Harald Grdfeld 165 



Harald, the son of Gorm, kihg of Denmark. This 

 Harald reigned as the chief among the brothers; but 

 all had their share in the kingdom. 



Norway only half submitted to their rule. They 

 were not popular in either of the districts of Thrond- 

 hjem or Vik ; in consequence they generally made 

 their home in the fjord district. They probably had 

 relations with the Norsemen in the west, and hoped, in 

 case of need, for support from the men of the Orkneys 

 or the Shetlands. Soon Gunhild began to display those 

 arts of a Brunehault or a Fredegonde, for which her 

 name is handed down in Northern history. By her 

 advice and assistance Harald compassed the removal of 

 his more dangerous rivals. There were other descend- 

 ants of Harald Fairhair down in the south. Harald 

 and his brothers contrived the death of one of them after 

 another. The most important of these minor kings in 

 Viken district was one Tryggvi Olafsson, a grandson on 

 the mother's side, of Harald Fairhair, second cousin, 

 therefore, of Gunhild's sons. Gunhild contrived his 

 death, and his widow, carrying the hope of Norway in 

 her womb, had to flee away through unheard-of perils 

 and sufferings till she reached Sweden. This, at least, 

 is the legend, which we shall presently relate. 



In the north, in Throudhjem district, the real power 

 lay in the hands of Earl Sigurd of Lade, who had been 

 a close friend of the late king, and was not, therefore, 

 likely to be a 'persona grata to his successors. Gunhild's 

 sons excited the jealousy of Sigurd's brother, Griotgaard, 

 and engaged him in a plot against the life of the earl. 

 Griotgaard sent word to the sons of Gunhild tliat his 

 brother had gone very slenderly attended to a farm of 



