The Heimskringla on Thorer Hund

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 112. Of Asmund Grankelson.

• attestation: Thorer Hund dwelt at Bjarkey island and was the most powerful man in the North; he became one of Olaf's lendermen.

  "Thorer Hund dwelt at that time in the island Bjarkey. He was the most powerful man in the North, and also became one of Olaf's lendermen"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 123. Here Begins The Story Of Asbjorn Selsbane.

• attestation: Thorer Hund invited Asbjorn to a Yule feast, but Asbjorn refused and stayed home.

  "Thorer Hund invited Asbjorn and his mother, and also all whom they pleased to take along with him, to a Yule feast; but Asbjorn sat at home, and would not travel"

• attestation: Thorer Hund mocked Asbjorn's disgraceful voyage, speculating Asbjorn feared meeting a Thorer Sel on every holm.

  "Now," said he, "it is evident that Asbjorn makes a great difference in his respect towards his relations; for in summer he took the greatest trouble to visit his relation Erling in Jadar, and now will not take the trouble to come to me in the next house. I don't know if he thinks there may be a Thorer Sel in his way upon every holm"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 128. Of Thorer Hund And Asbjorn Selsbane.

• attestation: Thorer Hund told Asbjorn that his first disgraceful expedition had been redeemed, but becoming the king's slave like Thorer Sel would disgrace his family.

  "Thy first expedition to the south of the country was indeed very disgraceful, and that disgrace has been redeemed; but this expedition is both a disgrace to thee and to thy family, if it end in thy becoming the king's slave, and being put on a footing with that worst of men, Thorer Sel"

• attestation: Thorer Hund urged Asbjorn to stay on his farm and promised family support so he would never face such trouble again.

  "Show that thou art manly enough to sit here on thy own property, and we thy relations shall so support thee that thou wilt never more come into such trouble"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 132. The Murder Of Asbjorn Selsbane.

• attestation: Thorer was so enraged by Sigrid's words he nearly fell into the sea boarding his ship; the spear was feathered with a gold-mounted handle.

  "Thorer was so enraged at her words that he could not speak. He neither thought of casting the spear from him, nor took notice of the gangway; so that he would have fallen into the sea, if his men had not laid hold of him"

• attestation: The narrator observes that everyone has a friend in the midst of his enemies, explaining how word reached Thorer.

  "then it happened, according to the proverb, that every one has a friend in the midst of his enemies. There were some present who took notice of the words, and they reached Thorer Hund's ears"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 143. The Expedition To Bjarmaland.

• attestation: Thorer Hund sent word that he intended to join the Bjarmaland voyage and wanted to split the booty equally.

  "Thorer Hund heard this, he sent a man to the brothers with the verbal message that he intended in summer to go to Bjarmaland, and that he would sail with them, and that they should divide what booty they made equally between them"

• attestation: Thorer brought eighty men on a stout long-ship instead of the agreed twenty-five, commanding the crew alone.

  "he had put a stout long-ship he owned into the water, and rigged it, and he had put eighty men on board of his house-servants. Thorer alone had the command over this crew"

• attestation: After leaving the river, Thorer proposed going on land to raid for booty.

  "Thorer asked the crews if they would like to go on the land and get booty"

• attestation: The crews said they would raid for booty if they could see it before their eyes.

  "They replied, that they would like it well enough, if they saw the booty before their eyes"

• attestation: Thorer acknowledged there was booty to be had but warned of probable danger in the attempt.

  "Thorer replies, that there was booty to be got, if the voyage proved fortunate; but that in all probability there would be danger in the attempt"

• attestation: Thorer led the expedition into Bjarmaland, with brothers Karle and Gunstein following in the rear.

  "Thorer went first, and the brothers Karle and Gunstein in rear."

• attestation: Thorer took a silver bowl from Jomala's knee that was full of silver money, despite his own warning against robbing the idol.

  "Thorer went back to Jomala, and took a silver bowl that stood upon his knee full of silver money. He put the silver in his purse, and put his arm within the handle of the bowl"

• attestation: Thorer scattered an ash-like substance on the path behind them during their escape, which rendered the pursuers unable to see them.

  "before him went two men carrying a great sack between them, in which was something that was like ashes. Thorer took this in his hand, and strewed it upon the footpath, and sometimes over the people"

• attestation: Thorer demanded the gold ornament from Karle, claiming he had earned the greatest share of the plunder and that Karle had endangered them all.

  "Thorer told Karle to give him the ornament. "I think," said he, "that I have best earned the ornaments that have been taken, for methinks ye have to thank me for getting away without any loss of men""

• attestation: Thorer demanded they go ashore on the island to divide the booty between them.

  "Then Thorer insisted that they should go upon the island, and divide the booty."

• attestation: Thorer killed Karle with a spear thrust at Geirsver, explicitly avenging Asbjorn.

  "Thorer struck at him with a spear, so that it went through him. "There," said Thorer, "now thou hast learnt to know a Bjarkey Island man. I thought thou shouldst feel Asbjorn's spear.""

• attestation: Thorer's mast fastenings broke during the pursuit of Gunstein, causing significant delay.

  "as they were hoisting the sail the fastenings to the mast broke in two, and the sail fell down across the ship, which caused a great delay before they could hoist the sail again"

• attestation: Thorer sank Gunstein's ship after stripping it of goods and filling it with stones.

  "took all the goods out of Gunstein's vessel, and put on board stones in place of the cargo, and then hauled the ship out into the fjord, cut a hole in its bottom, and sank it to the bottom"

• attestation: Thorer identified the spear used to kill Karle as Asbjorn's spear, connecting the killing to an earlier feud.

  "I thought thou shouldst feel Asbjorn's spear."

• attestation: Thorer returned to his home at Bjarkey Isle after the pursuit.

  "Thorer, with his people, returned home to Bjarkey Isle."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 149. Fin Arnason'S Expedition To Halogaland.

• attestation: Thorer agreed to submit the matter entirely to Fin's judgment rather than the king's.

  "Thereupon Thorer came forward, and confirmed what he said by giving his hand upon it; and Fin repeated first all the words he should say."

• attestation: Thorer initially proposed to refer the matter entirely to the king's pleasure.

  "My proposal is soon made. I will refer altogether to the king's pleasure the matter he thinks he has against me."

• attestation: Thorer initially denied having the ornament, claiming it was at home in Bjarkey, but Gunstein testified Karle had been wearing it.

  "Thorer said he had not observed any ornament; but if there was any such thing, it must be lying at home in Bjarkey. Then Fin put the point of his spear to Thorer's breast"

• attestation: Thorer deliberately delayed payment of the mulcts, paying in small amounts from various purses and nightcaps until most ships had departed.

  "Thereafter Thorer brought many knotted nightcaps; and in some was one mark, in others half a mark, and in others some small money."

• attestation: Thorer ominously promised that both Fin and the king would agree the debt was not unpaid.

  "the good will is not wanting to pay this debt, so that both thou and the king shall say it is not unpaid."

• attestation: Thorer paid silver from a first purse weighing ten marks, then produced many additional small payments.

  "Thorer came and paid silver; of which, from one purse, there were weighed ten marks."

• attestation: Thorer fled Norway by sea after the assembly, sailing south along the coast until the land disappeared, and then to England.

  "Thorer held this course until he got into the English sea, and landed in England. He betook himself to King Canute forthwith, and was well received by him."

• attestation: Thorer's liquor casks had hidden inner compartments filled with furs, beaver and sable skins from the Bjarmaland expedition.

  "In the great liquor-casks there were sides within the outer sides, and the liquor was between them. The rest of the casks were filled with furs, and beaver and sable skins."

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

• attestation: Thorer Hund was also in Canute's army and held in high esteem.

  "Thorer Hund was also there, and was in high esteem."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 180. King Canute'S Expedition To Norway.

• relationship: Thorer Hund came with Canute from Denmark and was made sheriff along with Harek of Thjotta.

  "Thorer Hund, who had come with King Canute from Denmark, was there, and also Harek of Thjotta; and both were made sheriffs of the king"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 204. Of The Lendermen In Norway.

• attestation: Thorer Hund made Lapland trading journeys in winters 1029-1030, gathering great wealth and having twelve reindeer-skin coats made with Lapland witchcraft that no weapon could pierce.

  "Thorer Hund, in these two winters (A.D. 1029-1030), had made a Lapland journey, and each winter had been a long time on the mountains, and had gathered to himself great wealth by trading in various wares with the Laplanders."

• attestation: The enchanted reindeer-skin coats were impervious to weapons, described as being as effective as ring-mail armour or better.

  "He had twelve large coats of reindeer-skin made for him, with so much Lapland witchcraft that no weapon could cut or pierce them any more than if they were armour of ring-mail, nor so much."

• attestation: Thorer Hund rigged a longship, summoned bondes from the northernmost Thing district, and along with Harek of Thjotta collected a great force to march south against King Olaf.

  "Harek of Thjotta had also collected a great number of people; and in this expedition many people of consequence took a part, although these two were the most distinguished."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 231. Of The Lendermen.

• attestation: Thorer Hund also declined the overall leadership, noting the Throndhjem people would not obey a Halogaland man.

  "the people of Throndhjem have the greatest part in this armament, and I know well their haughty spirit, and that they would not obey me, or any other Halogaland man"

• attestation: Thorer recounted that King Olaf had killed four of his kinsmen: his brother's son Asbjorn, his sister's sons Thorer and Grjotgard, and their father Olver.

  "King Olaf slew four men, all distinguished both by birth and personal qualities; namely, my brother's son Asbjorn, my sister's sons Thorer and Grjotgard, and their father Olver"

• attestation: Thorer selected eleven of his most daring house-servants specifically to confront King Olaf in battle.

  "I have selected eleven of my house-servants for that purpose, and of those who are the most daring"

• relationship: Asbjorn was Thorer Hund's brother's son, while Thorer and Grjotgard were his sister's sons.

  "my brother's son Asbjorn, my sister's sons Thorer and Grjotgard, and their father Olver"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 233. How The Lendermen Set Up Their Banners.

• attestation: Thorer Hund with his troop held the head of the battle order in front of the banner, flanked by chosen bondes.

  "Thorer Hund, with his troop, was at the head of the order of battle in front of the banner; and on both sides of Thorer was a chosen body of bondes"

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

• attestation: The bondes delayed their assault waiting for Thorer Hund, who came last to prevent men from deserting when the battle cry was raised.

  "Thorer Hund had come up with his troop the last, for he had to take care that the men did not go off behind when the battlecry was raised"

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

• attestation: Thorer Hund went forward in front of the banner and cried 'Forward, forward, bondemen!' to start the battle.

  "Now came Thorer Hund, went forward in front of the banner with his troop, and called out, "Forward, forward, bondemen!""

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

• attestation: Thorer struck at the king and they exchanged blows; Thorer was wounded in the hands though his reindeer skin turned the king's sword.

  "Thorer struck at the king, and they exchanged some blows; but the king's sword would not cut where it met the reindeer skin, although Thorer was wounded in the hands."

• attestation: Thorer Hund thrust his spear through Marshal Bjorn's body, killing him, saying 'It is thus we hunt the bear' (a pun on Bjorn's name).

  "Thorer Hund struck his spear right through the body of Marshal Bjorn, and killed him outright; and Thorer said, "It is thus we hunt the bear.""

• attestation: Thorer Hund thrust his spear under Olaf's mail-coat into his belly.

  "Then Thorer Hund struck at him with his spear, and the stroke went in under his mail-coat and into his belly."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 242. King Olaf'S Miracle Shown To Thorer Hund.

• attestation: Thorer Hund tended King Olaf's body after the battle, laying it straight on the ground and spreading a cloak over it.

  "Thorer Hund went to where King Olaf's body lay, took care of it, laid it straight out on the ground, and spread a cloak over it."

• attestation: Thorer later testified that Olaf's face was very beautiful when he wiped the blood from it, with red cheeks as if merely sleeping.

  "when he wiped the blood from the face it was very beautiful; and there was red in the cheeks, as if he only slept, and even much clearer than when he was in life."

• attestation: Thorer Hund became one of the first powerful opponents to spread abroad the king's sanctity.

  "Thorer Hund was among the first of the king's powerful opponents who endeavoured to spread abroad the king's sanctity."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 244. Of The Bondes Of Veradal.

• attestation: Thorer Hund was appointed to lead 600 men in pursuit through Veradal.

  "Thorer Hund should undertake this expedition through Veradal, with 600 men of his own troops."

• attestation: Thorer marched through the night to Sula, where he learned Dag Hringson had stopped for supper before heading into the mountains.

  "Thorer continued his march without halt until he came in the night to Sula, where he heard the news that Dag Hringson had come there in the evening"

• attestation: Thorer declined to pursue Dag into the mountains and returned down the valley without killing many fugitives.

  "Then Thorer said he did not care to pursue them up through the mountains, and he returned down the valley again, and they did not kill many of them this time."

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 250. Of Thorer Hund.

• attestation: Thorer Hund came down the valley of Veradal to Stiklestad on the fifth day (Thursday) after the battle, accompanied by many chiefs and bondes.

  "The fifth day (Thursday), Thorer Hund came down the valley of Veradal to Stiklestad; and many people, both chiefs and bondes, accompanied him."

• attestation: Thorer searched the battlefield for King Olaf's body but could not find it, and no one could tell him what had become of the corpse.

  "Thorer Hund went to where the king had fallen, and searched for his body; but not finding it, he inquired if any one could tell him what had become of the corpse, but nobody could tell him where it was."

• attestation: Though Thorer Hund knew for certain the king had fallen, many people believed and spread the report that Olaf had escaped and would return with an army.

  "Now although Thorer Hund knew for certain that the king had fallen, many allowed themselves to believe, and to spread abroad the report, that the king had escaped from the battle, and would in a short time come again upon them with an army."

• attestation: Thorer departed to his ships and sailed down the fjord, while the bonde army dispersed carrying their wounded.

  "Then Thorer went to his ships, and sailed down the fjord, and the bonde-army dispersed, carrying with them all the wounded men who could bear to be removed."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 12. Of Thorer Hund.

• attestation: Thorer Hund left Norway immediately after King Olaf's fall and traveled all the way to Jerusalem, reportedly never returning

  "Thorer Hund left the country immediately after King Olaf's fall. He went all the way to Jerusalem, and many people say he never came back."

• relationship: Thorer Hund had a son Sigurd, whose daughter Ranveig married Joan son of Arne Arnason; their children included Vidkun of Bjarkey, Sigurd Hund, Erling, and Jardthrud

  "Thorer Hund had a son called Sigurd, father of Ranveig who was married to Joan, a son of Arne Arnason. Their children were Vidkun of Bjarkey, Sigurd Hund, Erling, and Jardthrud."