| I. |
| PAGE |
| Who Were the Norsemen? | 1-12 |
| The Aryan migrations, 1-3—The physical characteristics of Norway, 4, 5—Early tribal organization and means of livelihood, 6-10—Sense of independence and aptitude for self-government, 10-12. |
| II. |
| The Religion of the Norsemen | 13-24 |
| Theories regarding the origin of the Scandinavian gods, 13-16—The Eddaic account of the creation of the world and of man, 16-18—The world-tree Ygdrasil, 18—The Aesir, their functions and their dwellings, 19-23—Loke the Evil-Doer and his terrible children, 23, 24. |
| III. |
| The Age of the Vikings.—Origin of the Viking Cruises | 25-44 |
| The Norsemen launch forth upon the arena of history, 25—The origin of the viking cruises, 25-27—Kingship among the Scandinavian tribes, 27, 28—The three periods of the viking age, 28-30—The contribution of the vikings to the political life of Europe, 30, 31—Sigfrid of Nortmannia, 31—Godfrey the Hunter, 31, 32—-Charlemagne’s prophecy in regard to the vikings, 32-34—Hasting’s stratagem, 34-36—Ragnar, Asgeir, and Rörek, 36, 37—Thorgisl in Ireland, 38, 39—Olaf the White, 40, 41—The vikings in England, 41—Simeon of Durham’s account of the vikings, 42—The character of the vikings at home and abroad, 43, 44. |
| IV. |
| Halfdan the Swarthy | 45-51 |
| The descent of the Yngling race, 45—The sacrifices of Aun the Old, 45—Olaf the Wood-cutter, Halfdan Whiteleg, and Godfrey the Hunter, 46—Birth of Halfdan the Swarthy, 46 Sigurd Hjort and the Berserk Hake, 47, 48—Halfdan the Swarthy weds Ragnhild, 48—Ragnhild’s dream, 48—King Halfdan’s dream, 49—Birth of Harold the Fairhaired, 49—The Finn’s trick, 50—King Halfdan’s death, 51. |
| V. |
| Harold the Fairhaired | 52-73 |
| Harold the Fairhaired woos Gyda, 52, 53—Harold’s vow, 53—Herlaug and Rollaug, 54—Harold’s policy toward the conquered kings, 54, 55—The feudal state, 55—Taxation and the peasants’ loss of allodial rights, 55, 56—Haakon Grjotgardsson and Ragnvald, Earl of Möre, 56—Kveld-Ulf and his sons, 56, 57—Erik Eimundsson’s invasion of Norway, 57—His meeting with King Harold, 58—The battle of Hafrs-Fjord, 59—Earl Ragnvald cuts King Harold’s hair, 59—Harold marries Gyda, 59, 60—Harold’s treachery to Thorolf Kveld-Ulf’s son, 60-62—Kveld-Ulf’s vengeance and migration to Iceland, 62, 63—Duke Rollo in Norway and France, 64, 65—Emigration of discontented magnates, 65, 66—Snefrid, 67—Queen Ragnhild, 68—Erik Blood-Axe’s feuds with his brothers, 69-71—Guttorm Sindre, 71, 72—Birth of Haakon the Good, 72—Haakon is sent to Ethelstan, 72, 73—Death of Harold, 73. |
| VI. |
| Erik Blood-axe | 74-86 |
| Erik’s meeting with Gunhild, 74-76—Erik kills his brothers, Sigfrid and Olaf, 76—Thorolf, Bald Grim’s son, 77—Egil, Bald Grim’s son, kills Baard, 78—Egil kills Berg-Anund, 79, 80—Egil’s pole of dishonor, 80—Egil ransoms his head by a song, 81-85—Erik is exiled, 86. |
| VII. |
| Haakon the Good | 87-101 |
| Character of Haakon, 87—Proclaimed king of Norway, 88—Legislative reforms and restoration of allodium, 89—Signal fires, 90—First attempt to introduce Christianity, 90-92—Speech of Asbjörn of Medalhus, 92—The king eats horse-flesh, 92-94—The sons of Erik Blood-Axe make war upon Norway, 94, 95—Battles of Sotoness and Agvaldsness, 95, 96—Egil Woolsark, 96, 97—Battle of Fraedö, 96-98—Failure of attempt to Christianize the country, 98—Battle of Fitje (Eyvind Scald-Spoiler), 98-101—Death of Haakon the Good, 101. |
| VIII. |
| Harold Greyfell and his Brothers | 102-114 |
| Unpopularity of the sons of Erik, 102-104—Their characters, 104—Harold Greyfell and Eyvind Scald-Spoiler, 105—Treachery of Harold toward Earl Sigurd, 105, 106—Independence of Earl Haakon, 106, 107—Murder of Tryggve Olafsson, 107, 108—Birth of Olaf Tryggvesson, 108—Adventures of Aastrid and Thoralf Lousy-Beard, 108-110—Sigurd Sleva insults Aaluf, 111—Earl Haakon’s intrigues in Denmark, 111, 112—Gold-Harold slays Harold Greyfell, 112—Expulsion of the sons of Erik, 113, 114. |
| IX. |
| Earl Haakon | 115-133 |
| Earl Haakon defends Dannevirke, 115, 116—Harold Bluetooth, 117—Haakon’s devastations in Sweden and in Viken, 118—Earl Erik and Tiding-Skofte, 119—The funeral feast of the Jomsvikings, 120, 121—Battle in Hjörungavaag, 121-125—The Jomsvikings on the log, 125, 126—Haavard the Hewer, 127—The power and popularity of Earl Haakon, 127, 128—Gudrun Lundarsol, 129—Revolt of the peasants, 130—The earl hides under a pigsty, 130, 131—“Why art thou so pale, Kark?” 131—Kark murders the earl, 132—Haakon’s character, 132, 133. |
| X. |
| The Youth of Olaf Tryggvesson | 134-142 |
| Aastrid’s flight to Russia, 134, 135—Olaf is sold for a ram, 135—He is taken to Vladimir’s court, 135, 136—King Burislav and Geira, 136, 137—The wooers’ market in England, 137—Marriage with Gyda, 137, 138—Olaf’s warfare in England, 138, 139—Thore Klakka tries to entrap Olaf, 139, 140—Return to Norway and proclamation as king, 140-142. |
| XI. |
| Olaf Tryggvesson | 143-172 |
| Olaf Christianizes Viken, 143, 144—Character of old Germanic Christianity, 144-146—Thangbrand the pugnacious priest, 147—The chiefs of Haalogaland, 148—Ironbeard and the peasants of Tröndelag, 149, 150—The Yule-tide feast at Möre, 150-152—Olaf woos Sigrid the Haughty, 152-154—He marries Thyra, 154—Thore Hjort, Eyvind Kinriva, and Haarek of Thjotta, 154-158—Thangbrand in Iceland, 158, 159—Olaf’s character, 160—Thyra’s tears for her lost possessions, 161—“The Long-Serpent,” 161—King Olaf sails to Wendland, 162, 163—Earl Sigvalde’s treachery, 163—Battle of Svolder, 164-172—King Olaf’s death. 171, 172. |
| XII. |
| The Earls Erik and Sweyn.—Ihe Discovery of Vinland | 173-181 |
| Division of Norway between the victors at Svolder, 173—Erling Skjalgsson of Sole, 174-176—Earl Erik’s character, 176—And attitude toward Christianity, 176, 177—Revival of the viking spirit, 177—Earl Erik abdicates in favor of his brother and son, 178, 179—Bjarne Herjulfsson’s glimpse of America, 179—Leif Eriksson’s expedition to Vinland, 180, 181—Thorfinn Karlsevne and Gudrid, 181. |
| XIII. |
| Olaf the Saint | 182-224 |
| Birth and childhood of Olaf the Saint, 182, 183—Viking cruises, 183—Return to Norway, 184—He captures Earl Haakon, 185—His reception by Aastrid and Sigurd Syr, 186, 187—Family council, 187, 188—Support of the shire-kings, 188—The Trönders recognize Olaf as king, 189—Surprised by Earl Sweyn in Nidaros, 190—Battle of Nessje, 190, 192—Earl Sweyn’s flight and death, 192—Quarrel with King Olaf the Swede, 193, 194—Björn Stallare’s mission, 194-196—Speech of Thorgny the Lawman, 196, 197—Olaf marries Aastrid, 198—Conspiracy of the shire-kings and their punishments, 199—The play of the sons of Sigurd Syr, 199, 200—Rörek’s hard fate, 201—His attempt to murder Olaf, 202—The attitude of the tribal aristocracy toward Olaf, 202, 203—Paganism versus Christianity, 204, 205—“Where are my ancestors?” 205—Olaf’s character and appearance, 205-207—Dale-Guldbrand, 207-210—Slaying of Aasbjörn Sigurdsson, 211—Knut the Mighty bribes the Norse chieftains, 212, 213—Anund Jacob refuses the bribe, 213, 214—Battle of Helge-aa, 214, 215—Death of Erling Skjalgsson, 216—Olaf goes to Russia, 217—Björn Stallare’s confession, 218—Olaf returns to Norway, 218—His vision, 220, 221—Battle of Sticklestad, 221, 222—Thormod Kolbruna-Scald, 222-224—Burial of St. Olaf, 224. |
| XIV. |
| Sweyn Alfifasson | 225-229 |
| Alfifa and the Norse chiefs, 225—Unpopular and oppressive laws, 226—King Olaf canonized, 227—Tryggve Olafsson’s defeat, 228—Einar Thambarskelver rebukes Alfifa, 228—Magnus Olafsson returns from Russia, 229—Expulsion of Sweyn, 229. |
| XV. |
| Magnus the Good | 230-250 |
| Circumstances of Magnus’ birth, 230—Magnus and Harthaknut, 231—Jealousies of the chieftains, 232—Magnus and Kalf Arnesson at Stiklestad, 233—Sighvat Scald’s Lay of Candor, 234—Sweyn Estridsson rebels, 236, 237—Battle of Lyrskog’s Heath, 237—Thorstein Side-Hall’s son, 238—Einar Thambarskelver’s disagreement and reconciliation with Magnus, 238, 239—Arrival of Harold Sigurdsson, 240—His adventures abroad, 240-242—Magnus’ reception of Harold, 243—Harold’s alliance with Sweyn Estridsson, 244—Agreement to share the government, 245—The peasant Toke’s speech, 246, 247—Expeditions of Magnus against Sweyn Estridsson, 247, 247—Death of Magnus the Good, 249, 250. |
| XVI. |
| Harold Hard-Ruler | 251-272 |
| The tribal chieftains and the hereditability of the crown, 251, 252—Harold decides to conquer Denmark, 252—Determination to break the power of the aristocracy, 253—Einar Thambarskelver’s hostility, 254, 255—Harold marries Thora, 255—St. Hallvard and the founding of Oslo, 256—Burning of Heidaby, 257—Sweyn’s pursuits and Harold’s stratagems, 257-259—Battle of Nis-aa, 259—Peace of Götha Elv, 260—Feuds with Einar Thambarskelver, 260, 261—Harold tests the loyalty of the chieftains, 261, 262—Högne Langbjörnsson, 262, 263—Murder of Einar and his son, 264—Harold’s treachery to Kalf Arnesson and Haakon Ivarsson, 265-267—Arrival of Earl Tostig in Norway, 268—Battles of Fulford and Stamford Bridge, 268-270—Styrkaar and the yeoman, 270-272—Position of the Norwegian Church, 272. |
| XVII. |
| Olaf the Quiet and Magnus Haroldsson, | 273-284 |
| Olaf and Magnus divide the country, 273—War with Sweyn Estridsson, 273, 274—Death of Magnus, 274—Character of Olaf the Quiet, 275, 276—Gradual cessation of viking cruises, 276, 277—Gradual abolition of serfdom, 278—Vikings and merchants, 278, 279—Appearance and appointments of dwellings, 280, 281—Increased splendor of the court, 281, 282—Establishment of guilds, 282, 283—Skule Tostigsson, 283—Death of Olaf the Quiet, 284. |
| XVIII. |
| Magnus Barefoot and Haakon Magnusson, | 285-290 |
| The Trönders proclaim Haakon king, 285—Magnus’ expedition to Scotland and Ireland, 285, 286—Death of Haakon, 286—Punishment of his partisans, 286, 287—War-like spirit of Magnus, 287—War with Sweden, 288—War with Ireland, 289—Death of Magnus in Ulster, 290. |
| XIX. |
| Eystein Sigurd the Crusader and Olaf Magnusson | 291-305 |
| Division of the land, 291—Sigurd’s crusade, 292, 293—Eystein’s meritorious activity at home, 294—Hostility of the brothers, 295—The case of Sigurd Ranesson, 295, 296—Borghild of Dal, 297—The “man-measuring,” 297-301—Death of Eystein, 301—Ottar Birting, 301-303—Arrival of Harold Gille, 303—Cecilia, 303—Death of Sigurd, 304, 305. |
| XX. |
| Magnus the Blind and Harold Gille | 306-310 |
| Character of Magnus and of Harold, 306—Battle of Fyrileiv, 307—Magnus captured and maimed, 307, 308—Sigurd Slembedegn, 308—Harold Gille murdered, 309—Burning of Konghelle by the Wends, 310. |
| XXI. |
| The Sons of Harold Gille | 311-321 |
| The sons of Harold Gille proclaimed kings, 311—Sigurd Slembedegn allies himself with Magnus the Blind, 311, 312—Inge Crookback’s first experience of war, 312—Battles of Krokaskogen, 312, and Holmengraa, 313—Sigurd Slembedegn’s fortitude, 313—Arrival of Eystein Haroldsson, 314—Feuds between the brothers, 314-316—Character and appearance of Sigurd Mouth, 314-316—Death of Sigurd, 316—Death of Eystein, 317—Erling Skakke and Gregorius Dagsson, 318-320—Fall of Inge at Oslo, 320—The cardinal’s visit, 320, 321. |
| XXII. |
| Haakon the Broad-shouldered | 322-325 |
| Christina bribes the priest, 322—Erling Skakke’s intrigues, 323—Seeks aid in Denmark, 323, 324—Battle of Sekken, 324. |
| XXIII. |
| Magnus Erlingsson | 326-349 |
| Rebellion of the “Sigurd party,” 326, 327—Battle of Ree, 327—Erling’s alliance with Archbishop Eystein, 327—Magnus takes the land in fief from St. Olaf, 327, 328—Magnus crowned, 328—King Valdemar’s expedition to Norway, 328, 329—The rebellion of the Hood-Swains, 329—Battle of Djursaa, 330—Erling accepts an earldom from Valdemar, 330—Kills his stepson Harold, 332—Eystein Meyla and the Birchlegs, 333, 334—Childhood and youth of Sverre Sigurdsson, 334-337—Sverre becomes the chief of the Birchlegs, 337—Vicissitudes and adventures of the Birchlegs, 337-341—Battle of Kalvskindet, 341-343—Death of Erling Skakke, 343—Social revolution inaugurated by Sverre, 343-345—Battle at Nordness, 346—Warfare between Birchlegs and Heklungs, 346-348—Battle of Norefjord and death of Magnus, 348, 349. |
| XXIV. |
| Sverre Sigurdsson | 350-378 |
| A dangerous precedent, 350—Erik Kingsson, 351—The lawmen and prefects, 351, 352—The new democracy, 352, 353—Rebellion of the Kuvlungs, 353, 354; the Varbelgs, 354; and the Oyeskeggs, 354-357—Sverre’s controversy with the Church, 357, 358—Nicholas Arnesson, 358—Sverre is put in the ban, 359—Origin of the Bagler party, 360, 361—Nicholas shows the white feather, 361—Treason of Thorstein Kugad, 362—The Baglers besiege the block-house in Bergen, 362-365—Burning of Bergen, 365—The traitor’s return, 366—The Papal bull and Sverre’s defence, 366-368—The Bagler’s defeated at Strindsö, 369—The great peasant rebellion, 370-373—Sverre’s magnanimity, 374—Aristocracy versus Democracy, 374, 375—Siege and surrender of Tunsberg, 375, 376—Death of Sverre, 376, 377—His character, 377, 378. |
| XXV. |
| Haakon Sverresson | 379-384 |
| Peace with the Church, 379—Popularity of Haakon, 380—Discontent of the queen-dowager, 381—Abduction of Princess Christina, 381, 382—The fatal Yule-tide feast, 382, 383—Death of Haakon by poison, 383—Flight of Queen Margaret, 384. |
| XXVI. |
| Guttorm Sigurdsson and Inge Baardsson, | 385-399 |
| The Bagler troop reorganized under Erling Stonewall, 385—Successful ordeal, 386—Death of Guttorm Sigurdsson by poison, 387—Inge Baardsson proclaimed king, 388—Society disorganized by the civil wars, 388, 389—Unbidden guests at the bridal feast, 389, 390—Philip Simonsson made king of the Baglers, 390—Birth and childhood of Haakon Haakonsson, 391, 392—Compromise of Hvitingsöe, 393—The intrigues of Haakon Galen, 394, 395—Helge Hvasse and the boy Haakon, 396, 397—Discontent of the Birchlegs, 398—Death of King Inge, 399. |
| XXVII. |
| Haakon Haakonsson the Old | 400-432 |
| Haakon proclaimed king, 400—Rebellion of the Slittungs, 401—Effects of the civil war, 401, 402—The intrigues of Earl Skule, 402-404—Inga of Varteig carries glowing irons, 404-406—Rebellion of the Ribbungs, 407, 408—Skule’s double-dealing, 408-410—Assembly of notables in Bergen, 410—Bishop Nicholas’ hypocrisy, 411—Sigurd Ribbung renews the rebellion, 412—Haakon’s campaign in Vermeland, 412, 413—Duke Skule’s leaky ships, 413—Death of Bishop Nicholas and Sigurd Ribbung, 414—Squire Knut as the chief of the Ribbungs, 416—Skule’s “Crusade,” 416, 417—Skule allies himself with Valdemar the Victorious, 417, 418—Skule called to account, 418-420—Intrigues at the Roman Curia, 420, 421—The plot revealed, 421, 422—Skule proclaims himself king, 423—Battle of Laaka, 424—Skule defeated at Oslo, 425—Death of Skule, 426, 427—Coronation of Haakon, 427-429—His power and fame at home and abroad, 429-431—Expedition to Scotland, and death, 431, 432. |
| XXVIII. |
| The Sturlungs in Iceland | 433-441 |
| Snorre Sturlasson’s Heimskringla, 433, 434—Snorre’s parentage and youth, 434—Character of Snorre, 434—Reykjaholt, 436—Brother feuds, 436—Snorre’s visit to Norway, 437—Plots and counterplots, 437-440—Snorre’s death, 440—Sturla Thordsson, 440, 441. |
| XXIX. |
| Magnus Law-Mender | 442-450 |
| Cession of Man and the Shetland Isles to Scotland, 442—Reasons for and against the cession, 443—Condition of Icelandic society and submission of the island to Norway, 444—Magnus as a law-giver, 445-447—The tribal aristocracy and the court nobility, 447, 448—Concessions to the Church, 448, 449—Degeneracy of the old royal house, 450—Death of Magnus, 450. |
| XXX. |
| Erik Priest-Hater | 451-456 |
| The barons increase their power, 451—Quarrels with the clergy, 452—The false “Maid of Norway,” 453—Depredations of “Little Sir Alf,” 453, 454—War with Denmark and the Hansa, 454, 455—Capture and death of Little Sir Alf, 456—Death of King Erik, 456. |
| XXXI. |
| Haakon Longlegs | 457-460 |
| Sir Audun’s treason, 457—The dukes Erik and Valdemar 458—Complications with Sweden, 459—War with Denmark, 460—Death of Haakon, 460. |
| XXXII. |
| Magnus Smek, Haakon Magnusson, and Olaf the Young | 461-466 |
| Magnus Smek becomes king of Norway and Sweden, 461—Duchess Ingeborg’s unpopularity, 461, 462—Discontent with Magnus, 462—Alliance with Valdemar Atterdag, 462, 463—Magnus deposed in Sweden, 463—Haakon’s war with Albrecht of Mecklenberg, 464—The power of the Hansa in Norway, 464—Death of Magnus, 465—The Black Death, 465, 466—Olaf the Young, 466. |
| XXXIII. |
| Norway During the Kalmar Union | 467-474 |
| Margaret unites the three kingdoms, 467-469—The Kalmar Union, 469, 470—Reasons for its disastrous consequences, 470-472—Death of Margaret, 472—Erik of Pomerania’s misrule and extortions, 472, 473—Christopher of Bavaria, 473, 474. |
| XXXIV. |
| The Union With Denmark | 475-488 |
| The condition of Norway and Denmark during the union compared, 475, 476—Charles Knuttson elected king of Sweden, 478—Christian I.’s war with Charles Knutsson, 479, 480—Misrule in Norway, 480—The Scottish Isles pawned, 480, 481—King Hans, 481, 482—Christian II.’s accession, 482—His attempt to humble the nobility, 483—The carnage of Stockholm, 483, 484—His vain appeal to the bourgeoisie, 484, 485—Christian’s flight, 485—Frederick I., 485, 486—Struggle about the succession, 486, 487—Christian III., 487, 488—Norway becomes a province of Denmark, 488. |
| XXXV. |
| Norway As a Province of Denmark | 489-515 |
| The Reformation introduced, 489, 490—The power of the Hansa broken, 490-492—Frederick II., 492-494—Christian IV.’s interest in Norway, 494—The Kalmar War, 495—Participation in the Thirty Years’ War, 495, 496—The Hannibal’s feud, 496—Frederick III.’s disastrous war with Sweden, 498—Absolutism introduced, 499, 500—Christian V., 500, 501—Frederick IV.’s accession, 501—The Great Northern War, 502-504—Tordenskjold, 503, 504—Christian VI., 506-508—Frederick V, 508—Christian VII., 508-512—The armed neutrality, 509, 510—Frederick VI. mounts the throne, 512—War with Sweden, 512, 513—Christian August as viceroy, 512-514—The Treaty of Paris, 513—Protest of the Norsemen, 514—Separation from Denmark, 515. |
| XXXVI. |
| Norway Recovers Her Independence | 516-538 |
| Christian Frederick as viceroy, 516-518—Constitutional convention at Eidsvold, 518-520—War with Sweden, 520, 521—Armistice at Moss, 521—Charles XIII. accepts the constitution, 522—Charles XIV. John becomes king of Norway, 522—His controversies with the Storthing, 522-526—Henrik Wergeland, 526, 527—Count Wedel-Jarlsberg as viceroy, 527—Oscar I., 528-530—The character of the Norse peasantry, 528-530—Charles XV., 530, 531—Oscar II., and the constitutional struggle, 531-534—Impeachment of the ministry Selmer, 534—“The Pure Flag,” 535—Present condition of Norway and her place among the nations, 536—Literature and science, 536-538. |