Heimskringla; Or, The Chronicle of the Kings of NorwaySnorri Sturluson
History
Heimskringla; Or, The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway
Snorri Sturluson
Iceland -- History; Norway -- History; Sagas -- Translations into English; Scandinavia -- History
Now we begin again our story where we let it slip--at King Olaf's
travelling to his bridal, to receive his betrothed Ingegerd the king's
daughter. The king had a great body of men with him, and so chosen a
body that all the great people he could lay hold of followed him; and
every man of consequence had a chosen band of men with him distinguished
by birth or other qualifications. The whole were well appointed,
and equipped in ships, weapons, and clothes. They steered the fleet
eastwards to Konungahella; but when they arrived there they heard
nothing of the Swedish king and none of his men had come there. King
Olaf remained a long time in summer (A.D. 1018) at Konungahella, and
endeavored carefully to make out what people said of the Swedish king's
movements, or what were his designs; but no person could tell him
anything for certain about it. Then he sent men up to Gautland to Earl
Ragnvald, to ask him if he knew how it came to pass that the Swedish
king did not come to the meeting agreed on. The earl replies, that he
did not know. "But as soon," said he, "as I hear, I shall send some of
my men to King Olaf, to let him know if there be any other cause for
the delay than the multitude of affairs; as it often happens that the
Swedish king's movements are delayed by this more than he could have
expected."
89. OF THE SWEDISH KING'S CHILDREN.
This Swedish king, Olaf Eirikson, had first a concubine who was called
Edla, a daughter of an earl of Vindland, who had been captured in war,
and therefore was called the king's slave-girl. Their children were
Emund, Astrid, Holmfrid.... They had, besides, a son, who was born the
day before St. Jacob's-day. When the boy was to be christened the bishop
called him Jacob, which the Swedes did not like, as there never had been
a Swedish king called Jacob. All King Olaf's children were handsome in
appearance, and clever from childhood. The queen was proud, and did not
behave well towards her step-children; therefore the king sent his son
Emund to Vindland, to be fostered by his mother's relations, where he
for a long time neglected his Christianity. The king's daughter, Astrid,
was brought up in West Gautland, in the house of a worthy man called
Egil. She was a very lovely girl: her words came well into her
conversation; she was merry, but modest, and very generous. When she was
grown up she was often in her father's house, and every man thought well
of her. King Olaf was haughty and harsh in his speech. He took very ill
the uproar and clamour the country people had raised against him at the
Upsala Thing, as they had threatened him with violence, for which he
laid the chief blame on Earl Ragnvald. He made no preparation for the
bridal, according to the agreement to marry his daughter Ingegerd
to Olaf the king of Norway, and to meet him on the borders for that
purpose. As the summer advanced many of his men were anxious to know
what the kings intentions were; whether to keep to the agreement with
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