But there were men to whom the name of king was given who had neither land nor power, and finally it came to imply a leader who ruled over warriors, and who was called host-king, in the same way that the commander of a ship was called a sea-king. The latter sometimes possessed no land, and they were only leaders of smaller or larger parties of Vikings.[[490]] As soon as a king’s son or some other prominent man had acquired a number of warships, he was at once called king by his companions. These men roamed wherever they pleased, plundering every man’s land; their estate was upon “Rán’s land”—the sea; their ships were their houses. Their acts of daring must have been numerous indeed, and the following passage gives a vivid idea of a sea-king:—
“Eystein the son of Adils ruled Svíaveldi after his father; at that time Hrólf Kraki fell at Hleidra, and kings plundered much in the Swedish realm, both Danes and Northmen. There were many sea-kings who ruled over many men, and had no land. He only was thought to fully deserve the name of sea-king, who never slept under a sooty rafter and never drank at the hearth-corner (fire-place)” (Ynglinga Saga, c. 34).
“As soon as Olaf got men and ships, his warriors gave him the name of king, for it was the custom that host kings, who went on Viking expeditions, if they were king-born, should be given the name of king, although they ruled over no lands” (St. Olaf’s Saga, c. 4).
Many of the valorous deeds of the sea-kings, whose names are only mentioned, are lost to us, but this confirms how much of the history of the famous men of the North has been lost.
It was the custom for the head kings to receive taxes from tributary or tax-kings.
“Now Knút the Powerful had won England by battles and fights, and he met with much difficulty before the people of the land became obedient to him. He considered himself as possessing all Norway as an inheritance; but Hákon, his nephew, thought he owned part of it, and that he had been forced to leave it in a shameful manner. One reason that Knút and Hákon had kept quiet over their claim on Norway was, that when first King Olaf Haraldsson came into the land, the whole people gathered together and would hear of nothing but that he should be king of the whole country; but afterwards, when they thought they were oppressed on account of his overbearing, some left the country. Many eminent men and sons of powerful bœndr had gone to Knút on various errands; and each one who came to Knút asked his friendship, and obtained much property. There was also greater splendour to be seen there than in other places, both on account of the number of men which were daily there, and of the furnishing of the rooms which he possessed. Knút the Powerful took taxes and dues from those countries of the northern lands which were richest, but as he received more than other kings, he also gave away more. In all his realm there was such peace that no one dared break it; the inhabitants themselves had peace and ancient land-rights. From this Knút won great renown in all lands” (St. Olaf’s Saga, 139).
A king could give to a friend the title of king without the power of one.
“King Hring said: ‘I would not give her to thee unless it were that I am sick, and I like thee to have her rather than others, for thou art the foremost of all men in Norway; I will also give thee the name of king, for her brothers will not give either her or the honour away to thee like I do.’ Fridthjóf answered: ‘I thank you much, lord, for your favour, which is greater than I expected, but I do not want more than a jarl’s name as a title.’[[491]] Hring gave Fridthjóf power over the realm he had ruled with hand-fastening (joining of hands) and jarl’s name. He was to rule until the sons of Hring were full-grown and could rule the land” (Fridthjóf’s Saga, c. 14).
“Then Heidrek went about the land, and made it tributary to King Harald of Reidgotaland as it had formerly been, and then returned to the king. He had won very large treasures and a great victory. Harald welcomed him and thanked him with many fine words. A wedding-feast was prepared, and Heidrek married the daughter of the king, who celebrated it with great honour; he gave to Heidrek the name of king and half of his kingdom; he ruled Reidgotaland long after this, and was thought wise and victorious; he had a son by his wife called Angantýr. King Harald also in his old age begot a son called Hálfdán; they were both most promising, and were thought far above other men in Reidgotaland” (Hervarar Saga, c. 10).
No king could rule over the people or the land without the consent of the Thing.[[492]]