Hakon, Athelstan's foster-son, was in England at the time (A.D. 934) he
heard of his father King Harald's death, and he immediately made himself
ready to depart. King Athelstan gave him men, and a choice of good
ships, and fitted him out for his journey most excellently. In harvest
time he came to Norway, where he heard of the death of his brothers,
and that King Eirik was then in Viken. Then Hakon sailed northwards to
Throndhjem, where he went to Sigurd earl of Hlader who was the ablest
man in Norway. He gave Hakon a good reception; and they made a league
with each other, by which Hakon promised great power to Sigurd if he
was made king. They assembled then a numerous Thing, and Sigurd the earl
recommended Hakon's cause to the Thing, and proposed him to the bondes
as king. Then Hakon himself stood up and spoke; and the people said to
each other, two and two, as they heard him, "Herald Harfager is come
again, grown and young." The beginning of Hakon's speech was, that he
offered himself to the bondes as king, and desired from them the title
of king, and aid and forces to defend the kingdom. He promised, on the
other hand, to make all the bondes udal-holders, and give every man udal
rights to the land he lived on. This speech met such joyful applause,
that the whole public cried and shouted that they would take him to be
king. And so it was that the Throndhjem people took Hakon, who was
then fifteen years old, for king; and he took a court or bodyguard,
and servants, and proceeded through the country. The news reached the
Uplands that the people in Throndhjem had taken to themselves a
king, who in every respect was like King Harald Harfager,--with the
difference, that Harald had made all the people of the land vassals, and
unfree; but this Hakon wished well to every man, and offered the bondes
to give them their udal rights again, which Harald had taken from them.
All were rejoiced at this news, and it passed from mouth to mouth,--it
flew, like fire in dry grass, through the whole land, and eastward to
the land's end. Many bondes came from the Uplands to meet King Hakon.
Some sent messengers, some tokens; and all to the same effect--that his
men they would be: and the king received all thankfully.