Chapter VII - Saga Of Olaf Haraldson

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Preliminary Remarks:

Olaf Haraldson the Saint's Saga is the longest, the most important, and the most finished of all the sagas in "Heimskringla".

The life of Olaf will be found treated more or less freely:

• in "Agrip",
• in "Historia Norvegiae",
• in "Thjodrek the Monk",
• in the legendary saga,
• and in "Fagrskinna".

Other old Norse literature relating to this epoch:

• Are's "Islendingabok",
• "Landnama",
• "Kristni Saga",
• "Biskupa- sogur",
• "Njala",
• "Gunlaugs Saga",
• "Ormstungu",
• "Bjarnar Saga Hitdaelakappa",
• "Hallfredar Thattr Vandraedaskalde",
• "Eyrbyggia",
• "Viga Styrs Saga",
• "Laxdaela",
• "Fostbraedra",
• "Gretla",
• "Liosvetninga",
• "Faereyinga",
• "Orkneyinga".

Olaf Haraldson was born 995, went as a viking at the age of twelve, 1007; visited England, one summer and three winters, 1009-1012; in France two summers and one winter, 1012-1013; spent the winter in Normandy, 1014; returned to Norway and was recognized as King, April 3, 1015; fled from Norway the winter of 1028-1029; fell at Stiklestad, July 29 (or August 31), 1030.

Skalds quoted in this saga are: —

• Ottar Svarte,
• Sigvat Skald,
• Thord Kolbeinson,
• Berse Torfason,
• Brynjolf,
• Arnor Jarlaskald,
• Thord Siarekson,
• Harek,
• Thorarin Loftunga,
• Halvard Hareksblese,
• Bjarne Gulbraskald,
• Jokul Bardson,
• Thormod Kolbrunarskald,
• Gissur,
• Thorfin Mun,
• Hofgardaref.