The Sagas of the Icelanders (50 page)

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A man called Ketil Flat-nose, the son of Bjorn Buna, was a powerful hersir in Norway and came from a prominent family. He lived in Romsdal in the Romsdal district, between South More and North More. Ketil Flat-nose was married to Yngvild, the daughter of Ketil Ram, a man of good family. They had five children: one of their sons was Bjorn the Easterner, another Helgi Bjolan. One of their daughters, Thorunn Hyrn;i, was married to Helgi the Lean. Helgi the Lean was the son of Eyvind the Easterner and Rafarta, the daughter of Kjarval, the king of the Irish. Another of Ketil’s daughters, Unn the Deep-minded, was married to Olaf the White. Olaf the White was the son of Ingjald, son of Frodi the Valiant, who was killed by the descendants of Earl Sverting. Ketil’s third daughter was called Jorunn Manvitsbrekka.
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Jorunn was the mother of Ketil the Lucky Fisher, who settled at the farm Kirkjubaer. His son was Asbjorn, the father of Thorstein who was the father of Surt, who was the father of Sighvat the Lawspeaker.

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During Ketil’s later years King Harald Fair-hair grew so powerful in Norway that no petty king or other man of rank could thrive in Norway unless he had received his title from the king. When Ketil learned that the king had intended to offer him the same terms as others, namely to submit to his authority without receiving any compensation for kinsmen who had been killed by the king’s forces, he called a meeting of his kinsmen and addressed them, saying:

‘All of you know of our dealings with King Harald in the past, so there is no need to go into that here, but all the more need to discuss the difficulties at hand. Of King Harald’s animosity towards us there is proof enough; it seems to me we should expect little friendship from that direction. We seem to have two choices before us: to flee the country or to be killed off, one by one. Although I would prefer to meet my death as my kinsmen have done, I do not wish to make a decision on my own which will make things difficult for all of you. I know only too well the character of my kinsmen and friends: you would not want us to go our separate ways despite the trials that following me would involve.’

Ketil’s son Bjorn answered: ‘I can tell you at once what I want to do. I want to follow the example of other worthy men and flee this country. I see little honour to be gained in sitting at home waiting for King Harald’s henchmen to chase us off our lands, or even in meeting death at their hands.’

They applauded his words as being boldly spoken. Then they decided to leave the country, since Ketil’s sons were greatly in favour of the idea and no one opposed it. Bjorn and Helgi wanted to go to Iceland, as they claimed they had heard many favourable reports of the country; there was enough good land available, they said, without having to pay for it. There were reported to be plenty of beached whales and salmon fishing, and good fishing every season.

To this Ketil answered, ‘I do not intend to spend my old age in that fishing camp.’

Ketil said he preferred to travel to the west; there, he said, they seemed to live a good life. He knew the country well, for he had gone raiding through much of the area.

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Afterwards Ketil held an excellent feast, and it was here that he gave his daughter Thorunn to Helgi the Lean in marriage. He then prepared to leave the country and sail westward. His daughter Unn went with him, along with many of his other kinsmen. Ketil’s sons and their brother-in-law Helgi the Lean set out for Iceland the same summer. Bjorn Ketilsson made land in the bay of Breidafjord in the west and followed the southern shore of the bay until he reached a fjord stretching inland. A high mountain rose up from a headland on the far side of the fjord, with an island just offshore. Bjorn said they should stop there a while. He went ashore with several others and made his way along the coast. There was only a short distance between the mountains and the sea, and he thought it looked a good place to settle. In one inlet he found his high-seat pillars had drifted ashore, and they took this to be a sign of where they should settle.

Following this Bjorn took all the land between the Stafa river and Hraunsfjord and made his home at the place which has since been called Bjarnarhofn (Bjorn’s Harbour). He was called Bjorn the Easterner. Bjorn’s
wife was Gjaflaug, the daughter of Kjallak the Old. Their sons were Ottar and Kjallak, whose son was Thorgrim, the father of Killer-Styr and Vermund. Kjallak’s daughter was named Helga. She was married to Vestar of the Eyri farm, the son of Thorolf Blister-pate who settled at Eyri. Their son was Thorlak, the father of Steinthor of Eyri.

Helgi Bjolan made land in the south and took all the Kjalarnes headland between Kollafjord and Hvalfjord. He lived at Esjuberg into his old age.

Helgi the Lean made land in the north of Iceland and took all of Eyjafjord between the Siglunes and Reynisnes headlands. He lived at Kristnes. The people of Eyjafjord trace their descent from Helgi and Thorunn.

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Ketil Flat-nose made land in Scotland, where he was well received by the men of high rank, being both renowned and of a prominent family. They offered to let him settle wherever he wished. Ketil and the rest of his kinsfolk made their homes there, with the exception of Thorstein, his grandson. He set off immediately to go plundering and raiding in many parts of Scotland, and was everywhere successful. He later made peace with the Scots and became the ruler of half of the Scottish kingdom. He married Thurid, the daughter of Eyvind and sister of Helgi the Lean. The Scots only kept the peace for a short time before breaking their pact with Thorstein. He was killed at Caithness, according to Ari Thorgilsson the Learned.

Unn was at Caithness when her son Thorstein
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was killed. Upon learning that her son had been killed, and as her father had died as well, she felt her future prospects there were rather dim. She had a knorr built secretly in the forest. When it was finished, she made the ship ready and set out with substantial wealth. She took along all her kinsmen who were still alive, and people say it is hard to find another example of a woman managing to escape from such a hostile situation with as much wealth and so many followers. It shows what an exceptional woman Unn was.

Unn also took along with her many other people of note and from prominent families. One of the most respected was a man named Koll and called Dala-Koll. He came from a renowned family and was himself a hersir. Another man of both rank and distinction making the journey with Unn was named Hord.

Her preparations complete, Unn sailed to the Orkneys, where she stayed for a short while. There she arranged the marriage of Groa, Thorstein the Red’s daughter. Groa was the mother of Grelod, who was married to Earl
Thorfinn, the son of Earl Turf-Einar and grandson of Rognvald, Earl of More. Their son was Hlodver, the father of Earl Sigurd, who was the father of Earl Thorfinn, from whom all the earls of Orkney are descended. Unn then sailed to the Faroe Islands, where she also stayed a while and arranged the marriage of Olof, another of Thorstein’s daughters. The most prominent family in that country, the so-called Gotuskeggi clan, are descended from Olof.

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Unn then made ready to leave the Faroe Islands, and told her sailing companions that she intended to sail to Iceland. With her she took Olaf Feilan, Thorstein the Red’s son, and his sisters who were still unmarried. She set sail and had a smooth journey, making land at Vikrarskeid on the south shore. The ship was wrecked upon landing but all those aboard survived and managed to save their property. Taking twenty men with her, Unn set off to seek her brother Helgi. He came to meet her as she approached and offered to put her up along with nine others. She answered him angrily, saying she had hardly expected such stinginess of him, and departed. She then set off to visit her brother Bjorn in Breidafjord. When he learned of her coming, he went out to meet her with a large company, welcomed her warmly and invited her to stay with him along with all her companions, as he knew well his sister’s grand style. This was much to her liking, and she thanked him for his generosity.

Unn stayed there over the winter, and was given generous treatment, as Bjorn was well off and unsparing with his wealth. In the spring she crossed Breidafjord, arriving at a promontory where they had a morning meal and which has since been known as Dagverdarnes (Morning Meal Point). The point juts out into the sea from the coast of Medalfellsstrond. Unn then sailed her ship into Hvammsfjord until she came to another promontory where she also made a brief stop. She lost a comb there and the point has since been called Kambsnes (Comb Point). Afterwards she travelled through all the valleys of Breidafjord and took as much land as she wished.

Unn sailed to the head of the fjord. Finding that her high-seat pillars had floated ashore there, she felt it was clear that this was where she should make her home. She had a farm built at the site, now called Hvamm, and lived there. The same spring that Unn was building her farm in Hvamm, Dala-Koll married Thorgerd, the daughter of Thorstein the Red. Unn held the marriage feast and gave Thorgerd all of Laxardal as a dowry. Koll set up a farm on the south bank of the Laxa river and was held in high esteem. Their son was Hoskuld.

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Unn subsequently gave away portions of the land she had taken to various other men. To Hord she gave all of Hordadal, as far as the Skraumuhlaupsa river. He lived at Hordabolstad and was an important man with many notable descendants. His son was Asbjorn the Wealthy, who lived at Asbjarnarstadir in Ornolfsdal. He was married to Thorbjorg, the daughter of Skeggi of Midfjord. Their daughter was Ingibjorg who was married to Illugi the Black. Their sons were Hermund and Gunnlaug Serpent-tongue. They are known as the Gilsbakki family.

Unn spoke to her followers: ‘For your services you will be rewarded; we have now no lack of means to repay you for your efforts and your loyalty. You are aware of the fact that I have made a free man of Erp, the son of Earl Meldoon. It was far from my intention that such a well-born man be called a slave.’

Unn then gave him land at Saudafell between the Tungua and Mida rivers. His children were Orm, Asgeir, Gunnbjorn and Halldis, who was married to Alf of Dalir. To Sokkolf she gave the valley Sokkolfsdal, where he lived into his old age.

One of her freed slaves, Hundi, who was of Scottish descent, was given the valley Hundadal. A fourth slave was named Vifil, and she gave him Vifilsdal.

Thorstein the Red had a fourth daughter, Osk, the mother of the wise Thorstein Surt (Black), who devised the ‘leap week’ in summer.
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Thorhild, a fifth daughter, was the mother of Alf of Dalir, to whom many people trace their ancestry. Alf’s daughter was Thorgerd, the wife of Ari Masson of Reykjanes. His father, Mar, was the son of Atli, son of Ulf the Squinter and Bjorg Eyvindardottir, the sister of Helgi the Lean. The people of Reykjanes are descended from them. Vigdis was the sixth daughter of Thorstein the Red. Her descendants are the people of Hofdi in Eyjafjord.

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Olaf Feilan was the youngest of Thorstein’s children. He was a large, strong man, handsome and highly accomplished. Unn was fonder of him than anyone else and let it be known that she intended to leave all her property at Hvamm to Olaf after her death. As Unn grew weak with advancing age, she sent for Olaf and spoke to him:

‘It has occurred to me, my grandson, that you should think of settling down and marrying.’

Olaf agreed and said he was ready to follow her advice on this matter.

Unn said, ‘It would be best, I think, to hold your wedding feast at the end of this summer, when it is easiest to provide everything we need. If things turn out as I expect, our friends will attend in number, as this will be the last feast I will hold.’

Olaf answered: ‘You have made me a generous offer, and the only wife I take will be one who will rob you of neither your property nor your authority.’

Olaf was married that same autumn to Alfdis and the wedding was celebrated at Hvamm. Unn went to great expense with the feast, to which she invited prominent people from distant districts. She invited her brothers Bjorn and Helgi Bjolan, both of whom attended with large followings. Koll, her granddaughter’s husband, came as did Hord of Hordadal and many other men of distinction. There were large numbers of guests, even though nowhere near as many came as Unn had invited, since those who lived in Eyjafjord had a long distance to travel.

Old age was tightening its grip on Unn. She was not up and about until noon and retired to bed early in the evening. No one was allowed to consult her from the time she went to bed in the evening until she was dressed the next day. She replied angrily if anyone asked after her health. On the day the feast began Unn slept longer than usual, but was up when the guests began to arrive and went out to give her friends and kinsmen a proper welcome. She said they had shown their affection for her by making the long journey.

‘I mean Bjorn and Helgi especially, but to all of you who have come, I give my thanks.’

Unn then entered the hall, followed by a large group of people. When the hall was filled, everyone was impressed by the magnificence of the feast. Unn then spoke:

‘I call upon you, my brothers Bjorn and Helgi, and my other kinsmen and friends, as witnesses. This farm, with all the furnishings you see
around you, I hand over to the ownership and control of my grandson, Olaf.’

Unn then rose to her feet and said she would retire to her bedchamber. She urged them to enjoy themselves in whatever way they saw fit, and people could take pleasure in drinking. It is said that Unn was both tall and heavy-set. She walked briskly along the hall and people commented on her dignified bearing.

The evening was spent feasting until everyone went to bed. Olaf Feilan came to the sleeping chamber of his grandmother Unn the following day. As he entered the room, Unn was sitting upright among the pillows, dead. Olaf returned to the hall to announce the news. Everyone was impressed at how well Unn had kept her dignity to her dying day. The feast then continued, in commemoration of both Olaf’s marriage and Unn’s death. On the final day Unn was borne to the burial mound which had been prepared for her. She was placed in a ship in the mound, along with a great deal of riches, and the mound closed.

Olaf Feilan then took over the farm at Hvamm and its property with the consent of his kinsmen who had come to visit. When the feast concluded, Olaf gave generous parting gifts to his most respected guests. Olaf became an influential man and a great chieftain. He lived at Hvamm into his old age. The children of Olaf and Alfdis were Thord Bellower, who married Hrodny, the daughter of Skeggi of Midfjord. Their sons were Eyjolf the Grey, Thorarin Foal’s-brow and Thorkel Kuggi. Olaf’s daughter Thora was married to Thorstein Cod-biter, the son of Thorolf Moster-beard. Their sons were Bork the Stout and Thorgrim the father of Snorri the Godi. Another daughter, Helga, was married to Gunnar Hlifarson. Their daughter Jofrid was married first to Thorodd, the son of Tungu-Odd, and later to Thorstein Egilsson. Another of their daughters, Thorunn, was married to Herstein, the son of Thorkel Blund-Ketilsson. Olaf’s third daughter, Thordis, was married to Thorarin Ragi’s brother the Lawspeaker.

Olaf was living at Hvamm when his brother-in-law Dala-Koll became ill and died. Hoskuld, Roll’s son, was still a youngster when his father died, but wise beyond his years. Hoskuld was a handsome and accomplished youth. He inherited his father’s property and took over the running of the farm. His name was soon linked with the farm where Koll had lived, and it was called Hoskuldsstadir. Hoskuld was soon a well-liked farmer in the district, as he enjoyed the support of many who had been friends and relatives of his father, Dala-Koll.

His mother Thorgerd, Thorstein the Red’s daughter, was still a young
and good-looking woman. After the death of Koll she was unhappy in Iceland and told her son Hoskuld that she wished to take her portion of the property and go abroad. Hoskuld answered that he would deeply regret their parting, but would not oppose her in this or anything else. He proceeded to purchase for his mother a half-share in a ship which was beached at Dagverdarnes. Thorgerd arranged her passage, taking substantial wealth with her. She put out to sea and the ship had a good journey to Norway. In Norway Thorgerd had many relatives and numerous kinsmen of high birth. They welcomed her warmly and offered her whatever hospitality she cared to accept. Thorgerd accepted gladly, saying that she intended to settle in Norway.

Thorgerd did not remain a widow for long before a suitor named Herjolf asked for her hand. He had been granted the rank of landholder, and was wealthy and greatly respected. Herjolf was a large and powerful man. While not handsome, he was still an impressive-looking fellow, and the best of warriors. Under such circumstances, as a widow, Thorgerd was free to decide for herself, and on the advice of her kinsmen she decided not to refuse his offer.

Thorgerd married Herjolf and went to live at his farm; they cared deeply for one another. Thorgerd soon proved herself to be a woman of firm character. Herjolf’s situation was now considered better than before as he enjoyed even greater respect after having married a woman like Thorgerd.