Early Chiefs of Norway[156]
630–640Olaf 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]
640–840Halfdan, 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]
730–840Eystein, 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]
840–850Halfdan 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]
852–863Sigurd 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]
865–868His 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]
867–882Is 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]
882–884War 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]
910–913Harald’s unaccountable Attachment to Eric; Eric’s early piratical Depredations; his marvellous Adventure in Finland with Gunhilda and two Magicians; he marries Gunhilda[181]
930–934Gudred, 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]
934–936Hostilities 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]
937–946He 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]
939–940Hako’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]
942–956Hako’s Unwillingness to comply with the Rites of Paganism[192]
He is compelled partially to comply, and vows Revenge[193]
956–958The 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]
963–969Harald 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]
993–995Hako’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]
964–966Gunhilda’s deceitful Attempts to obtain Possession of his Person[208]
976–984Astridda 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]
985–994His 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]
967–993Fate of Astridda after her Capture; she is ransomed by a noble Pirate of Norway, whom she marries[214]
995–996Snares 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]
997–999Olaf 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]
999–1000His 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]
1000–1012Division of Norway by the Conquerors[236]
Youth of St. Olaf[237]
1007–1014He 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]
1022–1025Furious Persecution of the Pagans[264]
1026–1027Canute 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]
1027–1028St. Olaf finds Treachery in his Councils; Lukewarmness of the People; his great Unpopularity the Result of his own Misconduct[268]
1028–1029Triumphant 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]
794–806Depredations in Northumbria; Danish Kingdom in that Province; heroic Behaviour of the Coldingham Nuns[289]
868–876Graphic Account of the Destruction of Croyland Monastery[291]
870–924Transactions in Northumbria[294]
924–934Splendid Victory of Brunanburgh[296]
400–840Earliest Depredations of the Northmen in France[296]
840.Hastings, the Veteran Pirate, arrives in France[297]
842–844Havoc in France and Spain[298]
845–859Ravages in France; Hastings sails to Italy; he surprises the City of Luna[299]
858–863Numerous piratical Bands in France; Hastings returns, and on the Condition of renouncing Piracy, is created Count de Chartres[301]
863–876Continued Excesses in the different Provinces of France[303]
Early Life of Rollo[304]
876–888His Expedition to France[306]
888–896Faithlessness of the Normans[308]
896–909Great Successes of Rollo[308]
910–912He 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]
795–820Their early Progress was rapid, and for some Time they met with little Resistance[314]
820–848Progress of the Northmen[315]
842–879Various Successes, with alternate Reverses[317]
872–1000Rapid Decline of the Scandinavian Power in Ireland[319]
1000–1014Its ultimate Destruction[320]
Appendix[321]
Footnotes[328]

THE

HISTORY