11: Magnus the Good and Others
<< 10: Reign of King Olaf the Saint || 12: Olaf the Tranquil, Magnus Barefoot, and Sigurd the Crusader >>
St. Olaf is the highest of these Norway Kings, and is the last that
much attracts us. For this reason, if a reason were not superfluous,
we might here end our poor reminiscences of those dim Sovereigns. But
we will, nevertheless, for the sake of their connection with bits of
English History, still hastily mention the Dames of one or two who
follow, and who throw a momentary gleam of life and illumination on
events and epochs that have fallen so extinct among ourselves at
present, though once they were so momentous and memorable.
The new King Svein from Jomsburg, Knut's natural son, had no success
in Norway, nor seems to have deserved any. His English mother and he
were found to be grasping, oppressive persons; and awoke, almost from
the instant that Olaf was suppressed and crushed away from Norway into
Heaven, universal odium more and more in that country.
Well-deservedly, as still appears; for their taxings and extortions of
malt, of herring, of meal, smithwork and every article taxable in
Norway, were extreme; and their service to the country otherwise
nearly imperceptible. In brief their one basis there was the power of
Knut the Great; and that, like all earthly things, was liable to
sudden collapse,—and it suffered such in a notable degree. King
Knut, hardly yet of middle age, and the greatest King in the then
world, died at Shaftesbury, in 1035, as Dahlmann thinks(16),—leaving
two legitimate sons and a busy, intriguing widow (Norman Emma, widow
of Ethelred the Unready), mother of the younger of these two; neither
of whom proved to have any talent or any continuance. In spite of
Emma's utmost efforts, Harald, the elder son of Knut, not hers, got
England for his kingdom; Emma and her Harda-Knut had to be content
with Denmark, and go thither, much against their will. Harald in
England,—light-going little figure like his father before him,—got
the name of Harefoot here; and might have done good work among his now
orderly and settled people; but he died almost within year and day;
and has left no trace among us, except that of "Harefoot," from his
swift mode of walking. Emma and her Harda-Knut now returned joyful to
England. But the violent, idle, and drunken Harda-Knut did no good
there; and, happily for England and him, soon suddenly ended, by
stroke of apoplexy at a marriage festival, as mentioned above. In
Denmark he had done still less good. And indeed,—under him, in a
year or two, the grand imperial edifice, laboriously built by Knut's
valor and wisdom, had already tumbled all to the ground, in a most
unexpected and remarkable way. As we are now to indicate with all
brevity.
Svein's tyrannies in Norway had wrought such fruit that, within the
four years after Olaf's death, the chief men in Norway, the very
slayers of King Olaf, Kalf Arneson at the head of them, met secretly
once or twice; and unanimously agreed that Kalf Arneson must go to
Sweden, or to Russia itself; seek young Magnus, son of Olaf home:
excellent Magnus, to be king over all Norway and them, instead of this
intolerable Svein. Which was at once done,—Magnus brought home in a
kind of triumph, all Norway waiting for him. Intolerable Svein had
already been rebelled against: some years before this, a certain
young Tryggve out of Ireland, authentic son of Olaf Tryggveson, and of
that fine Irish Princess who chose him in his low habiliments and low
estate, and took him over to her own Green Island,—this royal young
Tryggve Olafson had invaded the usurper Svein, in a fierce, valiant,
and determined manner; and though with too small a party, showed
excellent fight for some time; till Svein, zealously bestirring
himself, managed to get him beaten and killed. But that was a couple
of years ago; the party still too small, not including one and all as
now! Svein, without stroke of sword this time, moved off towards
Denmark; never showing face in Norway again. His drunken brother,
Harda-Knut, received him brother-like; even gave him some territory to
rule over and subsist upon. But he lived only a short while; was gone
before Harda-Knut himself; and we will mention him no more.
Magnus was a fine bright young fellow, and proved a valiant, wise, and
successful King, known among his people as Magnus the Good. He was
only natural son of King Olaf but that made little difference in those
times and there. His strange-looking, unexpected Latin name he got in
this way: Alfhild, his mother, a slave through ill-luck of war,
though nobly born, was seen to be in a hopeful way; and it was known
in the King's house how intimately Olaf was connected with that
occurrence, and how much he loved this "King's serving-maid," as she
was commonly designated. Alfhild was brought to bed late at night;
and all the world, especially King Olaf was asleep; Olaf's strict
rule, then and always, being, Don't awaken me:—seemingly a man
sensitive about his sleep. The child was a boy, of rather weakly
aspect; no important person present, except Sigvat, the King's
Icelandic Skald, who happened to be still awake; and the Bishop of
Norway, who, I suppose, had been sent for in hurry. "What is to be
done?" said the Bishop: "here is an infant in pressing need of
baptism; and we know not what the name is: go, Sigvat, awaken the
King, and ask." "I dare not for my life," answered Sigvat; "King's
orders are rigorous on that point." "But if the child die
unbaptized," said the Bishop, shuddering; too certain, he and
everybody, where the child would go in that case! "I will myself give
him a name," said Sigvat, with a desperate concentration of all his
faculties; "he shall be namesake of the greatest of mankind,—imperial
Carolus Magnus; let us call the infant Magnus!" King Olaf, on the
morrow, asked rather sharply how Sigvat had dared take such a liberty;
but excused Sigvat, seeing what the perilous alternative was. And
Magnus, by such accident, this boy was called; and he, not another, is
the prime origin and introducer of that name Magnus, which occurs
rather frequently, not among the Norman Kings only, but by and by
among the Danish and Swedish; and, among the Scandinavian populations,
appears to be rather frequent to this day.
Magnus, a youth of great spirit, whose own, and standing at his beck,
all Norway now was, immediately smote home on Denmark; desirous
naturally of vengeance for what it had done to Norway, and the sacred
kindred of Magnus. Denmark, its great Knut gone, and nothing but a
drunken Harda-Knut, fugitive Svein and Co., there in his stead, was
become a weak dislocated Country. And Magnus plundered in it, burnt
it, beat it, as often as he pleased; Harda-Knut struggling what he
could to make resistance or reprisals, but never once getting any
victory over Magnus. Magnus, I perceive, was, like his Father, a
skilful as well as valiant fighter by sea and land; Magnus, with good
battalions, and probably backed by immediate alliance with Heaven and
St. Olaf, as was then the general belief or surmise about him, could
not easily be beaten. And the truth is, he never was, by Harda-Knut
or any other. Harda-Knut's last transaction with him was, To make a
firm Peace and even Family-treaty sanctioned by all the grandees of
both countries, who did indeed mainly themselves make it; their two
Kings assenting: That there should be perpetual Peace, and no thought
of war more, between Denmark and Norway; and that, if either of the
Kings died childless while the other was reigning, the other should
succeed him in both Kingdoms. A magnificent arrangement, such as has
several times been made in the world's history; but which in this
instance, what is very singular, took actual effect; drunken Harda-
Knut dying so speedily, and Magnus being the man he was. One would
like to give the date of this remarkable Treaty; but cannot with
precision. Guess somewhere about 1040:(17) actual fruition of it came
to Magnus, beyond question, in 1042, when Harda-Knut drank that
wassail bowl at the wedding in Lambeth, and fell down dead; which in
the Saxon Chronicle is dated 3d June of that year. Magnus at once
went to Denmark on hearing this event; was joyfully received by the
headmen there, who indeed, with their fellows in Norway, had been main
contrivers of the Treaty; both Countries longing for mutual peace, and
the end of such incessant broils.
Magnus was triumphantly received as King in Denmark. The only
unfortunate thing was, that Svein Estrithson, the exile son of Ulf,
Knut's Brother-in-law, whom Knut, as we saw, had summarily killed
twelve years before, emerged from his exile in Sweden in a flattering
form; and proposed that Magnus should make him Jarl of Denmark, and
general administrator there, in his own stead. To which the sanguine
Magnus, in spite of advice to the contrary, insisted on acceding.
"Too powerful a Jarl," said Einar Tamberskelver—the same Einar whose
bow was heard to break in Olaf Tryggveson's last battle ("Norway
breaking from thy hand, King!"), who had now become Magnus's chief
man, and had long been among the highest chiefs in Norway; "too
powerful a Jarl," said Einar earnestly. But Magnus disregarded it;
and a troublesome experience had to teach him that it was true. In
about a year, crafty Svein, bringing ends to meet, got himself
declared King of Denmark for his own behoof, instead of Jarl for
another's: and had to be beaten and driven out by Magnus. Beaten
every year; but almost always returned next year, for a new
beating,—almost, though not altogether; having at length got one
dreadful smashing-down and half-killing, which held him quiet for a
while,—so long as Magnus lived. Nay in the end, he made good his
point, as if by mere patience in being beaten; and did become King
himself, and progenitor of all the Kings that followed. King Svein
Estrithson; so called from Astrid or Estrith, his mother, the great
Knut's sister, daughter of Svein Forkbeard by that amazing Sigrid the
Proud, who burnt those two ineligible suitors of hers both at once,
and got a switch on the face from Olaf Tryggveson, which proved the
death of that high man.
But all this fine fortune of the often beaten Estrithson was posterior
to Magnus's death; who never would have suffered it, had he been
alive. Magnus was a mighty fighter; a fiery man; very proud and
positive, among other qualities, and had such luck as was never seen
before. Luck invariably good, said everybody; never once was
beaten,—which proves, continued everybody, that his Father Olaf and
the miraculous power of Heaven were with him always. Magnus, I
believe, did put down a great deal of anarchy in those countries. One
of his earliest enterprises was to abolish Jomsburg, and trample out
that nest of pirates. Which he managed so completely that Jomsburg
remained a mere reminiscence thenceforth; and its place is not now
known to any mortal.
One perverse thing did at last turn up in the course of Magnus: a new
Claimant for the Crown of Norway, and he a formidable person withal.
This was Harald, half-brother of the late Saint Olaf; uncle or
half-uncle, therefore, of Magnus himself. Indisputable son of the
Saint's mother by St. Olaf's stepfather, who was, himself descended
straight from Harald Haarfagr. This new Harald was already much heard
of in the world. As an ardent Boy of fifteen he had fought at King
Olaf's side at Stickelstad; would not be admonished by the Saint to go
away. Got smitten down there, not killed; was smuggled away that
night from the field by friendly help; got cured of his wounds,
forwarded to Russia, where he grew to man's estate, under bright
auspices and successes. Fell in love with the Russian Princess, but
could not get her to wife; went off thereupon to Constantinople as
Vaeringer (Life-Guardsman of the Greek Kaiser); became Chief Captain
of the Vaeringers, invincible champion of the poor Kaisers that then
were, and filled all the East with the shine and noise of his
exploits. An authentic Waring or Baring, such the surname we now
have derived from these people; who were an important institution in
those Greek countries for several ages: Vaeringer Life-Guard,
consisting of Norsemen, with sometimes a few English among them.
Harald had innumerable adventures, nearly always successful, sing the
Skalds; gained a great deal of wealth, gold ornaments, and gold coin;
had even Queen Zoe (so they sing, though falsely) enamored of him at
one time; and was himself a Skald of eminence; some of whose verses,
by no means the worst of their kind, remain to this day.
This character of Waring much distinguishes Harald to me; the only
Vaeringer of whom I could ever get the least biography, true or
half-true. It seems the Greek History-books but indifferently
correspond with these Saga records; and scholars say there could have
been no considerable romance between Zoe and him, Zoe at that date
being 60 years of age! Harald's own lays say nothing of any Zoe, but
are still full of longing for his Russian Princess far away.
At last, what with Zoes, what with Greek perversities and perfidies,
and troubles that could not fail, he determined on quitting Greece;
packed up his immensities of wealth in succinct shape, and actually
returned to Russia, where new honors and favors awaited him from old
friends, and especially, if I mistake not, the hand of that adorable
Princess, crown of all his wishes for the time being. Before long,
however, he decided farther to look after his Norway Royal heritages;
and, for that purpose, sailed in force to the Jarl or quasi-King of
Denmark, the often-beaten Svein, who was now in Sweden on his usual
winter exile after beating. Svein and he had evidently interests in
common. Svein was charmed to see him, so warlike, glorious and
renowned a man, with masses of money about him, too. Svein did by and
by become treacherous; and even attempted, one night, to assassinate
Harald in his bed on board ship: but Harald, vigilant of Svein, and a
man of quick and sure insight, had providently gone to sleep
elsewhere, leaving a log instead of himself among the blankets. In
which log, next morning, treacherous Svein's battle-axe was found
deeply sticking: and could not be removed without difficulty! But
this was after Harald and King Magnus himself bad begun treating; with
the fairest prospects,—which this of the $vein battle-axe naturally
tended to forward, as it altogether ended the other copartnery.
Magnus, on first hearing of Vaeringer Harald and his intentions, made
instant equipment, and determination to fight his uttermost against
the same. But wise persons of influence round him, as did the like
sort round Vaeringer Harald, earnestly advised compromise and
peaceable agreement. Which, soon after that of Svein's nocturnal
battle-axe, was the course adopted; and, to the joy of all parties,
did prove a successful solution. Magnus agreed to part his kingdom
with Uncle Harald; uncle parting his treasures, or uniting them with
Magnus's poverty. Each was to be an independent king, but they were
to govern in common; Magnus rather presiding. He, to sit, for
example, in the High Seat alone; King Harald opposite him in a seat
not quite so high, though if a stranger King came on a visit, both the
Norse Kings were to sit in the High Seat. With various other
punctilious regulations; which the fiery Magnus was extremely strict
with; rendering the mutual relation a very dangerous one, had not both
the Kings been honest men, and Harald a much more prudent and tolerant
one than Magnus. They, on the whole, never had any weighty quarrel,
thanks now and then rather to Harald than to Magnus. Magnus too was
very noble; and Harald, with his wide experience and greater length of
years, carefully held his heat of temper well covered in.
Prior to Uncle Harald's coming, Magnus had distinguished himself as a
Lawgiver. His Code of Laws for the Trondhjem Province was considered
a pretty piece of legislation; and in subsequent times got the name of
Gray-goose (Gragas); one of the wonderfulest names ever given to a
wise Book. Some say it came from the gray color of the parchment,
some give other incredible origins; the last guess I have heard is,
that the name merely denotes antiquity; the witty name in Norway for a
man growing old having been, in those times, that he was now "becoming
a gray-goose." Very fantastic indeed; certain, however, that
Gray-goose is the name of that venerable Law Book; nay, there is
another, still more famous, belonging to Iceland, and not far from a
century younger, the Iceland Gray-goose. The Norway one is perhaps
of date about 1037, the other of about 1118; peace be with them both!
Or, if anybody is inclined to such matters let him go to Dahlmann, for
the amplest information and such minuteness of detail as might almost
enable him to be an Advocate, with Silk Gown, in any Court depending
on these Gray-geese.
Magnus did not live long. He had a dream one night of his Father
Olaf's coming to him in shining presence, and announcing, That a
magnificent fortune and world-great renown was now possible for him;
but that perhaps it was his duty to refuse it; in which case his
earthly life would be short. "Which way wilt thou do, then?" said the
shining presence. "Thou shalt decide for me, Father, thou, not I!"
and told his Uncle Harald on the morrow, adding that he thought he
should now soon die; which proved to be the fact. The magnificent
fortune, so questionable otherwise, has reference, no doubt, to the
Conquest of England; to which country Magnus, as rightful and actual
King of Denmark, as well as undisputed heir to drunken Harda-Knut,
by treaty long ago, had now some evident claim. The enterprise itself
was reserved to the patient, gay, and prudent Uncle Harald; and to him
it did prove fatal,—and merely paved the way for Another, luckier,
not likelier!
Svein Estrithson, always beaten during Magnus's life, by and by got an
agreement from the prudent Harald to be King of Denmark, then; and
end these wearisome and ineffectual brabbles; Harald having other work
to do. But in the autumn of 1066, Tosti, a younger son of our English
Earl Godwin, came to Svein's court with a most important announcement;
namely, that King Edward the Confessor, so called, was dead, and that
Harold, as the English write it, his eldest brother would give him,
Tosti, no sufficient share in the kingship. Which state of matters,
if Svein would go ahead with him to rectify it, would be greatly to
the advantage of Svein. Svein, taught by many beatings, was too wise
for this proposal; refused Tosti, who indignantly stepped over into
Norway, and proposed it to King Harald there. Svein really had
acquired considerable teaching, I should guess, from his much beating
and hard experience in the world; one finds him afterwards the
esteemed friend of the famous Historian Adam of Bremen, who reports
various wise humanities, and pleasant discoursings with Svein
Estrithson.
As for Harald Hardrade, "Harald the Hard or Severe," as he was now
called, Tosti's proposal awakened in him all his old Vaeringer
ambitious and cupidities into blazing vehemence. He zealously
consented; and at once, with his whole strength, embarked in the
adventure. Fitted out two hundred ships, and the biggest army he
could carry in them; and sailed with Tosti towards the dangerous
Promised Land. Got into the Tyne and took booty; got into the Humber,
thence into the Ouse; easily subdued any opposition the official
people or their populations could make; victoriously scattered these,
victoriously took the City of York in a day; and even got himself
homaged there, "King of Northumberland," as per covenant,—Tosti
proving honorable,—Tosti and he going with faithful strict
copartnery, and all things looking prosperous and glorious. Except
only (an important exception!) that they learnt for certain, English
Harold was advancing with all his strength; and, in a measurable space
of hours, unless care were taken, would be in York himself. Harald
and Tosti hastened off to seize the post of Stamford Bridge on Derwent
River, six or seven miles east of York City, and there bar this
dangerous advent. Their own ships lay not far off in Ouse River, in
case of the worst. The battle that ensued the next day, September 20,
1066, is forever memorable in English history.
Snorro gives vividly enough his view of it from the Icelandic side: A
ring of stalwart Norsemen, close ranked, with their steel tools in
hand; English Harold's Army, mostly cavalry, prancing and pricking all
around; trying to find or make some opening in that ring. For a long
time trying in vain, till at length, getting them enticed to burst out
somewhere in pursuit, they quickly turned round, and quickly made an
end, of that matter. Snorro represents English Harold, with a first
party of these horse coming up, and, with preliminary salutations,
asking if Tosti were there, and if Harald were; making generous
proposals to Tosti; but, in regard to Harald and what share of England
was to be his, answering Tosti with the words, "Seven feet of English
earth, or more if he require it, for a grave." Upon which Tosti, like
an honorable man and copartner, said, "No, never; let us fight you
rather till we all die." "Who is this that spoke to you?" inquired
Harald, when the cavaliers had withdrawn. "My brother Harold,"
answers Tosti; which looks rather like a Saga, but may be historical
after all. Snorro's history of the battle is intelligible only after
you have premised to it, what he never hints at, that the scene was on
the east side of the bridge and of the Derwent; the great struggle for
the bridge, one at last finds, was after the fall of Harald; and to
the English Chroniclers, said struggle, which was abundantly severe,
is all they know of the battle.
Enraged at that breaking loose of his steel ring of infantry, Norse
Harald blazed up into true Norse fury, all the old Vaeringer and
Berserkir rage awakening in him; sprang forth into the front of the
fight, and mauled and cut and smashed down, on both hands of him,
everything he met, irresistible by any horse or man, till an arrow cut
him through the windpipe, and laid him low forever. That was the end
of King Harald and of his workings in this world. The circumstance
that he was a Waring or Baring and had smitten to pieces so many
Oriental cohorts or crowds, and had made love-verses (kind of iron
madrigals) to his Russian Princess, and caught the fancy of
questionable Greek queens, and had amassed such heaps of money, while
poor nephew Magnus had only one gold ring (which had been his
father's, and even his father's mother's, as Uncle Harald noticed),
and nothing more whatever of that precious metal to combine with
Harald's treasures:—all this is new to me, naturally no hint of it in
any English book; and lends some gleam of romantic splendor to that
dim business of Stamford Bridge, now fallen so dull and torpid to most
English minds, transcendently important as it once was to all
Englishmen. Adam of Bremen says, the English got as much gold plunder
from Harald's people as was a heavy burden for twelve men;(18) a thing
evidently impossible, which nobody need try to believe. Young Olaf,
Harald's son, age about sixteen, steering down the Ouse at the top of
his speed, escaped home to Norway with all his ships, and subsequently
reigned there with Magnus, his brother. Harald's body did lie in
English earth for about a year; but was then brought to Norway for
burial. He needed more than seven feet of grave, say some;
Laing, interpreting Snorro's measurements, makes Harald eight feet in
stature,—I do hope, with some error in excess!
________
(16) Saxon Chronicle says: "1035. In this year died King Cnut. ...
He departed at Shaftesbury, November 12, and they conveyed him thence
to Winchester, and there buried him."
(17) Munch gives the date 1038 (ii. 840), Adam of Bremen 1040.
(18) Camden, Rapin, &c. quote.
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