Ynglingatal: A Norwegian ARR

[Fornadan]

Country: Norway
Version: 1.04a (These instant reunifications that’s happening in the beta doesn’t fit my plans for this game. Crusades won’t be a major part anyway.)
Scenario: Vanilla 1066. I’ve changed the inheritance laws to semisalic gavelkind, and gave Magnus Haraldsson Intestinal worms to make him die earlier.
Difficulty: Normal/Normal (I’m not a good player)
Rules & cheats: When Norway enters her period of civil war, I will probably edit loyalty down to make sure brothers don’t stay on friendly terms too long. I will frequently “die” Scandinavian rulers who loose important battles in person. There will be no crusading in Finland and the Baltic, at least until I conquer Sweden.

Olaf Haraldsson’s saga​

1. When King Harald Sigurdsson died, his sons Magnus and Olaf became kings in Norway. They split the land between them, Magnus ruling the north and Olaf the south. But in their fifth year as kings, Magnus fell ill and died. At Øreting, his son Svein Magnusson was made king, but he was yet not one winter old. He was brought up by the best men in Trondheim.
2. The people of Jemtland had ceased paying their taxes some years ago. King Olaf sent men to them to remind them who was king. The Jemtes first thought to make resistance, but when they saw how numerous the king’s host was, most of them gave up and swore loyalty to King Olaf. Those that resisted either were either killed or had to flee the country losing all their land and property.
3. King Olaf took great interest in farming and trading. He sent men southwards to Europe to learn how things were done there. He also set up many new trading places and made laws for how people should behave when doing business. Unlike his father, Olaf was rather quiet and unwarlike. The wars he fought, was forced upon him, but in battle he none the less fought with an almost reckless bravery.
4. Olaf married Ingrid, daughter of King Svein Ulfsson of Denmark. They had three sons, Åmund, Harald and Erling. Both Åmund and Erling were sickly however, and both died while still youths. There were peace and friendship between King Olaf and King Svein, and both swore that there should be no war between their countries while they still lived.
5. King Svein Magnusson died twenty-one years old. He was often sick as a child, and his health did not get better as he grew up. He fell ill around Christmas and died before Easter. When King Olaf heard that Svein was dead, he travelled to Trondheim, and was hailed as king on Øreting by the Trønders.
6. Eirik Steinkjellsson was king in Sweden in these days. His mind became stranger than that of most men’s as he grew old. He made his brother marry a horse and forbid his men to drink beer and other things the Swedes talk about to this day. When Olaf had been king for thirty years, king Eirik suddenly announced that he would go to Norway and take back what his forefathers had lost. His men did as he bid, thinking that this was just one of his mad ideas; they expected to get a good laugh out of the whole thing. King Eirik however, proved to be quite serious. He led his men into Ranrike. When King Eirik’s men saw that the land lay undefended, they forgot their earlier misgivings, and begun burning and plundering.
7. Harald Olafsson had been given the defence of Viken by his father, and was staying at Kongehelle when he heard about King Eirik. Seeing that the Swedes had many more men than him, he at once sailed to his father at Oslo. King Olaf set out with all the men he could gather. He followed after the Swedish army which had gone back to Gautland. King Olaf met king Eirik in battle at the shores of Väneren. There fell King Eirik along with most his men.
8. The Swedes now chose Gustav of Munsö to be their new king, claiming that the blood of Steinkjell was tainted by madness. While Gustav gathered together a new army, King Olaf took Värmland which had been under Norway in the old times. He was also joined by Knud Sveinsson of Sola who had brought with him the men of Trondheim and West-Norway. Thus when King Gustav arrived, Olaf had the greater army and Gustav was defeated. King Gustav was forced to agree to peace on the condition at all land west of Väneren should remain in Norway.
9. When King Olaf was fifty-eighth, he became seriously ill and died shortly afterwards. He had then been king for forty-one years, more than anyone before him.


Gallery

King Olaf Haraldsson

King Magnus Haraldsson

King Svein Magnusson

Harald Olafsson

King Eirik Steinkjellsson

Short timeline

1066: Death of Harald Hardråde at Stamford Bridge. Magnus and Olaf become kings.
1071: Magnus Haraldsson dies. Harald Olafsson is born.
1092: Svein Magnusson dies.
1097: War with Sweden.
1108: Death of Olaf Haraldsson.

 

[unmerged(23127)]

I like it...
I just doen't hope it ends here!?

 

[Fornadan]

Thanks

There will be updates (might be somewhat infrequent though)

 

[Fornadan]

[Installed 23rd Oct beta patch]

Harald Olafsson’s Saga, Part I​

1. Harald Olafsson became king in Norway after his father’s death. He always thought the best of men, and often forgave those that first had stood against him, but some that had proven to be his enemy, he could unnecessary harsh and cruel. Many say King Harald was the best man in Norway since Olaf Tryggvason. None could beat him with sword or bow nor any other sport. He was in all things more like his grandfather Harald Sigurdsson, than his father. Unlike his father, King Harald was a warlike man and rarely were there peace during the first years of his regin.

2. King Harald married Ragna daughter of Paul Torfinnson, Jarl of the Orkneys. They had two sons, Arnfinn and Olaf.

3. A man named Eskil Tjudmundsson was the greatest chieftain in Dalarna in these days. Most people in Dalarna were still heathen then, and Eskil plundered far and wide, both in Norway and Sweden. He burned down all the churches and killed all the priests he could get his hands on. The Jemtes and Vermlendings grew tired of this and complained to the king. King Harald went to Dalarna with many men and caught Eskil and his men the day after midsummer. They put Eskil in his chair and piled up firewood under it. Harald then asked Eskil if he would swear loyalty to King Harald and become a Christian. Eskil answered that he would gladly follow King Harald, but never would he give up the gods of his forefathers. The firewood was lit then, and he burned to death there.

4. The Sudreys[Hebrides] and Man had belonged to Norway in the old times, but no taxes had then come from there for some time. King Olaf had sent some men, but they had come back empty-handed. When Harald had been king for three years, he sent new men westwards to King Donnkad of the Sudreys. Donnkad was also king of Leinster and other parts of Ireland. When he heard what the messengers wanted, he haughtily answered that neither he nor his father had ever paid any taxes to the king in Norway, nor would he do so in the future. The messengers then threatened the Irish, claiming that King Harald would come and kill them all. Donnkad had the messengers thrown out of his hall, and ordered them not to return, lest a worse fate should befall them.

5. When King Harald heard this, he first wanted to set sail at once, but then he calmed himself and begun gathering men from all over the country. He set sail with a large army and spent the summer on the Orkneys with his father-in-law Paul Jarl. He set sail southwards next spring. King Donnkad had given his brothers, the bishops Sindre and Eikekar the task of defending the isles. But when they saw how many ships King Harald had, they fled, leaving the Sudreys undefended. The peasants on the Sudreys and Man took King Harald to king and swore him loyalty.

6. King Harald sailed onwards to Leinster. Donnkad had gathered a huge force of Irishmen and there was a great battle upon the beach. But in the end the Norwegians proved victorious and many Irishmen fell there. Donnkad himself escaped with a few men. King Harald dared not follow after him, since he feared that the Irish should fall upon him while he was far away from his ships. Thus messengers were sent between the two kings, and at least they came to agreement. Donnkad was allowed to keep his kingdom in Leinster, but he had to promise that he would never try to regain any of the isles. Harald gave the government of the Sudreys and Man to Paul Jarl and then returned to Norway.

 

[unmerged(23127)]

Great Update Fornadan...

Him Harald is a tough guy, huh?
Very good so far, keep posting...

 

[unmerged(35381)]

The Yngling Dynasty is also the proponent of my Norwegian AAR

 

[Fornadan]

Northen Viking: I had originialy intended one post pr. king, but since Harald's regin became so busy, I had to split it up. He isn't done vanquishing yet.

Carbiner: I wonder why

 

[unmerged(35381)]

Gee, that makes sense

It wasn't an inquiry, it was an ACCUSATION,

 

[Fornadan]

Harald Olafsson’s saga Part II​

7. Paul Torfinnsson Jarl died some years later. His two sons Einar and Abel ruled the islands together for some time. They soon began to quarrel. Einar said he should have the greater part since he was the oldest. Abel wanted to split everything equally. Neither of them dared to sail to the Sudreys or Katanes[Caithness] lest he should return only to find that the other had seized everything, so they both stayed there on Rossey. Soon rumours began to spread that Einar planned to take Abel prisoner and force him to forfeit his inheritance. From that time they both had armed men with them at all times.

8. Einar and Abel Jarl were quite different in character. While Einar was boastful, load and glad in feasting, Abel was quiet and did not easily make new friends. He never missed Mass for any reason; some said he had not seen his wife since their wedding. As winter began, Einar got new men each day while Abel’s flock seemed to shrink into the shadows. Abel never drank anything else than water and he never allowed his men to get drunk. Thus, early in the morning after Christmas, Abel came upon the house where Einar and his men where sleeping and set fire to the main hall. Those few aware enough to try to get out were cut down.

9. Paul Jarl had set a man called Åsmund Torkjellsson to collect the taxes on Katanes. He had been Einar’s loyal friend since their childhood. When he heard about Einar’s death, he began to fear for what fate awaited him. He gathered the few men he could gather and fled southwards until he met Alexander, king of the Scots. Alexander swore that he should cleanse the Orkneys for all its thieves and vikings once and for all. He sent Åsmund sent back to Katanes while he gathered the Scottish army.

10. Meanwhile, Abel Jarl had guessed where Åsmund had fled, and what the outcome would be. He therefore sent ships to Norway with message that the king of the Scots prepared to take all the islands in the west. Once King Harald heard that the Scots planned to take what was rightfully his, he became so angry that he could not sleep for days. Messengers were sent out all over the country and he soon had a great army. King Alexander had laid his plans carefully and without haste, not believing any help from Norway would come so soon. Thus King Harald reached Katanes before the Scots. Åsmund Torkjellson was captured, and the king threatened to have him hanged, but in the end he agreed to let Åsmund live if Åsmund swore to become his man. Åsmund did that, and was ever loyal to the king afterwards.

11. King Harald met the Scots in battle just north of the river Ekkjal. This was a fierce fight, as both the Norwegians and the Scots had many brave men, and the battle swayed back and forth for some time. In the end King Harald strode forth in the front clad in mail and a golden helm. He would have crossed swords with the Scottish king himself then, if not the Scots had fled first. Many men fell there on both sides, and many Scots drowned when they exhausted tried to swim over the river. After this victory, King Harald planned to take at least Suderland from the Scots, if not for the grave news that reached him soon after. A single ship arrived from Norway with news that a Swedish army was burning in Vermland. King Harald was forced to make a hasty peace with the Scots, and set sail.

Abel Paulsson, Jarl of the Orkneys

Alexander, King of the Scots

 

[Deaghaidh]

Now that you've saved him and done the honorable thing, yank that crazy SOB out of the Orkneys and put a nice, loyal family member in his place ASAP! Schizo, Kinslayer Dukes are nothing but trouble.

 

[unmerged(23127)]

Damn Swedes....

Good Update... Keep them Coming!

 

[Fornadan]

Harald Olafsson’s saga Part III​

12. Toste Kolsson was king of Sweden in these days. He was becoming old and was seen as a weak king by the Swedes. To regain his support among the country’s best men, he vowed that he should take back Vermland which Eirik Steinkjellsson had lost to King Olaf Haraldsson. When King Harald returned to Norway, he learned that King Toste was at Kongehelle with many men, but the Swedes had not yet taken the castle that Olaf had built there.

13. After resting for a short while in Oslo, King Harald sailed out again. When the Swedes heard that King Harald had returned, they did not believe it, thinking this being some sort of trick to fool them to leave. Thus, when they saw the sails from Harald’s ships, they were struck by panic and could not decide what to do. Some wanted to fight, some wanted to flee, and each man did as he thought best. When the Norwegians arrived in Kongehelle they found the Swedes in wild flight.

14. Somewhere in the flight King Toste was lost and none know for sure his fate. Some say that he was slain by wild animals or drowned deep in the woods, other that he was killed by Norwegians or bandits or his own men. What is known is that never did he come back to Uppsala. The Swedes then took Toste’s brother, Henrik Kolsson, as king. Meanwhile, King Harald had held thing and been hailed as king by the men of Vestgötaland. King Henrik, seeing that he had fewer men and the Norwegians hardened by victory also, had no choice but to ask for peace.

15. Two years later Abel Paulsson Jarl died. He left no sons. King Harald claimed the Orkneys through his marriage with Ragna Paulsdottir. He gave all the Iselands and Katanes to his oldest son Arnfinn for him to rule. His second son Olaf complained that he had been given nothing. To appease him, Harald gave him Vermland and Dalarne and Vestgötaland also.

16. Three years after Abel Jarl died, it happened so that a man named Øystein Andersson came into quarrel with King Rørek Henriksson of Sweden. Øystein owned large properties in Västmanland, and King Henrik had given him the task of collecting the taxes in this district. King Henrik died the year after Abel Jarl, and his son Rørek became king. He distrusted Øystein and wanted to appoint one of his own men instead. Øystein was a proud man, and unwilling to give up anything he considered to be his. After Rørek had threatened to have him killed, Øystein therefore travelled to Olaf Haraldsson and swore loyalty to him.

17. When King Rørek heard this, he sent out the war-arrow and begun to drag men together. When King Harald heard of this, he gathered together his own army and marched east to help his son. King Harald and King Rørek met in Närke. There once more Harald’s luck was found to be greater that of other men. Rørek escaped with some men, but many Swedes fell there. King Harald then for the second time made peace with the Swedes. After this, King Harald began calling himself King of the Göts, although he only ruled Vestgötaland.

18. From then on Harald lived in peace with his neighbours. He died in Oslo in his seventy-sixth year. He had then been king for thirty-nine years, fought four wars and won them all.

Descendants of Harald Olafsson

Scandinavia at the death of King Harald in 1147

[I must confess that the reign of Harald Olafsson took far more time and space than originally intended. As you can see from the family three there are now far too many Ynglings for everyone to live in peace and harmony together.]

 

[unmerged(23127)]

Good update again...
Sad about Harald!

Well, I hope Norway still will grow, under their new King.
Will it then be Vigleik Arnfinnson who inherrit Harald?

 

[Fornadan]

Due to Salic Gavelkind, Olaf became King of Norway. But Vigleik is Duke of both Trøndelag and the Orkneys. I'll probably play as him and try to wrest the kingdom back from his uncle. Anyway, we're now entering a period of civil war and brother against brother that I've planned from the beginning.

 

[Norgesvenn]

Very interesting twist.

I will catch up on Vigleik's saga.

 

[Fornadan]

Olaf Stutte & the sons of Arnfinn’s saga​

1. When they heard news about King Harald’s death, the Trønders took Vigleik and Ossor, the sons of Arnfinn Haraldsson, as kings at Øreting. Together with the Opplendings and Vermlendings, the Vikværings choose Olaf Haraldsson as king. This was during the summer.

2. Among King Olaf’s most trusted friends were Jon Gerdsson and his sons Alfred and Rikart Bishop. Whenever they met the king, they told him how King Vigleik and King Ossor were planning to take his kingdom away from him, and if he continued to sit here in Oslo defenceless, he would have the Trønder Army over him before spring. Olaf was a warlike man, and had fought in most of his father’s wars. He was sometimes heard saying that he, a man who had waded through Scots and Swedes in his youth, would not let a few Trønders take away his inheritance now.

3. As such things often do, these stories quickly travelled over the mountains and reached Trondheim. The two brothers discussed these things often. King Vigleik did not want a war. He was often accused of spending more time with the priests than with his own men. “Surly King Olaf must be content since he rules the entire south and we share this corner of the kingdom”, he used to say. “A man like King Olaf will not be content before he owns everything”, King Ossor answered. This went on for some time, but in the end Vigleik was convinced that King Olaf wanted them dead. Ossor sailed west to the Orkneys and see how much support he get there, while Vigleik stayed in Trondheim and gathered together as many men he could.

4. When King Olaf heard this, he at once let the war arrow be sent out in all directions. He got many more men than Vigleik, since his part of the country was much larger. But winter had now begun, and both kings stayed put for some time. This was the infamous winter where Rome fell to the heathens.

5. As spring begun, King Ossur had not yet returned when news reached King Vigleik that King Olaf was in Jemtland with part of the army. Åmund Vigleiksson, his oldest son, and Fergus Patriksson, who led the hird, both argued that King Vigleik should march east with all the men he had, and try to defeat King Olaf while his most of army was elsewhere. Vigleik heeded their advice and this was done.

6. Thus it happened that the kings met there in the middle of the forest. King Vigleik had more men, but King Olaf would not hear any talk about flight, he would rather fall there than run away. The battle started and King Olaf pressed hard on in an attempt to reach King Vigleik. Many of King Vigleik’s hird fell then, Fergus Patriksson among them, but Olaf also lost many men. When Vigleik saw that the ranks in front of him were thinning, he was seized by a sudden fright, and began pulling the men around him backwards. As the rest of the army saw this, they began to waver, and the battle would been lost if not for Åmund Vigleiksson, who took the king’s banner and boldly went forth into the thickest of the battle. When they saw that the king’s banner was moving forward again, the Trønders took heart and the hardest part of the battle now began. But King Olaf’s men now began to grow weary, and while King Vigleik’s battle line had bulged backwards in the middle, the wings had stood firm. Thus they now found themselves surrounded and most of them fell there, only a few ran away or surrendered. King Olaf was among the last that fell, but none could later say for certain whom his slayer had been. In later years King Olaf have become known as Olaf Stutte [the brief], since he was king for less than a year, while his grandfather ruled for more than forty.

7. Having thus defeated and slain King Olaf, but also lost many men himself, King Vigleik decided to hurry back to Nidaros. They marched both day and night. One night by chance they met about two hundred men led by Bertil, son of Øystein Andersson from Västmanland. It took some time before both sides recognized that these where enemies. In the short but bloody battle that followed, King Vigleik was victorious since he had almost thrice as many men, but Åmund Vigleiksson was also among the fallen.

8. From some captives, King Vigleik learned that Rikart Bishop was in Trøndelag with many men. As these news began to spread through the camp, most of his men ran away to get back to their wives and children. Soon only a few men remained loyal to King Vigleik. They now took the counsel to split up and try to reach the Orkneys each man of his own. Rikart Bishop was now in Nidaros, and had heard news from Jemtland. He guessed that some of Vigleik’s men would try to slip away to the Orkneys, and put guards upon all the ships he found that could make such a journey. Gunnar Vigleiksson and his ward, Ivar Erlingsson of Giske, got away, but King Vigleik was captured together with Helge Sverresson from Lesja. They were then brought in front of Rikart Bishop. King Vigleik refused to plead for his life, but claimed that in youth, he had been ordained as priest. Rikart laughed at this and had both Vigleik and Helge hanged.

Olaf Stutte

Vigleik Arnfinnsson

Ossor Arnfinnsson

 

[tombom]

I find this intresting.

 

[unmerged(23127)]

Ohh.. Poor Vigleik!
I liked him so...

Good and exciting Update Fornaden...

Just one thing... It seems like there's a lot of Kings in Old Norway!
Or other important persons...
Could you please, if you want have time of course, just give us the situation now...?
Like... There's a king in Trøndelag! He is....
And there's a King in... Just so I, at least, can get a better view of who is who!

Anyway, I look forward to what happens next...

 

[Fornadan]

I will describe things more fully in the next update (whenever that might come), but...

The new kings of the Southern party are now Ragnvald and Torbjørn, who both are still small children.
Ossor is king and leader of what's left of the Northern party, but as his nephew Gunnar grows up, he will probably demand a greater share(if they survive).

 

[Norgesvenn]

This looks to become bloody.

Just one question... well, more of a statement, really. "Ossor" doesn't seem to me like a typical Norwegian royal name. There aren't enough Haakons.