The Heimskringla on Styrkar

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 98. Of Styrkar The Marshal.

• attestation: Styrkar, King Harald Sigurdson's marshal, escaped the battle on horseback, riding away in the cold wind wearing only a shirt and helmet with a drawn sword.

  "Styrkar, King Harald Sigurdson's marshal, a gallant man, escaped upon a horse, on which he rode away in the evening."

• attestation: A waggoner refused to sell Styrkar his coat, identifying him as a Northman by his accent, and threatening to kill him if he had a weapon.

  ""Not to thee," says the peasant: "thou art a Northman; that I can hear by thy tongue.""

• attestation: Styrkar killed the waggoner by striking off his head with his sword, took the skin-coat, and rode to the strand.

  "Then Styrkar says, "As you can't kill me, friend, I shall try if I can't kill you." And with that he swung his sword, and struck him on the neck, so that his head came off."