{"id":1704,"date":"2024-03-12T09:53:21","date_gmt":"2024-03-12T07:53:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/norwayescape.com\/?p=1704"},"modified":"2025-02-18T12:41:53","modified_gmt":"2025-02-18T10:41:53","slug":"le-3-spade-nella-roccia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/norwayescape.com\/en\/le-3-spade-nella-roccia\/","title":{"rendered":"The 3 swords on the rock"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The monument “Sverd i fjell” – swords in the rock – erected in 1983 to commemorate the Battle of Hafrsfjord in 872 AD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Designed by local sculptor Fritz R\u00f8ed based on the model of 3 Viking swords found in different places in Norway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The swords are stuck in the stone, never to be used again. Symbol of peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sword in the middle represents the victorious Viking king Harald H\u00e5rfagre – Harald Fairhair – who, according to the Sn\u00f8rre saga, promises himself not to cut his hair and beard until he conquers the entire kingdom of Norway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harald H\u00e5rfagre is considered the first king of Norway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The current king is also called Harald, V (fifth).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Gyda Saga<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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In the 8th century there is no unified Norwegian kingdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The few people – the Vikings – live mainly from agriculture, scattered on farms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, there are some institutions that bring together villages and regions. One of the most important of these institutions is the Thing – Ting = Res (Publica).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the meetings of the Thing (Ting), laws are established, transgressors are punished, networks and alliances of power and trade are formed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Norway, before the unification of 872 AD. it is divided between different tribal chiefs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gyda is the daughter of Chieftain Eirik of Hordaland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harald, as a teenager, falls in love with Gyda and sends his men to ask her in marriage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gyda is probably a bit snobbish because she says no.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She doesn’t want to marry a petty king, but the king of all Norway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Battle of Hafrsfjord<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So Harald prepares for war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He appoints a new count every time he conquers new territory and the local farmers must now pay taxes to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eventually, Harald gathers a fleet of ships and prepares to face the rest of his enemies in Hafrsjord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two gigantic armies meet and the battle is long and hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the end Harald wins and becomes king of the entire country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now Harald takes a nice bath to wash the blood off him, cuts his beard and hair that haven’t been combed for 10 years and dresses as a groom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Curiosity: H\u00e5rfagre means Beautiful Hair, but is it true or is it a Viking joke? Let’s remember that people didn’t wash much at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How did it go with love? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Harald H\u00e5rfagre, washed, shaved and crowned Viking king, goes to Gyda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And she says YES…(I wonder if Gyda had the power of choice…?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They get married and have many children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the Saga continues and tells us that Harald also marries other women and has other children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The average lifespan in the Viking era was 40 years but Harald H\u00e5rfagre was an exception and died of old age after 60 years of reign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More information about Harald H\u00e5rfagre<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

His name is actually Harald Halvdanson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

King from approx. 872 – to approx. 932.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The father’s name is Halvdan Svarte (Svarte = the black one) perhaps due to his black hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of his sons is Eirik Blod\u00f8ks (Blod\u00f8ks = bloody axe). Also known as Erik I Haraldsson the Bloody, king of Norway and the English province of Northumbria with York as its capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n