Heimskringla | Page 5

that kingdom, as before related, with his brother Olaf. The
same autumn he went with an army to Vingulmark against King
Gandalf. They had many battles, and sometimes one, sometimes the
other gained the victory; but at last they agreed that Halfdan should
have half of Vingulmark, as his father Gudrod had had it before. Then
King Halfdan proceeded to Raumarike, and subdued it. King Sigtryg,
son of King Eystein, who then had his residence in Hedemark, and who
had subdued Raumarike before, having heard of this, came out with his
army against King Halfdan, and there was great battle, in which King
Halfdan was victorious; and just as King Sigtryg and his troops were
turning about to fly, an arrow struck him under the left arm, and he fell
dead. Halfdan then laid the whole of Raumarike under his power. King
Eystein's second son, King Sigtryg's brother, was also called Eystein,
and was then king in Hedemark. As soon as Halfdan had returned to
Vestfold, King Eystein went out with his army to Raumarike, and laid
the whole country in subjection to him

2. BATTLE BETWEEN HALFDAN AND EYSTEIN.
When King Halfdan heard of these disturbances in Raumarike, he again
gathered his army together; and went out against King Eystein. A battle
took place between them, and Halfdan gained the victory, and Eystein
fled up to Hedemark, pursued by Halfdan. Another battle took place, in
which Halfdan was again victorious; and Eystein fled northwards, up
into the Dales to the herse Gudbrand. There he was strengthened with
new people, and in winter he went towards Hedemark, and met Halfdan
the Black upon a large island which lies in the Mjosen lake. There a
great battle was fought, and many people on both sides were slain, but
Halfdan won the victory. There fell Guthorm, the son of the herse

Gudbrand, who was one of the finest men in the Uplands. Then Eystein
fled north up the valley, and sent his relation Halvard Skalk to King
Halfdan to beg for peace. On consideration of their relationship, King
Halfdan gave King Eystein half of Hedemark, which he and his
relations had held before; but kept to himself Thoten, and the district
called Land. He likewise appropriated to himself Hadeland, and thus
became a mighty king.

3. HALFDAN'S MARRIAGE
Halfdan the Black got a wife called Ragnhild, a daughter of Harald
Gulskeg (Goldbeard), who was a king in Sogn. They had a son, to
whom Harald gave his own name; and the boy was brought up in Sogn,
by his mother's father, King Harald. Now when this Harald had lived
out his days nearly, and was become weak, having no son, he gave his
dominions to his daughter's son Harald, and gave him his title of king;
and he died soon after. The same winter his daughter Ragnhild died;
and the following spring the young Harald fell sick and died at ten
years of age. As soon as Halfdan the Black heard of his son's death, he
took the road northwards to Sogn with a great force, and was well
received. He claimed the heritage and dominion after his son; and no
opposition being made, he took the whole kingdom. Earl Atle Mjove
(the Slender), who was a friend of King Halfdan, came to him from
Gaular; and the king set him over the Sogn district, to judge in the
country according to the country's laws, and collect scat upon the king's
account. Thereafter King Halfdan proceeded to his kingdom in the
Uplands.

4. HALFDAN'S STRIFE WITH GANDALF'S SONS.
In autumn, King Halfdan proceeded to Vingulmark. One night when he
was there in guest quarters, it happened that about midnight a man
came to him who had been on the watch on horseback, and told him a
war force was come near to the house. The king instantly got up,
ordered his men to arm themselves, and went out of the house and drew
them up in battle order. At the same moment, Gandalf's sons, Hysing
and Helsing, made their appearance with a large army. There was a
great battle; but Halfdan being overpowered by the numbers of people

fled to the forest, leaving many of his men on this spot. His
foster-father, Olver Spake (the Wise), fell here. The people now came
in swarms to King Halfdan, and he advanced to seek Gandalf's sons.
They met at Eid, near Lake Oieren, and fought there. Hysing and
Helsing fell, and their brother Hake saved himself by flight. King
Halfdan then took possession of the whole of Vingulmark, and Hake
fled to Alfheimar.

5. HALFDAN'S MARRIAGE WITH HJORT'S DAUGHTER.
Sigurd Hjort was the name of a king in Ringerike, who was stouter and
stronger than any other man, and his equal could