The Jomsvikings

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“The Jomsvikings” from A Dano-Norwegiean Reader by J. Y. Sargent, 1895.

Foundation, and laws of the brotherhood.

Harald Gormson's attempt to win back Norway, was thus foiled, without having cost Haakon any other exertion than that which the calling out of his army entailed, or more blood than that which the Danes in their raiding had shed. But far more dangerous was the shock he had not long after to encounter.

At a time previous to this Harald Gormson had won possessions on the Wendish coast and founded there the town of Jomsborg. This was afterwards taken from the King; it is said, by the powerful chieftain Palnatoke, who was a native of Denmark, and had brought up as a foster-child Harald's illegitimate son Sweyn, surnamed "Double-beard," who was but ill liked by his father.

Palnatoke is believed to have founded the society of the Jomsvikings. It consisted of warriors who had taken service under a chief whom they were bound to follow, whithersoever he led, and to obey in whatsoever he commanded them.

Strict laws prevailed in this military order. Thus no one could be admitted into it who was over fifty years of age or under eighteen; no one who refused to fight his equal in strength and accoutrement. No one might bear tales or speak slander respecting the members of the brotherhood; no one might retell news except the Chief himself. The killing even of one's nearest relative might not be revenged, but the case must be decided by the Chief. No woman was allowed to be brought into the castle. No one must show the least sign of fear, or flinch under any pain.

Transgression of the laws was punished by expulsion from the Order. However, with the help of Styrbjorn, nephew of the Swedish King, Erik, King Harald recovered possession of Jomsborg, and with it, we may assume, received those warlike champions into his service. With such a host in his pay he might well cherish the hope of taking his revenge upon Haakon, and of wresting Norway from his hand. Therefore Harald sent those terrible warriors against Haakon. The expedition was arranged at the burial feast of the Scanian Earl Strut-Harald, father of Sigvalde, the Chief of the Jomsvikings.

The Jomsvikings swear an oath to invade Norway, and to kill or drive out Haakon Jarl.

The Jomsvikings came to the funeral feast in sixty ships, and formed a numerous company. The banquet was magnificent; the ale strong; and the cup went merrily round. Many healths were drunk, and when the time came to empty the grace-cup, their mood was exceedingly animated. Sigvalde Jarl vowed, that before three winters were over he would either slay Haakon Jarl, or drive him from his kingdom. Torkel the Tall, his brother, vowed that he would accompany Sigvalde to Norway, and never desert him as long as he was alive. Bue the Big, son of the mighty Vesete of Bornholm, and one of the Jomsviking's most doughty champions, promised to go with them to Norway and never to return until there lay more fallen, than there remained standing alive. Vagn Aakeson, son of Vesete's daughter, vowed he would sail with them to Norway and never return until he had slain Torkel Leira, and wedded his daughter Ingeborg without her kinsmen's consent. The other Jomsvikings made similar vows.

The day after when the carouse had been slept off, they found, sure enough, that they had taken too large a mouthful; but the vows were made, and what was done could not be undone. It was thereupon resolved to set out immediately with the force they had, in order that Haakon might not have time to prepare himself for defence. However, they did not reach Norway so quickly but that rumour forestalled them. Erik Jarl who at that time was in Romerike got notice of the expedition. He straightway collected his men and hastened to Trondhjem, carrying the news to his father. The summons to war was sent out in all directions, and men flocked in from all quarters to join the Earls. Haakon hastened to Möre to keep an eye upon the enemy, and Erik marched northwards to collect forces and bring them to the South.

The Jomsvikings land in Jæderen A.D. 985.

Meanwhile the Jomsvikings had landed in the Jæderen on Christmas night, A.D. 985, and surrounded a mansion in which one Geirmund, a young man of high birth was sleeping. He and his men were awakened by the war-cry of the Jomsvikings. Geirmund made a spring from his room on the upper story, and lighted on his feet; but as he did so received a stroke which lopped his hand off, but escaped in the darkness through the midst of the foes, and made with all speed for Sondmore to carry the tidings to Haakon.

He found him and Erik at a banquet at the garth Skuggen in Borgund.

"Is there anything the matter?" asked the Earl.

"Yes," said Geirmund.

"I hope your tidings are good," said the Earl.

"Nay," said Geirmund, "good they are not, but they are true; an army has come from Denmark, and is working havoc in your kingdom."

The earl who had long been waiting in vain for the coming of the Jomsvikings, refused at first to believe what Geirmund announced; whereupon the latter stretched out the stump of his arm by way of confirmation that what he said was true, and added as further proof, how at the moment when he lost his hand, which had a ring upon it, he heard some one say, "You made a good catch there, Vagn Aakeson!" Upon this the earl doubted no longer: ships and men were assembled with the utmost haste, and spies sent forth to keep a look-out for the foe.

The Jomsvikings sail Northwards to Sundmore, where they land and harry the country.

Meanwhile the Jomsvikings steered northwards past Stat and began to harry the district of Sondmore. They lay to at the island of Hod (now Hareidland) where Bue's men lifted a number of cattle and drove them down to the beach.

Seeing this an old peasant called out to them, "You are not acting like soldiers, driving a pack of cows and calves to the strand; you had far better catch the bear himself, who has just come into his den."

"What is that you say, old fellow," said they, "can you tell us anything about the earl?"

"Haakon Jarl," answered the man, “rowed in yesterday to Hjörungavaag, and had but one or two ships, certainly not more than three, and he has not yet heard anything about you."

When Bue and his men heard this, they let the cattle go, and ran to their ships, in order to be first for the victory which now seemed certain. But when, in company with the other Jomsvikings, they reached Hjörungavaag, there lay Haakon Jarl sure enough, not however with three ships but with a hundred and eighty, all well manned, and well equipped, though less in number than those of the enemy.

As soon as the latter showed themselves the earls Haakon and Erik bade the trumpets sound for battle. On both sides the ships were ranged in order, and the banners of the leaders hoisted. Haakon Jarl took his position in the centre with 60 ships, opposite to Sigvalde Jarl and his brother, who posted 20 ships to oppose him. On the right wing, Erik Jarl stationed his sixty against the 20 of Bue the Big and his brother; and on the left wing was Haakon's son, Svein, also with 60 ships against 20 that were commanded by Vagn Aakeson.

Sea-fight at Hjörungavaag, near Aalesimd, A.D. 986.

The Jomsvikings are defeated and some of them taken prisoners by Haakon Jarl and his sons.

The fight began, and soon became very hot. Many fell on both sides, but most on the side of the Norsemen, for the arrows and spears of the Jomsvikings struck so hard that neither shield nor mail was proof against them, and Haakon himself was fain to throw his aside, seeing that they no longer afforded any protection.

Vagn Aakeson pressed so hard upon the left wing, that Earl Svein gave way, and was on the point of taking to flight; but seeing this Earl Erik hastened to his assistance; the struggle raged with violence for a time; but in the end Vagn was forced to retreat, and thus the ships came to occupy the same relative position as they had held at first.

Whilst Erik was helping Svein, his own division had given way before Bue's violent onslaught, and the latter had already cut the ropes which fastened his ships together, for the purpose of pursuing the fugitives. But at this juncture Erik came back again, and laid his vessel, the "Iron Whale," alongside of Bue's, and then began a desperate struggle.

Bue fought like a madman, and his men fought with no less fury. Notably distinguished were two of his men, Haavard Hogvande, and Aslak Holmskalle, who behaved with splendid gallantry.

In the centre where Haakon was stationed, the day was no less hotly contested. It is recorded that when the earl saw how the Jomsvikings were gaining ground, he went on shore and offered up his son Erling, a boy of seven, to the gods to secure the victory.

Immediately a violent tempest burst forth accompanied by hail: each hailstone weighed an ounce, and the storm beat right in the faces of the Danes.

At this point Sigvalde cut his cables and fled away from Vaagen, followed by his brother Torkel, and Sigurd Kaabe, Bue's brother. When Vagn perceived this he hurled words of scorn after him saying: "Why dost thou fly, craven hound, and leave thy men in the lurch. The shame of this shall cling to thee all thy days."

So saying he cast a javelin at the man who stood at the rudder, supposing him to have been Sigvalde: he hit and killed his man, but it was the wrong one, for Sigvalde had taken an oar to warm himself by rowing, it was so cold.

The Jomsvikings now all turned to flight, except Bue and Vagn, who still held out. Haakon Jarl laid his ship also alongside Bue's; and about them the tide of battle ebbed and flowed. Haavard Högvande and Aslak Holmskalle succeeded in climbing on board Haakon's ship where they dealt death and destruction.

Two Icelanders, brothers, Torleif and Tord hastened to confront Haavard and exchanged blows with him. They received severe wounds, but managed at last to hew off their opponent's feet. The heroic warrior although brought upon his knees, continued to fight right manfully. A third Icelander, Vigfus, snatched up an anvil, that stood on the deck, and hurled it at the head of Aslak Holmskalle, breaking his skull and dashing his brains out.

At this moment Erik and his men boarded Bue's Vessel. The first to come on board was Torstein Midlang, who smote Bue right across the face, with such force that the nose-guard of the helmet was broken, and the nose cleft through; but the assailant himself was killed by a mighty stroke from Bue, who almost severed his body in two.

Thereupon Bue shouted aloud: "Overboard all Bue's men!" seized hold of two chests full of gold and sprang into the sea. Many of his men jumped overboard with him, but the greater part were killed on board the ship. Vagn Aakeson however still held out and kept his foes at bay some time longer, until Erik forced his way on board Vagn's ship; then after a violent resistance being overmatched he was captured along with 30 of his men. This ended the contest; the battle was won.

Fate of the Prisoners.

The captive Jomsvikings were taken to land to be put to death. They sat upon the trunk of a tree: their feet were bound, but they had their hands free. Torkel Leira, the personal enemy of Vagn, undertook to be their executioner, and began with the endmost man. He exclaimed triumphantly to Vagn, "You vowed you would kill me, but now it looks more likely that I shall kill you."

The Jomsvikings maintained their dauntless hardihood to the last. One of them said, "We have often disputed the question, how long a man would retain consciousness after his head was cut off; now we shall prove it: for if I still know anything after I have lost my head I will stick my knife in the ground." His head fell, but the knife fell too out of the dead man's hand.

When a good many had been already put to death, the turn came to a man of tall stature, very handsome, with long yellow hair that shone like silk. He begged them not to make his hair bloody, and one of the guards took and twisted it round his two hands to get a firm hold (and keep the hair from being soiled with blood) but at the instant when the axe fell, the Jomsviking jerked his head back, so that the stroke chopped the guard's hands off.

The prisoner then called out, "The Jomsvikings are not all dead yet!" Earl who was Erik, standing, by, asked, "What is your name, my fine fellow?"

"Folk call me Sigurd," he answered, "and hold me to be Bue's son."

"That may well be," said the Earl. "Will you take quarter?"

"That depends upon who it is that offers it," answered Sigurd.

''It is offered by one who has the power to grant it," was the Earl's reply, and the Jomsviking was set loose.

"Nay then, even if you grant every one of these men pardon," Torkel broke in, " Vagn Aakeson at least shall not escape from here with his life." So saying, with axe uplifted he rushed at Vagn; but one of the Jomsvikings suddenly threw himself in front of Torkel's feet; he stumbled, fell, and the axe flew out of his hand. Vagn snatched it up, and gave his enemy his death-blow. Erik hereupon offered Vagn to spare his life, and the latter replied, that he would accept it on condition that his comrades also received quarter, and at Erik's command they were all released.

While this was going on, Haakon Jarl was sitting on the trunk of a tree not far off. Suddenly the twang of a bowstring was heard from one of the ships, and an arrow transfixed one of the Earl's chief men, Gissur White, the Lænderman from Valders, who in gorgeous dress, was sitting at Haakon's side. Going to Bue's ship they found Haavard Hogvande whose feet were hewn off, still standing on his knees, and holding a bow in his hand.

"Tell me, boys," said he, "who was the one that fell from the log?"

They told him, Gissur. "So then I was unlucky," said Haavard, "for the arrow was meant for the Earl." He was put to death immediately.

Five and twenty of the Jomsvikings' ships were captured, and as soon as the booty had been divided, the army dispersed. But Haakon was angry with his son for sparing the life of Vagn, and they parted in unfriendliness. But Erik took the Jomsviking with him to Vik, and became fond of him. He gave him Torkel Leira's daughter in marriage, and at his departure made him a present of a good warship fully equipped. Vagn too became and remained Erik's staunch friend for life.

Sargent, J. Y., A Dano-Norwegiean Reader, Macmillan & Co., 1895

J. Y. Sargent

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