The Heimskringla on King Harald
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 55. Fin Arnason'S Expedition Out Of The Country.
- attribution: King Harald composed a verse boasting of having killed at least eleven enemies, possibly thirteen, presenting himself as an example to his people.
"I have, in all, the death-stroke given To foes of mine at least eleven; Two more, perhaps, if I remember, May yet be added to this number,"
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 60. King Harald'S Foray In Denmark.
attestation: King Harald built a merchant town at Oslo in eastern Norway, choosing it for its fertile surroundings and strategic position against Denmark.
"King Harald had built a merchant town in the East at Oslo, where he often resided; for there was good supply from the extensive cultivated district wide around."
attestation: Harald used Oslo as a base for frequent raids on Denmark, though he kept no large standing force.
"There also he had a convenient station to defend the country against the Danes, or to make an attack upon Denmark, which he was in the custom of doing often, although he kept no great force on foot."
attestation: Harald sailed south from Viken with few light ships and marauded Jutland when the wind served.
"One summer King Harald went from thence with a few light ships and a few men. He steered southwards out from Viken, and, when the wind served, stood over to Jutland, and marauded"
attestation: When trapped in the fjord, Harald found water on a barren island by using an earthworm: he baked it by a fire until thirsty, tied a thread to its tail, and followed it to where it burrowed into the ground.
"He ordered the people to bring the worm to a fire, and bake it before it, so that it should be thirsty. Then he ordered a thread to be tied round the tail of the worm, and to let it loose."
attestation: Harald escaped Svein's trap by sailing to a place called Lusbreid at the innermost bight, then dragging his ships overland across a narrow neck of land into the West sea under cover of darkness.
"King Harald then steered with his fleet in through the fjord to where it was broadest to a place called Lusbreid. In the inmost bight, there is but a narrow neck of land dividing the fjord from the West sea. Thither King Harald rowed with his men towards evening; and at night when it was dark he unloaded his ships, drew them over the neck of land into the West sea"
attestation: After escaping the Limfjord trap, Harald sailed north along the Jutland coast and vowed to return to Denmark with more people and larger vessels.
"He then steered northwards along the Jutland coast. People then said that Harald had escaped from the hands of the Danes. Harald said that he would come to Denmark next time with more people and larger vessels."
attestation: After the escape, Harald proceeded north to Throndhjem.
"King Harald then proceeded north to Throndhjem."
attestation: Harald's resourcefulness with the worm stratagem and the portage of ships demonstrated his tactical cunning when outnumbered.
"he unloaded his ships, drew them over the neck of land into the West sea, loaded them again, and was ready with all this before day."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 61. King Harald Had A Ship Built.
attestation: King Harald stayed all winter at Nidaros in 1062 and had a buss built on the strand, sized and modeled after the famous Long Serpent.
"King Harald remained all winter at Nidaros (A.D. 1062) and had a vessel built out upon the strand, and it was a buss. The ship was built of the same size as the Long Serpent, and every part of her was finished with the greatest care."
attestation: The ship had a dragon-head on the stem, a dragon-tail on the stern, gilt bows, thirty-five rowing benches, and the finest equipment in sails, rigging, anchors, and cables.
"On the stem was a dragon-head, and on the stern a dragon-tail, and the sides of the bows of the ship were gilt. The vessel was of thirty-five rowers benches, and was large for that size, and was remarkably handsome"
attestation: During winter, Harald sent a challenge to King Svein in Denmark to meet at the Gaut river in spring for a decisive battle over both kingdoms.
"King Harald sent a message in winter south to Denmark to King Svein, that he should come northwards in spring; that they should meet at the Gaut river and fight, and so settle the division of the countries that the one who gained the victory should have both kingdoms."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 62. King Harald'S Challenge.
attestation: King Harald called a general levy of all Norway's people and assembled a great force toward spring.
"King Harald during this winter called out a general levy of all the people of Norway, and assembled a great force towards spring."
attestation: Harald launched his great ship into the river Nid with its dragon's head mounted.
"Harald had his great ship drawn down and put into the river Nid, and set up the dragon's head on her."
attestation: Harald sailed south collecting men and ships, but strong headwinds at Viken forced his scattered fleet into island harbors and fjords.
"King Harald sailed south along the land, and called out the levy everywhere of men and ships. When they came east to Viken they got a strong wind against them and the forces lay dispersed about in the harbour"
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 63. Of King Harald'S Fleet.
attestation: Harald dismissed his bonde troops and kept 150 ships, sailing south along Halland to raid and laying waste the country before anchoring in Lofufjord.
"he took the same course as before--letting the bonde troops return home, but manning 150 ships, with which he sailed southwards along Halland, where he herried all round, and then brought up with his fleet in Lofufjord"
attestation: Facing the larger fleet, Harald refused to flee, declaring they would sooner all die than run. The skald Stein Herdison preserved his words.
"The king replied, "Sooner shall all lie dead one upon another than fly.""
attestation: Harald placed his great dragon ship in the center of his fleet for the coming battle.
"King Harald drew up his ships to attack, and brought forward his great dragon in the middle of his fleet."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 65. Beginning Of The Battle Of Nis-River.
attestation: Harald ordered the war-blast sounded and his fleet rowed forward to attack Svein at the Nis river.
"As soon as King Harald was ready with his fleet, he orders the war-blast to sound, and the men to row forward to the attack."
attribution: The battle was fierce, with Harald more keen for striking than shielding, directing his men in both throwing spears and sword-fighting at close range.
"Our king, his broad shield disregarding, More keen for striking than for warding, Now tells his lads their spears to throw,-- Now shows them where to strike a blow."
attestation: The battle began late in the day and continued through the entire night, with Harald shooting his bow for a long time.
"It was late in the day when the battle began, and it continued the whole night. King Harald shot for a long time with his bow."
attestation: Toward the end of the night, Harald boarded King Svein's vessel and his men cleared it entirely, killing all the crew except those who jumped overboard.
"King Harald with his men boarded the vessel of King Svein; and it was so completely cleared that all the crew fell in the ship, except those who sprang overboard."
attestation: Harald pursued the fleeing Danes but progress was difficult because the ships lay so thick together they could scarcely move.
"King Harald rowed after the Danes and pursued them; but that was not easy, for the ships lay so thick together that they scarcely could move."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 67. Of King Harald.
attestation: After the battle, Harald's men returned to ransack the abandoned ships. King Svein's body was not found on his ship, though a heap of dead men lay there.
"in King Svein's ship was found a heap of dead men; but the king's body was not found, although people believed for certain that he had fallen."
attestation: Harald tended to his own wounded and dead, then sent the bodies of Svein's men ashore for the peasants to bury.
"King Harald had the greatest attention paid to the dead of his men, and had the wounds of the living bound up. The dead bodies of Svein's men were brought to the land, and he sent a message to the peasants to come and bury them."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 68. Fin Arnason Gets Quarter.
- attestation: After releasing Fin, King Harald sailed to Oslo and dismissed those of his men who wished to go home.
"King Harald sailed from thence to Norway with his fleet; and went first to Oslo, where he gave all his people leave to go home who wished to do so."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 70. Of The Talk Of The Court-Men.
attestation: King Harald wintered at Oslo in 1063, the winter after the battle at Nis-river.
"King Harald stayed in Oslo the winter after the battle at Nis-river (A.D. 1063)."
attestation: Harald overheard his men praising Hakon and made a jealous remark as he passed the room: 'Every one here would willingly be called Hakon.'
"King Harald, in the meantime, was out in the yard, and spoke with some people. He went then to the room-door, and said, "Every one here would willingly be called Hakon""
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 71. Of The Attempt To Take Earl Hakon.
- attestation: When Harald learned that Hakon had rescued Svein, he immediately rode out with 900 men to seize or kill the earl.
"This was told the king, and he immediately ordered horses to be gathered, and rode away directly with 900 men."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 73. Agreement Between King Harald And King Svein.
attestation: A peace meeting was appointed at the Gaut river between King Harald and King Svein, and both kings assembled many ships and people for it in spring.
"a meeting for peace was appointed at the Gaut river between King Harald and King Svein. When spring approached, both kings assembled many ships and people for this meeting."
attribution: A skald's verse described Harald as 'the raven-feeder' who filled the coast with proud ships passing west of Halland.
"The king, who from the northern sound His land with war-ships girds around, The raven-feeder, filled the coast With his proud ships, a gallant host!"
attestation: Peace negotiations were initially difficult as bondes on both sides complained of losses from harrying, robbery, and killings.
"as soon as peace was proposed, many began to complain of the damage they had sustained by harrying, robbing and killing men; and for a long time it did not look very like peace."
attribution: A skald cautioned that peace between kings requires fair give-and-take, and that kings who follow the people's selfish will rule badly.
"For that peace only is secure Which they who make it fairly make,-- To each side give, from each side take."
attestation: The wisest men brokered the final terms: Harald kept Norway, Svein kept Denmark, according to old boundaries, with no reparations paid and the war ending where it stood.
"the best men, and those who were the wisest, came between the kings, and settled the peace thus:--that Harald should have Norway, and Svein Denmark, according to the boundaries of old established between Denmark and Norway"
attestation: The peace was confirmed by oath and sealed with hostages exchanged between the kings.
"This peace was confirmed by oath. Then the kings parted, having given each other hostages"
attribution: A concluding verse expressed hope that the sworn peace would hold and that neither king would commit perjury before God.
"And much I wish that they and all In no such perjury may fall That this peace ever should be broken, And oaths should fail before God spoken."
attestation: After the peace, Harald sailed northward to Norway and Svein southward to Denmark.
"King Harald with his people sailed northwards to Norway, and King Svein southwards to Denmark."
attestation: The peace brought an end to roughly fifteen years of intermittent warfare between Norway and Denmark.
"Svein and stern Harald pledges sent, Who witnessed to their sworn intent"
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 74. King Harald'S Battle With Earl Hakon.
attestation: In summer 1064, the Upland bondes again refused Harald's tax demands, holding all revenues for Earl Hakon.
"King Harald was in Viken in the summer (A.D. 1064), and he sent his men to the Uplands after the scat and duty which belonged to him; but the bondes paid no attention to the demand, but said they would hold all for Earl Hakon until he came for it."
attestation: Harald pursued Hakon by sailing to Konungahella, taking light vessels up the river past waterfalls, and rowing across the Wener lake.
"Then he took all the light-sailing vessels he could get hold of and steered up the river. He had the vessels drawn past all the waterfalls and brought them thus into the Wener lake."
attestation: Harald ordered his men to wait on a hillside, saying 'Earl Hakon does not usually wait to talk,' expecting the earl to attack.
"King Harald ordered his men to sit down on the hillside. "We will first see if they will attack us. Earl Hakon does not usually wait to talk.""
attestation: Harald ordered his men to clash weapons but hold the hillside advantage until the enemy advanced closer.
"King Harald had told his people, "If we do make a clash with the weapons, we shall not however, go down from the hill until they come nearer to us""
attestation: When Hakon's men advanced under the hill, the king's army rushed down and routed them, killing some before the rest fled at nightfall.
"when they came under the hill the king's army rushed down upon them, and killed some of the earl's people, and the rest fled."
attestation: Harald concluded from the bold banner-recovery that the earl was still alive: 'Bring me my armour, for the earl is alive.'
"When this was told the king he said, "Bring me my armour, for the earl is alive.""
attestation: Harald rode to his ships in the night after the engagement in Gautland.
"Then the king rode to his ships in the night"
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 75. Death Of Hal, The Murderer Of Kodran.
- attestation: After the battle, thick ice formed around Harald's ships overnight, requiring the men to cut a channel to free the vessels.
"in the morning, when it was daylight, it was found that so thick ice had gathered about the vessels that one could walk around them. The king ordered his men to cut the ice from the ships all the way out to the clear water"
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 76. Of King Harald.
attestation: In winter 1065, King Harald went to Raumarike with many men, accusing the bondes of withholding taxes and aiding his enemies.
"That winter (A.D. 1065) King Harald went up to Raumarike, and had many people with him; and he accused the bondes there of having kept from him his scat and duties, and of having aided his enemies to raise disturbance against him."
attestation: Harald maimed, killed, and robbed the Raumarike bondes, then burned everything in the districts and laid them waste.
"He seized on the bondes and maimed some, killed others, and robbed many of all their property. They who could do it fled from him. He burned everything in the districts and laid them altogether waste."
attestation: Harald extended his burning campaign to Hedemark, then Hadeland and Ringerike, devastating all the Upland districts.
"Thereafter the king went up to Hedemark, burnt the dwellings, and made no less waste and havoc there than in Raumarike. From thence he went to Hadeland and Ringerike, burning and ravaging all the land."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 4. Death Of Asbjorn And Of Nereid.
attestation: King Harald came to Konungahella from Denmark, and the lendermen and burgesses raised a force, but mediators brokered peace with Harald promising only to claim what rightfully belonged to him.
"King Harald landed from his ships, and sent a message to the bondes, desiring that they would not deny him his land, as he wanted no more than what of right belonged to him."
attestation: Harald bestowed fiefs on lendermen and paid lawful mulcts to bondes who joined him, gathering a great body of supporters as he moved westward through Viken.
"he bestowed fiefs and property on the lendermen, that they might stand by him, and paid the bondes who joined him the lawful mulcts for what they had lost."
attestation: Harald gave peace to all except King Magnus's people, whom he plundered and killed wherever found.
"he proceeded westwards to Viken, where he gave peace to all men, except to King Magnus's people, whom he plundered and killed wherever he found them."
attestation: At Sarpsborg, Harald captured lendermen Asbjorn and Nereid, giving them the choice of hanging or being thrown into the Sarpsborg waterfall; the elder Asbjorn chose the waterfall.
"He took prisoners two of King Magnus s lendermen, Asbjorn and his brother Nereid; and gave them the choice that one should be hanged, and the other thrown into the Sarpsborg waterfall"
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 6. Of Harald'S Force.
attestation: King Harald came to Bergen on Christmas Eve with a great army in the 'Crowd-winter' of 1135, landing his fleet at Floruvagar but refusing to fight during the sacred days.
"King Harald came to Bergen on Christmas eve, and landed with his fleet at Floruvagar; but would not fight on account of the sacred time."
attestation: During the Yule holy days, Harald's army grew by about 900 men, and on the last holiday he sounded war-horns to gather his forces.
"during the Yule holydays, his army had been increased by about 900 men."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 7. King Magnus Taken Prisoner.
attestation: King Harald promised King Olaf the Saint he would build an Olaf's church in Bergen at his own expense if granted victory.
"King Harald made a promise to King Olaf the Saint for victory, that he would build an Olaf's church in the town at his own expense."
attestation: Harald feinted at Nordnes but actually landed at Hegravik and took the upper road over the hill, outmaneuvering Magnus whose men fell into their own foot-traps.
"King Harald had rowed with all his men across to Hegravik, and landed there, and had gone from thence the upper road up the hill opposite the town."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 12. Of Magnus The Blind.
attestation: King Harald ruled alone the following winter, pardoning all who sought it and taking many former followers of Magnus into his court.
"King Harald alone ruled the country the following winter, gave all men peace and pardon who desired it, and took many of the men into his court-service who had been with King Magnus."
attestation: Einar Skulason reported Harald had two battles in Denmark, at Hvedn Isle and Hlesey Isle.
"Einar Skulason says that King Harald had two battles in Denmark; the one at Hvedn Isle, and the other at Hlesey Isle"