The Things swore too They would be true To this new head In Harald's stead."King Harald was buried in the old Christ church.
SAGA OF SIGURD, INGE, AND EYSTEIN, THE SONS OF HARALDPRELIMINARY REMARKS.
Sigurd died A.D.1155, Eystein 1157, and Inge 1161.
Other literature is "Morkinskinna" and "***rskinna."Sigurd Slembe is the subject of a drama by Bjornstjerne Bjornson, translated into English by William Morton Payne, and published by Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Boston, 1888.
Skalds quoted are: Kolle, Einar Skulason, and Thorbjorn Skakkaskald.
1.HISTORY OF KINGS SIGURD AND INGE.
Queen Ingerid, and with her the lendermen and the court which had been with King Harald, resolved to send a fast-sailing vessel to Throndhjem to make known King Harald's death, and also to desire the Throndhjem people to take King Harald's son Sigurd for king.
He was then in the north, and was fostered by Sadagyrd Bardson.
Queen Ingerid herself proceeded eastward immediately to Viken.
Inge was the name of her son by King Harald, and he was then fostered by Amunde Gyrdson, a grandson of Logberse.When they came to Viken a Borgar-thing was immediately called together, at which Inge, who was in the second year of his age, was chosen king.This resolution was supported by Amunde and Thjostolf Alason, together with many other great chiefs.Now when the tidings came north to Throndhjem that King Harald was murdered, the Throndhjem people took Sigurd, King Harald's son, to be the king; and this resolution was supported by Ottar Birting, Peter Saudaulfson, the brothers Guthorm of Reine, and Ottar Balle, sons of Asolf and many other great chiefs.Afterwards the whole nation almost submitted to the brothers, and principally because their father was considered holy; and the country took the oath to them, that the kingly power should not go to any other man as long as any of King Harald's sons were alive.
2.OF SIGURD SLEMBIDJAKN.
Sigurd Slembe sailed north around Stad; and when he came to North More, he found that letters and full powers had arrived before him from the leaders who had given in their allegiance to Harald's sons; so that there he got no welcome or help.As Sigurd himself had but few people with him, he resolved to go with them to Throndhjem, and seek out Magnus the Blind; for he had already sent a message before him to Magnus's friends.Now when they came to the town, they rowed up the river Nid to meet King Magnus, and fastened their land-ropes on the shore at the king's house; but were obliged to set off immediately, for all the people rose against them.They then landed at Monkholm, and took Magnus the Blind out of the cloister against the will of the monks; for he had been consecrated a monk.It is said by some that Magnus willingly went with them; although it was differently reported, in order to make his cause appear better.Sigurd, immediately after Yule (January, A.D.1137), went forth with his suite, expecting aid from his relations and Magnus's friends, and which they also got.Sigurd sailed with his men out of the fjord, and was joined afterwards by Bjorn Egilson, Gunnar of Gimsar, Haldor Sigurdson, Aslak Hakonson, the brothers Bendikt and Eirik, and also the court which had before been with King Magnus, and many others.With this troop they went south to More, and down to the mouth of Raumsdal fjord.Here Sigurd and Magnus divided their forces, and Sigurd went immediately westwards across the sea.King Magnus again proceeded to the Uplands, where he expected much help and strength, and which he obtained.He remained there the winter and all the summer (A.D.
1137), and had many people with him; but King Inge proceeded against him with all his forces, and they met at a place called Mynne.There was a great battle, at which King Magnus had the most people.It is related that Thjostolf Alason carried King Inge in his belt as long as the battle lasted, and stood under the banner; but Thjostolf was hard pressed by fatigue and fighting; and it is commonly said that King Inge got his ill health there, and which he retained as long as he lived, so that his back was knotted into a hump, and the one foot was shorter than the other; and he was besides so infirm that he could scarcely walk as long as he lived.The defeat began to turn upon Magnus and his men; and in the front rank of his array fell Haldor Sigurdson, Bjorn Egilson, Gunnar of Gimsar, and a great number of his men, before he himself would take to his horse and fly.So says Kolle: --"Thy arrow-storm on Mynne's banks Fast thinn'd the foemen's strongest ranks;Thy good sword hewed the raven's feast On Mynne's banks up in the East.
Shield clashed on shield, and bucklers broke Under thy battle-axe's stroke;While thou, uncovered, urged the fray, Thy shield and mail-coat thrown away."And also this: --"The king to heaven belonging fled, When thou, in war's quick death-game bred, Unpanzered, shieldless on the plain His heavy steel-clad guards hadst slain.
