436 SOME EXPEDITIONS AND DEEDS OF GREAT VIKINGS. 



that part of England which is called Nordimbraland (North- 

 umberland) ; this part was owned by King Hring, and before 

 him by Harald (Hilditonn). Adalbrikt ruled over it for a 

 long while ; his sons were called Arna and Ella, and were 

 kings of Northumberland after their father." 



Two of the most famous ancient battles of the North, 

 accounts of which have been handed down to us, were those 

 of Bravoll and Dunheidi. 



-i 



Sigurd Hring got the kingship in Denmark. He fought 

 against King Harald Hilditonn on Bravoll x in Eastern- 

 Gautland, and there King Harald and a great many men 

 were slain. This battle, and the battle between Angantyr and 

 his brother Hlod in Dunheidi (Dunheath), have been most 

 mentioned in old Sagas, and most men have been slain in 

 them (have been more spoken of in old Sagas, and more men 

 have been slain in them than in any other battle) " (Hervarar 

 Saga, c. 16). 



Battle of Bravoll. In this battle the champions of King 

 Harald seem chiefly to have come from Denmark and from 

 England and Ireland (the west), also from Saxland, which was 

 tributary to him ; the champions of King Hring from Sweden, 

 Norway, and the east. 



" One autumn he (Sigurd Hring) went to visit King Harald, 

 his father's brother, was well received, and remained there for 

 awhile in good favour. As King Harald was getting old, he 

 placed Hring, his kinsman, over his host to defend his lands, 

 and he dwelt a long time with Harald. When old age was 

 heavy upon the king, he made Hring king over Uppsalir, and 

 gave into his power the whole of Sweden and West Gautland, 

 but he himself retained the rule over all Denmark and Eastern 

 Gautland (East Gotland). King Hring married Alfhild, 

 daughter of King A If, who possessed the land between the 

 rivers Gautelf and Raumelf, which then was also called 

 Alfheim ; these were great forest-lands. Hring had one son, 

 Ragnar (Lodbrok), by his wife. King Harald had two sons by 

 his wife, Hrserek Slongvandbaugi (Ring-slinger) and Thrand 

 the old. 



" When King Harald Hilditonn (war-tooth) was 180 winters 

 old, he lay in bed, unable to walk ; Vikings disturbed his 

 realm with war far and wide. His friends thought the people 



1 The date of the battle was probably about the year A.D. 700. 



