The Laxdæla Saga on Olaf Peacock

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xx

• attestation: Olaf was called 'the Peacock' due to his exceptional appearance

  "[Sidenote: Of Thorliek Hoskuldson] Hoskuld now remained quietly at home, and began now to sink into old age, and his sons were now all grown up"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xxi

• attestation: Olaf the Peacock traveled to Ireland around 955 AD

  "Olaf the Peacock goes to Ireland, A.D. 955"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xxii

• attestation: Olaf the Peacock returned to Iceland around 957 AD

  "Olaf the Peacock comes Home to Iceland, A.D. 957"

• attestation: Olaf was called the Peacock, and this name stuck because of his exceptional appearance

  "Olaf Hoskuldson then went to the court of King Harald"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xxiii

• relationship: Olaf Peacock married Thorgerd, daughter of Egil, around 959 AD

  "The Marriage of Olaf Peacock and Thorgerd, the Daughter of Egil, A.D. 959"

• relationship: Olaf Peacock married Thorgerd, daughter of Egil Skallagrimsson, around 959 AD

  "forth from their booth to find Egil."

• attestation: The wedding feast was held with great ceremony befitting the noble families

  "It is told how one day the father and son, Hoskuld and Olaf"

• attestation: Olaf and Thorgerd established themselves at Hoskuldstead after the marriage

  "It is told how one day the father and son, Hoskuld and Olaf"

• attestation: The match connected Olaf's descent from Irish royalty with Egil's warrior lineage

  "It is told how one day the father and son, Hoskuld and Olaf"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xxiv

• attestation: Olaf and Thorgerd lived at Hoskuldstead and loved each other dearly

  "Olaf and Thorgerd lived at Hoskuldstead and loved each other very dearly"

• attestation: Olaf took over the household at Goddistead in the spring

  "In the spring Olaf took over the household business at Goddistead."

• attestation: After Thord's death, followers flocked to Olaf and he became a great chieftain

  "After that liegemen crowded to Olaf and he became a great chieftain."

• attestation: Olaf built a grand homestead at Herdholt in the Dales around 960 AD

  "Herdholt] Then Hoskuld spake, bidding Olaf his son welcome and abide all honour to this new dwelling of his, "And somehow my mind forebodes me that this will follow, that for a long time his name will"

• attestation: Olaf was the foremost chieftain of the district, surpassing his father's influence

  "liegemen crowded to Olaf and he became a great chieftain."

• attestation: Olaf and Thorgerd alternated between living at Hoskuldstead and with Olaf's foster-father

  "Olaf and Thorgerd spent that winter turn and turn about at Hoskuldstead, or with Olaf's foster-father."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xxvii

• attestation: Olaf announced Hoskuld's death at the law rock and invited all chieftains to a funeral feast

  "Olaf stood up and asked for a hearing, and told them first of the death of his father, "and there are now here many men, kinsmen and friends of his."

• attestation: Olaf invited all the chieftains and promised none of the greater men would leave without gifts

  "All you chieftains, for most of the mightier men are such, as were bound by alliances to him, I let it be known that no one of the greater men shall go away giftless."

• attestation: The funeral feast was to be a half month long at Hoskuldstead, ten weeks before winter

  "I bid all the farmers and any who will accept--rich or poor--to a half month's feast at Hoskuldstead ten weeks before the winter."

• attestation: Olaf's generous invitation was praised as lordly and magnanimous

  "his bidding was looked upon as a right lordl"

• attestation: The funeral feast served as an occasion for Olaf to demonstrate his wealth and secure alliances

  "I let it be known that no one of the greater men shall go away giftless."

• attestation: Hoskuld's death left Olaf as the principal leader of the family

  "It is the will of my brothers that I ask you to a funeral feast in memory of Hoskuld our father."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xxviii

• relationship: Olaf and Thorgerd had a son named Kjartan, named after Myrkjartan, Olaf's Irish grandfather

  "Olaf and Thorgerd had a son, and the boy was sprinkled with water and a name was given him, Olaf letting him be called Kjartan after Myrkjartan his mother's father."

• relationship: Olaf and Thorgerd had sons named Steinthor, Halldor, Helgi, and Hoskuld (youngest)

  "three sons were called Steinthor and Halldor and Helgi, and Hoskuld was the name of the youngest of Olaf's sons."

• relationship: Olaf and Thorgerd's daughters were named Bergthora, Thorgerd, and Thorbjorg

  "The daughters of Olaf and his wife were named Bergthora, Thorgerd, and Thorbjorg."

• attestation: All of Olaf and Thorgerd's children showed great promise as they grew up

  "All their children were of goodly promise as they grew up."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xxix

• attestation: Olaf told Thorgerd he wished to go voyaging and left her in charge of household and children

  "Olaf broke the news to Thorgerd that he wished to go out voyaging--"And I wish you to look after our household and children.""

• attestation: Olaf bought a ship at Vadill in the west and sailed to Hordaland in Norway

  "He bought a ship that stood up in the West, at Vadill. Olaf started during the summer, and brought his ship to Hordaland."

• attestation: Olaf traveled to Hordaland where he met Giermund who lived a short way inland

  "brought his ship to Hordaland. There, a short way inland, lived a man whose name was Giermund Roar"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xxx

• attestation: Olaf gave Giermund the merchant ship as a parting gift

  "At parting Olaf gave Giermund the merchant ship all"

• attestation: Olaf was easygoing about the situation and suggested the girl should stay until she could fend for herself

  "They could get Olaf to do nothing, for he was an easygoing man, and said the girl should remain until she wished to go"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xxxvii

• attestation: Olaf refused to support an attack on Thorliek, calling it wrong for kinsmen to fight

  "Olaf replied, "It is not right that you two kinsmen should be laying hands on each other"

• attestation: Olaf proposed mediating peace between Hrut and Thorliek instead of supporting violence

  "I would sooner try and bring about peace between you"

• attestation: Olaf acknowledged the situation had brought evil luck to Thorliek

  "on Thorliek's behalf this has turned out a matter of most evil luck."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xxxviii

• attestation: Olaf asked Thorliek whether he intended to keep his homestead after the trouble with Kotkell

  "Olaf asked if Thorliek was minded to keep on his house."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xliii

• attestation: Olaf remarked that most women would consider Bolli a fully worthy husband

  "Olaf replied, "Such is the case with most women, I am minded to think, that they would be fully well matched in you for a husband."

• attestation: Olaf had reservations about the match but supported his foster-son Bolli

  "And I take it you have n"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xliv

• attestation: Olaf rode from the Dales to Burgfirth to meet Kjartan and there was a joyful reunion

  "Olaf rode at once from the west out of the Dales and south to Burgfirth, and there was a very joyful meeting between father and son."

• attestation: Olaf invited Kjartan to stay with him and his followers

  "Olaf asked Kjartan to go and stay wit"

• attestation: Kjartan's father and kinsmen were greatly rejoiced at his safe return

  "Olaf, his father, and his other kinsfolk heard of it they were greatly rejoiced."

• attestation: Olaf traveled from his home in the Dales south to Burgfirth specifically to greet his son

  "Olaf rode at once from the west out of the Dales and south to Burgfirth"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xlv

• attestation: Olaf tried to maintain goodwill between his son Kjartan and foster-son Bolli

  "Olaf responded to that most heartily"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xlvii

• attestation: Olaf was displeased when he learned of Kjartan's provocative action at Laugar

  "Olaf asked but little about it."