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From: Finn Karlsen <>
Subject: Re: Adam of Bremen's kings of Norway
Date: Tue, 1 Apr 1997 18:53:34 +0200


[Anders Berg wrote]
>A problem with the Haakon Ladejarl identification is what to do with
>Hartild! If Haakon died in 995 and was immediately followed by Olav
>Tryggvasson, both Harald Bluetooth and Harald Grayskin are out.
>
>Finn, does your 1993 translation give any footnote to explain Hartild?
>
There is a footnote here and it goes as follow (my poor translation to
english):

Adam does not seperate between the "Ladeaett" and Harald Fairhair and the
other kings of the "Yngligeaett". The heirs of Haakon Ladejarl were Eirik
and Svein, not Hartild (probably an error for Harald (Grayskin?)).

>[Stewart Baldwin citation]
>>The relevant passage is from Adam of Bremen, Book 2,
>>xxv(22): "In Norway Haakon was the ruler. When the Norwegians drove
>>him from the realm because he had acted haughtily, Harold valorously
>>restored him and made him well-disposed to the worshipers of Christ.
>>Exceedingly cruel, this Haakon, of the stock of Ivar and descended
>>from a race of giants, was the first among the Norwegians to seize a
>>kingship whereas chiefs had ruled before. Now Haakon, after
>>completing thirty-five years on the throne, died and left as heir to
>>his scepter Hartild, who at the same time possessed Denmark and
>>Norway."
>
>In my translation, the passage beginning with "Exceedingly cruel..." and
>ending with "...Denmark and Norway" is footnoted as follows:
>
>"This section could be a later addition based on Norse tradition".
>
>Unfortunately, they don't say why. Probably the "descended from giants"
>bit. If it is based on Norse tradition, one would expect to be able to
>identify Haakon and Hartild from the sagas. One could also argue that if
>this section is a late addition, then it's value as a historical source is
>lesser. Exit Hartild, perhaps. Also note that the information about
>Haakon's years on the throne is in this possibly late addition.
>
My 1993 translation is among other thing based on the work of Bernhard
Schmeidler from 1917. He was of the opinion after extensive research that
the mentioned passage is an adition made by Adam himself.

Finn

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