| I. |
| | PAGE |
| Who Were the Norsemen? | [1]-12 |
| The Aryan migrations, 1-3—The physical characteristics ofNorway, 4, 5—Early tribal organization and means of livelihood,6-10—Sense of independence and aptitude for self-government,10-12. |
| II. |
| The Religion of the Norsemen | [13]-24 |
| Theories regarding the origin of the Scandinavian gods, 13-16—TheEddaic account of the creation of the world and ofman, 16-18—The world-tree Ygdrasil, 18—The Aesir, theirfunctions and their dwellings, 19-23—Loke the Evil-Doerand his terrible children, 23, 24. |
| III. |
| The Age of the Vikings.—Origin of the Viking Cruises | [25]-44 |
| The Norsemen launch forth upon the arena of history, 25—Theorigin of the viking cruises, 25-27—Kingship amongthe Scandinavian tribes, 27, 28—The three periods of theviking age, 28-30—The contribution of the vikings to thepolitical life of Europe, 30, 31—Sigfrid of Nortmannia, 31—Godfreythe Hunter, 31, 32—-Charlemagne's prophecy inregard to the vikings, 32-34—Hasting's stratagem, 34-36—Ragnar,Asgeir, and Rörek, 36, 37—Thorgisl in Ireland,38, 39—Olaf the White, 40, 41—The vikings in England,41—Simeon of Durham's account of the vikings, 42—Thecharacter of the vikings at home and abroad, 43, 44. |
| IV. |
| Halfdan the Swarthy | [45]-51 |
| The descent of the Yngling race, 45—The sacrifices of Aunthe Old, 45—Olaf the Wood-cutter, Halfdan Whiteleg, andGodfrey the Hunter, 46—Birth of Halfdan the Swarthy, 46Sigurd Hjort and the Berserk Hake, 47, 48—Halfdan theSwarthy weds Ragnhild, 48—Ragnhild's dream, 48—KingHalfdan's dream, 49—Birth of Harold the Fairhaired, 49—TheFinn's trick, 50—King Halfdan's death, 51. |
| V. |
| Harold the Fairhaired | [52]-73 |
| Harold the Fairhaired woos Gyda, 52, 53—Harold's vow,53—Herlaug and Rollaug, 54—Harold's policy toward theconquered kings, 54, 55—The feudal state, 55—Taxationand the peasants' loss of allodial rights, 55, 56—HaakonGrjotgardsson and Ragnvald, Earl of Möre, 56—Kveld-Ulfand his sons, 56, 57—Erik Eimundsson's invasion of Norway,57—His meeting with King Harold, 58—The battle ofHafrs-Fjord, 59—Earl Ragnvald cuts King Harold's hair,59—Harold marries Gyda, 59, 60—Harold's treachery toThorolf Kveld-Ulf's son, 60-62—Kveld-Ulf's vengeanceand migration to Iceland, 62, 63—Duke Rollo in Norwayand France, 64, 65—Emigration of discontented magnates,65, 66—Snefrid, 67—Queen Ragnhild, 68—Erik Blood-Axe'sfeuds with his brothers, 69-71—Guttorm Sindre, 71,72—Birth of Haakon the Good, 72—Haakon is sent toEthelstan, 72, 73—Death of Harold, 73. |
| VI. |
| Erik Blood-axe | [74]-86 |
| Erik's meeting with Gunhild, 74-76—Erik kills his brothers,Sigfrid and Olaf, 76—Thorolf, Bald Grim's son, 77—Egil,Bald Grim's son, kills Baard, 78—Egil kills Berg-Anund,79, 80—Egil's pole of dishonor, 80—Egil ransoms his headby a song, 81-85—Erik is exiled, 86. |
| VII. |
| Haakon the Good | [87]-101 |
| Character of Haakon, 87—Proclaimed king of Norway, 88—Legislativereforms and restoration of allodium, 89—Signalfires, 90—First attempt to introduce Christianity, 90-92—Speechof Asbjörn of Medalhus, 92—The king eats horse-flesh,92-94—The sons of Erik Blood-Axe make war uponNorway, 94, 95—Battles of Sotoness and Agvaldsness, 95,96—Egil Woolsark, 96, 97—Battle of Fraedö, 96-98—Failureof attempt to Christianize the country, 98—Battleof Fitje (Eyvind Scald-Spoiler), 98-101—Death of Haakonthe Good, 101. |
| VIII. |
| Harold Greyfell and his Brothers | [102]-114 |
| Unpopularity of the sons of Erik, 102-104—Their characters,104—Harold Greyfell and Eyvind Scald-Spoiler, 105—Treacheryof Harold toward Earl Sigurd, 105, 106—Independenceof Earl Haakon, 106, 107—Murder of TryggveOlafsson, 107, 108—Birth of Olaf Tryggvesson, 108—Adventuresof Aastrid and Thoralf Lousy-Beard, 108-110—SigurdSleva insults Aaluf, 111—Earl Haakon's intrigues inDenmark, 111, 112—Gold-Harold slays Harold Greyfell,112—Expulsion of the sons of Erik, 113, 114. |
| IX. |
| Earl Haakon | [115]-133 |
| Earl Haakon defends Dannevirke, 115, 116—Harold Bluetooth,117—Haakon's devastations in Sweden and in Viken,118—Earl Erik and Tiding-Skofte, 119—The funeral feastof the Jomsvikings, 120, 121—Battle in Hjörungavaag,121-125—The Jomsvikings on the log, 125, 126—Haavardthe Hewer, 127—The power and popularity of Earl Haakon,127, 128—Gudrun Lundarsol, 129—Revolt of the peasants,130—The earl hides under a pigsty, 130, 131—"Why artthou so pale, Kark?" 131—Kark murders the earl, 132—Haakon'scharacter, 132, 133. |
| X. |
| The Youth of Olaf Tryggvesson | [134]-142 |
| Aastrid's flight to Russia, 134, 135—Olaf is sold for a ram,135—He is taken to Vladimir's court, 135, 136—KingBurislav and Geira, 136, 137—The wooers' market in England,137—Marriage with Gyda, 137, 138—Olaf's warfare inEngland, 138, 139—Thore Klakka tries to entrap Olaf, 139,140—Return to Norway and proclamation as king, 140-142. |
| XI. |
| Olaf Tryggvesson | [143]-172 |
| Olaf Christianizes Viken, 143, 144—Character of old GermanicChristianity, 144-146—Thangbrand the pugnaciouspriest, 147—The chiefs of Haalogaland, 148—Ironbeardand the peasants of Tröndelag, 149, 150—The Yule-tidefeast at Möre, 150-152—Olaf woos Sigrid the Haughty,152-154—He marries Thyra, 154—Thore Hjort, EyvindKinriva, and Haarek of Thjotta, 154-158—Thangbrandin Iceland, 158, 159—Olaf's character, 160—Thyra's tearsfor her lost possessions, 161—"The Long-Serpent," 161—KingOlaf sails to Wendland, 162, 163—Earl Sigvalde'streachery, 163—Battle of Svolder, 164-172—King Olaf'sdeath. 171, 172. |
| XII. |
| The Earls Erik and Sweyn.—Ihe Discovery of Vinland | [173]-181 |
| Division of Norway between the victors at Svolder, 173—ErlingSkjalgsson of Sole, 174-176—Earl Erik's character,176—And attitude toward Christianity, 176, 177—Revivalof the viking spirit, 177—Earl Erik abdicates in favor of hisbrother and son, 178, 179—Bjarne Herjulfsson's glimpse ofAmerica, 179—Leif Eriksson's expedition to Vinland, 180,181—Thorfinn Karlsevne and Gudrid, 181. |
| XIII. |
| Olaf the Saint | [182]-224 |
| Birth and childhood of Olaf the Saint, 182, 183—Vikingcruises, 183—Return to Norway, 184—He captures EarlHaakon, 185—His reception by Aastrid and Sigurd Syr,186, 187—Family council, 187, 188—Support of the shire-kings,188—The Trönders recognize Olaf as king, 189—Surprisedby Earl Sweyn in Nidaros, 190—Battle of Nessje,190, 192—Earl Sweyn's flight and death, 192—Quarrel withKing Olaf the Swede, 193, 194—Björn Stallare's mission,194-196—Speech of Thorgny the Lawman, 196, 197—Olafmarries Aastrid, 198—Conspiracy of the shire-kings andtheir punishments, 199—The play of the sons of Sigurd Syr,199, 200—Rörek's hard fate, 201—His attempt to murderOlaf, 202—The attitude of the tribal aristocracy towardOlaf, 202, 203—Paganism versus Christianity, 204, 205—"Whereare my ancestors?" 205—Olaf's character and appearance,205-207—Dale-Guldbrand, 207-210—Slaying ofAasbjörn Sigurdsson, 211—Knut the Mighty bribes theNorse chieftains, 212, 213—Anund Jacob refuses the bribe,213, 214—Battle of Helge-aa, 214, 215—Death of ErlingSkjalgsson, 216—Olaf goes to Russia, 217—Björn Stallare'sconfession, 218—Olaf returns to Norway, 218—His vision,220, 221—Battle of Sticklestad, 221, 222—Thormod Kolbruna-Scald,222-224—Burial of St. Olaf, 224. |
| XIV. |
| Sweyn Alfifasson | [225]-229 |
| Alfifa and the Norse chiefs, 225—Unpopular and oppressivelaws, 226—King Olaf canonized, 227—Tryggve Olafsson'sdefeat, 228—Einar Thambarskelver rebukes Alfifa, 228—MagnusOlafsson returns from Russia, 229—Expulsion ofSweyn, 229. |
| XV. |
| Magnus the Good | [230]-250 |
| Circumstances of Magnus' birth, 230—Magnus and Harthaknut,231—Jealousies of the chieftains, 232—Magnus andKalf Arnesson at Stiklestad, 233—Sighvat Scald's Lay ofCandor, 234—Sweyn Estridsson rebels, 236, 237—Battle ofLyrskog's Heath, 237—Thorstein Side-Hall's son, 238—EinarThambarskelver's disagreement and reconciliationwith Magnus, 238, 239—Arrival of Harold Sigurdsson, 240—Hisadventures abroad, 240-242—Magnus' reception ofHarold, 243—Harold's alliance with Sweyn Estridsson, 244—Agreementto share the government, 245—The peasantToke's speech, 246, 247—Expeditions of Magnus againstSweyn Estridsson, 247, 247—Death of Magnus the Good,249, 250. |
| XVI. |
| Harold Hard-Ruler | [251]-272 |
| The tribal chieftains and the hereditability of the crown,251, 252—Harold decides to conquer Denmark, 252—Determinationto break the power of the aristocracy, 253—EinarThambarskelver's hostility, 254, 255—Harold marriesThora, 255—St. Hallvard and the founding of Oslo, 256—Burningof Heidaby, 257—Sweyn's pursuits and Harold'sstratagems, 257-259—Battle of Nis-aa, 259—Peace ofGötha Elv, 260—Feuds with Einar Thambarskelver, 260,261—Harold tests the loyalty of the chieftains, 261, 262—HögneLangbjörnsson, 262, 263—Murder of Einar and hisson, 264—Harold's treachery to Kalf Arnesson and HaakonIvarsson, 265-267—Arrival of Earl Tostig in Norway, 268—Battlesof Fulford and Stamford Bridge, 268-270—Styrkaarand the yeoman, 270-272—Position of the NorwegianChurch, 272. |
| XVII. |
| Olaf the Quiet and Magnus Haroldsson, | [273]-284 |
| Olaf and Magnus divide the country, 273—War with SweynEstridsson, 273, 274—Death of Magnus, 274—Character ofOlaf the Quiet, 275, 276—Gradual cessation of vikingcruises, 276, 277—Gradual abolition of serfdom, 278—Vikingsand merchants, 278, 279—Appearance and appointmentsof dwellings, 280, 281—Increased splendor of thecourt, 281, 282—Establishment of guilds, 282, 283—SkuleTostigsson, 283—Death of Olaf the Quiet, 284. |
| XVIII. |
| Magnus Barefoot and Haakon Magnusson, | [285]-290 |
| The Trönders proclaim Haakon king, 285—Magnus' expeditionto Scotland and Ireland, 285, 286—Death ofHaakon, 286—Punishment of his partisans, 286, 287—War-likespirit of Magnus, 287—War with Sweden, 288—Warwith Ireland, 289—Death of Magnus in Ulster, 290. |
| XIX. |
| Eystein Sigurd the Crusader and Olaf Magnusson | [291]-305 |
| Division of the land, 291—Sigurd's crusade, 292, 293—Eystein'smeritorious activity at home, 294—Hostility of thebrothers, 295—The case of Sigurd Ranesson, 295, 296—Borghildof Dal, 297—The "man-measuring," 297-301—Deathof Eystein, 301—Ottar Birting, 301-303—Arrival ofHarold Gille, 303—Cecilia, 303—Death of Sigurd, 304, 305. |
| XX. |
| Magnus the Blind and Harold Gille | [306]-310 |
| Character of Magnus and of Harold, 306—Battle of Fyrileiv,307—Magnus captured and maimed, 307, 308—SigurdSlembedegn, 308—Harold Gille murdered, 309—Burning ofKonghelle by the Wends, 310. |
| XXI. |
| The Sons of Harold Gille | [311]-321 |
| The sons of Harold Gille proclaimed kings, 311—SigurdSlembedegn allies himself with Magnus the Blind, 311, 312—IngeCrookback's first experience of war, 312—Battles ofKrokaskogen, 312, and Holmengraa, 313—Sigurd Slembedegn'sfortitude, 313—Arrival of Eystein Haroldsson, 314—Feudsbetween the brothers, 314-316—Character and appearanceof Sigurd Mouth, 314-316—Death of Sigurd, 316—Deathof Eystein, 317—Erling Skakke and GregoriusDagsson, 318-320—Fall of Inge at Oslo, 320—The cardinal'svisit, 320, 321. |
| XXII. |
| Haakon the Broad-shouldered | [322]-325 |
| Christina bribes the priest, 322—Erling Skakke's intrigues,323—Seeks aid in Denmark, 323, 324—Battle of Sekken,324. |
| XXIII. |
| Magnus Erlingsson | [326]-349 |
| Rebellion of the "Sigurd party," 326, 327—Battle of Ree,327—Erling's alliance with Archbishop Eystein, 327—Magnustakes the land in fief from St. Olaf, 327, 328—Magnuscrowned, 328—King Valdemar's expedition to Norway, 328,329—The rebellion of the Hood-Swains, 329—Battle ofDjursaa, 330—Erling accepts an earldom from Valdemar,330—Kills his stepson Harold, 332—Eystein Meyla and theBirchlegs, 333, 334—Childhood and youth of Sverre Sigurdsson,334-337—Sverre becomes the chief of the Birchlegs,337—Vicissitudes and adventures of the Birchlegs,337-341—Battle of Kalvskindet, 341-343—Death of ErlingSkakke, 343—Social revolution inaugurated by Sverre, 343-345—Battleat Nordness, 346—Warfare between Birchlegsand Heklungs, 346-348—Battle of Norefjord and death ofMagnus, 348, 349. |
| XXIV. |
| Sverre Sigurdsson | [350]-378 |
| A dangerous precedent, 350—Erik Kingsson, 351—Thelawmen and prefects, 351, 352—The new democracy, 352,353—Rebellion of the Kuvlungs, 353, 354; the Varbelgs,354; and the Oyeskeggs, 354-357—Sverre's controversywith the Church, 357, 358—Nicholas Arnesson, 358—Sverreis put in the ban, 359—Origin of the Bagler party,360, 361—Nicholas shows the white feather, 361—Treasonof Thorstein Kugad, 362—The Baglers besiege the block-housein Bergen, 362-365—Burning of Bergen, 365—Thetraitor's return, 366—The Papal bull and Sverre's defence,366-368—The Bagler's defeated at Strindsö, 369—Thegreat peasant rebellion, 370-373—Sverre's magnanimity,374—Aristocracy versus Democracy, 374, 375—Siege andsurrender of Tunsberg, 375, 376—Death of Sverre, 376, 377—Hischaracter, 377, 378. |
| XXV. |
| Haakon Sverresson | [379]-384 |
| Peace with the Church, 379—Popularity of Haakon, 380—Discontentof the queen-dowager, 381—Abduction of PrincessChristina, 381, 382—The fatal Yule-tide feast, 382,383—Death of Haakon by poison, 383—Flight of QueenMargaret, 384. |
| XXVI. |
| Guttorm Sigurdsson and Inge Baardsson, | [385]-399 |
| The Bagler troop reorganized under Erling Stonewall, 385—Successfulordeal, 386—Death of Guttorm Sigurdsson bypoison, 387—Inge Baardsson proclaimed king, 388—Societydisorganized by the civil wars, 388, 389—Unbidden guestsat the bridal feast, 389, 390—Philip Simonsson made kingof the Baglers, 390—Birth and childhood of HaakonHaakonsson, 391, 392—Compromise of Hvitingsöe, 393—Theintrigues of Haakon Galen, 394, 395—Helge Hvasseand the boy Haakon, 396, 397—Discontent of the Birchlegs,398—Death of King Inge, 399. |
| XXVII. |
| Haakon Haakonsson the Old | [400]-432 |
| Haakon proclaimed king, 400—Rebellion of the Slittungs,401—Effects of the civil war, 401, 402—The intrigues ofEarl Skule, 402-404—Inga of Varteig carries glowing irons,404-406—Rebellion of the Ribbungs, 407, 408—Skule'sdouble-dealing, 408-410—Assembly of notables in Bergen,410—Bishop Nicholas' hypocrisy, 411—Sigurd Ribbung renewsthe rebellion, 412—Haakon's campaign in Vermeland,412, 413—Duke Skule's leaky ships, 413—Death of BishopNicholas and Sigurd Ribbung, 414—Squire Knut as thechief of the Ribbungs, 416—Skule's "Crusade," 416, 417—Skuleallies himself with Valdemar the Victorious, 417, 418—Skulecalled to account, 418-420—Intrigues at the RomanCuria, 420, 421—The plot revealed, 421, 422—Skule proclaimshimself king, 423—Battle of Laaka, 424—Skule defeatedat Oslo, 425—Death of Skule, 426, 427—Coronationof Haakon, 427-429—His power and fame at home andabroad, 429-431—Expedition to Scotland, and death, 431,432. |
| XXVIII. |
| The Sturlungs in Iceland | [433]-441 |
| Snorre Sturlasson's Heimskringla, 433, 434—Snorre's parentageand youth, 434—Character of Snorre, 434—Reykjaholt,436—Brother feuds, 436—Snorre's visit to Norway, 437—Plotsand counterplots, 437-440—Snorre's death, 440—SturlaThordsson, 440, 441. |
| XXIX. |
| Magnus Law-Mender | [442]-450 |
| Cession of Man and the Shetland Isles to Scotland, 442—Reasonsfor and against the cession, 443—Condition of Icelandicsociety and submission of the island to Norway, 444—Magnusas a law-giver, 445-447—The tribal aristocracyand the court nobility, 447, 448—Concessions to the Church,448, 449—Degeneracy of the old royal house, 450—Deathof Magnus, 450. |
| XXX. |
| Erik Priest-Hater | [451]-456 |
| The barons increase their power, 451—Quarrels with theclergy, 452—The false "Maid of Norway," 453—Depredationsof "Little Sir Alf," 453, 454—War with Denmark andthe Hansa, 454, 455—Capture and death of Little Sir Alf,456—Death of King Erik, 456. |
| XXXI. |
| Haakon Longlegs | [457]-460 |
| Sir Audun's treason, 457—The dukes Erik and Valdemar458—Complications with Sweden, 459—War with Denmark,460—Death of Haakon, 460. |
| XXXII. |
| Magnus Smek, Haakon Magnusson, and Olaf the Young | [461]-466 |
| Magnus Smek becomes king of Norway and Sweden, 461—DuchessIngeborg's unpopularity, 461, 462—Discontent withMagnus, 462—Alliance with Valdemar Atterdag, 462, 463—Magnusdeposed in Sweden, 463—Haakon's war with Albrechtof Mecklenberg, 464—The power of the Hansa inNorway, 464—Death of Magnus, 465—The Black Death,465, 466—Olaf the Young, 466. |
| XXXIII. |
| Norway During the Kalmar Union | [467]-474 |
| Margaret unites the three kingdoms, 467-469—The KalmarUnion, 469, 470—Reasons for its disastrous consequences,470-472—Death of Margaret, 472—Erik of Pomerania'smisrule and extortions, 472, 473—Christopher of Bavaria,473, 474. |
| XXXIV. |
| The Union With Denmark | [475]-488 |
| The condition of Norway and Denmark during the unioncompared, 475, 476—Charles Knuttson elected king of Sweden,478—Christian I.'s war with Charles Knutsson, 479,480—Misrule in Norway, 480—The Scottish Isles pawned,480, 481—King Hans, 481, 482—Christian II.'s accession,482—His attempt to humble the nobility, 483—The carnageof Stockholm, 483, 484—His vain appeal to the bourgeoisie,484, 485—Christian's flight, 485—Frederick I., 485, 486—Struggleabout the succession, 486, 487—Christian III., 487,488—Norway becomes a province of Denmark, 488. |
| XXXV. |
| Norway As a Province of Denmark | [489]-515 |
| The Reformation introduced, 489, 490—The power of theHansa broken, 490-492—Frederick II., 492-494—ChristianIV.'s interest in Norway, 494—The Kalmar War, 495—Participationin the Thirty Years' War, 495, 496—TheHannibal's feud, 496—Frederick III.'s disastrous war withSweden, 498—Absolutism introduced, 499, 500—ChristianV., 500, 501—Frederick IV.'s accession, 501—The GreatNorthern War, 502-504—Tordenskjold, 503, 504—ChristianVI., 506-508—Frederick V, 508—Christian VII., 508-512—Thearmed neutrality, 509, 510—Frederick VI. mountsthe throne, 512—War with Sweden, 512, 513—ChristianAugust as viceroy, 512-514—The Treaty of Paris, 513—Protestof the Norsemen, 514—Separation from Denmark, 515. |
| XXXVI. |
| Norway Recovers Her Independence | [516]-538 |
| Christian Frederick as viceroy, 516-518—Constitutional conventionat Eidsvold, 518-520—War with Sweden, 520, 521—Armisticeat Moss, 521—Charles XIII. accepts the constitution,522—Charles XIV. John becomes king of Norway,522—His controversies with the Storthing, 522-526—HenrikWergeland, 526, 527—Count Wedel-Jarlsberg asviceroy, 527—Oscar I., 528-530—The character of theNorse peasantry, 528-530—Charles XV., 530, 531—OscarII., and the constitutional struggle, 531-534—Impeachmentof the ministry Selmer, 534—"The Pure Flag," 535—Presentcondition of Norway and her place among the nations,536—Literature and science, 536-538. |
