words, and calling him a faithless villain, and a traitor to his king."

• attestation: Kalf brought his brothers to a ship, and once he departed the entire bonde army dispersed homeward.

  "Thereafter Kalf tried to bring his brothers down to a ship, and went himself with them. As soon as he was gone the whole bonde-army, having their homes in the neighbourhood, went off also"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 256. Of The Sons Of Arne.

• attestation: All the Arnason brothers eventually made peace with King Svein and settled quietly on their farms.

  "All the brothers made their peace with King Svein, and sat themselves quietly down in their homes."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 261. Of The Throndhjem People.

• attestation: Kalf Arnason realized he had been deceived by King Canute's promises of an earldom and the highest authority in Norway, none of which had been fulfilled despite Kalf having led the battle against King Olaf.

  "All the promises which King Canute had made to Kalf had been broken; for he had promised him the earldom and the highest authority in Norway: and although Kalf had been the leader in the battle against King Olaf, and had deprived him of his life and kingdom, Kalf had not got any higher dignity than he had before."

• attestation: Messages began passing between the Arnason brothers -- Kalf, Fin, Thorberg, and Arne -- as discontent against Danish rule grew among the Norwegian chiefs.

  "therefore messages passed between the brothers Kalf, Fin, Thorberg, and Arne"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 262. Of King Svein'S Levy.

• attestation: Kalf Arnason departed on a twenty-benched ship with his house-servants ahead of King Svein, sailing south to More to meet his brother Thorberg at Giske, where all the Arnason brothers held a secret meeting.

  "he took a twenty-benched ship which he owned, went on board with his house-servants, and in all haste proceeded out of the fjord, without waiting for King Svein, sailed southwards to More, and continued his voyage south until he came to Giske to his brother Thorberg. Then all the brothers, the sons of Arne, held a meeting, and consulted with each other."

• attestation: When Kalf encountered King Svein's fleet at Frekeysund on his return north, he refused to join the levy, declaring he had done enough fighting against his own countrymen for the Canute family.

  "Kalf replies, "I have done enough, if not too much, when I fought against my own countrymen to increase the power of the Canute family.""

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 264. Of The Counsels Of Einar Tambaskelfer And Kalf Arnason.

• attestation: When King Canute sent a messenger requesting three dozen choice axes from Kalf Arnason, Kalf replied defiantly that he would bring axes to Canute's son Svein himself -- and in sufficient number.

  "Kalf replies, "I will send no axes to King Canute. Tell him I will bring his son Svein so many, that he shall not think he is in want of any.""

• attestation: Kalf's threat to bring axes to Svein himself signaled open defiance of Danish rule and an impending rebellion against the Canute dynasty in Norway.

  "I will send no axes to King Canute. Tell him I will bring his son Svein so many, that he shall not think he is in want of any."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 14. Of Thorgeir Flek.

• attestation: Kalf Arnason initially held the greatest share of government under King Magnus, but fell from favor as people reminded the king of Kalf's role at Stiklestad

  "Kalf Arnason had at first, for some time, the greatest share of the government of the country under King Magnus; but afterwards there were people who reminded the king of the part Kalf had taken at Stiklestad"

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 15. Kalf Arnason Flies The Country

• attestation: When Kalf protested it was not his duty, Magnus angrily ordered him to go

  "Kalf replied, "That is really not my duty."

Then the king stood up in a passion, and said, "Go thou shalt, Kalf!""

• attestation: Kalf denied his axe touched Olaf and immediately rode away, fleeing to his estate at Eggja where his ship was prepared for departure

  "Kalf replied, "My axe did not come near him;" and immediately went to his horse, sprang on horseback, and rode away with all his men; and the king rode back to Haug. Kalf did not stop until he got home in the evening to Eggja."

• attestation: Kalf had secretly ordered his servants to load his ship before sunset, anticipating the need to flee

  "Kalf put on his riding clothes in all haste, and said to his foot-boy, "Thou must ride directly to Eggja, and order my house-servants to ship all my property on board my ship before sunset.""

• attestation: Kalf sailed west and spent a long time raiding in Ireland, Scotland, and the Hebrides

  "He sailed out into the West sea, and was there a long time plundering in Ireland, Scotland, and the Hebudes."

• attestation: Kalf Arnason departed Norway by night, sailing down the fjord and continuing day and night when the wind was favorable

  "They set off immediately by night down the fjord, and afterwards proceeded day and night, when the wind suited."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 37. Of King Magnus, And Thorfin And Ragnvald, Earls Of Orkney.

• attestation: Kalf Arnason was Fin Arnason's son-in-law and his aid helped Thorfin defeat Bruse's son Ragnvald

  "Thy cutters, dashing through the tide, Brought aid to Earl Thorfin's side, Fin's son-in-law, and people say Thy aid made Bruse's son give way."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 53. Reconciliation Of King Harald And Kalf.

• attestation: Kalf Arnason had been on viking cruises in the Western countries since leaving Norway, wintering often in the Orkney Islands with Earl Thorfin.

  "Kalf Arnason had been on a viking cruise to the Western countries ever since he had left Norway; but in winter he was often in the Orkney Islands with his relative, Earl Thorfin."

• attestation: Kalf immediately traveled east to Norway and met the king, entering into the same agreement of service that he had formerly made with King Magnus.

  "Kalf bound himself to the king in the same way as he had bound himself to serve King Magnus, according to which Kalf should do all that the king desired and considered of advantage to his realm."

• attestation: Kalf received back all his estates and fiefs upon completing the agreement.

  "Thereupon Kalf received all the estates and fiefs he had before."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 54. Fall Of Kalf Arnason.

• attestation: Kalf was immediately overwhelmed by superior numbers, fled, and was killed along with many Northmen before Harald's reinforcements arrived.

  "When Kalf came to the land with his men a force came down immediately to oppose them, and Kalf without delay engaged in battle, which, however, did not last long; for Kalf was immediately overpowered by numbers, and betook himself to flight with his men. The Danes pursued them vigorously, and many of the Northmen fell, and among them Kalf Arnason."