500 DIVISIONS OF PEOPLE INTO CLASSES. 



Kniit and Hakon had kept quiet over their claim on Norway 

 was, that when first King Olaf Haraldsson came into the land, 

 the whole people gathered together and would hear of nothing 

 but that he should be king of the whole country ; but after- 

 wards, when they thought they were oppressed on account of 

 his overbearing, some left the country. Many eminent men 

 and sons of powerful boendr had gone to Kniit on various 

 errands ; and each one who came to Kniit asked his friendship, 

 and obtained much property. There was also greater splen- 

 dour to be seen there than in other places, both on account of 

 the number of men which were daily there, and of the furnish- 

 ing of the rooms which he possessed. Kniit the Powerful took 

 taxes and dues from those countries of the northern lands 

 which were richest, but as he received more than other kings, 

 he also gave away more. Tn all his realm there was such 

 peace that no one dared break it ; the inhabitants themselves 

 had peace and ancient land-rights. From this Kniit won 

 great renown in all lands " (St. Olaf's Saga, 139). 



A king could give to a friend the title of king without the 

 power of one. 



" King Hring said : ' I would not give her to thee unless it 

 were that I am sick, and I like thee to have her rather than 

 others, for thou art the foremost of all men in Norway ; I will 

 also give thee the name of king, for her brothers will not give 

 either her or the honour away to thee like I do.' Fridthjof 

 answered : ' I thank you much, lord, for your favour, which 

 is greater than I expected, but I do not want more than a 

 jarl's name as a title.' l Hring gave Fridthjof power over the 

 realm he had ruled with hand- fasten ing (joining of hands) 

 and jarl's name. He was to rule until the sons of Hring were 

 full-grown and could rule the land " (Fridthjof s Saga, c. 14). 



" Then Heidrek went about the land, and made it tributary 

 to King Harald of Keidgotaland as it had formerly been, and 

 then returned to the king. He had won very large treasures 

 and a great victory. Harald welcomed him and thanked him 

 with many fine words. A wedding-feast was prepared, and 

 Heidrek married the daughter of the king, who celebrated it 

 with great honour ; he gave to Heidrek the name of king and 

 half of his kingdom ; he ruled Reidgotaland long after this, 

 and was thought wise and victorious ; he had a son by his 

 wife called Angantyr. King Harald also in his old age begot 

 a son called Halfdan ; they were both most promising, and 



1 Nafnb6t= addition to the name, improvement of the name. 



