The Danish king, Svein Tjuguskeg, was married, as before related, to
Sigrid the Haughty. Sigrid was King Olaf Trygvason's greatest enemy; the
cause of which, as before said, was that King Olaf had broken off with
her, and had struck her in the face. She urged King Svein much to give
battle to King Olaf Trygvason; saying that he had reason enough, as
Olaf had married his sister Thyre without his leave, "and that your
predecessors would not have submitted to." Such persuasions Sigrid
had often in her mouth; and at last she brought it so far that Svein
resolved firmly on doing so. Early in spring King Svein sent messengers
eastward into Svithjod, to his son-in-law Olaf, the Swedish king, and to
Earl Eirik; and informed them that King Olaf of Norway was levying men
for an expedition, and intended in summer to go to Vindland. To this
news the Danish king added an invitation to the Swedish king and Earl
Eirik to meet King Svein with an army, so that all together they might
make an attack; on King Olaf Trygvason. The Swedish king and Earl Eirik
were ready enough for this, and immediately assembled a great fleet
and an army through all Svithjod, with which they sailed southwards to
Denmark, and arrived there after King Olaf Trygvason had sailed to
the eastward. Haldor the Unchristian tells of this in his lay on Earl
Eirik:--
"The king-subduer raised a host
Of warriors on the Swedish coast.
The brave went southwards to the fight,
Who love the sword-storm's gleaming light;
The brave, who fill the wild wolf's mouth,
Followed bold Eirik to the south;
The brave, who sport in blood--each one
With the bold earl to sea is gone."
The Swedish king and Earl Eirik sailed to meet the Danish king, and they
had all, when together, an immense force.