CHAPTER XXVII. 



SOME EXPEDITIONS AND DEEDS OF GREAT VIKINGS. 



Harald Hilditonn's claim to England King Hring in England Battle of 

 Bravoll Battle of Diinheidi Warlike character of the Race. 



IN the preceding chapters we have dealt with the customs 

 of the forefathers of the English-speaking nations of to-day, 

 and will now proceed to give extracts from those Sagas which 

 deal with the lives and deeds of some of the earlier kings of 

 the North who claimed to own part of England, and which 

 mention events that relate to, or took place in, England, 

 France, Ireland, Scotland, and other countries in later times. 

 In quoting from the different Sagas there is necessarily a 

 certain amount of repetition. 



Among the earliest kings who claimed to own or have 

 possessions in England were Ivar Vidfadnii, Harald Hilditonn, 

 Sigurd Hring, and Ragnar Lodbrok. 



"When Sigurd Hring (7th and 8th centuries, A.D.), father 

 of Ragnar Lodbrok, King of Sweden and Denmark, had made 

 peace in both, and placed over them tax-kings and jarls, he 

 bethought himself of the kingdom which his kinsman Harald 

 Hilditonn (war-tooth) had possessed in England, and before 

 him Ivar Vidfadnii ; but it was then ruled by King Ingjald, 

 who it is said was brother of Petr, Saxon king" (Forrmanna 

 Sogur). 1 



" Ingjald was a powerful king. 



" King Hring summoned a great levy from his kingdom, 

 went westward to England, and, when he came to Northumber- 

 land, asked for help, which many people gave him. 



" But when King Ingjald heard of this, he gathered a large 

 host and went against him, and they fought several battles, 



1 Two other manuscripts, Vestra Saxa king. 

 VOL. II. 



