Harald Hardrada - Chapter 2: 1026

 

Harald

So there you have it, my two most significant father figures; my half-brother and predecessor as King, and my future father-in-law and source of my wealth. Olaf was geographically and genetically closer, so he was the more influential early on.

Olaf was a good Viking: he fought, plundered, and ruled for 15 years as King of Norway, but he was baptized on one of his trips to Normandy and he became filled with a missionary zeal that he imposed on the local farmers with a heavy hand. Cnut and pagan nobles conspired with the bondsmen to drive out Olaf. Olaf fled to the east and stayed in Rus' two winters.

Heimskringla

King Olaf punished great and small with equal severity, which appeared to the chief people of the country too severe; and animosity rose to the highest when they lost relatives by the king's just sentence, although they were in reality guilty. This was the origin of the hostility of the great men of the country to King Olaf, that they could not bear his just judgments. He again would rather renounce his dignity than omit righteous judgment. The accusation against him, of being stingy with his money, was not just, for he was a most generous man towards his friends; but that alone was the cause of the discontent raised against him, that he appeared hard and severe in his retributions. Besides, King Canute offered great sums of money, and the great chiefs were corrupted by this, and by his offering them greater dignities than they had possessed before.

Anglo Saxon Chronicle

This year went King Knute to Denmark with a fleet to the holm by the holy river; where against him came Ulf and Eglaf, with a very large force both by land and sea, from Sweden. There were very many men lost on the side of King Knute, both of Danish and English; and the Swedes had possession of the field of battle.

Heimskringla

It is to be related of King Olaf's journey, that he went first from Norway eastward through Eid forest to Vermaland, then to Vatnsby, and through the forests in which there are roads, until he came out in Nerike district. There dwelt a rich and powerful man in that part called Sigtryg, who had a son, Ivar, who afterwards became a distinguished person. Olaf stayed with Sigtryg all spring; and when summer came he made ready for a journey, procured a ship for himself, and without stopping went on to Russia to King Jarizleifr, and his queen Ingegerd.