The Heimskringla on Magnus Erlingson
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 1. Of Magnus Erlingson'S Beginning.
attestation: Magnus Erlingson, then five years old, was elected king of all Norway at a Thing in Bergen, with all of Inge's former servants joining his service (1161).
"in this meeting it was determined to take Erling's son Magnus to be king. They afterwards held a Thing in the town; and at this Thing Magnus Erlingson, then five years old, was elected king of the whole country."
attestation: All former servants of King Inge retained their offices and dignities under the new child king Magnus Erlingson.
"All who had been servants of King Inge went into his service, and each of them retained the office and dignity he had held under King Inge"
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 3. Battle Of Tunsberg.
- attestation: Verses mocked Hakon's men as 'war-hawks somewhat shy' who turned quick about and flew off when Magnus's men rushed up the street.
""King Magnus' men rush up the street, Eager with Hakon's troop to meet; But Hakon's war-hawks, somewhat shy, Turn quick about, and off they fly.""
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 22. King Magnus'S Consecration.
attestation: King Magnus received royal consecration from Archbishop Eystein, with five other bishops and the papal legate present.
"King Magnus received the royal consecration from the Archbishop Eystein; and at the consecration there were five other bishops and the legate"
attestation: King Magnus was eight years old at his consecration and had already been king for three years.
"King Magnus was then eight years of age, and had been king for three years."
attestation: At the consecration feast, the king and Erling hosted the legate, archbishop, and all bishops, distributing many great presents.
"the king and Erling had the legate, the archbishop, and all the other bishops as guests; and the feast was exceedingly magnificent, and the father and son distributed many great presents."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 35. Harald'S Death.
- attestation: King Magnus's lenderman Nikolas Kufung, son of Pal Skaptason, captured Harald.
"King Magnus had a lenderman called Nikolas Kufung, who was a son of Pal Skaptason. He took Harald prisoner"
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 37. Birkebeins, King Eystein, And Skakke.
attestation: Magnus had been king for thirteen years when the Birkebeins first appeared; they obtained ships in their third summer (1176) and sailed north to Throndhjem undetected.
"Magnus had been king for thirteen years when the Birkebeins first made their appearance. They got themselves ships in the third summer (A.D. 1176), with which they sailed along the coast gathering goods and men."
attestation: King Magnus was lighthearted, full of jokes, a great lover of mirth, and no less of women.
"King Magnus was of a light turn of mind, full of jokes; a great lover of mirth, and not less of women."
attestation: King Magnus and Earl Erling were in Bergen when the Birkebeins sailed past it northward undetected.
"King Magnus and Earl Erling were in Bergen when the Birkebeins sailed past it to the north; but they did not hear of them."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 42. The Fall Of King Eystein.
attestation: King Magnus went eastward to Viken in autumn with Orm the king's brother, while Earl Erling stayed in Bergen to intercept Birkebeins on the sea route.
"King Magnus went eastward to Viken in autumn with a part of his men and with him Orm, the king's brother; but Earl Erling remained behind in Bergen to meet the Berkebeins in case they took the sea route."
attestation: King Magnus kept Yule 1177 in Tunsberg and then marched to Re upon hearing the Birkebeins were there.
"King Magnus went to Tunsberg, where he and Orm held their Yule (A.D. 1177). When King Magnus heard that the Birkebeins were up in Re, the king and Orm proceeded thither with their men."
attestation: Magnus drew up his army of just under 1500 men outside the fence in deep snow and dreadful cold.
"they left the beaten track on the road, and drew up their array outside of the fence, and trod a path through the snow with their men, who were not quite 1500 in number."
attestation: No quarter was given to any Birkebein; the entire force was scattered.
"Magnus's men killed all they could lay hold of, and not one of them got quarter. The whole body became scattered far and wide."
attestation: Magnus's men pursued and killed so many Birkebeins that they grew tired of killing; Thorfin of Snos and many Throndhjem people fell.
"King Magnus's men followed the fugitives, and killed so many that they were tired of it. Thorfin of Snos, and a very great number of Throndhjem people, fell there."
Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 44. Of King Magnus Erlingson.
attestation: King Magnus returned to Tunsberg and won great renown from his victory over the Birkebeins.
"King Magnus then returned to Tunsberg, and got great renown by this victory"
attestation: Before this victory, people said Earl Erling was the shield and support of his son, but defeating a larger force with fewer troops made Magnus seem a greater warrior than his father.
"it had been an expression in the mouths of all, that Earl Erling was the shield and support of his son and himself. But after gaining a victory over so strong and numerous a force with fewer troops, King Magnus was considered by all as surpassing other leaders, and that he would become a warrior as much greater than his father, Earl Erling, as he was younger."
attestation: Magnus's independent military success established his reputation as a leader in his own right, no longer dependent on Erling's protection.
"King Magnus was considered by all as surpassing other leaders"