CHAP. III.
NORWAY.
ABOUT 70 B.C.-A.D. 1030.

NEW KINGDOM OF THE YNGLINGS IN VERMELAND.—KINGS FROM OLAF TRÆTELIA TO HALFDAN THE BLACK.—HALFDAN THE TRUE FOUNDER OF THE NORWEGIAN MONARCHY.—HARALD HARFAGER.—ERIC OF THE BLOODY AXE.—HAKO THE GOOD.—HARALD GRAAFELD.—HAKO THE JARL.—SURPRISING ADVENTURES OF OLAF TRYGVESON.—HIS EARLY PIRATICAL EXPLOITS.—HIS ROMANTIC FORTUNES.—HE BECOMES KING OF NORWAY.—HIS DESTRUCTION OF THE IDOLS.—HIS INTOLERANT BIGOTRY AND CRUEL PERSECUTIONS.—HIS TRAGICAL DEATH, OR, ACCORDING TO SOME WRITERS, HIS MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE FROM THE WORLD.—OLAF THE SAINT.—HIS ADVENTURES OF A PIRATE.—HIS ACCESSION TO THE CROWN OF NORWAY,—HIS PERSECUTING CHARACTER.—HIS QUARRELS AND SUBSEQUENT ALLIANCE WITH SWEDEN.—IS DRIVEN INTO EXILE BY CANUTE THE GREAT.—HE RETURNS, AND IS SLAIN.—HIS PRETENDED SANCTITY.

  Early Chiefs of Norway 156
 
630–640 Olaf Trætelia lays the Foundation of Vermeland; put to Death as the supposed Cause of a Famine; his Character; his Children by the Daughter of Halfdan, King of Soleyr 158
 
640–840 Halfdan, the Son of Olaf, is demanded by the Swedes for their King; his Grandfather refuses to surrender him; a Battle ensues, and the King of Soleyr is slain; Halfdan governs both States; conquers Raumarik; marries the Daughter of the King of Hedmark; acquires half that State, and subdues part of Westfold 160
 
730–840 Eystein, the Son of Halfden, succeeds to the united Crowns of Raumarik and Westfold; becomes a Pirate; is killed in one of his Expeditions, and is succeeded by his Son, Halfdan II. 161
 
  His Inconsistency of Character; is succeeded by his Son Gudred; he receives as the Dowry of his Wife part of Vingulmark; demands as his second Wife the Daughter of Harald, Chief of Adger, who, refusing Compliance, falls in Battle, and Adger becomes the Prey of Halfdan; is murdered; his Sons Olaf and Halfdan divide his States 162
 
840–850 Halfdan the Black only a Year old when his Father died; his Territories (except Adger, his maternal Inheritance) seized by Olaf; at eighteen demands and obtains part of his Inheritance; obtains by Force half of Vingulmark; recovers Raumarik; defeats the King of Hedmark; but grants his Brother one half of Hedmark; subdues two small States bordering on Hedmark 163
 
850. Marries the Daughter of the King of Sogne; on her Death and that of her Son, takes Possession of that State; defeated by some Chiefs of Vingulmark; is Victor in his turn, and subdues the whole Province 164
 
852–863 Sigurd Hiort, King of Ringarik, killed by Hako the Berserk and his Company, who capture Guthrum the Son, and Ragnilda the Daughter, of Sigurd; they are rescued by Halfdan 165
 
  Who marries Ragnilda; Issue, Harald Harfager; Character of Harald the Black; his Laws; wonderful Vision preceding his Death; he is drowned 166
 
863. Harald Harfager a Child at his Father’s Death; his Youth is taken advantage of by the neighbouring Reguli; is defended by his Uncle Guthrum 167
 
865–868 His General and Minister; his Enemies defeated and spoiled of their Territories; he demands the Hand of Gyda of the King of Hordaland; her proud Reply 168
 
  Harald vows never to cut or comb his Hair until he has subdued all Norway; subdues many Districts, in which he establishes the feudal System; his local Administration and Revenue 169
 
867–882 Is joined by Jarl Hako; subdues Orkadal, Strinda, Spordal, Veradal, Scaunia, Sparbyggia, and the Islands in the West; the two Kings of Naumdal submit, and are made Jarls; returns to Drontheim, builds a Town as his Seat of Government, and marries Asa, Daughter of Jarl Hako; his military Preparations and System of Discipline 170
 
  He subdues the Möre Tylk, south of Drontheim, and slays their Chiefs; makes the celebrated Rognevald, Father of Rollo, first Duke of Normandy, their Governor; Sunmore and the Fiords subdued 171
 
  Quarrels among his Chiefs 172
 
882–884 War with Eric of Sweden, who conquers Vermeland; Interview between Harald and Eric; strange Expedient of Aki, their Host 172
 
  Resented by Eric, by whom he is treacherously slain; mutual Hostilities; Conspiracy of the subdued Reguli against Harald 173
 
  The combined Chiefs defeated, and the celebrated Victory of the Bay of Hafursfiord gained by Harald 174
 
  The Conspirators go into Exile, or become Pirates, and infest his Coasts, and those of Britain; Norway being conquered, he cuts his Locks, and obtains the Epithet of Harfager or Fair-haired; marries Gyda, who bears him a Daughter and four Sons 175
 
  Wonderful Story of his Marriage with Snæfrida, the Daughter of a Finnish Magician, who bears him four Sons, Sigurd, Halfdan, Gudred, Rognevald; miraculous Story of her Death, and Harald’s Infatuation 176
 
  He dismisses his four Sons, by the Witch Snæfrida; receives them again at the Intercession of Jarl Hiodulf; they excel in military Exercises; his numerous Wives and Offspring 177
 
  The Crimes and Ambition of most of his Sons shortened their Days; the Sons of Snæfrida burn Rognevald 178
 
  Harald appoints his Sons Kings over the Provinces; Thorgils and Frode conquer Dublin; end their Days tragically 179
 
  Eric Blodöxe burns his Brother Rognevald, with eighty pretended Wizards; slays his Brother Biorn, King of Westfold 180
 
910–913 Harald’s unaccountable Attachment to Eric; Eric’s early piratical Depredations; his marvellous Adventure in Finland with Gunhilda and two Magicians; he marries Gunhilda 181
 
930–934 Gudred, the Son of Harald, lost at Sea; Harald resigns the Imperial Dignity to Eric 182
 
  He is opposed by Halfdan the Black, with Olaf, the Brother of the murdered Biorn, King of Westfold; Harald dies at the age of eighty; his Character; military Prowess almost his only great Quality 183
 
934–936 Hostilities between Eric and his Brothers, Olaf and Sigurd; they are defeated and slain; the People look for a Deliverer from the Tyranny of Eric in the Person of Hako, who had been educated in the Court of Athelstane of England, where he then resided 185
 
  Hako, being supplied with Ships and Money, sails for Norway 185
 
937–946 He lands at Drontheim; is proclaimed King in a General Assembly of Freemen; he is joined by many Chiefs in the Uplands; he makes Sigurd King of Westfold 186
 
  And Drygve King of Raumarik and Vingulmark; Eric, abandoned by the People, flees to the Orkneys; he ravages the Scottish Coast; he embraces Christianity, and receives the Government of Northumbria from Athelstane 187
 
  His continual Ravages on the Coasts of Scotland, Ireland, and Wales; his Fame draws many Norwegians, Danes, and Swedes to his Standard; he is absent from Northumbria during the Reign of Edmund the Elder; returns in the first Year of Edred’s Reign, and lays waste the English Coast; is defeated and slain by Edred; Northumbria becomes henceforth an English Province 188
 
939–940 Hako’s Hostilities with the Danes and Gothlanders, whom he defeats 188
 
  The piratical Sons of Eric, encouraged by the Danish King, commit Depredations on the Coasts of Norway; King Trygve retaliates upon Denmark; Hako encourages Christianity in Norway; sends to England for a Bishop and Priests 189
 
  Pagan Sacrifices; Sigurd’s Zeal for the Religion of Odin 190
 
941. Hako proposes the Establishment of the Christian Religion in a National Assembly; is opposed by Gaulandal 191
 
942–956 Hako’s Unwillingness to comply with the Rites of Paganism 192
 
  He is compelled partially to comply, and vows Revenge 193
 
956–958 The Sons of Eric invade his Coasts; he defeats them, and kills Guthrum with his own Hand; Law for the Protection of the Coasts 194
 
  Eric’s Sons again invade Norway; are defeated by Hako 195
 
958. The Sons of Eric again defeated by Hako, who is mortally wounded; he declares them his Heirs; dies; probably died a Pagan; his Character 194
 
963–969 Harald Graafeld, eldest Son of Eric, declared King 196
 
  His Power limited by five Chiefs, or Kings; he procures the Murder of Sigurd 198
 
  He betrays and murders King Trygve, and King Gudred 199
 
969. Unpopularity of the Sons of Eric; two of them killed by the People 200
 
  Harald betrayed, and killed in Battle; Harald of Denmark becomes supreme Monarch of Norway 201
 
  Deeds of Jarl Hako, Son of Sigurd, Governor of seven Norwegian Provinces; joins Harald against Otho; both compelled to receive Baptism by the Emperor 202
 
  He relapses into Paganism; proclaims his Independence; fabulous Guardians of Iceland; Harald dies 203
 
  His Son Sweyn assails Norway; Story of Harald Grenske and Sigfrida; he is killed by her; Birth of his posthumous Son, Olaf 204
 
993–995 Hako’s licentious Conduct; Olaf, the Son of Trygve 205
 
  Flight of his Mother Astridda; romantic Circumstances attending his Birth; their miraculous Escapes; they find an Asylum with Hako the Old 206
 
964–966 Gunhilda’s deceitful Attempts to obtain Possession of his Person 208
 
976–984 Astridda flees to her Brother Sigurd, to the Court of Waldemar, King of Gardarik; they are captured by Pirates, and sold 209
 
  Mother and Son separated; Olaf becomes his Master’s Favourite; with his Foster-brother Thorgils, redeemed by his Uncle Sigurd, who accidentally discovers them, and introduces them at the Court of his Master; his Education; becomes a Pirate at twelve Years of Age; protects the Coasts of Gardarik; in favour with the King; he pursues his Fortunes on the Deep 210
 
985–994 His great Fame; he marries the Widow of Duke Borislaf of Pomerania, and protects her Dominions; treacherous Attempt on his Life 211
 
  Which he defeats, with the Slaughter of his Enemies; he ravages the Coasts of the Baltic; assists the Emperor against the Danes; his Aversion to Idolatry; he returns to Pomerania 212
 
  His Wife dies; he leaves Pomerania; a Christian, yet a Pirate; Visits the Coasts of Britain; marries an Irish Princess 213
 
967–993 Fate of Astridda after her Capture; she is ransomed by a noble Pirate of Norway, whom she marries 214
 
995–996 Snares laid for Olaf by Hako of Norway, who employs Thorer, a Pirate, to entrap him 215
 
  Olaf sails for Norway; compels the Jarl of Orkney to embrace Christianity, and do him Homage 216
 
  He discovers Thorer’s Treachery, and slays the Traitor; Hako’s licentious Conduct causes a Conspiracy of the Nobles against him 217
 
995. Romantic Adventures of Hako and his Slave; Dream in the Cave; Death of Erleng, Son of Hako 218
 
  Second Dream in the Cave; Hako and Kark repair to the House of Thora, and are concealed in a subterraneous Recess; they are pursued by Olaf; Hako killed by his Slave 219
 
  Character of Jarl Hako 222
 
  Olaf, now King of Norway, commences his Persecution of Idolaters 222
 
997–999 Olaf and the Magicians; he is honoured by a Visit from Odin 224
 
998. Opposition which his religious Zeal encounters from the Pagans; politic Manner in which he evaded the Demand of his Chiefs that he should sacrifice to the Gods 226
 
  He overthrows the Idols in the great Temple of Drontheim; individual Conversions 227
 
999. He proceeds on a missionary Tour into Helogia; Legend concerning Bishop Sigurd; Destruction of a noted Pagan 228
 
  Atrocious Manner in which, through his Poet Halfrod, he punishes a Chief who had refused to embrace Christianity 230
 
  His Brutality offends Sigrida, a Swedish Princess, who devotes her future Life to Revenge; marries a Danish Princess 232
 
999–1000 His new Wife persuades him to equip an Armament for the Coast of Pomerania; Sweden and Denmark oppose him; he is defeated and slain 234
 
  Character of this Monarch 235
 
1000–1012 Division of Norway by the Conquerors 236
 
  Youth of St. Olaf 237
 
1007–1014 He becomes a Sea King; his Adventures on several Maritime Coasts, especially on those of Finland and England 238
 
1012. He returns to Norway, and captures Hako the Jarl, the Lieutenant of the Danish King; proceeds into the Uplands; his Reception by his Mother; curious Picture of domestic Manners 240
 
1014. He consults with his Friends as to the meditated Seizure of the Throne, and is encouraged by them to proceed 242
 
  He is promised Support by the Upland Kings, obtains Possession of Nidaros, but is expelled by Sweyn, another Jarl 243
 
1015. His Victory over his domestic Enemies, and consequent Recognition as Monarch of Norway 245
 
1016. His legal and religious Reforms; his punctual Attendance at public Worship the chief Cause of his subsequent Apotheosis 246
 
  His Disputes with Sweden; he hangs the Ambassadors of that Prince, and encroaches on her Frontiers 247
 
1017. Negotiations for Peace at the Court of the Swede long fruitless; Diet of the Kingdom; bold Language of the venerable Thorgnyr; Olaf compelled to promise Obedience to the Wish of his People 249
 
1018. Olaf of Sweden resolves to evade his Promise of marrying his Daughter Ingigerda to Olaf of Norway; Rage of the latter; he clandestinely marries Astridda, another Daughter of the Swedish King 252
 
  Reconciliation between the two Kings, who play at Dice for a Frontier Province 255
 
  Zeal of St. Olaf in the Diffusion of Christianity; a Conspiracy against him by the Pagan Kings of the Uplands; it is discovered, and the Actors punished 255
 
1019. Ruric, one of the Captive Kings whom Olaf had blinded, plots his Destruction; Banishment of the Royal Pagan 257
 
1020–1021. Severity of Olaf against the secret Pagans of Naumdal and Drontheim 259
 
1021. He is equally severe in the Uplands; Opposition of Gunbrund, King of the Dales; dispersed by Olaf; new Pagan reinforcements; Interview in the Defiles; the Idol Thor broken to pieces by the Followers of the Saint; Baptism of the foolish Wretches 261
 
1022–1025 Furious Persecution of the Pagans 264
 
1026–1027 Canute the Great threatens the Invasion of Norway; St. Olaf combines his Fleet with that of Sweden; Hostilities on the Coasts of Zealand and Scania 265
 
1027. Canute arrives in the North; orders the Assassination of Ulf, his Brother-in-law 267
 
1027–1028 St. Olaf finds Treachery in his Councils; Lukewarmness of the People; his great Unpopularity the Result of his own Misconduct 268
 
1028–1029 Triumphant Invasion of Canute, who is acknowledged Monarch of Norway; Olaf flees with Precipitation, first into Sweden, and then into Russia 270
 
1029. His good Reception by the King and Queen of Holmgard; is at length enabled to return into Sweden 271
 
1030. Aided by Swedish Forces, he returns towards Norway; his unfavourable reception by his former Subjects; he dies in Battle 272
 
  Character of this precious Saint 273
CHAP. IV.
MARITIME EXPEDITIONS OF THE NORTHMEN DURING THE PAGAN AGE.
SECTION I.
IN ENGLAND, FRANCE, AND IRELAND.

EARLY EXPEDITIONS OF THE NORTHMEN TO THE COASTS OF THE ROMAN PROVINCES.—CAUSES WHICH LED TO THEM:—POVERTY OF THE SOIL, FAMINE, COURAGE.—DOMESTIC PIRACY.—TRIBES OF PIRATES.—INVASION OF ENGLAND BY THE SAXONS AND DANES.—AUTHORITY OF SAXO GRAMMATICUS.—DEPREDATIONS IN ENGLAND PRIOR TO THE REIGN OF ATHELSTANE.—VICTORY OF THAT MONARCH.—RAVAGES OF THE NORTHMEN IN FRANCE.—HASTINGS.—ROLLO THE GREATEST OF THE SCANDINAVIAN PIRATES.—HIS CONQUEST OF NORMANDY, OF WHICH HE WAS THE FIRST DUKE.—THE NORTHMEN IN IRELAND.—EARLY COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE IRISH AND THE NORTH OF EUROPE.—FIRST RAVAGES OF THE NORTHMEN.—THEIR ALARMING PROGRESS IN THAT ISLAND.—VICTORY OBTAINED OVER THEM BY KING BRIAN.—THEIR SUBSEQUENT DEPREDATIONS AND DECLINE.

  Early Appearance of the Scandinavian Pirates on the Coasts of the Roman Provinces and in Ireland 276
 
  Causes which led to the voluntary or compulsory Expatriation of the Northmen:—Poverty of the Soil, Insufficiency of Food, Expertness in the Management of small Vessels 278
 
  Progress of Piracy in the North 279
 
  Domestic Piracy gives rise to maritime Expeditions into the South 280
 
  The Roman Provinces the chief Objects of Plunder at a very early Age 283
 
  Expeditions of the Saxons and Northmen to England 283
 
  Foundations of the Saxon Kingdoms in England 285
 
  On the Degree of Reliance to be placed in the Statements of Saxo Grammaticus, respecting the early Communications between Denmark and England 286
 
  Extract from Mr. Turner, on this Subject, and Comments thereupon 287
 
794–806 Depredations in Northumbria; Danish Kingdom in that Province; heroic Behaviour of the Coldingham Nuns 289
 
868–876 Graphic Account of the Destruction of Croyland Monastery 291
 
870–924 Transactions in Northumbria 294
 
924–934 Splendid Victory of Brunanburgh 296
 
400–840 Earliest Depredations of the Northmen in France 296
 
840. Hastings, the Veteran Pirate, arrives in France 297
 
842–844 Havoc in France and Spain 298
 
845–859 Ravages in France; Hastings sails to Italy; he surprises the City of Luna 299
 
858–863 Numerous piratical Bands in France; Hastings returns, and on the Condition of renouncing Piracy, is created Count de Chartres 301
 
863–876 Continued Excesses in the different Provinces of France 303
 
  Early Life of Rollo 304
 
876–888 His Expedition to France 306
 
888–896 Faithlessness of the Normans 308
 
896–909 Great Successes of Rollo 308
 
910–912 He is created Duke of Normandy 310
 
  Advantage of the Policy of the French Court in this respect 311
 
  First Appearance of the Northmen in Ireland 312
 
795–820 Their early Progress was rapid, and for some Time they met with little Resistance 314
 
820–848 Progress of the Northmen 315
 
842–879 Various Successes, with alternate Reverses 317
 
872–1000 Rapid Decline of the Scandinavian Power in Ireland 319
 
1000–1014 Its ultimate Destruction 320
 
  Appendix 321
 
  Footnotes 328
THE
HISTORY
OF
SCANDINAVIA.