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THE WORLD'S BEST HISTORIES
NORWAY
BY
SIGVART SÖRENSEN
EDITOR "MINNEAPOLIS TIDENDE"
_WITH FRONTISPIECE_
THE CO-OPERATIVE PUBLICATION SOCIETY
NEW YORK AND LONDON
COPYRIGHT 1899
BY PETER FENELON COLLIER
_Norway_
Illustration: THE INVASION OF GREAT BRITAIN BY THE NORTHMEN
_Norway._
PREFACE
In preparing this volume it has been my aim to omit as few important
events as possible without making the book a mere enumeration of names
and dates. Above all, I have tried to be accurate. Among the works
which I have used as sources, the first one to be mentioned is the
great work of Snorre Sturlason: "The Heimskringla, or The Sagas of the
Norse Kings," and I have used the English translation of the same by
Samuel Laing, Esq., revised edition by Rasmus B. Anderson (Scribner &
Welford, New York, 1889). I have also found much assistance in O. A.
Överland's "Norges Historie." Among many other works used as sources or
consulted, are: J. E. Sars's "Udsigt over den Norske Historie"; Jacob
Aall's "Erindringer"; F. Winkel Horn's "History of the Literature of
the Scandinavian North," translated by R. B. Anderson (S. C. Griggs
& Co, Chicago, 1895). The Constitution of Norway, the most liberal
Constitution of Europe, appeared to me to be an appropriate closing
chapter in a History of Norway. This interesting document has been
translated into English by the Honorable Knute Nelson, United States
Senator from Minnesota, to whom I am under obligation for permission to
use his translation. S. S.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., 1899.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
THE NORTHMEN
PAGE
The Ancestors of the Present Norwegians--Early Social
Conditions--Independence and Self-government of the People--The
Kings of the old Northmen 15
CHAPTER II
THE RELIGION OF THE NORTHMEN
The Creation of the World--Ask and Embla, the first Human
Couple--Asgard, the Dwelling of the Gods--The Struggle between Good
and Evil--The End of the World--A new Race 18
CHAPTER III
THE VIKING AGE
The three Stages of the Viking Age--Cruises to Scotland, Ireland,
England and other Countries--Norse Kingdom in Ireland 26
CHAPTER IV
THE YNGLING FAMILY--HALFDAN THE SWARTHY
Beginning of Authentic History--Olaf the Tree-feller--Halfdan
Whiteleg--Gudrod the Hunter--Halfdan the Swarthy gives the Eidsiva
Law--Queen Ragnhild's Dream 29
CHAPTER V
HARALD THE FAIRHAIRED (860-930)--NORWAY UNITED
King Harald's Courtship--The Battle of Hafrsfjord--Norway United
under one King--Emigration of the Discontented--Settlement in
Iceland--The Cruise of Gange-Rolf--Northmen settle in Normandy--King
Harald's Sons--Death of King Harald 31
CHAPTER VI
BIRTH OF HAAKON THE GOOD--ERIK BLOOD-AXE (930-935)
Sigurd Ladejarl--Erik and Queen Gunhild--Haakon, Athelstan's
Foster-son, proclaimed King--Erik Blood-Axe exiled and killed in
a Battle in England 36
CHAPTER VII
HAAKON THE GOOD (935-961)
The Laws Improved--Other Reforms--First Attempts to Introduce
Christianity--Norway attacked by the Gunhild-sons--Battle of
Fitje--Death of Haakon 39
CHAPTER VIII
HARALD GRAYFELL AND HIS BROTHERS (961-970)
Return of the Gunhild-sons--Earl Sigurd of Lade killed--The Murder
of Trygve Olafson and Gudrod Biornson--Earl Haakon--Harald
Grayfell killed in Denmark 42
CHAPTER IX
EARL HAAKON (970-995)
Attacks by the Danish King, Harald Bluetooth--The
Joms-vikings--Sigvalde Jarl makes War on Haakon--The Battle in
Hjorungavaag--Revolt against Earl Haakon--Olaf Trygvason arrives
in Norway--Earl Haakon killed by his Slave 45
CHAPTER X
THE YOUTH OF OLAF TRYGVASON
The Birth of Olaf--Flight to Sweden and Russia--Olaf sold as a
Slave--Freed by his Uncle--Viking Cruises to Vendland, England
and other Countries--Return to Norway 51
CHAPTER XI
OLAF TRYGVASON (995-1000)
Christianity Introduced in Viken--Erling Skialgson of Sole--Great
Opposition to Christianity--Founding of the Town of Nidaros--Olaf
woos Queen Sigrid the Haughty--He marries Thyra from Denmark--
Building of the "Long Serpent"--Einar Thambaskelfer--Expedition to
Vendland--Battle of Svolder--Death of Olaf Trygvason 54
CHAPTER XII
THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA
Erik the Red finds Greenland--Christianity Introduced--Biarne
Heriulfson sees Strange Lands--Leif Erikson, the Discoverer of
America--The new Country is called Vinland--Subsequent Journeys
to Vinland--Thorfin Karlsefne 65
CHAPTER XIII
THE EARLS ERIK AND SVEIN, SONS OF HAAKON (1000-1015)
Norway Divided between the Victors at Svolder--Erling Skialgson
of Sole--Earl Erik leaves for England 70
CHAPTER XIV
THE YOUTH OF OLAF HARALDSON
Olaf's Childhood--Olaf on his Viking Expeditions--Battles in England 73
CHAPTER XV
OLAF THE SAINT (1015-1028)
Return to Norway--Capture of Earl Haakon--The Earl vows never to
fight King Olaf--Olaf's Reception by his Mother and Father-in-law,
Sigurd Syr--Meeting of the District Kings--Olaf driven away from
Nidaros--Battle of Nesje--Death of Earl Svein--Trouble with the
Swedish King--Thorgny Lagman dictates to the King--Enforcing
Christianity--Conspiracy against the King--Olaf's Half-brothers--The
Peace of Konungahella--Dale-Gudbrand--Canute the Great claims
Norway--Battle of Helge-Aa--Killing of Erling Skialgson--Olaf's
Flight to Russia 75
CHAPTER XVI
THE BATTLE OF STIKLESTAD (1030)
Biorn Stallare's Visit to Olaf in Russia--King Olaf returns to
Norway--His Vision--Thormod Kolbrunarskald--Battle Of Stiklestad
--King Olaf's Death--Olaf Sigurdson leaves Norway 99
CHAPTER XVII
KING SVEIN ALFIFUSON (1030-1035)
The Rule of Alfifa--Attempt to introduce Feudal Laws--The Sanctity
of King Olaf--Rumors of Miracles--Olaf declared the National
Saint--Trygve Olafson--Magnus Olafson returns to Norway--Alfifa and
Svein flee to Denmark 105
CHAPTER XVIII
MAGNUS THE GOOD (1035-1047)
Magnus's Birth and Baptism--Agreement with the Danish King,
Hardeknut--Magnus and Kalf Arneson on the Battlefield of
Stiklestad--Warning to the King--The Gray Goose--Magnus claims
the Danish Throne--Svein Estridson appointed Earl--Battle at
Lyrskog Heath--Battles at Aaros and Helganes--Return of Harald
Sigurdson--Death of King Magnus 109
CHAPTER XIX
HARALD HAARDRAADE (1047-1066)
Harald's Adventures in Southern Cities--Conflicts with Svein
Estridson--Quarrels with Einar Thambaskelfer--Murder of Einar and his
Son--Agreement with Haakon Ivarson--Treachery to Kalf Arneson--Battle
of Nis-Aa--Peace Meeting at Gaut River--Earl Toste arrives in
Norway--The Battle at Stanford Bridge--Death of King Harald--The
Founding of Oslo 116
CHAPTER XX
OLAF KYRRE (1066-1093)
Magnus and Olaf divide the Power--Peace made with
Svein Estridson--Death of Magnus--The Founding of
Bergen--Guild-brethren--Skule, Toste's Son--Changes in Court
Customs--Death of Olaf Kyrre 127
CHAPTER XXI
MAGNUS BAREFOOT (1093-1103)
Haakon Proclaimed King in Throndhjem--Haakon dies on the Dovre
Mountain--Rebellion led by Thorer of Steig--Expedition to the
Western Isles--War with Sweden--Peace Meeting at Konungahella--
Second Expedition Westward--Death of King Magnus in Ulster 131
CHAPTER XXII
SIGURD THE CRUSADER (1103-1130) AND HIS BROTHERS, EYSTEIN AND OLAF
Division of the Country between the Brothers--Sigurd's Crusade--Visit
to Jerusalem--Return to Norway--King Eystein's Peaceful Work at
Home--Annexation of Jemteland--King Sigurd and Borghild of Dal--The
"Man-measuring"--Death of Eystein--The Kalmar Levy--Sigurd shows
Signs of Insanity--Ottar Birting--Sigurd marries Cecilia--Death of
Sigurd 136
CHAPTER XXIII
MAGNUS THE BLIND AND HARALD GILLE (1130-1136)
Harald Gille comes to Norway as a Pretender--Harald and Magnus divide
the Kingdom--Battle between the two Kings at Fyrileif--Harald takes
Magnus prisoner at Bergen--Magnus maimed--Sigurd Slembe arrives in
Norway--Harald Gille murdered--Konungahella destroyed 147
CHAPTER XXIV
SIGURD MUND, EYSTEIN, AND INGE KROKRYG, THE SONS OF HARALD GILLE
(1136-1161)
Sigurd and Inge proclaimed Kings--Sigurd Slembe supports Magnus the
Blind--Battles at Minne and Krokaskog--Battle at Holmengraa--Magnus
and Sigurd Slembe killed--Eystein proclaimed King--Ottar Birting
assassinated--King Sigurd slain--Death of Eystein--Haakon, Sigurd
Mund's Son, given Title of King--Fall of King Inge at Oslo 151
CHAPTER XXV
THE CHURCH
Visit of Cardinal Nicholas--An Archbishopric established at
Nidaros--Cloisters in Norway 159
CHAPTER XXVI
HAAKON HERDEBRED (1161-1162)--ERLING SKAKKE
Erling Skakke has his Son Magnus proclaimed King--He seeks aid in
Denmark--Defeats Haakon at Tunsberg--Battle of Sekken--Haakon
killed 161
CHAPTER XXVII
MAGNUS ERLINGSON (1162-1184)--THE BIRCHLEGS
Sigurd Markusfostre--Battle of Ree--Magnus Crowned--Norway
attacked by the Danish King--Rebellion of the Hat-Swains--Peace
with Denmark--Erling made Earl of Viken--Harald Sigurdson
Beheaded--Eystein Meyla--The Birchlegs--Eystein killed--The Youth of
Sverre Sigurdson--Sverre Proclaimed King at the Oere-Thing--Battle
at Kalveskindet--The fall of Erling Skakke--Battle of the
Ilevolds--Battle at Nordnes--Erik Sigurdson (King's-son)--Battle of
Fimreite--Fall of King Magnus 163
CHAPTER XXVIII
SVERRE SIGURDSON (1184-1202)
Sverre appoints Lawmen and Prefects--A new Pretender--The Kuvlung
Party--The Varbelgs--Rebellion of the Oyskeggs--Battle of
Florevaag--Sverre's Struggle with the Hierarchy--Bishop Nicholas
Arneson--Sverre Excommunicated--Sverre Crowned in Bergen--Organization
of the Bagler Party--Burning of Bergen--Papal Interdict against
Norway--The Baglers Defeated at Strindsö--Uprising in Viken--The
Siege at Tunsberg--Sverre's Sickness and Death 178
CHAPTER XXIX
HAAKON SVERRESON (1202-1204), GUTHORM SIGURDSON (1204), AND INGE
BAARDSON (1204-1217)
Reconciliation with the Church--Inge Magnusson Killed--Death of
King Haakon--Election of Guthorm Sigurdson--The Pretender Erling
Steinvegg--Death of Guthorm Sigurdson--Inge Baardson Proclaimed
King--Birth of Haakon Haakonson--His Journey across the Mountains
--The Baglers visit Nidaros--Death of Erling Steinvegg--Philip made
King of the Baglers--Compromise at Hvitings Island--Jealousy of
Haakon Galen--Young Haakon Disinherited--Death of King Inge 190
CHAPTER XXX
HAAKON HAAKONSON THE OLD (1217-1263)
Haakon Proclaimed King--Earl Skule's Demands--Rebellion of the
Slitungs--The Ribbungs--Treachery of Earl Skule--State Meeting in
Bergen--King Haakon Married--Death of Bishop Nicholas and Sigurd
Ribbung--Skule Raised to the Rank of Duke--Duke Skule Proclaimed
King--Battles at Laaka and Oslo--Duke Skule Killed--Coronation of
Haakon--King Haakon's Fame Abroad--Expedition to Scotland--Haakon's
Death 199
CHAPTER XXXI
SNORRE STURLASON
The Family of Snorre Sturlason--The Snorrelaug--Visit to
Norway--Snorre Murdered--"The Heimskringla"--"The Edda" 209
CHAPTER XXXII
MAGNUS LAW-MENDER (1263-1280)
Peace Concluded with Scotland--Magnus as a Law-Giver--Privileges
Granted to the Hanseatic League--The First Nobility--Death of King
Magnus 212
CHAPTER XXXIII
ERIK PRIEST-HATER (1280-1299)
New Struggle with the Church--War with Denmark--The Peace of
Kalmar--Earl Alf Erlingson executed--The Maid from Norway--Death
of King Erik 214
CHAPTER XXXIV
HAAKON V. MAGNUSSON (1299-1319)
Audun Hugleikson Condemned for Treason--The false "Maid from
Norway"--The Peace of Copenhagen, 1309--New Law of Succession--Death
of King Haakon 217
CHAPTER XXXV
MAGNUS ERIKSON SMEK (1319-1374)--HAAKON VI. MAGNUSSON (1355-1380)
Magnus Smek Becomes King of Norway and Sweden--Erling Vidkunson
Appointed Regent--Haakon Magnusson Acknowledged as King of
Norway--Battle at Enköping--Death of Magnus--Flood in the Gaula
Valley--The Black Death 219
CHAPTER XXXVI
OLAF HAAKONSON THE YOUNG (1381-1387)
Olaf Becomes King of Denmark and Norway--The first Union with
Denmark--A Pretender Executed 223
CHAPTER XXXVII
MARGARET (1387-1389)--ERIK OF POMERANIA (1389-1442)--THE KALMAR UNION
(1397)
Margaret Acknowledged as Ruler of Norway--Erik of Pomerania Chosen as
King--The three Countries United--The Kalmar Union--Death of Queen
Margaret--The Victualia Brethren--Bergen Plundered--Revolt of Amund
Bolt--Erik of Pomerania Deposed in Denmark 224
CHAPTER XXXVIII
CHRISTOPHER OF BAVARIA (1442-1448)
Norway at first Loyal to Erik--Christopher Finally
Accepted--Restrictions of the Hansa Privileges 229
CHAPTER XXXIX
THE UNION WITH DENMARK--CHRISTIAN I. (1450-1481)
Christian Elected by one Party and Carl Knutsson by Another--Christian
Crowned--Closer Union with Denmark--The first of the Oldenborgs--War
with Sweden--War with the Hansa--Christian Pawns the Norwegian
Possessions 231
CHAPTER XL
HANS (1483-1513)
King Hans Crowned in Throndhjem--The Victory of the
Ditmarshers--Revolt of Knut Alfson--Prince Christian as Regent
--War with the Hansa Towns 235
CHAPTER XLI
CHRISTIAN II. (1513-1523)
The Lovely Dyveke and her Mother--The King's Marriage--The Death of
Dyveke--Torben Ox Executed--Christian Crowned as King of Sweden--The
Carnage of Stockholm--Gustavus Wasa--The Flight of Christian II 239
CHAPTER XLII
FREDERICK I. (1524-1533)
Lady Inger of Oestraat--The King's Recess--Attempt of Christian II.
to Recover Norway--Christian Imprisoned 243
CHAPTER XLIII
INTERREGNUM (1533-1537)
The Count's Feud--King Christian Recognized--Revolt of the
Archbishop--The Flight of Olaf Engelbrektson 247
CHAPTER XLIV
CHRISTIAN III. (1537-1559)--THE REFORMATION INTRODUCED
The Catholic Faith Abolished--The Church Ordinance--Norway declared
a Danish Province--Robbing the Norwegian Churches 250
CHAPTER XLV
FREDERICK II. (1559-1588)
The Northern Seven Years' War--Battle of Svarteraa--Throndhjem
taken by the Swedes--Burning of Oslo--Sarpsborg Burned--Peace at
Stettin--Misrule in Norway--Erik Munk Deposed and Imprisoned--City
of Fredericksstad Founded 252
CHAPTER XLVI
CHRISTIAN IV. (1588-1648)
The Popular King--Frequent Visits to Norway--The Laws Improved--War
with Sweden--The Scotch War--Colonel Sinclair Killed--Peace at
Knaeröd--The Peace of Lubeck--Second War with Sweden--Peace at
Bromsebro--The Hannibal's Feud--The City of Christiania 255
CHAPTER XLVII
FREDERICK III. (1648-1670)--ABSOLUTISM INTRODUCED (1660)
The last Royal Charter--War with Sweden--The Krabbe War--Peace at
Roskilde--The Peace broken by the Swedish King--Siege of Halden--Peace
of Copenhagen--The King's Revolution--Absolutism Introduced--Kort
Adeler 261
CHAPTER XLVIII
CHRISTIAN V. (1670-1699)
Extravagance at Court--German Manners Introduced--A new
Nobility--Peter (Schumacher) Griffenfeld--The Scania War--The
Gyldenlöve Feud--A new Code of Laws 267
CHAPTER XLIX
FREDERICK IV. (1699-1730)
War with the Duke of Holstein--The Great Northern War
(1709-1720)--Naval Battle in Kjögebugt--Charles XII. Invades
Norway--The Heroic Anna Kolbjörnsdatter--King Charles at
Frederickshald--Peter and Hans Kolbjörnson--Peter Wessel
Tordenskiold--The Battle of Dynekilen--King Charles XII. Killed
before Frederickssteen--The Peace of Fredericksborg--The Sale of
Norwegian Church Property--Hans Egede, Greenland's Apostle 272
CHAPTER L
CHRISTIAN VI. (1730-1746)
Pietism and Hypocrisy--Confirmation Introduced--Improvement in
Popular Education--Famine in Norway--Ludvig Holberg--Erik
Pontoppidan 281
CHAPTER LI
FREDERICK V. (1746-1766)
More Liberal Christianity--Luxury at Court--An "Extra Tax"--Revolt
in Bergen--Promotion of Science and Art 284
CHAPTER LII
CHRISTIAN VII. (1766-1808)
Johan Frederick Struensee--Reforms without Preparation--Struensee
Executed--The Guldberg Period--Prosperity in Norway--Crown
Prince Frederick as Regent--The Bernstorf Ministry--The "Armed
Neutrality"--Naval Battle at Copenhagen, 1801--The Peace of
Tilsit--Bombardment of Copenhagen, 1807--The Norwegian
"Government Commission" 286
CHAPTER LIII
FREDERICK VI. (1808-1814)
War with Sweden--Battles at Lier, Toverud, Trangen, and
Prestebakke--Armistice, December, 1808--Gustavus IV.
Deposed--Christian August becomes Crown Prince of Sweden--Peace
of Jönköping--The Society for Norway's Welfare--The University
of Norway--Famine and Distress in Norway 293
CHAPTER LIV
MARSHAL BERNADOTTE
Candidates for the Swedish Succession--Baron Mörner goes to
Paris--Marshal Bernadotte--Crown Prince Charles John--Rupture with
Napoleon--Agreement with Russia--Norway Promised to Sweden--Treaty
of Kiel--Norway ceded to the Swedish King 298
CHAPTER LV
NORWAY DECLARES HER INDEPENDENCE
Norwegians Refuse to Recognize the Treaty of Kiel--Christian Frederick
as Regent--The Constitutional Convention at Eidsvold--Constitution of
May 17, 1814--Christian Frederick elected King of Norway 302
CHAPTER LVI
WAR WITH SWEDEN--UNION OF NOVEMBER 14, 1814
The Powers demand Acceptance of the Treaty of Kiel--War breaks
out--Surrender of Fredericksstad--Siege of Frederickssteen--The
Swedes defeated at Lier and Matrand--Convention at Moss--The
Storthing Convened--Christian Frederick Abdicates-Union with Sweden
--Charles XIII. elected King of Norway 306
CHAPTER LVII
THE UNION WITH SWEDEN
The Rigsakt of 1815--Charles XIV. John ascends the Throne--Nobility
Abolished--The Storthing rejects the King's Propositions--Independence
Day--The Storthing Dissolved in 1836--Minister Lövenskiold
Impeached--Oscar I. becomes King--Norway gets her own Flag--The
German-Danish War--Charles XV.--Norway Prosperous--A Union
Committee--Oscar II. ascends the Throne--The Office of Statholder
Abolished--Conflict between King and Storthing--Parliamentarism
Adopted--The Absolute Veto--The Resolution of June 9, 1880--Selmer
Ministry Impeached--The April Ministry--Johan Sverdrup forms
a Ministry--Trial by Jury Introduced--Emil Stang--Rector
Steen's Ministry--The Consular Question--Stang again--Hagerup's
Ministry--Negotiations with Sweden--Steen's Second Ministry--Universal
Suffrage--The Norwegian Flag 310
CHAPTER LVIII
NORWEGIAN LITERATURE 318
CHAPTER LIX
THE CONSTITUTION OF NORWAY 325
HISTORY OF NORWAY
CHAPTER I
_The Northmen_
Norway (in the old Norse language _Noregr_, or _Nord-vegr_, i.e._,
the North Way), according to archæological explorations, appears to
have been inhabited long before the historical time. The antiquaries
maintain that three populations have inhabited the North: a Mongolian
race and a Celtic race, types of which are to be found in the Finns and
the Laplanders in the far North, and, finally, a Caucasian race, which
immigrated from the South and drove out the Celtic and Laplandic races,
and from which the present inhabitants are descended. The Norwegians,
or Northmen (Norsemen), belong to a North-Germanic branch of the
Indo-European race; their nearest kindred are the Swedes, the Danes,
and the Goths. The original home of the race is supposed to have been
the mountain region of Balkh, in Western Asia, whence from time to time
families and tribes migrated in different directions. It is not known
when the ancestors of the Scandinavian peoples left the original home
in Asia; but it is probable that their earliest settlements in Norway
were made in the second century before the Christian era.
The first settlers probably knew little of agriculture, but made
their living by fishing and hunting. In time, however, they commenced
to clear away the timber that covered the land in the valleys and
the sides of the mountains and to till the ground. At the earliest
times of which the historical tales or _Sagas_ tell us anything with
regard to the social conditions, the land was divided among the free
peasant-proprietors, or _bonde_ class. Bonde, in English translation,
is usually called peasant; but this is not an equivalent; for with the
word peasant we associate the idea of inferior social condition to
the landed aristocracy of the country, while these peasants or bondes
were themselves the highest class in the country. The land owned by a
peasant was called his _udal_. By udal-right the land was kept in the
family, and it could not be alienated or forfeited from the kindred
who were udal-born to it. The free peasants might own many thralls or
slaves, who were unfree men. These were mostly prisoners captured by
the vikings on their expeditions to foreign shores; the owners could
trade them away, or sell them, or even kill them without paying any
fine or _man-bote_ to the king, as in the case of the killing of a free
man. As a rule, however, the slaves were not badly treated, and they
were sometimes made free and given the right to acquire land.
In early days Norway consisted of a great number of small states called
_Fylkis_, each a little kingdom by itself. The free peasants in a
Fylki held general assemblies called _Things_, where laws were made
and justice administered. No public acts were undertaken without the
deliberation of a Thing. The _Thing_ was sacred, and a breach of peace
at the _thing_-place was considered a great crime. At the Thing there
was also a hallowed place for the judges, or "lag-men," who expounded
and administered the laws made by the Thing. Almost every crime could
be expiated by the payment of fines, even if the accused had killed
a person. But if a man killed another secretly, he was declared an
assassin and an outlaw, was deprived of all his property, and could
be killed by any one who wished to do so. The fine or man-bote was
heavier, the higher the rank of the person killed. For a thrall or
slave no man-bote was paid.
The _Thing_ or _Fylkis Thing_ was not made up of representatives
elected by the people, but was rather a primary assembly of the free
udal-born peasant-proprietors of the district. There were leading men
in the _fylki_, and each _fylki_ had one or more chiefs, but they had
to plead at the _Thing_ like other free men. When there were several
chiefs, they usually had the title of _herse_; but when the free men
had agreed upon one chief, he was called _jarl_ (earl), or king.
The king was the commander in war, and usually performed judicial
functions; but he supported himself from his own estates, and the free
peasants paid no tax. The dignity of the king was usually inherited
by his son, but if the heir was not to the liking of the peasants
or people, they chose another. No man, however clear his right of
succession, would think of assuming the title or power of a king except
by the vote of a Thing. There he was presented to the people by a free
peasant, and his right must be confirmed by the Thing before he could
exert any act of kingly power. The king had a number of free men in his
service, who had sworn allegiance to him, and who served him in war and
in peace. They were armed men, kept in pay, and were called _hird-men_
or court-men, because they were members of the king's _hird_ or court.
If they were brave and faithful, they were often given high positions
of trust; some were made _lendermen_ (liegemen), or managers of the
king's estates.