The Norsemen

Norway (the North Way) is the real home of the Norsemen, but their very existence was but vaguely known until the middle of the eighth century. Towards the close of the ninth century they broke like a destructive tempest over civilized Europe. Wherever their fast sailing ships appeared the people fled in terror, and the priests prayed in vain, "Deliver us, O Lord, from the rage of the Norsemen." What was the cause of this sudden irruption of a brave and warlike people scarcely known to history? The only answer is--a woman.

Norway's authentic history is of late date; but from the time when Odin led his Asia-men to the Northland they were conquerors and rulers. The trouble was that they all wanted to be rulers, hence the countless Jarls, or Earls, who ruled over a few acres of territory in Norway until the time of Harold, the Fairhaired (850-930). He was only ten years old when his father died, but he was proclaimed King over his father's land. He early loved Gyda, the daughter of a neighboring king, and sent an embassy to demand her for his bride; but she haughtily returned this answer: "Give this message from me to King Harold: I will promise to become his wedded wife on this condition, that he shall for my sake conquer all of Norway and rule over it, as King Erik over Sweden and King Gorm over Denmark, for only then can he be called the King of a people." Whereupon. Harold took an oath not to comb or cut his hair until the day when, as King of Norway, he could claim Gyda for his bride upon her own conditions. He conquered Norway, and won and married Gyda. At the marriage feast his hair was cut; he had been called Harold Lufa (frowsy-haired); he was now called Harold Haarfalger (fair-haired). With his sword he won a kingdom and a bride; but he did more--he made an epoch in the history of the world, for with his reign the Viking Age begins.

Vikings had sailed the seas before, and, as sea-robbers, had brought home large bounty to their impoverished kingdoms; but having been "kings" they would not become vassals of King Harold, so they sailed away to find new lands to conquer and to rule. Several thousand men left Norway, and at least eight hundred heads of families settled in Iceland. The Landnama, or Doomsday Book of Iceland, has preserved their names, and the Icelandic Sagas are the highest authority for the early history of Scandinavia. King Harold ruled Norway for seventy years.