After King Magnus Barefoot's fall, his sons, Eystein, Sigurd, and Olaf,
took the kingdom of Norway. Eystein got the northern, and Sigurd the
southern part of the country. King Olaf was then four or five years old,
and the third part of the country which he had was under the management
of his two brothers. King Sigurd was chosen king when he was thirteen or
fourteen years old, and Eystein was a year older. King Sigurd left
west of the sea the Irish king's daughter. When King Magnus's sons were
chosen kings, the men who had followed Skopte Ogmundson returned home.
Some had been to Jerusalem, some to Constantinople; and there they had
made themselves renowned, and they had many kinds of novelties to talk
about. By these extraordinary tidings many men in Norway were incited to
the same expedition; and it was also told that the Northmen who liked to
go into the military service at Constantinople found many opportunities
of getting property. Then these Northmen desired much that one of the
two kings, either Eystein or Sigurd, should go as commander of the troop
which was preparing for this expedition. The kings agreed to this, and
carried on the equipment at their common expense. Many great men, both
of the lendermen and bondes, took part in this enterprise; and when all
was ready for the journey it was determined that Sigurd should go,
and Eystein in the meantime, should rule the kingdom upon their joint
account.