Heimskringla; Or, The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway. Snorri Sturluson

districts gave King Harald to Earl Hakon to rule over, with the same rights as Harald Harfager gave with them to his sons; only with the difference, that Hakon should there, as well as in Throndhjem, have the king's land-estates and land-tax, and use the king's money and goods according to his necessities whenever there was war in the country. King Harald also gave Harald Grenske Vingulmark, Vestfold, and Agder all the way to Lidandisnes (the Naze), together with the title of king; and let him have these dominions with the same rights as his family in former times had held them, and as Harald Harfager had given with them to his sons. Harald Grenske was then eighteen years old, and he became afterwards a celebrated man. Harald king of Denmark returned home thereafter with all his army.

      ENDNOTES:

       (1) i.e., 720 ships, as they were counted by long hundreds,

       100=120.

16. GUNHILD'S SONS LEAVE THE COUNTRY.

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      Earl Hakon proceeded northwards along the coast with his force; and when Gunhild and her sons got the tidings they proceeded to gather troops, but were ill off for men. Then they took the same resolution as before, to sail out to sea with such men as would follow them away to the westward (A.D. 969). They came first to the Orkney Islands, and remained there a while. There were in Orkney then the Earls Hlodver. Arnfid, Ljot, and Skule, the sons of Thorfin Hausakljufer.

      Earl Hakon now brought all the country under him, and remained all winter (A.D. 970) in Throndhjem. Einar Skalaglam speaks of his conquests in "Vellekla":—

      "Norway's great watchman, Harald, now

       May bind the silk snood on his brow—

       Seven provinces he seized. The realm

       Prospers with Hakon at the helm."

      As Hakon the earl proceeded this summer along the coast subjecting all the people to him, he ordered that over all his dominions the temples and sacrifices should be restored, and continued as of old. So it is said in the "Vellekla":—

      "Hakon the earl, so good and wise,

       Let all the ancient temples rise;—

       Thor's temples raised with fostering hand

       That had been ruined through the land.

       His valiant champions, who were slain

       On battle-fields across the main,

       To Thor, the thunder-god, may tell

       How for the gods all turns out well.

       The hardy warrior now once more

       Offers the sacrifice of gore;

       The shield-bearer in Loke's game

       Invokes once more great Odin's name.

       The green earth gladly yields her store,

       As she was wont in days of yore,

       Since the brave breaker of the spears

       The holy shrines again uprears.

       The earl has conquered with strong hand

       All that lies north of Viken land:

       In battle storm, and iron rain

       Hakon spreads wide his sword's domain."

      The first winter that Hakon ruled over Norway the herrings set in everywhere through the fjords to the land, and the seasons ripened to a good crop all that had been sown. The people, therefore, laid in seed for the next year, and got their lands sowed, and had hope of good times.

      17. HAKON'S BATTLE WITH RAGNFRED.

      King Ragnfred and King Gudrod, both sons of Gunhild and Eirik, were now the only sons of Gunhild remaining in life. So says Glum Geirason in Grafeld's lay:—

      "When in the battle's bloody strife

       The sword took noble Harald's life,

       Half of my fortunes with him fell:

       But his two brothers, I know well,

       My loss would soon repair, should they

       Again in Norway bear the sway,

       And to their promises should stand,

       If they return to rule the land."

      Ragnfred began his course in the spring after he had been a year in the Orkney Islands. He sailed from thence to Norway, and had with him fine troops, and large ships. When he came to Norway he learnt that Earl Hakon was in Throndhjem; therefore he steered northwards around Stad, and plundered in South More. Some people submitted to him; for it often happens, when parties of armed men scour over a country, that those who are nearest the danger seek help where they think it may be expected. As soon as Earl Hakon heard the news of disturbance in More, he fitted out ships, sent the war-token through the land, made ready in all haste, and proceeded out of the fjord. He had no difficulty in assembling men. Ragnfred and Earl Hakon met at the north corner of More; and Hakon, who had most men, but fewer ships, began the battle. The combat was severe, but heaviest on Hakon's side; and as the custom then was, they fought bow to bow, and there was a current in the sound which drove all the ships in upon the land. The earl ordered to row with the oars to the land where landing seemed easiest. When the ships were all grounded, the earl with all his men left them, and drew them up so far that the enemy might not launch them down again, and then drew up his men on a grass-field, and challenged Ragnfred to land. Ragnfred and his men laid their vessels in along the land, and they shot at each other a long time; but upon the land Ragnfred would not venture: and so they separated. Ragnfred sailed with his fleet southwards around Stad; for he was much afraid the whole forces of the country would swarm around Hakon. Hakon, on his part, was not inclined to try again a battle, for he thought the difference between their ships in size was too great; so in harvest he went north to Throndhjem, and staid there all winter (A.D. 971). King Ragnfred consequently had all the country south of Stad at his mercy; namely, Fjord district, Hordaland, Sogn, Rogaland; and he had many people about him all winter. When spring approached he ordered out the people and collected a large force. By going about the districts he got many men, ships, and warlike stores sent as he required.

18. BATTLE BETWEEN HAKON AND RAGNFRED.

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      Towards spring Earl Hakon ordered out all the men north in the country; and got many people from Halogaland and Naumudal; so that from Bryda to Stad he had men from all the sea-coast. People flocked to him from all the Throndhjem district and from Raumsdal. It was said for certain that he had men from four great districts, and that seven earls followed him, and a matchless number of men. So it is said in the "Vellekla":—

      "Hakon, defender of the land,

       Armed in the North his warrior-band

       To Sogn's old shore his force he led,

       And from all quarters thither sped

       War-ships and men; and haste was made

       By the young god of the sword-blade,

       The hero-viking of the wave,

       His wide domain from foes to save.

       With shining keels seven kings sailed on

       To meet this raven-feeding one.

       When the clash came, the stunning sound

       Was heard in Norway's farthest bound;

       And sea-borne corpses, floating far,

       Brought round the Naze news from the war."

      Earl Hakon sailed then with his fleet southwards around Stad; and when he heard that King Ragnfred with his army had gone towards Sogn, he turned there