Battle of Hafirsfjord 149 



kings leagued themselves together for the purpose of 

 resisting his further encroachments. 



The district which he had not subdued was just that 

 one which, as we have said, had most connection with 

 the Viking route to the British Isles ; and it is quite 

 certain that the allied kings, in their opposition to 

 Harald, obtained the assistance of a large number 

 of Viking leaders from England and Scotland and 

 the other west countries. The allies assembled a 

 large fleet, which was under the command of three 

 kings, Kjotvi the Eich, king of Agder, Sulki, king of 

 Eogaland, and Erik, king of the Hardanger district. 

 King Harald was at this time lying with the fleet in 

 Hafirsfjord. Tliis fjord lies just to the south of Sta- 

 vanger ; and the traveller who has leisure may well 

 turn aside from this point to visit it, historically one 

 of the most interesting spots in Norway. He will find 

 at the mouth of the fjord a little group of low islands 

 called Jffiderens Eef (reef), a reef of rounded ice-worn 

 rocks. Here the allied fleet assembled. The rocks 

 hide the fjord so completely that Harald's fleet may very 

 well have lain there without being seen ; and they, on 

 their side, might have stolen close to the mouth of the 

 fjord unobserved. The fleets engaged, and the battle 

 was a severe one. Two of the allied leaders, the Kings 

 Sulki and Erik, were killed, and the third, Kiotvi, took 

 to flight. This battle of Hafirsfirth practically settled 

 the fate of Norway. The opposition was annihilated ; 

 and Harald reigned as sole monarch of the kingdom, 

 dressing his locks now that his vow was accomplished, 

 and becoming Harald Fair-hair {Hdrfagr) for his sub- 

 jects and for all history. 



