The Heimskringla on Sigvat

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 5. Olaf'S First Battle.

• attribution: The skald Sigvat recorded this as King Olaf's first battle where blood was drawn.

  "Where did the sea-king first draw blood? In the battle shock At Sote's rock"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 7. The Second Battle.

• attribution: Sigvat the skald recorded this as a battle where the bondes tried to deceive Olaf but were routed.

  "With much deceit and bustle To the heath of Eysyssel The bondes brought the king, To get scat at their weapon-thing."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 8. The Third Battle.

• attribution: Sigvat's verse names Herdaler as the location and describes Olaf saving his ship off Balagard's shore through the wild sea.

  "The third fight was at Herdaler, where The men of Finland met in war The hero of the royal race"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 10. The Fifth Battle In Friesland.

• attribution: Sigvat recorded this as Olaf's fifth battle, fought under Kinlima's cliff.

  "Under Kinlima's cliff, This battle is the fifth."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 12. The Sixth Battle.

• attribution: Sigvat counted this as Olaf's sixth attack, noting the fighting at the dyke-side and on Southwark plain.

  "At London Bridge stout Olaf gave Odin's law to his war-men brave-- 'To win or die!'"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 13. The Seventh Battle.

• attribution: Sigvat counted this as Olaf's seventh battle, noting that few of the race of Ella slept at home again.

  "To Ulfkel's land came Olaf bold, A seventh sword-thing he would hold. The race of Ella filled the plain-- Few of them slept at home again!"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 14. Eighth And Ninth Battles Of Olaf.

• attribution: Sigvat counted the Canterbury siege as Olaf's eighth battle, noting the Norsemen's cries woke men who scarcely had time to rub their eyes.

  "Waked by the Norsemen's cries, Scarce had time to rub his eyes."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 15. The Tenth Battle.

• attribution: Sigvat described the hill-top robber nest at Hringsfjord as a roosting-place never again held by roving raiders after Olaf razed it.

  "Up on the hill in Hringsfjord fair A robber nest hung in the air: The people followed our brave chief, And razed the tower of the viking thief."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 16. Eleventh, Twelfth And Thirteenth Battles.

• attribution: Sigvat's verse describes three earls' helms and heads crushed by Olaf's sword at Grislupollar.

  "Of three great earls, I have heard say, His sword crushed helm and head that day."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 18. Fifteenth Battle.

• attribution: Sigvat described the Norsemen's king on the Loire, with rich Partheney laid in ashes and the Norsemen's spear reaching far inland.

  "The Norsemen's kings up on the Loire: Rich Partheney In ashes lay; Far inland reached the Norsemen's spear."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 28. Hakon Taken Prisoner By Olaf.

• attribution: Sigvat's verse identifies Hakon as the best and fairest youth who speaks the Danish tongue, descended from great Hakon.

  "The best and fairest youth Earl Hakon was in truth, That speaks the Danish tongue, And of the race of great Hakon."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 84. Murder Of Olaf'S Court-Men.

• attestation: Sigvat the skald discovered blood on the stairs after slipping in it, which led to finding the murdered court-men's corpses.

  "Sigvat's foot slipped, and he fell on his knee; and when he put out his hands he felt the stairs wet"

• attestation: Sigvat and Thord Folason, the standard-bearer, found the corpses and a gashed tree stump used as a stratagem to lure the victims outside.

  "They traced it, and found the corpses, and knew them. They saw also a great stump of a tree in which clearly a gash had been cut, which, as was afterwards known, had been done as a stratagem to entice those out who had been killed"

• attestation: Sigvat volunteered to wake the king while Thord agreed to deliver the news.

  ""What wilt thou rather do, comrade, waken the king, or tell him the tidings?" Thord replies, "I do not dare to waken him, and I would rather tell him the news.""

• attestation: Sigvat woke the king by having the church bell-ringer toll for the souls of the murdered court-men.

  "Sigvat then went to the church, and told the bell-ringer to toll for the souls of the king's court-men, naming the men who were killed"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 92. Sigvat The Skald'S Journey Eastwards.

• attestation: Sigvat the skald offered to travel to Earl Ragnvald to spy on the Swedish king's doings and attempt to settle the agreement

  "he offered to the king to travel to Earl Ragnvald's and spy after the Swedish kings doings, and to attempt, if possible, to get the settlement of the agreement."

• attestation: Early in winter 1019 AD Sigvat left Sarpsborg with two companions and proceeded eastwards to Gautland

  "Early in winter (A.D. 1019) Sigvat the skald, with two companions, left Sarpsborg, and proceeded eastwards over the moors to Gautland."

• attestation: Sigvat composed farewell verses for King Olaf before departing for Gautland

  "Sit happy in thy hall, O king! Till I come back, and good news bring"

• attestation: Sigvat and his companions had difficulty crossing a river in a small cobble near Eid and nearly drowned

  "they proceeded eastwards towards Eid, and had difficulty in crossing the river in a little cobble; but they escaped, though with danger"

• attestation: Sigvat complained in verse about traveling a hundred miles through Eid's forest with no alehouses and bleeding sores on their feet

  "A hundred miles through Eid's old wood, And devil an alehouse, bad or good"

• attestation: They came to a farmhouse called Hof in Gautland but were refused entry because it was a fast-day

  "They came then through Gautland, and in the evening reached a farm-house called Hof. The door was bolted so that they could not come in; and the servants told them it was a fast-day"

• attestation: Sigvat composed verses mocking the heathen practice he encountered at Hof where they would not admit travelers on their holy time

  "My trouble with few words was paid-- "'Tis holy time,' the house-folkd said."

• attestation: Sigvat observed that the people at Hof were still practicing heathen sacrifices during what they called a holy time

  "Now up to Hof in haste I hie, And round the house and yard I pry. Doors are fast locked--but yet within, Methinks, I hear some stir and din."

• attestation: Sigvat and his companions were driven away by three bondes all named Olver on another evening during their journey

  "Another evening, they came to three bondes, all of them of the name of Olver, who drove them away."

• attestation: A fourth bonde considered the most hospitable in the country also drove Sigvat away

  "they came to a fourth bonde, who was considered the most hospitable man in the country; but he drove them away also."

• relationship: Sigvat became acquainted with the king's daughter Astrid, and she knew him by name through Ottar the skald, Sigvat's sister's son

  "Sigvat soon became acquainted by conversation with the king's daughter, and she knew him by name and family, for Ottar the skald, Sigvat's sister's son, had long intimate acquaintance with King Olaf, the Swedish king."

• attestation: Sigvat reported to King Olaf about his journey and that Russian ambassadors had come to ask for Ingegerd's hand

  "For messengers from Russian land Had come to ask Ingegerd's hand."

• attestation: Sigvat spoke greatly of Astrid's beauty and agreeableness, and the king was delighted at the idea of marrying her

  "Sigvat spoke a great deal about Astrid, the kings daughter; how beautiful she was, how agreeable in her conversation; and that all declared she was in no respect behind her sister Ingegerd. The king listened with pleasure to this."

• attestation: Sigvat reported that Earl Ragnvald entreated King Olaf not to break peace for vengeance's sake

  "The earl is wise, and understands The need of peace for both the lands; And he entreats thee not to break The present peace for vengeance's sake!"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 118. The Story Of Dale-Gudbrand.

• comparison: Sigvat the skald compared Dale-Gudbrand's wealth and lands to Erling Skjalgson's, declaring them equal.

  "Sigvat the skald compared him for wealth and landed property to Erling Skjalgson"

• attribution: Sigvat composed a verse stating that only Gudbrand could compare with Erling for broad lands and that neither left the other behind.

  "I know but one who can compare With Erling for broad lands and gear-- Gudbrand is he, whose wide domains Are most like where some small king reigns"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 131. The Birth Of King Magnus.

• attestation: Sigvat the skald was present at the birth alongside some women and priests.

  "some women, priests, Sigvat the skald, and a few others"

• attestation: Sigvat decided to have the sickly infant baptized rather than wake the king, who had forbidden anyone to disturb his sleep.

  "He replies, "I dare not on any account waken the king; for he has forbid that any man should break his sleep until he awakens of himself""

• attestation: The child was baptized Magnus, a name Sigvat chose after Charlemagne (King Carl Magnus), whom he considered the best man in the world.

  "the child was baptized, and got the name of Magnus"

• attestation: Sigvat named him Magnus after Charlemagne because he knew Charlemagne had been the best man in the world.

  "I called him after King Carl Magnus, who, I knew, had been the best man in the world"

• attestation: When Olaf asked why Sigvat baptized the child without permission, Sigvat replied he would rather give two men to God than one to the devil.

  "Sigvat replies, "Because I would rather give two men to God than one to the devil.""

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 140. Canute'S Message To King Olaf.

• attestation: Sigvat the skald had visited King Canute and received a gold ring weighing half a mark.

  "Sigvat the skald had been with King Canute, who had given him a gold ring that weighed half a mark"

• attribution: Sigvat composed a verse lamenting that Berse received far more generous gifts than he did from Canute.

  "When we came o'er the wave, you cub, When we came o'er the wave, To me one ring, to thee two rings, The mighty Canute gave"

• attribution: Sigvat composed a verse hoping King Olaf would never be brought to offer his head as ransom to Canute.

  "May he, our gallant Norse king, never Be brought, like these, his head to offer As ransom to a living man For the broad lands his sword has won"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 154. King Olaf'S Expedition With His Levy.

• attestation: Sigvat's verse prayed for a luckier close for Olaf's Visund than befell Trygvason's Long Serpent.

  "May God dispose A luckier close."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 155. Of King Olaf And King Onund.

• attribution: Sigvat composed a ballad about Canute, noting the Swedish king brought his host across the East sea to fight in Seeland.

  "Across the cold East sea, The Swedish king His host did bring, To gain great victory."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 156. Of King Canute The Great.

• attestation: Sigvat the skald returned in summer 1027 from Rouen (Ruda) in Normandy (Valland), where he had made a merchant voyage.

  "Sigvat the skald came this summer (A.D. 1027) from the West, from Ruda (Rouen) in Valland"

• attestation: Sigvat went to King Canute in England and obtained permission to sail to Norway, as Canute had forbidden merchant vessels from leaving.

  "When Sigvat came to England he went directly to King Canute, and asked his leave to proceed to Norway; for King Canute had forbidden all merchant vessels to sail until he himself was ready with his fleet."

• attestation: Sigvat composed verses expressing loyalty to King Olaf despite knowing of Canute and Hakon's league against him.

  "In spite of king and earl, I say, 'I love him well--may he get away'"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 170. Of Sigvat The Skald.

• attestation: Sigvat arrived at Sarpsborg from England, having obtained sailing permission from King Canute.

  "When he came to Norway he proceeded straight to King Olaf, and found him at Sarpsborg."

• attribution: Sigvat composed a verse declaring that Canute had offered him service but that two masters were one too many for a man of truth.

  "Two masters at a time, I said, Were one too many for men bred Where truth and virtue, shown to all, Make all men true in Olaf's hall."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 171. Of Erling Skjalgson And His Sons.

• attribution: Sigvat composed a verse calling those who took Canute's gold 'base traitors' who would find no pleasure in heaven.

  "The base traitors ply With purses of gold, Wanting to buy What is not to be sold"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 172. Of King Olaf'S Presents At Yule.

• attestation: Sigvat composed a verse hinting that he desired one of the gold-mounted swords, and King Olaf gave him a gold-handled, gold-guarded sword that provoked envy among others.

  "The king took a sword of which the handle was twisted round with gold, and the guard was gold-mounted, and gave it to him. It was a valuable article; but the gift was not seen without envy"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 178. King Olaf'S Counsels.

• attribution: Sigvat composed a verse lamenting that their men were few and ships small while England's king was strong, and that it was money rather than cowardice betraying their land.

  "Our men are few, our ships are small, While England's king is strong in all; But yet our king is not afraid-- O! never be such king betrayed!"

• attribution: Sigvat advised flight, composing a verse arguing that retreat caused by treachery rather than cowardice was no disgrace for men who had long shown faith and love.

  "We may well fly, when even our foe Offers us money if we go. I may be blamed, accused of fear; But treachery, not faith, rules here."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 186. Of Erling Skjalgson'S Fall.

• attribution: Sigvat the skald, who was in Viken, composed a poem about Erling's fall.

  "Sigvat the skald had remained behind in Viken, and heard the tidings. He was a great friend of Erling, had received presents from him, and had been at his house. Sigvat composed a poem upon Erling's fall"

• relationship: Sigvat accused Aslak of murdering his own kinsman Erling.

  "Norway's brave defender's dead! Aslak has heaped on his own head The guilt of murdering his own kin"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 192. Causes Of The Revolt Against King Olaf.

• attestation: Sigvat the skald composed verses praising King Olaf for executing pirates and robbers regardless of rank

  "He made the bravest lose his head Who robbed at sea, and pirates led; And his just sword gave peace to all, Sparing no robber, great or small."

• attestation: Sigvat called Olaf 'King Magnus' father' and praised his severity against vikings

  "King Magnus' father, I must say, Did many a good deed in his day. Olaf the Thick was stern and stout, Much good his victories brought out."

• attestation: Sigvat described Olaf setting hands and feet upon stakes as punishment for plunderers

  "Good king! who for the people's sake Set hands and feet upon a stake, When plunderers of great name and bold Harried the country as of old."

• attestation: Sigvat's verse says Olaf swept the thief and pirate band off by sea and land

  "And then the thief and pirate band Swept wholly off by sea and land"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 218. Of King Olaf'S Skalds.

• attestation: Sigvat was on pilgrimage to Rome during the battle of Stiklestad, which Thormod noted sardonically.

  "it would be thin around the banner-staff if all thy court-men were now on the way to Rome."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 224. Of Thord Folason.

• attribution: Sigvat composed Olaf's death-song following the form of a resurrection saga, and described the banner floating splendidly from a golden shaft as the Norsemen's rallying-point.

  "The banner of the king on high, Floating all splendid in the sky From golden shaft, aloft he bore,-- The Norsemen's rallying-point of yore."

• attribution: Sigvat's verse describes Thord moving forward at Olaf's side where the battle raged wildest, carrying every heart and sword with him.

  "Thord. I have heard, by Olaf's side, Where raged the battle's wildest tide, Moved on, and, as by one accord Moved with them every heart and sword."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 225. Of King Olaf'S Armour.

• attribution: Sigvat the skald composed verses describing Olaf the Stout striding in chain armour across the plain.

  "Sigvat the skald, speaks of this:--"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 236. Of The King'S And The Bondes' Armies.

• attribution: Sigvat the skald lamented that King Olaf brought too small a force and that the foemen won by numbers alone.

  "I grieve to think the king had brought Too small a force for what he sought"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 238. Beginning Of The Battle Of Stiklestad.

• attribution: Sigvat the skald described Throndhjem men shrinking from Olaf's lion-eye, unable to withstand his glance.

  "Clear as the serpent's eye--his look No Throndhjem man could stand, but shook Beneath its glance, and skulked away, Knowing his king, and cursed the day."

• attribution: Sigvat described Olaf standing with shield on arm, dyeing his sword in the blood of Throndhjem foes.

  "With shield on arm brave Olaf stood, Dyeing his sword in their best blood. For vengeance on his Throndhjem foes, On their best men he dealt his blows"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 239. Thorgeir Of Kviststad'S Fall.

• attestation: The sun withdrew despite clear air, bringing darkness during the battle, which Sigvat interpreted as portending the king's end.

  "the sun, although the air was clear, withdrew from the sight, and it became dark."

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

• attribution: Sigvat attributed Thorer's reindeer coat's invulnerability to Finn-folk magic, saying it was bewitched to turn steel.

  "The king himself now proved the power Of Fin-folk's craft in magic hour, With magic song; for stroke of steel Thor's reindeer coat would never feel"

• attribution: Sigvat composed verses about Marshal Bjorn, praising how he first followed his master to Russia and then fell beside his king.

  "The marshal Bjorn, too, I find, A great example leaves behind, How steady courage should stand proof"