CHAPTEE XXIX. 



SOME EXPEDITIONS AND DEEDS OF GREAT VIKINGS. 



( Continued.) 



The first Jarl of Normandy His banishment from Norway Genealogy of 

 the Jarls of Normandy Political connection between kings of the North 

 and of England Jealousy between Athelstan and Harold Fairhair 

 Hakon of Norway educated in England Northern chiefs come to the 

 help of English kings Battle of Brunanburgh. 



VERY little is said in the Sagas of Gongu Hrolf, the first jarl 

 of Normandy, for he, like all those who left their country to 

 settle in foreign lands, was forgotten by the scalds at home, 

 as these did not take part in their expeditions. We give here 

 different sagas which confirm each other in regard to him. 

 But the little we have concerning him is extremely interesting, 

 as his descendants conquered England and part of France. 

 All the different Sagas agree in calling him a son of Bognvald 

 jarl of Norway. 



The causes which led to his banishment are simply and 

 clearly related. 



" Eognvald Msera jarl was a very great friend of King Harald, 

 and was much valued by him. Rognvald was married to Hrolf 

 Nefja's daughter Hild, 1 and had by her the sons Hrolf and 

 Thorir. . . . Hrolf was a great Viking, and so large that no horse 

 could carry him, so that he walked wherever he went, and for 

 this reason he was called Goiigu Hrolf (walking Hrolf). He 

 made much warfare in the east. One summer when he returned 

 from ' Vikingry,' or a raiding expedition in the east, he com- 

 mitted acts of depredation in Vikin. King Harald, who was 

 then in Vikin, was very angry when he heard of this, for he 

 had strictly forbidden robbery within his land. He therefore 

 announced at a Thing that he made Hrolf an outlaw from 

 Norway. When Hrolf s mother Hild 1 heard this, she went to 



1 Hild is here an abbreviation for Ras;nhi]d. 



