Magnus Erlingson's Saga

41. EYSTEIN PROCLAIMED KING.

Eystein was then proclaimed king, and all the people submitted to
him. He stayed a while in the town, and then went into the
interior of the Throndhjem land, where many joined him, and among
them Thorfin Svarte of Snos with a troop of people. When the
Birkebeins, in the beginning of winter (A.D. 1177), came again
into the town, the sons of Gudrun from Saltnes, Jon Ketling,
Sigurd, and William, joined them; and when they proceeded
afterwards from Nidaros up Orkadal, they could number nearly 2000
men. They afterwards went to the Uplands, and on to Thoten and
Hadaland, and from thence to Ringerike, and subdued the country
wheresover they came.

42. THE FALL OF KING EYSTEIN.

King Magnus went eastward to Viken in autumn with a part of his
men and with him Orm, the king's brother; but Earl Erling
remained behind in Bergen to meet the Berkebeins in case they
took the sea route. King Magnus went to Tunsberg, where he and
Orm held their Yule (A.D. 1177). When King Magnus heard that the
Birkebeins were up in Re, the king and Orm proceeded thither with
their men. There was much snow, and it was dreadfully cold.
When they came to the farm they left the beaten track on the
road, and drew up their array outside of the fence, and trod a
path through the snow with their men, who were not quite 1500 in
number. The Birkebeins were dispersed here and there in other
farms, a few men in each house. When they perceived King
Magnus's army they assembled, and drew up in regular order; and
as they thought their force was larger than his, which it
actually was, they resolved to fight; but when they hurried
forward to the road only a few could advance at a time, which
broke their array, and the men fell who first advanced upon the
beaten way. Then the Birkebeins' banner was cut down; those who
were nearest gave way and some took to flight. King Magnus's men
pursued them, and killed one after the other as they came up with
them. Thus the Birkebeins could never form themselves in array;
and being exposed to the weapons of the enemy singly, many of
them fell, and many fled. It happened here, as it often does,
that although men be brave and gallant, if they have once been
defeated and driven to flight, they will not easily be brought to
turn round. Now the main body of the Birkebeins began to fly,
and many fell; because Magnus's men killed all they could lay
hold of, and not one of them got quarter. The whole body became
scattered far and wide. Eystein in his flight ran into a house,
and begged for his life, and that the bonde would conceal him;
but the bonde killed him, and then went to King Magnus, whom he
found at Rafnnes, where the king was in a room warming himself by
the fire along with many people. Some went for the corpse, and
bore it into the room, where the king told the people to come and
inspect the body. A man was sitting on a bench in the corner,
and he was a Birkebein, but nobody had observed him; and when he
saw and recognised his chief's body he sprang up suddenly and
actively, rushed out upon the floor, and with an axe he had in
his hands made a blow at King Magnus's neck between the
shoulders. A man saw the axe swinging, and pulled the king to a
side, by which the axe struck lower in the shoulder, and made a
large wound. He then raised the axe again, and made a blow at
Orm, the King-brother, who was lying on a bench, and the blow was
directed at both legs; but Orm seeing the man about to kill him,
drew in his feet instantly, threw them over his head, and the
blow fell on the bench, in which the axe stuck fast; and then the
blows at the Birkebein came so thick that he could scarcely fall
to the ground. It was discovered that he had dragged his
entrails after him over the floor; and this man's bravery was
highly praised. King Magnus's men followed the fugitives, and
killed so many that they were tired of it. Thorfin of Snos, and
a very great number of Throndhjem people, fell there.

43. OF THE BIRKEBEINS.

The faction which called itself the Birkebeins had gathered
together in great numbers. They were a hardy people, and the
boldest of men under arms; but wild, and going forward madly when
they had a strong force. They had few men in their faction who
were good counsellors, or accustomed to rule a country by law, or
to head an army; and if there were such men among them who had
more knowledge, yet the many would only allow of those measures
which they liked, trusting always to their numbers and courage.
Of the men who escaped many were wounded, and had lost both their
clothes and their arms, and were altogether destitute of money.
Some went east to the borders, some went all the way east to
Svithjod; but the most of them went to Thelemark, where they had
their families. All took flight, as they had no hope of getting
their lives from King Magnus or Earl Erling.

44. OF KING MAGNUS ERLINGSON.

King Magnus then returned to Tunsberg, and got great renown by
this victory; for it had been an expression in the mouths of all,
that Earl Erling was the shield and support of his son and
himself. But after gaining a victory over so strong and numerous
a force with fewer troops, King Magnus was considered by all as
surpassing other leaders, and that he would become a warrior as
much greater than his father, Earl Erling, as he was younger.

[End of Snorri Sturlson's "Heimskringla"]