The History of Norway

Front matter

THE NORTH CATE, THE HISTORY OF NORWAY ]*Y HJALMAR H. BOYESEN GEBHARD PROFESSOR OF GERMAN IN' COLUMBIA COLLEGE, AUTHOR OF " GOETHE AND SCHILLER," " GUNNAR," " IDYLS OF NORWAY," ETC. HoaDoit SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON, SEARLE, & RIVINGTON CROWN BUILDINGS, 188, FLEET STREET 1886 [All rights resemed~\ TO CHRISTIAN BORS KNIGHT OF ST. OLAF, WASA, AND THE NORTH STAR, CONSUL OF NORWAY AND SWEDEN IN NEW YORK, THIS HISTORY OF HIS NATIVE LAND IS DEDICATED BY HIS FRIEND THE AUTHOR tJIF The Publishers wish to state that the Illustrations on pp. 29, 331, 339, 409, 315, 403, are taken, by the kind permission of the Religious Tract Society, from " Norwegian Pictures," published by them.

Preface

. It has been my ambition for many years to write a history of Norway, chiefly because no such book, worthy of the name, exists in the English language. When the publishers of the present volume proposed to me to write the story of my native land, I there fore eagerly accepted their offer. The story, how ever, according to their plan, was to differ in some important respects from a regular history. It was to dwell particularly upon the dramatic phases of his torical events, and concern itself but slightly with the growth of institutions and sociological phenomena. It therefore necessarily takes small account of pro portion. In the present volume more space is given to the national hero, Olaf Tryggvesson, whose brief reign was crowded with dramatic events, than to kings who reigned ten times as long.

For the same reason the four centuries of the Union with Denmark are treated with comparative brevity. Many thing happened, no doubt, during those centuries, but " there were few deeds." Moreover, the separate history of Norway, in the time of her degra dation, has never proved an attractive theme to v VI THE STORY OF NORWAY. Norse historians, for which reason the period has been generally neglected. The principal sources of which I have availed my self in the preparation of the present volume, are Snorre Sturlasson : Norgcs Kongcsagacr (Christiania, 1859, 2 vols-) I P- A- Munch : Det Norske Folks His torie (Christiania, 1852, 6 vols.); R. Keyser : Efter ladte Skrifter (Christiania, 1866, 2 vols.); Samlede Afhandlinger (1868); J. E. Sars: Udsigt over den Norske Historie (Christiania, 1877, 2 vols.); K. Maurer: Die Bckclirung des Norwegischen Stamm.es sum Cliristenthume (Miinchen, 1856, 2 vols.), and Die Entstehung des Islandischen Staatcs (Miinchen, 1852); G. Vigfusson : Sturlunga Saga (Oxford, 1878, 2 vols.); and Um timatal i Islendinga sogum i fornbld (con tained in Sa/n til sbgu Islands, 1855); G. Storm: Snorre Sturlasson s Historieskrivning (Kjobenhavn, 1878) ; C. F. Allen : Haandbog i Fœdrelandets Historie (Kjobenhavn, 1863); besides a large number of scat tered articles in German and Scandinavian historical magazines.

A question which has presented many difficulties is the spelling of proper names. To adopt in every instance the ancient Icelandic form would scarcely be practicable, because the names in their modernized forms are usually familiar and easy to pronounce, while, in their Icelandic disguises, they are to English readers nearly unpronouncable, and present a needlessly forbidding appearance. Where a name has no well-recognized English equivalent, I have therefore adopted the modern Norwegian form, which usually differs from the ancient, in having dropped a final letter. Thus Sigurdr (which with an

PREFACE.

. VII English genitive would be Sigurdr's) becomes in modern Norwegian Sigurd, Eirikr, Erik, etc. Those surnames, which are descriptive epithets, I have translated where they are easily translatable, thus writing Harold the Fairhaired, Haakon the Good, Olaf the Saint, etc. Absolute consistency would, however, give to some names a too cumbrous look, as, for instance, Einar the Twanger of Thamb (Thamb being the name of his bow), and I have in such instances kept the Norse name (Thambars kelver). It is a pleasant duty to acknowledge my indebted ness for valuable criticism to my friends, E. Munroe Smith, J.U.D., Adjunct Professor of History in Columbia College, and Hon. Rasmus B. Andersen, United States Minister to Denmark, without whose kindly aid in procuring books, maps, etc., the diffi culties in the preparation of the present volume would have been much increased.

I am also under obligation to Dr. W. H. Carpenter, of Columbia College, and to the Norwegian artist, Mr. H. N. Gausta, of La Crosse, Wis., who has kindly sent me two spirited original compositions, illustrative of peasant-life in Norway. HjALMAR H. BOYESEN. Columbia College, New York, April 15, 1886. CONTENTS. I. PAGE Who Were the Norsemen ? . . . 1-12 The Aryan migrations, 1-3 — The physical characteristics of Norway, 4, 5 — Early tribal organization and means of livelihood, 6—10 — Sense of independence and aptitude for self government, IO—I2. II. The Religion of the Norsemen . . . 13-24 Theories regarding the origin of the Scandinavian gods, 13— 16 — The Eddaic account of the creation of the world and of man, 16-18 — The world-tree Ygdrasil, 18 — The Aesir, their functions and their dwellings, 19-23 — Loke the Evil-Doer and 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 — The origin of the viking cruises, 25-27 — Kingship among the Scandinavian tribes, 27, 28 — The three periods of the viking age, 28-30 — The contribution of the vikings to the political life of Europe, 30, 31 — Sigfrid of Nortmannia, 31 — Godfrey the Hunter, 31, 32 — Charlemagne's prophecy in regard to the vikings, 32-34 — Hasting's stratagem, 34-36 — Ragnar, Asgeir, and Rorek, 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 — The character of the vikings at home and abroad, 43, 44. CONTENTS. X IV. Halfdan the Swarthy .... 45X51 The descent of the Yngling race, 45 — The sacrifices of Aun the Old, 45 — Olaf the Wood-cutter, Halfdan Whiteleg, and Godfrey the Hunter, 46 — Birth of Halfdan the Swarthy, 46 Sigurd Hjort and the Berserk Hake, 47, 48 — Halfdan the Swarthy weds Ragnhild, 48 — Ragnhild's dream, 48 — King Halfdan's dream, 49 — Birth of Harold the Fairhaired, 49 — The Finn's trick, 50 — King Halfdan's death, 51.

V. Harold the Fairhaired .... 52-73 Harold the Fairhaired vvoos Gyda, 52, 53 — Harold's vow, 53 — Herlaug and Rollaug, 54 — Harold's policy toward the conquered kings, 54, 55 — The feudal state, 55 — Taxation and the peasants' loss of allodial rights, 55, 56 — Haakon Grjotgardsson and Ragnvald, Earl of More, 56 — Kveld-Ulf and his sons, 56, 57 — Erik Eimundsson's invasion of Nor way, 57 — His meeting with King Harold, 58 — The battle of Hafrs-Fjord, 59 — Earl Ragnvald cuts King Harold's hair, 59 — Harold marries Gyda, 59, 60 — Harold's treachery to Thorolf Kveld-Ulf's son, 60-62 — Kveld-Ulf's vengeance and migration to Iceland, 62, 63 — Duke Rollo in Norway and France, 64, 65 — Emigration of discontented magnates, 65, 66 — Snefrid, 67 — Queen Ragnhild, 68 — Erik Blood- Axe's feuds with his brothers, 69-71 — Guttorm Sindre, 71, 72 — Birth of Haakon the Good, 72 — Haakon is sent to Ethelstan, 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 head by a song, 81-85 — Erik is exiled, 86. VII. Haakon the Good 87-101 Character of Haakon, 87 — Proclaimed king of Norway, 88 — CONTENTS. XI 114 '35 142 Legislative reforms and restoration of allodium, 89 — Signal fires, 90 — First attempt to introduce Christianity, 90-92 — Speech of Asbjorn of Medalhus, 92 — The king eats horse flesh, 92-94 — The sons of Erik Blood-Axe make war upon Norway, 94, 95 — Battles of Sotoness and Agvaldsness, 95, 96 — Egil Woolsark, 96, 97 — Battle of Fraedo, 96-98 — Failure of attempt to Christianize the country, 98 — Battle of Fitje (Eyvind Scald-Spoiler), 98-101 — Death of Haakon the Good, 101.

VIII. Harold Greyfell and his Brothers . . 102- Unpopularity of the sons of Erik, 102-104 — Their characters, 104 — Harold Greyfell and Eyvind Scald-Spoiler, 105 — Treachery of Harold toward Earl Sigurd, 105, 106 — Inde pendence of Earl Haakon, 106, 107 — Murder of Tryggve Olafsson, 107, 108 — Birth of Olaf Tryggvesson, 108 — Ad ventures of Aastrid and Thoralf Lousy-Beard, 108-110 — Sigurd Sleva insults Aaluf, III — Earl Haakon's intrigues in Denmark, in, 112 — Gold-Harold slays Harold Greyfell 112 — Expulsion of the sons of Erik, 113, 114. IX. Earl Haakon 1 15- 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 feast of the Jomsvikings, 120, 121 — Battle in Hjorungavaag, 121-125 — The Jomsvikings on the log, 125, 126 — Haavard the 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 art thou so pale, Kark?" 131 — Kark murders the earl, 132 — Haakon's character, 132, 133.

X. The Youth of Olaf Tryggvesson . . 134- Aastrid's flight to Russia, 134, 135 — Olaf is sold for a ram, 135 — He is taken to Vladimir's court, 135, 136 — King CONTENTS. XII Burislav aud Geira, 136, 137 — The wooers' market in Eng land, 137 — Marriage with Gyda, 137, 138 — Olaf's warfare in England, 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 Ger manic Christianity, 144-146 — Thangbrand the pugnacious priest, 147 — The chiefs of Haalogaland, 148 — Ironbeard and the peasants of Trondelag, 149, 150 — The Yule-tide feast at More, 150-152 — Olaf woos Sigrid the Haughty, 152-154 — He marries Thyra, 154 — Thore Hjort, Eyvind Kinriva, and Haarek of Thjotta, 154-158 — Thangbrand in Iceland, 158, 159 — Olaf's character, 160 — Thyra's tears for her lost possessions, 161 — "The Long-Serpent," 161 — King Olaf sails to Wendland, 162, 163 — Earl Sigvalde's treachery, 163 — Battle of Svolder, 164-172 — King Olaf's death, 171, 172.

XII. The Earls Erik and Sweyn. — The Discovery of Vinland ...... 173-181 Division of Norway between the victors at Svolder, 173 — Erling Skjalgsson of Sole, 174-176 — Earl Erik's character, 176 — And attitude toward Christianity, 176, 177 — Revival of the viking spirit, 177 — Earl Erik abdicates in favor of his brother and son, 178, 179 — Bjarne Herjulfsson's glimpse of America, 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 — Viking cruises, 183 — Return to Norway, 184 — He captures Earl Haakon, 185 — His reception by Aastrid and Sigurd Syr, 186, 187 — Family council, 187, 188 — Support of the shire kings, 188 — The Tronders recognize Olaf as king, 189 — Surprised by Earl Sweyn in Nidaros, 190 — Battle of Nessje, CONTENTS.

XIII 190, 192 — Earl Sweyn's flight and death, 192 — Quarrel with King Olaf the Swede, 193, 194 — Bjorn Stallare's mission, 194-196 — Speech of Thorgny the Lawman, 196, 197 — Olaf marries Aastrid, 198 — Conspiracy of the shire-kings and their punishments, 199 — -The play of the sons of Sigurd Syr, 199, 200 — Rorek's hard fate, 201 — His attempt to murder Olaf, 202 — The attitude of the tribal aristocracy toward Olaf, 202, 203 — Paganism versus Christianity, 204, 205 — "Where are my ancestors?" 205 — Olaf's character and appearance, 205-207 — Dale-Guldbrand, 207-210 — Slaying of Aasbjorn Sigurdsson, 211 — Knut the Mighty bribes the Norse chieftains, 212, 213 — Anund Jacob refuses the bribe, 213, 214 — Battle of Helge-aa, 214, 215 — Death of Erling Skjalgsson, 216 — Olaf goes to Russia, 217 — Bjorn Stallare's confession, 218 — Olaf returns to Norway, 218 — His vision, 220, 221 — Battle of Sticklestad, 221, 222 — Thormod Kol bruna-Scald, 222-224 — Burial of St. Olaf, 224.

XIV. Sweyn Alfifasson ..... 225-229 Alfifa and the Norse chiefs, 225 — Unpopular and oppres sive laws, 226 — King Olaf canonized, 227 — Tryggve Olafs son's defeat, 228 — Einar Thambarskelver rebukes Alfifa, 228 — Magnus Olafsson returns from Russia, 229 — Expulsion of Sweyn, 229. XV. Magnus the Good ..... 230-250 Circumstances of Magnus' birth, 230 — Magnus and Hartha knut, 231 — Jealousies of the chieftains, 232 — Magnus and Kalf Arnesson at Stiklestad, 233— Sighvat Scald's Lay of Candor, 234 — Sweyn Estridsson rebels, 236, 237 — Battle of Lyrskog's Heath, 237 — Thorstein Side-Hall's son, 238 — Einar Thambarskelver's disagreement and reconciliation with Magnus, 238, 239 — Arrival of Harold Sigurdsson, 240 — His adventures abroad, 240-242 — Magnus' reception of Harold, 243 — Harold's alliance with Sweyn Estridsson, 244 — Agreement to share the government, 245 — The peasant CONTENTS. ■272 284 290 Toke's speech, 246, 247 — Expeditions of Magnus against Sweyn Estridsson, 247, 247 — Death of Magnus the Good, 249, 250.

XVI. Harold Hard-Ruler . . . . .251- The tribal chieftains and the hereditability of the crown, 251, 252 — Harold decides to conquer Denmark, 252 — Determination to break the power of the aristocracy, 253— Einar Thambarskelver's hostility, 254, 255 — Harold marries Thora, 255 — St. Hallvard and the founding of Oslo, 256 — Burning of Heidaby, 257 — Sweyn's pursuits and Harold's stratagems, 257-259 — Battle of Nis-aa, 259 — Peace of Gotha Elv, 260 — Feuds with Einar Thambarskelver, 260, 261 — Harold tests the loyalty of the chie'ftains, 261, 262 — Hogne Langbjornsson, 262, 263 — Murder of Einar and his son, 264 — Harold's treachery to Kalf Arnesson and Haakon Ivarsson, 265-267— Arrival of Earl Tostig in Norway, 268 — Battles of Fulford and Stamford Bridge, 268-270 — Styrkaar and the yeoman, 270-272 — Position of the Norwegian Church, 272.

XVII. Olaf the Quiet and Magnus Haroldsson, 273-; Olaf and Magnus divide the country, 273 — War with Sweyn Estridsson, 273, 274 — Death of Magnus, 274 — Character of Olaf the Quiet, 275, 276 — Gradual cessation of viking cruises, 276, 277 — Gradual abolition of serfdom, 278 — Vikings and merchants, 278, 279 — Appearance and appointments of dwellings, 280, 281 — Increased splendor of the court, 281, 282 — Establishment of guilds, 282, 283 — Skule Tostigsson, 283 — Death of Olaf the Quiet, 284. XVIII. Magnus Barefoot and Haakon Magnusson, 285- The Tronders proclaim Haakon king, 285 — Magnus* expedition to Scotland and Ireland, 285, 286 — Death of Haakon, 286 — Punishment of his partisans, 286, 287 — Warlike spirit of Magnus, 287 — -War with Sweden, 288 — War with Ireland, 289 — TJeath of Magnus in Ulster, 290.

CONTENTS. XV 310 XIX. Eystein Sigurd the Crusader and Olaf Magnusson 291-305 Division of the land, 291 — Sigurd's crusade, 292, 293 — Eystein's meritorious activity at home, 294 — Hostility of the brothers, 295 — The case of Sigurd Ranesson, 295, 296 — Borghild of Dal, 297 — The "man-measuring," 297-301 — Death of Eystein, 301 — Ottar Birting, 301-303 — Arrival of Harold Gille, 303 — Cecilia, 303 — Death of Sigurd, 304, 305 XX. Magnus the Blind and Harold Gille . 306- Character of Magnus and of Harold, 306 — Battle of Fyrileiv, 307 — Magnus captured and maimed, 307, 308 — Sigurd Slembedegn, 308 — Harold Gille murdered, 309 — Burning of Konghelle by the Wends, 310. XXI. The Sons of Harold Gille .... 311-321 The sons of Harold Gille proclaimed kings, 311 — Sigurd Slembedegn allies himself with Magnus the Blind, 311, 312 — Inge Crookback's first experience of war, 312 — Battles of Krokaskogen, 312, and Holmengraa, 313 — Sigurd Slembe degn's fortitude, 313 — Arrival of Eystein Haroldsson, 314 — Feuds between the brothers, 314-316 — Character and ap pearance of Sigurd Mouth, 314-316 — Death of Sigurd, 316 — Death of Eystein, 317 — Erling Skakke and Gregorius Dagsson, 318-320 — Fall of Inge at Oslo, 320 — The cardinal's visit, 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 — Mag- CONTENTS. XVI nus takes the land in fief from St. Olaf, 327, 328— Magnus crowned, 328 — King Valdemar's expedition to Norway, 328, 329 — The rebellion of the Hood-Swains, 329 — Battle of Djursaa, 330 — Erling accepts an earldom from Valdemar, 330 — Kills his stepson Harold, 332 — Eystein Meyla and the Birchlegs, 333, 334 — Childhood and youth of Sverre Sig urdsson, 334-337 — Sverre becomes the chief of the Birch legs, 337 — Vicissitudes and adventures of the Birchlegs, 337-341 — Battle of Kalvskindet, 341-343 — Death of Erling Skakke, 343 — Social revolution inaugurated by Sverre, 343 345 — Battle at Nordness, 346 — Warfare between Birchlegs and Heklungs, 346-348 — Battle of Norefjord and death of Magnus, 348, 349.

XXIV. Sverre Sigurdsson 350—378 A dangerous precedent, 350 — Erik Kingsson, 351 — The lawmen 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 controversy with the Church, 357, 358 — Nicholas Arnesson, 358 — Sverre is put in the ban, 359 — Origin of the Bagler party, 360, 361 — Nicholas shows the white feather, 361 — Treason of Thorstein Kugad, 362 — The Baglers besiege the block house in Bergen, 362-365 — Burning of Bergen, 365 — The traitor's return, 366 — The Papal bull and Sverre's defence, 366-368 — The Bagler's defeated at Strindso, 369 — The great peasant rebellion, 370-373 — Sverre's magnanimity, 374 — Aristocracy versus Democracy, 374, 375 — Siege and surrender of Tunsberg, 375, 376 — Death of Sverre, 376, 377 ■ — His character, 377, 378.

XXV. Haakon Sverresson ..... 379-384 Peace with the Church, 379 — Popularity of Haakon, 380 — Discontent of the queen-dowager, 381 — Abduction of Princess Christina, 381, 382 — The fatal Yule-tide feast, 382, 383 — Death of Haakon by poison, 383 — Flight of Queen Margaret, 384. CONTENTS. XVII XXVI. Guttorm Sigurdsson and Inge Baardsson, 385-399 The Bagler troop reorganized under Erling Stonewall, 385 — Successful ordeal, 386 — Death of Guttorm Sigurdsson by poison, 387 — Inge Baardsson proclaimed king, 388 — Society disorganized by the civil wars, 388, 3S9 — Unbidden guests at the bridal feast, 389, 390 — Philip Simonsson made king of the Baglers, 390 — Birth and childhood of Haakon Haakonsson, 391, 392 — Compromise of Hvitingso, 393 — The intrigues of Haakon Galen, 394, 395 — Helge Ilvasse and 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 of Earl Skule, 402-404 — Inga of Varteig carries glowing irons, 404-406 — Rebellion of the Ribbungs, 407, 40S — Skule's double-dealing, 408—410 — Assembly of notables in Bergen, 410 — Bishop Nicholas' hypocrisy, 411 — Sigurd Ribbung re news the rebellion, 412 — Haakon's campaign in Vermeland, 412, 413 — Duke Skule's leaky ships, 413 — Death of Bishop Nicholas and Sigurd Ribbung, 414 — Squire Knut as the chief of the Ribbungs, 416 — Skule's "Crusade," 416, 417 — Skule allies himself with Valdemar the Victorious, 417, 418 — Skule called to account, 418-420 — Intrigues at the Roman Curia, 420, 421 — The plot revealed, 421, 422 — Skule pro claims himself king, 423 — Battle of Laaka, 424 — Skule de feated at Oslo, 425 — Death of Skule, 426, 427 — Coronation of Haakon, 427-429 — His power and fame at home and abroad, 429-431 — Expedition to Scotland, and death, 431, 432.

XXVIII. The Sturlungs in Iceland .... 433-441 Snorre Sturlasson's Heimskringla, 433, 434 — Snorre's paren tage and youth, 434 — Character of Snorre, 434 — Reykjaholt, 436 — Brother feuds, 436 — Snorre's visit to Norway, 437 — CONTENTS. XVIII Plots and counterplots, 437-440— Snorre's death, 440— Sturla Thordsson, 440, 441. XXIX. Magnus Law-Mender 442-450 Cession of Man and the Shetland Isles to Scotland, 442— Reasons for and against the cession, 443 — Condition of Ice landic society and submission of the island to Norway, 444 —Magnus as a law-giver, 445-447 — The tribal aristocracy and the court nobility, 447, 448 — Concessions to the Church, 448, 449 — Degeneracy of the old royal house, 450 — Death of Magnus, 450. XXX. Erik Priest-Hater ..... 451-456 The barons increase their power, 451 — Quarrels with the clergy, 452 — The false " Maid of Norway," 453 — Depreda tions of " Little Sir Alf," 453, 454 — War with Denmark and the 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 Valdemar 458 — 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 Duchess Ingeborg's unpopularity, 461, 462 — Discontent with Magnus, 462 — Alliance with Valdemar Atterdag, 462, 463 — Magnus deposed in Sweden, 463 — Haakon's war with Al brecht of Mecklenberg, 464 — The power of the Hansa in Norway, 464— Death of Magnus, 465 — The Black Death, 465, 466 — Olaf the Young, 466. CONTENTS. XIX •474 -488 ■515 538 XXXIII. Norway during the Kalmar Union . . 467- Margaret unites the three kingdoms, 467-469 — The Kalmar Union, 469, 470 — Reasons for its disastrous consequences, 470-472 — Death of Margaret, 472— Erik of Pomerania's misrule and extortions, 472, 473 — Christopher of Bavaria, 473, 474- XXXIV.

The Union with Denmark .... 475— The condition of Norway and Denmark during the union compared, 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 Plans, 481, 482 — Christian II. 's accession, 482 — His attempt to humble the nobility, 483 — The carnage of Stockholm, 483, 484 — His vain appeal to the bourgeoisie, 484, 4S5 — Christian's flight, 485 — Frederick I., 485, 486 — Struggle about the succession, 4S6, 487 — Christian III., 487, 488 — Norway becomes a province of Denmark, 488. XXXV. Norway as a Province of Denmark . . 489- The Reformation introduced, 489, 490 — The power of the Hansa broken, 490-492 — Frederick II., 492-494 — Christian IV. 's interest in Norway, 494 — The Kalmar War, 495 — Participation in the Thirty Years' War, 495, 496 — The Hannibal's feud, 496 — Frederick III.'s disastrous war with Sweden, 49S — Absolutism introduced, 499, 500 — Christian V., 500, 501 — Frederick IV. 's accession, 501 — The Great Northern War, 502-504 — Tordenskjold, 503, 504 — Christian VI., 506-508— Frederick V., 508— Christian VII., 508-512 — The armed neutrality, 509, 510 — Frederick VI. mounts the throne, 512 — War with Sweden, 512, 513 — Christian August as viceroy, 512-514 — The Treaty of Paris, 513 — Protest of the Norsemen, 514 — Separation from Denmark, 515.

XXXVI. Norway Recovers Her Independence . 516 Christian Frederick as viceroy, 516-518 — Constitutional con XX CONTENTS. vention at Eidsvold, 518-520 — War with Sweden, 520, 521 — Armistice at Moss, 521 — Charles XIII. accepts the constitution, 522 — Charles XIV. John becomes king of Nor way, 522 — His controversies with the Storthing, 522-526 — Henrik Wergeland, 526, 527 — Count Wedel-Jarlsberg as viceroy, 527 — Oscar I., 528-530 — The character of the Norse peasantry, 528-530 — Charles XV., 530, 531 — Oscar II., and the constitutional struggle, 531-534 — Impeachment of the ministry Selmer, 534 — " The Pure Flag," 535 — Pres ent condition of Norway and her place among the nations, 536 — Literature and science, 536-538. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE. STONE AXES FROM THE LATER STONE AGE . . 5 STONE USED FOR SHAPING INSTRUMENTS . . 7 STONE HAMMER ....... 7 STONE KNIFE . 8 ADZE OF ELK-HORN ...... 9 STONE WEDGE ....... 9 ROCK PICTURE OF A SHIP AT LOKEBERG IO ROCK PICTURE AT BORGEN . . . . .II BRONZE SWORD ....... 14 LOOR OR WAR HORN OF BRONZE 15 BRONZE SWORD . 1 7 BUCKLES FROM THE EARLY IRON AGE 19 THE VIKING SHIP RECENTLY UNEARTHED AT SANDEFJORD ....... 26 THE VIKING SHIP, VARIOUS VIEWS OF . . 29 ST. ANSGARIUS THE APOSTLE OF THE NORTH . . 33 IRON IMPLEMENT USE UNKNOWN .... 35 TWO-EDGED SWORD ...... 37 BUCKLE FROM THE IRON AGE ..... 39 RUIN OF NORSE TOWER AT MOSO .... 43 BUCKLE WITH BYZANTINE ORNAMENTATION . . 5 I GILT BUCKLE FOUND AT SKEDSMO .... 72 CYLINDRICAL MOUNTING IN BRONZE ... 76 IRON POINT OF SPEAR, IRON CHISEL ... 84 FRYING-PAN OF BRONZE ......

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE. BREASTPIN OF BRONZE ...... 91 OVAL BRONZE BUCKLE ...... 93 EGIL WOOLSARK'S MONUMENT . ... 96 ORNAMENTAL BRONZE MOUNTING .... 97 CHURCH AT EGILO io3 SCISSORS AND ARROW-HEAD OF IRON . . • ' °7 HAROLD BLUETOOTH . . . . . . 117 RUNESTONE FROM STRAND IN RYFYLKE . . . 121 OBLONG BUCKLE ....... 133 OLAF TRYGGVESSON'S ARRIVAL IN NORWAY . . I4I OLD NORSE LOOM ....... I45 RUNIC STONE FROM GRAN IN HADELAND . . 153 INSTRUMENT OF UNKNOWN USE .... 155 OLD LOOM FROM THE FAEROE ISLANDS . . . 159 CHURCH AT MOSTER ISLAND . . . . . 167 SHUTTLES OF IRON AND WHALEBONE . . . 175 KNIVES OF IRON FOUND IN HEDEMARK AND HADE- LAND ........ 208 ST. OLAF FROM DRONTHEIM CATHEDRAL . 219 ST. OLAF AND THE TROLDS . . . . . 223 MAGNUS THE GOOD AND KALF ARNESSON AT STIKLESTAD ....... 235 MARBLE LION FROM THE PIRÆUS .... 241 POMMEL OF GILT BRONZE FROM THE VIKING AGE . 250 THE OLD MAN OF HOY . . . . . .271 INTERIOR OF ORKHAUGEN ..... 279 HITTERDAL CHURCH ...... 299 VILLAGE DURING FISHING SEASON .... 315 THE RAFT SUND IN VESTFJORD . . . -331 HORNELEN ........ 339 THORGHATTEN ....... 363 HONEFOSS .371 HAAKON HAAKONSSON AND HELGE HVASSE . . 397 WEST FRONT OF DRONTHEIM CATHEDRAL . .

LLST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. xxiii PAGE. OLD NORSE CAPITALS ...... 409 ON THE SOGNE FJORD 415 A STORM ON THE FJORD 419 NORWEGIAN STABBUR OR STORE-HOUSE . . -431 HORGADAL IN THE NORTH OF ICELAND . . . 435 ALMANNAGJAA WITH THE HILL OF LAWS . . 439 QUEEN MARGARET . . . . . . -471 CHRISTIAN I. . 479 BELT WRESTLING . . . . . . -491 THE NORTH CAPE ....... 493 FREDERICK III., KING OF DENMARK AND NORWAY . 497 THE CAPERCAILZIE IN NORWAY .... 505 CARVED LINTEL, STABBUR, AND BEER-MUGS . . 507 PEASANTS DANCING 511 PRINCE CHRISTIAN FREDERICK, VICEROY OF NORWAY 517 CHARLES XIV. JOHN (BERNADOTTE) . . -52 1 SKEE-RUNNING ....... 525 BRIDE AND GROOM ....... 529 PORTRAIT OF OSCAR II 533 BJORNSTJERNE BJORNSON . ...

Chapter I. Who Were The

NORSEMEN? The Norsemen are a Germanic race, and belong, accordingly, to the great Aryan family. Their next of kin are the Swedes and Danes. Their original home was Asia, and probably that part of Asia which the ancients called Bactria, near the sources of the rivers Oxus and Jaxartes. Not only the Norsemen are supposed to have come from this region, but the ancestors of all the Aryan nations which now inhabit the greater portion of the civ ilized world. Among the first to leave this cradle of nations were the tribes which settled upon the eastern islands and peninsulas of the Mediterranean, and, under the name of Hellenes, developed, long before the Christian era, an art and a literature which are, in some respects, yet unrivalled. The early Italic tribes, from which sprung in time the world empire of Rome, trace their descent from the same ancestry ; as do also the Kelts, who in ancient times inhabited England, Ireland, and France ; the Slavs who settled in the present Russia, Bohemia, and the northern Turkish provinces ; and the Germans, who occupied the great central regions of the European continent.

Among Asiatic nations, the Iranians inhabiting Persia, and the Hindoos in India, have Aryan blood. It seems almost incredible that persons differing so widely in appearance, habits, and disposition, as, for instance, a Hindoo and an Englishman, should, if you go sufficiently far back, have the same ances try. And yet there cannot be the slightest doubt that such is the case. The question, then, naturally arises: "If they were once alike, what can have made them so different ? " And the answer is : " The climate, the soil, and the general character of the countries in which they settled." The country from which the first Aryans emi grated was mountainous, with fertile valleys, and an even, temperate climate. There was no excessive heat to make men drowsy and indolent, nor exces sive cold to stunt them in their growth and paralyze their energies.