The Heimskringla on Sigurd Slembidjakn

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 14. Beginning Of Sigurd Slembidjakn.

• attestation: Sigurd, called priest Adalbrikt's son, was raised in Norway and through his mother Thora descended from Saxe of Vik, making him a relative of King Olaf Magnuson.

  "There was a man, by name Sigurd, who was brought up in Norway, and was called priest Adalbrikt's son. Sigurd's mother was Thora, a daughter of Saxe of Vik, a sister of Sigrid, who was mother of King Olaf Magnuson"

• attestation: Sigurd was extraordinarily talented, stout, strong, handsome, but with a haughty ungovernable spirit that earned him the name Slembidjakn.

  "he became a very clever man, stout, strong, distinguished for all perfections and exercises beyond any of his years,--indeed, beyond any man in Norway. Sigurd showed early traces of a haughty ungovernable spirit, and was therefore called Slembidjakn."

• attestation: When Sigurd heard his mother said King Magnus was his father, he abandoned his clerical training and left Norway to travel, visiting Palestine and the Jordan.

  "When it came to Sigurd's ears that his mother said King Magnus was his father, he laid aside all clerkship; and as soon as he was old enough to be his own master, he left the country."

• attestation: In Denmark, Sigurd underwent the iron ordeal before five bishops to prove his descent from King Magnus Barefoot, as attested by Ivar Ingemundson's verse.

  "he there submitted to the iron ordeal to confirm his paternal descent, and proved by it, in the presence of five bishops, that he was a son of King Magnus Barefoot."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 15. Sigurd In Iceland.

• attestation: Sigurd lodged with Thorgils Odson in Saurby during a winter in Iceland, keeping his identity hidden from nearly everyone.

  "he came thus to Iceland one winter, and took up his lodging with Thorgils Odson in Saurby; but very few knew where he was."

• attestation: When a sheep being driven to slaughter ran to Sigurd, he lifted it over the fold dyke saying there were not many who sought help from him.

  "he stretched out his hands to it and lifted it over the fold dyke, and let it run to the hills, saying, "There are not many who seek help from me, so I may well help this one.""

• attestation: Sigurd protected a woman thief from Thorgils's punishment, drawing his sword and threatening violence if Thorgils tried to take her.

  "Sigurd started up, drew his sword, and bade him take her if he dared; and Thorgils seeing that Sigurd would defend the woman by force of arms, and observing his commanding mien, guessed who he must be, desisted from pursuing the woman, and pardoned her."

• attestation: Sigurd cleverly helped a Northman win at chess by luring kittens with a straw to bite the opponent's sore foot, causing him to scatter the chessmen.

  "Sigurd, who was sitting on the bench, takes a straw, and draws it along the floor, so that some young kittens ran after it. He drew the straw always before them, until they came near the house-servant's foot, who jumping up with a scream, threw the chessmen in disorder on the board"

• attestation: Nobody knew Sigurd was a learned clerk until the Saturday before Easter when he consecrated holy water with chant, revealing his education.

  "People did not know that he was a learned clerk until the Saturday before Easter, when he consecrated the holy water with chant"

• attestation: Before parting, Sigurd revealed his identity to Thorgils, telling him to address any future correspondence to Sigurd Slembidjakn, son of King Magnus Barefoot.

  "he replies, "I am Sigurd Slembidjakn, a son of King Magnus Barefoot.""

• attestation: Sigurd made the least appearance among many foreign guests despite his extraordinary abilities, deliberately concealing himself.

  "There were many foreign men there, and Sigurd made the least appearance among them."

• attestation: The longer Sigurd stayed in Iceland, the more he was esteemed, as his talents gradually became apparent.

  "the longer he stayed there the more he was esteemed."

• attestation: Sigurd's acts of mercy toward the sheep and the thief foreshadowed his willingness to protect the vulnerable despite personal risk.

  ""There are not many who seek help from me, so I may well help this one.""

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 16. Of Sigurd Slembe.

• attestation: After six years of Harald Gille's rule (1136), Sigurd came to Bergen, revealed his parentage, and asked Harald to acknowledge their kinship.

  "Sigurd came to the country and went to his brother King Harald, and found him in Bergen. He placed himself entirely in the king's hands, disclosed who his father was, and asked him to acknowledge their relationship."

• attestation: The lendermen's counsel escalated to a capital charge, and pursuivants came for Sigurd in the evening, rowing him south to Nordnes.

  "some of the king's pursuivants went one evening late to Sigurd, and called him to them. They then took a boat and rowed away with Sigurd from the town south to Nordnes."

• attestation: Sigurd was dressed in blue trousers and a hood tied with ribands; he sat nervously moving the hood-strings over and back past his head.

  "He was clothed in blue trousers, and over his shirt he had a hood tied with ribands, which served him for a cloak. He sat looking down, and holding his hood-strings; and sometimes moved them over his head, sometimes let them fall again before him."

• attestation: When the drunken guards grew careless, Sigurd seized both and leaped overboard with them, then swam to shore before the boat could turn around.

  "he seized them both, and leaped overboard with them. The boat, in the meantime, had gone on a long way, and it was a long time before those on board could turn the vessel"

• attestation: Sigurd was so swift of foot that he reached the mountains before his pursuers, then hid in a rock cleft where he cut a hole in his trousers and wore them as a garment.

  "he lay down in a cleft of the rocks; and as he was very cold he took off his trousers, cut a hole in the seat of them, and stuck his head through it, and put his arms in the legs of them."

• attestation: Two guards were placed to watch Sigurd as a man of distinction, holding his cloak as he walked to the ship's side.

  "the two men who were placed to guard him stood up also, and followed him to the side of the vessel, holding by his cloak, as is the custom in guarding people of distinction."

• attestation: Sigurd dived underwater and swam far enough to reach land before the turned boat could pursue him.

  "Sigurd dived under water, and swam so far away that he reached the land before they could get the boat turned to pursue him."

• attestation: The king's men searched the entire night without finding Sigurd, and could not conceal their failure.

  "the king's men returned, and could not conceal their unsuccessful adventure."

• attestation: Sigurd feared the guards would catch more of his clothes, so he grabbed them both preemptively before jumping.

  "As he was afraid that they would catch hold of more of his clothes, he seized them both, and leaped overboard with them."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 17. Treachery Towards King Harald.

• attestation: Sigurd hid in Bergen through autumn and winter in a priest's house, plotting with former court-men of King Magnus to take Harald by surprise.

  "He lay hid in Bergen, in the house of a priest. King Harald was also in the town, and many great people with him. Now Sigurd considered how, with his friends' help, he might take the king by surprise"

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 18. Murder Of King Harald.

• attestation: Sigurd Slembe and his men broke into Harald's lodging at night, killed the watchman, and attacked the sleeping king with drawn swords, with Ivar Kolbeinson striking first.

  "Sigurd Slembe, and some men who were in his design, came in the night to the lodging in which King Harald was sleeping; killed the watchman first; then broke open the door, and went in with drawn swords. Ivar Kolbeinson made the first attack on King Harald"

• attestation: At dawn Sigurd announced the murder from a boat, claiming kingship by birth, but everyone on the king's pier unanimously refused obedience to a man who murdered his own brother.

  "all with one voice replied, that they would never give obedience or service to a man who had murdered his own brother. "And if thou are not his brother, thou hast no claim from descent to be king.""

• attestation: Sigurd fled north to Hordaland, then Sogn, gaining bondes' support and the title of king at local Things, as Ivar Ingemundson's verse confirms.

  "So says Ivar Ingemundson:--

"On Harald's fall The bondes all, In Hord and Sogn, Took Magnus' son.""

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > Preliminary Remarks.

• attestation: Sigurd Slembe became the subject of a drama by Bjornstjerne Bjornson, translated by William Morton Payne.

  "Sigurd Slembe is the subject of a drama by Bjornstjerne Bjornson, translated into English by William Morton Payne"

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 2. Of Sigurd Slembidjakn.

• attestation: Sigurd Slembe sailed north but found letters and powers had preceded him; he got no welcome at North More and went to Throndhjem to seek Magnus the Blind.

  "he found that letters and full powers had arrived before him from the leaders who had given in their allegiance to Harald's sons; so that there he got no welcome or help."

• attestation: Sigurd and his men took Magnus the Blind from the cloister at Monkholm against the monks' will, though some say Magnus went willingly.

  "they rowed up the river Nid to meet King Magnus, and fastened their land-ropes on the shore at the king's house; but were obliged to set off immediately, for all the people rose against them. They then landed at Monkholm, and took Magnus the Blind out of the cloister against the will of the monks"

• attestation: After Yule (January 1137), Sigurd was joined by Bjorn Egilson, Gunnar of Gimsar, Haldor Sigurdson, and others, forming a war-band.

  "Sigurd sailed with his men out of the fjord, and was joined afterwards by Bjorn Egilson, Gunnar of Gimsar, Haldor Sigurdson, Aslak Hakonson"

• attestation: Sigurd went west across the sea while Magnus went to the Uplands where he gathered large support and remained through winter and summer 1137.

  "Sigurd went immediately westwards across the sea. King Magnus again proceeded to the Uplands, where he expected much help and strength, and which he obtained."

• attestation: Sigurd divided his forces from Magnus at the mouth of Raumsdal fjord, going west overseas while Magnus went inland.

  "Here Sigurd and Magnus divided their forces, and Sigurd went immediately westwards across the sea."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 5. Of Sigurd Slembidjakn.

• attestation: Sigurd Slembidjakn returned from the West sea, found no welcome in Norway, and sailed south to Denmark where he defeated Vindland pirates, clearing eight ships and hanging survivors.

  "He fell in with some Vindland cutters south of the islands, gave them battle, and gained the victory. He cleared eight ships, killing many of the men, and he hanged the others."

• attestation: Sigurd also won a battle against Vindland men off the island Mon, then took three ships from Thorer Hvinantorde in the Gaut river.

  "He also had a battle off the Island Mon with the Vindland men, and gained a victory. He then sailed from the south and came to the eastern arm of the Gaut river, and took three ships"

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 6. The Murder Of Beintein.

• attestation: Sigurd himself rushed past Beintein into the house, exchanged blows, killed him, and emerged carrying his head.

  "Sigurd rushed into the house, past Beintein. Beintein struck at him, but missed him. Sigurd turned instantly on Beintein; and after exchanging blows, Sigurd gave him his death-stroke, and came out presently bearing his head in his hands."

• attestation: Sigurd had the stem and stern of his ship cut, bored a hole, and sank her in Egisfjord, then spent winter in a cave at Tialdasund concealed by a grey cloth.

  "Sigurd had the stem and stern-post of his ship cut out, made a hole in her, and sank her in the inner part of Egisfjord, and thereafter he passed the winter at Tialdasund by Gljufrafjord in Hin."

• attestation: Sigurd hid in a rock cave with over twenty men, screened by a grey cloth at the mouth, while Thorleif Skiappa and Einar procured food.

  "Far up the fjord there is a cave in the rock; in that place Sigurd sat with his followers, who were above twenty men, and hung a grey cloth before the mouth of the hole, so that no person could see them from the strand."

• attestation: Sigurd had Laplanders build two boats fastened with deer sinews and willow twigs instead of nails and knees, each carrying twelve men.

  "Sigurd made the Laplanders construct two boats for him during the winter up in the fjord; and they were fastened together with deer sinews, without nails, and with twigs of willow instead of knees, and each boat could carry twelve men."

• attestation: While the Laplanders built boats, they entertained Sigurd with good ale, and he composed cheerful verses about merry days under the grey birch tree.

  ""In the Lapland tent Brave days we spent. Under the grey birch tree; In bed or on bank We knew no rank, And a merry crew were we.""

• attestation: The Lapp-built skin-sewn boats were so light no ship could overtake them, celebrated in a verse about boats built without nails that skim over the sea like wind.

  ""Our skin-sewed Fin-boats lightly swim, Over the sea like wind they skim. Our ships are built without a nail; Few ships like ours can row or sail.""

• attestation: In spring, Sigurd and Magnus went south in the Lapp-built boats and killed Svein the priest and his two sons at Vagar.

  "In spring Sigurd and Magnus went south along the coast with the two boats which the Laplanders had made; and when they came to Vagar they killed Svein the priest and his two sons."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 7. Of Sigurd'S Slembe'S Campaign.

• attestation: Sigurd went south killing and capturing King Sigurd's lendermen: William Skinnare and Thorald Kept, then Styrkar Glaesirofa south of Byrda, and cut off Svinagrim's right hand.

  "Sigurd came south to Vikar, and seized King Sigurd's lendermen, William Skinnare and Thorald Kept, and killed them both. Then Sigurd turned south-wards along the coast, and met Styrkar Glaesirofa south of Byrda"

• attestation: Sigurd raided Einar Laxapaul's farm at Herdla, taking a longship and Einar's four-year-old son, but a laborer claimed the boy was his own and saved him.

  "The labouring man said, "It will not be lucky for you to kill the child; and it will be of no use to you to carry him away, for it is my son, and not Einar's." And on his word they let the boy remain"

• attestation: Sigurd continued raiding southward, hanging Fin Saudaulfson east at Kvildar while he collected King Inge's rents, then sailed to Denmark.

  "met Fin Saudaulfson east at Kvildar, as he was engaged in drawing in King Inge's rents and duties, and hanged him."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 10. Fall Of Magnus The Blind.

• attestation: In autumn 1139, Sigurd Slembe and Magnus the Blind came from Denmark with thirty ships of Danes and Northmen, meeting the kings' twenty large ships at Hvalar near Holm the Grey.

  "The same autumn (A.D. 1139) Sigurd Slembe and Magnus the Blind came from Denmark with thirty ships, manned both with Danes and Northmen."

• attestation: After the first assault, the Danes fled home with eighteen ships, leaving Sigurd and Magnus's ships to be cleared.

  "after the first assault, the Danes fled home to Denmark with eighteen ships. On this Sigurd's and Magnus's ships were cleared"

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 11. Sigurd Slembe Taken Prisoner.

• attestation: Sigurd Slembe threw himself overboard after his ship lost its crew, stripped off his armor underwater, and swam with his shield over him.

  "Sigurd Slembe threw himself overboard after his ship had lost her crew, stripped off his armour under the water, and then swam with his shield over him."

• attestation: A captured swimmer betrayed Sigurd's position by identifying the red shield floating on the water under which he was hiding.

  ""Ye can see," said he, "a red shield floating on the water; he is under it." They rowed to it immediately, took him, and brought him on board of Thrand's ship."

• attestation: Sigurd carried a tinder box in a walnut shell sealed with wax, an ingenious method to keep fire-starting material dry while swimming.

  "Sigurd Slembe had a tinder box on him; and the tinder was in a walnut-shell, around which there was wax. This is related, because it seems an ingenious way of preserving it from ever getting wet."

• attestation: When the army shouted with joy at his capture, Sigurd said 'Many a bad man will rejoice over my head this day.'

  "When Sigurd heard it he said, "Many a bad man will rejoice over my head this day.""

• attestation: Sigurd retorted defiantly that Thjostolf should not compare his father to a slave, since Thjostolf's own father was of little worth beside his.

  "Sigurd replied, "Presume not to compare my father to a slave; for thy father was of little worth compared to mine.""

• attestation: Sigurd's shield-swimming technique worked because nobody could distinguish one shield from another among so many floating in the water after battle.

  "He swam with a shield over him, because nobody could know one shield from another where so many were floating about; and they would never have hit upon him, if they had not been told where he was."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 12. Torture Of Sigurd Slembe.

• attestation: They broke his shin-bones and arms with an axe-hammer, tried to flay him alive but could not for the blood, then flogged him with leather whips until the skin came off.

  "They broke his shin-bones and arms with an axe-hammer. Then they stripped him, and would flay him alive; but when they tried to take off the skin, they could not do it for the gush of blood. They took leather whips and flogged him so long, that the skin was as much taken off as if he had been flayed."

• attestation: They stuck a piece of wood in his back until it broke, dragged him to a tree and hanged him, then cut off his head and buried him in a stone heap.

  "Then they stuck a piece of wood in his back until it broke, dragged him to a tree and hanged him; and then cut off his head, and brought the body and head to a heap of stones and buried them there."

• attestation: All acknowledged, both enemies and friends, that no man in Norway within living memory was more gifted, but he was in some respects unlucky.

  "All acknowledge, both enemies and friends, that no man in Norway, within memory of the living, was more gifted with all perfections, or more experienced, than Sigurd, but in some respects he was an unlucky man."

• attestation: Hal testified that Sigurd never moved under torture more than if they struck a stock or stone, never altering his voice from its normal conversational tone.

  "he never moved when they tortured him, more than if they were striking a stock or a stone."

• attestation: Sigurd spoke with complete ease throughout, as if sitting at an ale-table, singing parts of the Psalm-book between torments until he gave up the ghost.

  "he never altered his voice in the least, but spoke with as much ease as if he was sitting at the ale-table; neither speaking higher nor lower, nor in a more tremulous voice than he was used to do. He spoke until he gave up the ghost, and sang between whiles parts of the Psalm-book"

• attestation: A priest who buried Sigurd's body in a nearby church was punished by Harald's sons, who had the body returned to the stone heap.

  "the priest who had the church in the neighbourhood let Sigurd's body be transported thither to the church. This priest was a friend of Harald's sons: but when they heard it they were angry at him, had the body carried back to where it had been, and made the priest pay a fine."

• attestation: Sigurd's friends later retrieved his body from Denmark and interred him in Mary church in Alaborg, as confirmed by Dean Ketil.

  "Sigurd's friends afterwards came from Denmark with a ship for his body, carried it to Alaborg, and interred it in Mary church in that town. So said Dean Ketil, who officiated as priest at Mary church"