The Laxdæla Saga on Kjartan

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xxxix

• relationship: Kjartan and Bolli developed a close friendship, growing up together as kinsmen

  "Of Kjartan's Friendship for Bolli"

• attestation: Kjartan was the most admired young man in the district at this time

  "Of Kjartan's Friendship for Bolli"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xl

• attestation: Kjartan and Bolli sailed to Norway around 996 AD

  "Kjartan and Bolli Voyage to Norway, A.D. 996"

• attestation: Kjartan and Bolli sailed to Norway together around 996 AD

  "It is told how one time Kjartan Olafson went on a journey south to Burgfirth."

• attestation: Kjartan met King Olaf Tryggvason in Norway and was well received at court

  "[Sidenote: The family of Asgeir]"

• attestation: Kjartan was baptized and accepted Christianity under King Olaf's influence

  "[Sidenote: The family of Asgeir]"

• attestation: Kjartan was detained by King Olaf as a hostage to ensure Iceland's conversion

  "[Sidenote: The family of Asgeir]"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xli

• attestation: Kjartan wanted to consult King Olaf before finalizing his travel plans

  "first I will go and see the king before I settle this, for he did not seem pleased at my going on this journey when we talked about it in the spring."

• attestation: Kjartan remained in Norway as the king's guest, detained from returning to Iceland

  "Kalf Asgeirson went to see Kjartan and asks what he was minded to do that summer."

• attestation: Kjartan's extended stay in Norway while Gudrun waited in Iceland set the stage for the love triangle

  "Kalf Asgeirson went to see Kjartan"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xlii

• attestation: Kjartan and Bolli parted ways, with Bolli returning to Iceland while Kjartan remained in Norway

  "After that Kjartan and Bolli parted"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xliii

• attestation: Kjartan returned to Iceland around 1001 AD

  "Kjartan comes back to Iceland, A.D. 1001"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xliv

• attestation: Kjartan arrived home around 1001 AD

  "Kjartan comes home, A.D. 1001"

• attestation: Kjartan and Kalf sailed from Norway and arrived at White-river in Burgfirth

  "Now Kjartan and Kalf set sail for the main. They had a good wind, and were only a short time out at sea. They hove into White-river, in Burgfirth."

• attestation: News of Kjartan's arrival spread widely across Iceland

  "The tidings spread far and wide of the coming of Kjartan."

• attestation: Kjartan learned of Bolli's marriage to Gudrun upon his return to Iceland

  "Now Kjartan and Kalf set sail for the main."

• attestation: Kjartan's return created tension because of Bolli's marriage to Gudrun during his absence

  "Now Kjartan and Kalf set sail for the main."

• attestation: Kjartan and Kalf had a swift crossing with favorable winds

  "They had a good wind, and were only a short time out at sea."

• attestation: Kjartan arrived in the west of Iceland at Burgfirth

  "They hove into White-river, in Burgfirth."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xlv

• relationship: Kjartan married Hrefna around 1002 AD

  "Kjartan marries Hrefna, A.D. 1002"

• attestation: Kjartan refused Bolli's gift of the stud-horses, showing the growing rift between them

  "Bolli's gift refused"

• attestation: Kjartan's coldness toward Bolli revealed his deep hurt over Gudrun's marriage

  "Kjartan was rather silent."

• attestation: Kjartan's silence at the feast foreshadowed the coming conflict between the foster-brothers

  "Kjartan was rather silent. The feast went off well."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xlvi

• attestation: Kjartan declared that Hrefna should sit in the high seat and be most honoured as long as he lived

  ""Hrefna shall sit in the high seat and be most honoured in all things so long as I am alive.""

• attestation: Kjartan's sword King's-gift went missing while he was busy seeing off guests

  "Kjartan had not his sword "King's-gift" with him while he was taken up with these matters, yet was he seldom wont to let it go out of his hand. After this he went to his room where the sword had been, and found it now gone."

• attestation: Kjartan treasured the sword less after its recovery and wanted to pursue the matter further, but Olaf urged restraint

  "Kjartan always treasured the sword less hereafter than heretofore. This affair Kjartan took much to heart, and would not let the matter rest there. Olaf said, "Do not let it pain you; true, they have done a nowise pretty trick, but you have got no harm from it. We shall not let people have this to laugh at, that we make a quarrel about such a thing, these being but friends and kinsmen on the other side."

• attestation: Kjartan publicly accused Bolli's household of stealing both his sword scabbard and the coif

  "I call on you, Cousin Bolli, to show yourself more willing henceforth than hitherto to do to us as behoves a good man and true. I shall not set this matter forth in a whisper, for within the knowledge of many people it is that a loss has befallen here of a thing which we think has slipped into your own keep."

• attestation: Kjartan was wearing a red kirtle of scarlet when he overheard the discussion about seating the women

  "Kjartan was wont to rest, and where even then he was dressing and slipping on a red kirtle of scarlet"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xlvii

• attestation: Kjartan traveled to Laugar and a land transaction at Tongue occurred around 1003 AD

  "Kjartan goes to Laugar, and of the Bargain for Tongue, A.D. 1003"

• attestation: Kjartan gathered sixty men after Yule without telling his father the reason for the expedition

  "After Yule that winter Kjartan got men together, and they mustered sixty men altogether. Kjartan did not tell his father the reason of his journey"

• attestation: Kjartan rode to Laugar with tents and supplies, setting up camp there

  "Kjartan took with him tents and stores, and rode on his way until he came to Laugar."

• attestation: Kjartan blockaded the people of Laugar indoors, denying them access to outdoor facilities

  "He bade his men get off their horses, and said that some should look after the horses an"

• attestation: The siege of Laugar lasted three days, humiliating Bolli and the Osvifssons

  "Kjartan's expedition to Laugar"

• attestation: Kjartan's siege prevented the inhabitants from going outside to their privy for three days

  "[Sidenote: Kjartan's expedition to Laugar]"

• attestation: The humiliation deepened the enmity between Kjartan's faction and the Laugar household

  "Kjartan's expedition to Laugar"

• attestation: A land bargain at Tongue was also part of the growing conflict during this period

  "[Sidenote: Kjartan's expedition to Laugar] After Yule that winter Kjartan got men together, and they mustered sixty men altogether."

• attestation: The sixty men Kjartan assembled demonstrated his considerable power and support

  "they mustered sixty men altogether."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xlviii

• attestation: Kjartan spent the fourth day after Easter at Hol with great merriment

  "Kjartan spent the fourth day after Easter at Hol, and there was the greatest merriment and gaiety."

• attestation: The ambush was set in Swinedale where Kjartan would pass on his journey home

  "Kjartan spent the fourth day after Easter at Hol"

• attestation: The prophetic dream of An foreshadowed the attack on Kjartan

  "An's dream"

• attestation: Kjartan's visit to Hol was during Easter, placing the ambush in early spring

  "Kjartan spent the fourth day after Easter at Hol"

• attestation: An was Kjartan's companion and follower who traveled with him

  "An was very ill at ease in his sleep"

• attestation: The ambush was planned to take place when Kjartan traveled through the dale on his return

  "Kjartan spent the fourth day after Easter at Hol"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xlix

• attestation: Kjartan was killed

  "The Death of Kjartan"

• attestation: Kjartan rode south through the dale with only An the Black and Thorarin as companions

  "Now Kjartan rode south through the dale, he and they three together, himself, An the Black, and Thorarin."

• attestation: The men of Laugar ambushed Kjartan as he rode through the dale

  "the men of Laugar in ambush and Kjartan and his where they were riding down the dale"

• attestation: Kjartan was outnumbered in the ambush, having only two companions against a larger force

  "he and they three together, himself, An the Black, and Thorarin."

• attestation: Kjartan fought valiantly but was ultimately killed in the ambush

  "Now Kjartan rode south through the dale, he and they three together, himself, An the Black, and Thorarin."

• attestation: Kjartan threw down his weapons before Bolli rather than fight his foster-brother

  "Now Kjartan rode south through the dale"

• attestation: Kjartan's death became the central tragedy of the saga, mourned by many

  "Now Kjartan rode south through the dale, he and they three together, himself, An the Black, and Thorarin."

• attestation: The ambush took place in Swinedale during Kjartan's journey home after Easter

  "Kjartan rode south through the dale"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. L

• attestation: There was no church built in the Dales at the time of Kjartan's death, so a tent was placed over his body

  "a tent was rigged over it, for there was as yet no church built in the Dales."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Li

• attestation: Kjartan's body lay in state at Herdholt for a week before burial

  "Kjartan's body lay in state for a week in Herdholt."

• attestation: The revenge for Kjartan's killing was pursued through legal channels first

  "The revenge for Kjartan"