Úlfr Óspaksson
Úlfr Óspaksson , called stallari (the marshal), (* around 1000 in Iceland ; † 1066 in Norway ) was an Icelandic chief from an originally Norwegian family who entered the service of the Norwegian royal family and for over thirty years the Norwegian prince and later King Harald III Sigurdsson , called Harald Hardrade, accompanied as a follower.
From around 1034 he was a member of the Varangian Guard of the Emperor of the Byzantine Empire in distant Constantinople for around ten years and took under the command of Harald III. Sigurdsson took part in his combat missions in Anatolia, the Balkans, Palestine and Sicily, as well as in Harald's imprisonment and flight from Constantinople, in his return via Russia and Sweden to Norway, where Harald became King of Norway in 1046 as Harald Hardrade and Ulf to to his marshal and brother-in-law. There, too, Ulf continued to take part in all of Harald's battles against external and internal enemies until he died in 1066 - deeply mourned by King Harald as the "most loyal follower ever to a ruler". And this, a few weeks before King Harald, while attempting to conquer England , lost his life in the Battle of Stamford Bridge .
swell
No documented news is known about Ulf Ospakson, but details about his life can be found in the Icelandic sagas and in particular in the saga of King Harald called "Hardrade", which is part of the Heimskringla , the 1230 story of the Norwegian kings of the Icelandic statesman , Historian and poet Snorri Sturluson (* 1190, † 1241), who is considered one of the most important medieval historical works in Europe. This representation is largely based on oral traditions, often in the form of contemporary poems by skalds who accompanied Harald and Ulf on their campaigns. When the saga was being edited almost 200 years later, Snorri also used the poems of skalds who were contemporaries of the events, and skillfully quoted their verses in order to convey the impression of the immediacy and emotionality of the battle scenes.
The saga of King Harald contains a direct reference to the way in which the story was transmitted to Iceland. Accordingly, it was a cousin of Ulf Ospaksson, the Icelandic Halldor Snorrasson, who served together with his relative Ulf Ospaksson from 1034 under Harald Hardrade in the Varangian Guard of the Byzantine emperors and as an eyewitness "brought the story to Iceland". From this the story got through oral tradition over several generations to his descendant Snorri Sturlusson, who inserted it into his work Heimskringla in the saga of King Harald.
The eventful life of Ulf Ospaksson can therefore be explored on the one hand by explicitly mentioning Ulf in the saga of King Harald and on the other hand by the fact that Ulf has been his closest confidante like a shadow to Harald Sigurdsson for thirty-two years since 1034.
origin
Information about the origin of Ulf Ospaksson can be found in the Laxdaela Saga . Accordingly, he came from a chief dynasty, which largely independently controlled their territory in Romsdal in the county of Möre og Romsdal (today in the Vestlandet region ) in Norway, until around 890 King Harald Fairhair (* around 852, † 933) through the massive Extension of his domain caused the then living ancestor Ulf, Ketil Björnsson "Flatneb" (Ketil son of Björn, called "Flat nose") to emigrate. Three of his children, Björn Ketilsson "der Östler", Helgi Ketilsson "Bjolan" (Kleinmund) and Aud Ketilsdatter "the profound one", settled in Iceland , which was only recently settled , and left a large number of offspring there, one in various Icelandic sagas Role play.
Ulf's grandfather Oswif Helgasson, called "Spaki" (the wise) (* around 940 in Laugar, Saelingsdalstung, Dala, Iceland, † 1010 in Iceland) was a respected chief and landowner in Laugar in Saelingsdale, in the hinterland of the northeastern part of the Hvammfjord (Part of the Breidafjord ) in northwest Iceland. Oswif's mother, Nidbjorg Kadlinsdotter, was a granddaughter of the Viking Jarl Gånge Rolf , the progenitor of the Dukes of Normandy.
Oswif was therefore a cousin of Richard "fearless" Duke of Normandy (+ 996), who was Count of Rouen in 942 and ruler of France from 956 to 960.
Osvif Helgasson, Ulf's grandfather, was married to Thordis, a daughter of Tjodolf, known as "the short one", who gave birth to his sons Ospak, Helgi, Vandrad, Torrad and Thorolf as well as a daughter, Gudrun Oswifsdotter, who is considered one of the most remarkable medieval Women of Iceland, whose four marriages, however, gave rise to arguments and rivalries and a bloody family feud. Around 1008 he exchanged his property at Saelingsdale Tongue for his estate in Helgafell with his friend and relative Snorri Thorgrimsson, called Snorri Godi (Snorri the Priest (of Thor)) (* 963, † 1031), where he moved with Gudrun and later died .
Ulf's father, Ospak Osvifsson, was the eldest son of Osvif Helgason the Wise. Ospak lived on the family estate in Laugar in Saelingsdale, was around 1003 involved in the feud between his family, the "Osvifssons" and the related clan of the Olavssons, the sons of Olav Hoskundsson, called Olav the peacock, which led to mutual killings and ultimately led to the banishment of the Osvifssons by the Icelandic parliament in Thorsness and to the emigration of the Osvifssons from Iceland.
Ulf's mother was Aldis Ljotsdottir, a daughter of Ljot Thorgrimsson "the wise", and an unnamed sister of the Jarl von Lade Hákon Grjótgarðsson .
Ulf Ospaksson was thus a nephew of Asa Hakonsdottir, the daughter of Ladejarls - who, as the wife of Harald Fairhair († 1040), was Queen of Norway - and a cousin of Hakon Sigurdsson Jarl , "the mighty", who ruled Norway from 970 as imperial administrator and was murdered in 996.
Life
youth
There are no further details about Ulf's early years in the sagas, but there are indications of the circumstances that shaped him from the personal and temporal environment.
Ulf grew up as the eldest son of the respected chief Ospak Osvifsson in northwest Iceland at his ancestors' estate in Laugar on the west side of the Saelingsdaeles, which flows into the Hvammsfjord (a side fjord in the easternmost part of the Breidafjord).
In his family, his aunt, Gudrun Osvifdotter (* around 973, † 1060), was probably the most important personality. She was considered the "most beautiful woman who was ever born in Iceland" and was characterized by intelligence and willpower. However, through her four marriages she gave rise to rivalries and manslaughter between her family, the "Osvifsons", and the party of the distantly related and long-time friends of the "Olavssons", the descendants of Olav Hoskuldsson, known as Olaf "the peacock" The central figure of the Laxdaela saga became. She finally died around 1060 as the first Christian nun in Iceland.
Ulf's grandfather Osvif Helgasson, a very respected chief, was nicknamed "the wise" because, as the head of the "Oswifssons", he tried to amicably the tensions and feuds caused by the marriages and temperament of his daughter Gudrun to solve.
Ulf was probably impressed by his cousin Bolli Bollasson (* around 1007), a son of his aunt Gudrun Osvifdotter, who, in the tradition of Icelandic chief sons, worked with his brother Thorleik Bollasson in the service of Olav II. Haraldsson "the holy" King of Norway ( 1015 to 1028), entered to gain honor, reputation and fortune. But Bolli went a step further by traveling to Constantinople and joining the Varangian Guard there. When Bolli returned to Iceland from Constantinople around 1030, from then on he only wore dresses made of scarlet scarlet or gold-adorned silk that he had received from the Byzantine emperor, wore a gold-plated helmet and a red shield on which a knight could be seen in gold which earned him the nickname "Bolli the proud".
Another formative personality was Snorri Thorgrimsson, better known as Snorri Godi or Snorri the (pagan) priest (* around 963, † around 1031). He was a distant relative of Ulf and one of the leading chiefs of Iceland who appears in various Icelandic sagas, such as Njall's saga, Laxdæla saga , Eyrbyggja saga and Grettis saga . From 1008 he lived in the neighboring estate in Tongue, as he had exchanged goods with Ulf's aunt Gudrun Osvifsdotter. His son Halldor Snorrasson was not only a neighbor, friend and distant cousin Ulfs, but also his companion on the adventures they experienced under Prince Harald Sigurdsson of Norway in the Byzantine Varangian Guard in Constantinople. It was Halldor who brought the report to Iceland.
Companion of Harald Hardrade
In the Saga of King Harald Ulf occurs abruptly in the 9th chapter together with Halldor Snorrasson as a member of the Byzantine Varangian Guard and as a follower of the Norwegian Prince Harald Sigurdsson and although in the description of the list, with Harald during the Byzantine campaign in Sicily a third city conquered.
While it is certain that Ulf and Halldor were in Constantinople around 1034 and were members of the Varangian Guard and followers of Prince Harald, it remains unclear when they left Iceland, when they joined Harald's entourage and how they got to Constantinople.
It is conceivable that, following the example of Ulf's cousin, Bolli Bollasson, they entered the service of King Olav II. Haraldsson , called “the fat one”, later “the holy” King of Norway (1016-1028) and after his expulsion through the Danish King Canute the Great went into exile in Russia with Olav II to Grand Duke Yaroslav I the Wise around 1029 . At best, they could have fought alongside him in the Battle of Stiklestad , in which King Olav II fell on July 29, 1030, and returned to Russia with the remains of his followers. This is where the young Harald Sigurdsson went into exile in 1032 and set out from there about two years later with his entourage for Constantinople.
In Byzantium under Emperor Michael IV.
background
In the year 1034 when Ulf Ospaksson - probably together with Prince Harald Sigurdsson - came to Constantinople, Michael IV , called "the Paphlagonier", the husband of the Empress-widow Zoe from the Macedonian dynasty , who was suspected of having the crown , ruled there by murdering his predecessor Romanos III. Having acquired Argyros - both as emperor and as husband - because he married his widow Zoe on the day of his murder. This saw herself as the legitimate heiress of the Macedonian dynasty, but was pushed back by Michael IV, with the effective administration of the empire in the hands of Michael's brother, the eunuch Johannes Orphanotrophos .
At the same time there were uprisings by the army (1038 in Anatolia) and conspiracies against the emperor, in which Empress Zoe herself and the later Patriarch of Constantinople Michael Kerullarios participated. Due to the reduction in military fiefs, the mercenary system and in particular the Varangian Guard gained importance as a reliable and powerful elite force, as there were also incursions by the Arabs and from 1034 to 1036 by the Pechenegs and Cumans into the imperial territory, as well as tensions with the caliphate of the Shiite Fatimids in Egypt .
Use in the east of the empire
After the saga, Prince Harald Sigurdsson - and probably also Ulf Ospaksson in his entourage - first launched a campaign against the Saracens in "Africa", whereby 80 cities were conquered there, according to a poem by the skald Thjodolf Arnorsson reproduced in the saga. Harald stayed for several winters in Africa where he stole a lot of belongings, gold and valuables and had everything from this booty that he did not need immediately brought to a safe place by messenger to Holmgerd ( Novgorod ).
Historically, these missions did not take place in Africa, but in Anatolia, where the Varangian Guard was deployed in the winter of 1034/35 and there first fought Arab pirates in the Mediterranean and then those cities in Western Anatolia that had supported them. Subsequently, the Varangians took part in a campaign in the east of the empire that reached as far as the Euphrates and Lake Van , where the city, long lost Edessa , was able to be recaptured as a great success . At the same time there was also fighting against invading Pecheneg troops . Then Harald and his troops return to Constantinople, where he and the Varangians, hence Ulf Ospaksson, left their booty and the emperor's wages safe.
Use in Palestine
Next, according to the saga, the Varangian troops under Harald went to Sicily. Historically, however, it is more likely that the next deployment of the Varangians and thus Haralds and Ulfs took place in Palestine. This was because in 1036 between Emperor Michael IV and the Fatimid caliph al-Mustansir bi-llah (1035-1094) of Egypt a peace and support treaty had been concluded through which the emperor received the right to use the 1009 under the Caliph Al-Hakim (995-1021) to have largely destroyed Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem restored at his own expense.
During the procession from Constantinople to Jerusalem , all cities and castles submitted to the Varangians, whereby the skald Stuf Thordarson, called Stuf the Blind, an Icelander and close relative of Ulf Ospaksson in a poem inserted into the saga, is astonished to note that this was exceptionally without Devastation and pillage went on. This is probably due to the fact that not even Harald dared to violate the peace treaty between the emperor and the caliph.
In Jerusalem, Harald distributed generous gifts to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher , as well as to other relics, such as the True Cross , and, like all pilgrims - and therefore Ulf Ospaksson - bathed in the Jordan River . The Varangians then drove the robbers and troublemakers out of the Jordan Valley.
Historically, Harald's troops at the time were assigned to accompany the expedition of Byzantine architects, engineers and builders who, on the basis of the peace treaty of 1036, went to Jerusalem to restore the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and to protect it from attacks. The subjugation of Palestine by these troops as described by the Skalden Stuf should therefore be put into perspective.
Use in Sicily
In the saga, Harald's expedition in Sicily is given a lot of space, as it is described in chapters 6 to 10, with the two Icelanders in Harald's entourage - Halldor Snorrasson and Ulf Ospaksson - presented in Chapter 9 as "of extraordinary strength and as outstanding warriors ”, who were very close to Prince Harald personally.
Harald began immediately after landing in Sicily with the implementation of private interests, ie with looting. After several quarrels with the Byzantine Byzantine general Georgios Maniakes , he managed to deploy his Varangian troops largely independently. Describes the conquest of a total of four - not named - cities. As these could by no means be taken by Harald's troops because of their strong trenches and fortifications, Harald devised a ruse to conquer them.
The first of the cities was forced to give up because Harald ordered his varangians to catch the birds that came from the city to forage and to equip them with incendiary devices. On the return flight to the city, they set the roofs and wooden houses of the city on fire, which ultimately had to surrender the residents.
The second city fell because the Varangians dug a tunnel under the city wall through which they could surprisingly penetrate the city and conquer it.
The third city was the largest and most populous, surrounded by deep moats and impregnable walls, which is why the Varangians besieged it for a long time in vain. Here, too, Harald resorted to a ruse, in which only the two Icelanders Halldor Snorrasson and Ulf Ospaksson are named as contributors. The plan aimed to induce the residents to be carefree by the Varangians themselves demonstrating fearlessness. So the unarmed and unarmed practiced sporting exercises and games in front of the city walls - but out of range, which prompted the townspeople to curse them as cowards and to leave the town gates open as a sign of disregard. After a few days, Harald caused the Varangians to hide weapons under their robes while doing sports. Since this went unnoticed, the "athletes" stormed into the open city gate with weapons in hand and thus conquered the city, with Ulf's comrade in arms Halldor Snorrasson, who was serving as a standard bearer, was badly wounded in the face.
The fourth city also fell victim to a ruse, as Harald pretended to be seriously ill and eventually died. An embassy from the Varangians therefore asked the priests of the city to be allowed to bury Prince Harald in the city. This was gladly granted in anticipation of appropriate foundations for the affected church. After the funeral procession had passed through the open city gate, the "resuscitated" Harald jumped out of the coffin fully armed and rushed with his followers on the city's residents, killing everyone - both priests and laypeople - and completely looting the city.
The skald Thjodolf Skjalg took stock in a poem reproduced in the saga, according to which Harald and his troops fought eighteen fierce military battles and so "stained the eagle's claws with blood and fed the hungry wolves".
Historically, the military campaign that took the Byzantine general George Maniakes by order of Emperor Michael IV. Between the years 1038 and 1040, to the former Byzantine crown land Sicily that an emirate in the hands of the Arab dynasty of the 10th century Kalbite was to recapture from the Saracens. In fact, the Byzantine troops succeeded in conquering the eastern and southern parts of Sicily with the cities of Messina and Syracuse , whereby the use of the Varangian Guard under the "Scandinavian war hero" Harald was decisive for the success of the company. Despite his successes, Georgios Maniakes was recalled as commander-in-chief in 1040 due to an intrigue. He rebelled and had himself proclaimed emperor, but he was killed in battle by imperial troops in 1043.
A notable comrade of Ulf Ospaksson in Sicily was a leader of Norman and Longobard mercenaries named Wilhelm von Hauteville , called "Eisenarm" († 1046). However, this revolted at the end of 1040 because of alleged discrimination against Byzantium and began to conquer Byzantine territory in Apulia on his own account. The Varangians - and with them Harald Sigurdsson and Ulf - were then sent into the field with the Katepan (Byzantine governor) Michel Doukeianos. They achieved success at the beginning, but suffered heavy defeats on March 17, 1041 at Olivento and on May 4 at Montemaggiore (near Cannae), after which Wilhelm von Hauteville called himself Count of Apulia. Ulf Ospaksson was thus probably a witness to the foundation of the later Norman Kingdom of Sicily .
Use in the Balkans
After several years of service in Sicily, the Varangian troops under Prince Harald were called back to Constantinople, where Harald Sigurdsson was honored by Emperor Michael IV for his services with the (modest) title of “spatharokandidatos”. However, it was even more important for the Varangians to bring their extensive prey to safety there.
The next deployment of the Varangians and thus Ulf Ospakssons took place in the Balkans. The saga, however, contains no reference to this military conflict. In fact, the Varangian Guard - and thus Prince Harald and Ulf Ospaksson - took part as an elite force in the Balkan campaign of Emperor Michael IV. There was an uprising of the Serbs under Prince Stefan Vojislav of Zeta (Dioclitia) who had succeeded in defeating a Byzantine army in 1040 and thus securing the independence of his country and his own rule as the prince of the Serbs until 1052.
In the same year 1040 the Bulgarians rose against Emperor Michael IV. The leader was Peter Dejan who, according to the Byzantine historian Michael Psellos, pretended to be a relative of the Tsar Samuil and was crowned tsar in Belgrade . He was defeated, blinded and taken prisoner in the course of the Balkan campaign by Emperor Michael IV using the Varangian Guard under Harald in 1041.
In Byzantium under Emperor Michael V.
On December 10, 1041, Emperor Michael IV died after retiring to the monastery of St. Anargyroi. For the Varangians this was - according to common practice - the opportunity to plunder the imperial palace, which Harald - and probably Ulf too - will have made good use of. Michael IV was followed by his nephew, Michael V called "Kalaphates" (the sealer) as emperor who was also the adopted son of the empress widow Zoe.
Imprisonment in Constantinople
After the saga, Harald's relationship with the imperial family worsened after the change of the throne, with various reasons being passed down in the saga. For example, the rejection of Harald's solicitation of Maria, a niece of Empress Zoe, or the rejection of Harald's resignation as commander of the Varangian Guard, which Harald sought as soon as he learned that his nephew Magnus I had become "the good" King of Norway and Denmark was.
Finally, Harald was even accused of having enriched himself at the expense of the state treasury, so he and his closest comrades in arms, the Icelanders Ulf Ospaksson and Halldor Snorrasson mentioned by name, were ordered by Emperor Constantine IX. Monomachus . (* around 1000, † 1055) imprisoned in a tower in Constantinople.
Some sources give other reasons for the arrest. According to William of Malmesbury , it was Harald's illicit relationship with a lady-in-waiting, while Saxo Grammaticus justified his imprisonment with a murder committed by Harald.
In the saga, the rescue of the three prisoners from the tower dungeon in Constantinople is attributed to a miracle of Saint Olav II - Harald's half-brother - who caused a lady who adored him to pull Harald and his companions out of the prison tower in Constantinople with the help of ropes to free.
Harald then hurried with his two companions Halldor and Ulf Ospaksson to the camp of the Varangians, who greeted him with delight and set off with him to the palace of the emperor. There Harald penetrated the imperial apartments and robbed the emperor himself of the eyesight in order to get revenge on him. This detail was mentioned in several poems that are quoted in the saga, including in the award poem of the skald, Thorarin Skeggjason for Harald: “The king of Greece soon went blind…” and in the poem and the skald Thodolf Arnarsson: “He left both eyes on the owner of the throne tear out, he, the wolf feeder and courageous warrior Harald ... ", expressly recorded, which after the saga speaks for the fact that Harald himself actually blinded the emperor.
Historically, it wasn't Emperor Constantine IX. Monomachus, under whom Harald and Ulf were sentenced to imprisonment and subsequently blinded, but Michael V. Kalaphates. The cause of the crisis was the high-handedness of the young Emperor Michael V, who wanted to rule alone and therefore disempowered and banished his uncle, the leading minister Johannes Orphanotrophos and his adoptive mother, the Empress widow Zoe. However, this led to a popular uprising in Constantinople in April 1042. According to Psellus, after he had fled to a church, he was forcibly removed from there and blinded by an executioner on April 21, 1042 and banished to a monastery. The rule was then taken over by Empress Zoe and her sister Theodora. However, on June 11, 1042 she was followed by the third consort of Empress Zoe, Constantine IX. Monomachus (* around 1000, † 1055) as emperor.
Escape from Constantinople
That same night Harald and his companions, undoubtedly Ulf Ospaksson among them, penetrated the women's quarters of the palace and kidnapped Maria, a niece of Empress Zoe, and secretly fled Constantinople on two ships, of which only one remained, however, as the other broke while trying to overcome the chain lock on the Golden Horn. Before leaving for the Black Sea , Princess Maria was sent back and the journey continued.
In Novgorod
Harald went with the only remaining ship and the surviving companions - undoubtedly among them Ulf Ospaksson - from Constantinople to Russia to Yaroslav I. Vladimirovich Grand Duke of Kiev, to whom he regularly received his treasures from payments and looting (triple looting of the imperial palace where Harald and Ulf Ospaksson were involved) for safekeeping. There he married Elisabeth, a daughter of the Grand Duke and Ingegerd of Sweden, a fact that was also recorded in a poem by Skald Stuf the Blind.
In Sweden
Harald, accompanied by his wife Elisabeth, Ulf Ospaksson and other companions, went with his gold treasure from Russia to Sweden in 1045, where he allied himself with Sven Estridsson (* around 1020, † 1076), who was in battle with King Magnus of Norway had been defeated by Helganess and driven from Denmark. As a result, Harald went on raids together with Svend and his Icelandic companions in the kingdom of Denmark ruled by his nephew.
This collaboration ended, however, after Svend Estridsson urged Harald in vain to attack his nephew King Magnus of Norway directly and then even tried to have Harald murdered.
In Norway
Gold for a kingdom
Harald therefore decided to reconcile himself with his nephew King Magnus and therefore went to Norway with his entourage. In formal ceremonies - in which Ulf Ospaksson undoubtedly participated - an unusual balance of interests took place. First, King Magnus transferred half of the Kingdom of Norway to Harald and awarded him the title of King of Norway, subject to his right of precedence. Subsequently, Harald gave him half of the enormous gold treasure he had captured in years of Byzantine service to compensate. It was the largest amount of gold that had ever been seen in Northern Europe
Ulf the Marshal
Due to the death of King Magnus, Harald Sigurdsson became sole ruler in Norway on October 25, 1047. Of his Icelandic companions, Halldor Snorrasson returned to Iceland soon afterwards, while Ulf Ospaksson stayed with in Norway. As he enjoyed the special favor and affection of Harald, the latter made him royal marshal and feudal man and transferred him extensive properties worth 12 silver marks in the Trondelag province .
Ulf brother-in-law of the king
In addition, the king made Ulf Ospaksson his brother-in-law by giving him Jorunn Torbergsdotter, the sister of his second wife Thorunn, who was married in 1047 " more danico " and who was a daughter of Chief Thorberg Arnasson von Giske . Ulf became a member of the royal family and subsequently became the uncle of Harald's sons, Magnus II. Haraldsson (1066-1069) and Olav III. Kyrre (the peaceable) Haraldsson (1067-1093) of Norway, who ruled together as kings of Norway after Harald's death in 1066. This unusual award was recorded by the Icelandic skald stone Herdisarson in a poem mentioned in the saga - but not preserved - in honor of Marshal Ulf.
Ulf's brotherhood
Through this marriage Ulf came into brotherhood with the important chief family of the Arnassons, as well as with other magnates who played a leading role in Norway. One of his brothers-in-law was Eystein Orre , who accompanied King Harald on the campaign to England in 1066 and went down in history because he rushed to the battle of Stamford Bridge , which had already been lost after King Harald's death , as the commander of the reserve troops and “Orres Battle ”delivered a turning point, but ultimately fell against the superior strength of the troops of King Harald of England as well as his king.
Finn Arnasson († around 1065), a royal feudal man to Austratt, was a brother of Ulf's father-in-law Thorberg Arnasson. He was married to Bergljot Halfdansdotter, a niece of King Harald, was a councilor to Kings Olav II the Holy and Harald Hardrade of Norway, fought in 1030 in the Battle of Stiklestad on the side of King Olav II against the peasant army, but fell out with it King Harald then went to Denmark where he was appointed Jarl of Funen by King Sven Estridsson , fought against Harald in the Battle of the Nissa, but was captured by King Harald.
His daughter Igibjörg Finnsdatter was first married around 1040/50 with Thorfinn Sigurdsson "the Black", Jarl von Orkney († 1065) and from 1066 with Malcom III. "Canmore" King of Scotland (1058-1093) married. Through her first marriage she became the ancestral mother of the later Jarls of Orkney and in her second marriage Queen of Scotland and mother of Duncan II, King of Scotland († 1094)
Kalf Arnason (* around 990, † around 1051), another brother of Ulf's father-in-law, fought in the Battle of Sticklestad as one of the leaders of the peasant army against King Olav II and could have been the one who gave the king the fatal blow. King Harald did not forget this and later caused his death by delaying the necessary military support in a battle. He was married to the daughter of another leader of the peasant army at the Battle of Stiklestad, Thorir Hund.
A sister of Ulf's father-in-law, Ragnhild Arnesdotter, was married to another leader of the Sticklestad peasant army, Harek von Tjotta Eyvindsson († 1040), who was a son of the famous skald Eyvindr Skáldaspillir Finnsson († 940).
Battle for Denmark
Basics
The Norwegian claims to Denmark were based on a treaty of inheritance concluded around 1040 between the Norwegian King Magnus I. Olavsson and Hardiknut , King of Denmark (1035-1042) and King of England (1040-1042), which provided that the Survivor would inherit all possessions of the deceased. When Hardaknut died in 1042, Magnus I only inherited Denmark, but not England, which fell to Eduard the Confessor , who was already co-regent at the time.
Succession was also controversial in Denmark, as Sven Estridsson was the son of Estrid Svendsdatter - a sister of Canute the Great King of Denmark, Norway and England († 1035). King Magnus first made him regent, but drove him out of Denmark in 1046 shortly before his own death.
After the death of his nephew King Magnus I, Harald Hardradi saw himself as his universal heir and therefore claimed the successor in Denmark, although his nephew King Magnus had left him in his will only Norway but not Denmark, which he intended to Sven Estridsson. King Harald defied this and founded the city of Oslo as a bridgehead for supplying and preparing for raids on Danish territory. From 1047 onwards there were repeated attacks, looting and military actions in which Ulf Ospaksson was inevitably involved as King Harald's marshal.
In order to end this dispute, King Svein challenged Harald to decide the question of rule by a battle on the border between the two countries - at the mouth of the Gota River - next summer . When King Harald with his fleet and Ulf arrived at the agreed meeting point, he learned that Svein had stayed in the south, near Zealand. Since a decisive battle was not to be expected, Harald sent back the peasants' contingent and kept only the 150 ships of his feudal people with him and undertook raids in Denmark, including burning the famous trading town of Haithabu in 1050 . On the way back from the looting, the heavily loaded Norwegian ships were discovered and pursued by the Danish fleet. However, they were able to save themselves by a ruse by throwing loot and, finally, Danish prisoners into the sea, which successfully distracted the pursuers.
Battle of the Nissan
On August 9th 1062 there was a battle between the fleets of King Harald and King Sven Estridsson of Denmark off the coast of Halland (now in Sweden) at the mouth of the Nissan River .
Marshal Ulf Ospakson is explicitly named in the saga as a loyal comrade in arms of King Harald, who rowed his ship into the center of the fleet in order to be able to intervene in the sea battle right next to the king's large dragon ship. The skald stone Herdisarson, an Icelander and relative of Ulf, took part in this battle on the marshal's ship as an eyewitness and wrote the following verses about Ulf, reproduced in the saga: (translation after Hans-Jürgen Hube)
“We were all spurred on by Ulv
, King Stallare, powerfully and hard,
when we steered towards the storm.
Then the fearless man
and friend of the prince laid his boat alongside.
And the men happily affirmed that. "
Despite the numerical superiority of the Danish fleet, the battle ended in a victory for Harald, with the tactics of Jarl Hakon Ivarsson, who attacked the Danish fleet on the flank, also contributed. In the center of the sea battle, where Ulf fought alongside King Harald, King Svein's ship managed to board and eliminate the entire crew. It was therefore thought that King Sven had fallen and that ended the conflict. Only afterwards it turned out that King Sven had survived, so the fight for Denmark continued.
It was not until 1064 at a peace meeting on the Gota River that an agreement was reached on mutual recognition, by which Harald was confirmed as King of Norway and Svein as King of Denmark.
Fight against Jarl Hakon Ivarsson
Much later, through the indiscretion of a soldier, it emerged that King Svein had rescued himself in a boat and surrendered with the name "Vandrat" (the perplexed), the most powerful vassal of King Harald Hardrade, Jarl Hakon Ivarson of Oppland , who with Harald was related by marriage through his wife, Ragnhild Magnusdatter, an illegitimate daughter of King Magnus I of Norway. Hakon Ivarsson secretly made it possible for King Svein to flee to the mainland, which King Harald viewed as grave treason.
On the same day that this became known, King Harald set out with his troops to get Jarl Hakon Ivarsson under his control. This was warned, however, fled to Sweden to Stenkil Ragnvaldsson King of Sweden (1060-1066), who accepted him into his service and appointed Jarl of Värmland .
Probably with the help of his marshal Ulf Ospaksson, King Harald undertook another campaign in 1062 against Jarl Hakon Ivarsson, who was staying near Lake Vänern . It came to the battle of the Gota River, in which the Gotaland troops were defeated by Jarl Hakon and his banner fell into the hands of the Norwegians, but he himself disappeared. When Harald withdrew, a man fell from the forest, killed the bearer of Jarl Hakon's flag and disappeared with him. This made it clear that Jarl Hakon Ivarsson had survived, but died shortly afterwards.
As a result, Harald - probably with his Marshal Ulf - undertook punitive expeditions to the Norwegian provinces, which Jarl Hakon Ivarsson had supported and refused to pay the dues to King Harald and forced them to submit by force, through executions and arson.
Battle for England
The last and perhaps greatest challenge for King Harald Hardrade and for his Marshal Ulf Ospaksson was to achieve the crown of England.
Basics
The basis was the already mentioned contract of inheritance from 1038/39 between King Magnus I Olavsson and King Hardeknut, King of Denmark and England († 1042). Unimpressed by the fact that his nephew King Magnus I had already failed to preserve England, Harald saw himself as the legitimate heir of England after the death of Edward the Confessor .
The visit of another pretender, Toste Godwinson († 1066), who was an exiled younger brother of the new King Harald II Godwinson of England, was decisive for his decision to conquer England. He managed to convince Harald that his prospects were good. to gain the crown of England through a campaign. Harald therefore offered half of Norway's armed forces to travel to England. In the population there were doubts about the success of this expedition, as there were bad omens and rumors that each of the English "housecarls", ie the approximately 3,000 members of the elite troops of the King of England, would take on two of Harald's best warriors could.
As the royal marshal, Ulf was undoubtedly involved in the preparations for this important campaign, but he was not only old, but also skeptical about the outcome of this expedition, as can be seen from a poem reproduced in the saga, which Ulf is said to have composed himself:
“I would like to
draw my sword once more for my King Harald;
But his marshal
on board his longship was of little use
if one of England's warriors
can take on two Norwegians.
When I was young, my lady,
things were very different. "
This skeptical attitude of Ulf towards the invasion of England by King Harald can also be found in a modern illustration by GK-Holloway, for example.
Death and honor of Marshal Ulf
Marshal Ulf Ospaksson, ready to die for his king to the last, was not to live to see the Norwegian fleet leaving for England, because he died a few weeks earlier in 1066. How much he was trusted by King Harald after over thirty years, Comrade-in-arms and ultimately brother-in-law, shows the deep grief of the king over this loss, which Ulf paid the highest recognition at the grave: "Here lies the most loyal and loyal follower a ruler has ever had".
Ulf's character
In the saga of King Harald, Ulf's character is also discussed. Together the two Icelandic followers of King Harald, Ulf Ospaksson and Halldor Snorrasson are highlighted and described as men of extraordinary strength and excellent warriors. The difference in their characters will be discussed later. Halldor is described as particularly tall, strong and handsome and as a man who could not be disturbed by joy or pain, who spoke few words, was direct, coarse and stubborn, which the king disliked. He therefore returned to Iceland from Norway after a short time. Ulf, on the other hand, is described as extremely smart, prudent and eloquent, as very capable, loyal and honorable, which means that he was in high favor with King Harald and remained his follower until the end of his life.
Afterlife
The desire to live on in people's memories was no less then than it is today. Narratives were therefore widespread, but the poem was ideal to describe significant deeds and events unadulterated, which is why kings rewarded skalds with golden arm rings if they ensured their immortality, as the poems found their way into the collective consciousness through dissemination and for centuries in the oral Tradition lived on. Ulf himself therefore resorted to this medium, as the short quote given in the saga of King Harald shows. However, only a few lines of his own poems have survived.
However, Ulf was also mentioned by contemporary court poets, as the quotations reproduced in the saga show, whereby it is no coincidence that it was Icelanders and Ulf's relatives who remembered him, such as Stuf Thordarsson, known as Stuf the Blind, who was a grandson Ulf's aunt, Gudrun Osvifsdatter, or Stein Herdisarson, who accompanied Ulf in his boat in the battle at the mouth of the Nissa and who - presumably on the occasion of Ulf's death - is said to have written his own award poem for Ulf: "Ulfs-flokk" that but is lost. Of these poems, however, only the fragments reproduced in the saga of King Harald have survived.
The Icelandic comrade in arms, neighbor and relative Ulfs, Halldor Sorrasson, who stood by Ulf for years in the Varangian Guard and also temporarily in Norway, took care of the afterlife of the story - and with it Ulfs, because he told the story of her adventures to Iceland and with it finally brought to the knowledge of his learned descendant Snorri Sturlusson.
However, Ulf only received a lasting afterlife 200 years later from the important historian Snorri Sturlusson, as he gave his compatriot and distant relative Ulf a notable place in his history of the Norwegian kings, the "Heimskringla", written around 1230. Snorri Sturluson has linked his homeland Iceland as well as his ancestors and relatives with the life of the Norwegian kings and thus not only set a monument to them, but also indirectly to himself. Due to the dissemination of his work in many languages, the life of Marshal Ulf Ospaksson is largely understandable for many people even a thousand years after his birth.
Marriage and offspring
marriage
Ulf was King Harald III. especially close as his closest confidante, which is why King Jorunn Thorbergsdatter, the sister of his own wife " more danico " gave Thora Thorbergsdatter († around 1045) to wife and thus made him his brother-in-law.
Jorunn Thorbergsdatter came from the powerful Norwegian chief family of the Arnassons and was a daughter of Thorberg Arnasson von Giske (in the Norwegian province of Møre og Romsdal ) and his wife Ragnhild Erlingsdatter, a daughter of Erling Skjalgsson and Astrid Tryggvasdotter, who was a sister of Olav I. Tryggvason was King of Norway (995–1000).
progeny
After the saga of King Harald, Ulf left two children, Jon Ulfsson "the Strong" from Rasvold and Brigida Ulfsdotter who, according to the European family tables, left the following offspring
- Jon Ulfsson "the strong one" to Rasvold (in Vaerdal north of Trondheim)
- Erlend Jonsson “Himalde” (the defeat) to Rasvold
- Eystein Erlendsson , second Archbishop of Nidaros 1161–1188 "St Eystein Erlendsson" (* around 1120, † January 26, 1188) The archbishopric then included Norway as well as Shetland , Orkney , the Hebrides , the Faroe Islands , Iceland and Greenland . He was one of Norway's most important archbishops and was declared a saint by a Norwegian synod in 1229 , but never canonized by Rome.
- Thorberg Erlendsson
- Baard Thorbergsson Sala
- Erlend Thorbergsson
- Erlend Jonsson “Himalde” (the defeat) to Rasvold
- Brigida Ulfsdatter ⚭ Chief Hakon Finnsson von Tjotta
- Sauda-Ulf (Sheep-Ulf)
- Peter Burdensven Sauda-Ulfsson
- Sven Petersson
- Ulf Petersson "Fly" (the little one)
- Philip Petersson
- Sigrid Petersdatter ⚭ Brynjulf
- Peter Brynjulfsson zu Husastad, Archbishop of Nidaros (1225–1226)
- Peter Burdensven Sauda-Ulfsson
-
Ulvhild Håkonsdatter Thjotta places (* 1095, † 1148) was Queen of Sweden from 1117-1125, Queen of Denmark from 1130 to 1134, again Queen of Sweden from 1134 to 1148 and in 1143 the founder of the first Swedish Cistercian monastery in Alvastra, where himself was buried too. ⚭ I. around 1116 Inge II Halstensson King of Sweden (1110–1125); ⚭ II. Niels Svensson King of Denmark (1104–1134); ⚭ III. Sverker I, King of Sweden (1132–1156) descendants from their third marriage:
-
Charles VII. Sverkersson († murdered April 12, 1167), King of Sweden (1161–1167), ⚭ 1163 Kristina Stigsdotter, a daughter of Stig Hvitaledr and the Margaret Princess of Denmark, a daughter of Knud Lavard, ruler of the Abodrites .
- Sverker II Karlsson , King of Sweden (1196–1208)
- Helena Sverkersdotter (* around 1130, † after 1158), ⚭ 1156 Knut V. Magnusson , 1147 King of Jutland, 1154–1157 Co-King of Denmark, † murdered August 9, 1157
- Jon Sverkersson († murdered 1153/54), Jarl in Sweden
- Ingegerd Sverkersdotter († 1204); from 1164 prioress of the Vreta monastery
- Sune Sik Sverkersson.
- Ingrid Ylva Sunesdotter, († 1250/55), ⚭ 1195 Magnus Minnesköld , († 1208) became the ancestor of the kings of Sweden 1250-1364, the kings of Norway (1380 ) through her son Birger Magnusson, called Birger Jarl († 1266) –1387) and the kings of Denmark (1376–1387) from the house of Folkung .
-
Charles VII. Sverkersson († murdered April 12, 1167), King of Sweden (1161–1167), ⚭ 1163 Kristina Stigsdotter, a daughter of Stig Hvitaledr and the Margaret Princess of Denmark, a daughter of Knud Lavard, ruler of the Abodrites .
- Sauda-Ulf (Sheep-Ulf)
swell
- Snorri Sturluson , Heimskringla , (King Harald's Saga)
- Laxdaela Saga , Magnus Magnusson and Hermann Pálsson (Translation and Introduction), Penguin Classics, Penguin Books, London, Reprinted 1988.
- Landnámabók Landnámabók (Sturlubók) online
- Michael Psellos , Chronographia , Michael IV 40
literature
- Sigfús Blöndal (transl. Benedikt Benedikz), The Varangians of Byzantium, p. 70 Cambridge University Press, 2007, ISBN 978-0-521-21745-3
- Charles Cawley Medieval Lands; [1]
- GK-Holloway, “1066 What Fates Impose,” Troubador Publishing Ltd, 2013
- Hans-Jürgen Hube (editor, translator and commentator), Snorri Sturluson “Heimskringla” legends of the Nordic kings, “Harald the hard” (Harald's saga hardráda); Marixverlag, Wiesbaden 2006, ISBN 978-3-86539-084-4
- Magnus Magnussun and Hermann Pálsson (translators and commentators). King Harald's Saga, from Snorri Sturluson's "Heimskringla" Penguin Classics, Penguin Books, Hammondsworth, Middlesex, England, Reprinted 1971
- Georg Ostrogorsky, "Byzantine History 324 - 1453", Verlag CH Beck, Munich 2006; ISBN 978-3-406-39759-2
- Prosophography of the Byzantine World, Prosopography of the Byzantine World
- Michael Psellus , "Fourteen Byzantine Rulers"; Michael IV. Penguin Books, London 1966
- Detlev Schwennicke , European Family Tables , New Series, Volume II
Individual evidence
- ↑ Heimskringla (in English)
- ↑ Saga of King Harald, chap. 9
- ↑ Magnus Magnusson and Hermann Pálsson, King Harald's Saga; Cape. 9 and note 1 on page 55 in: Penguin Classics, reprint 1971, Penguin Books Ltd, Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England
- ↑ Magnus Magnusson and Hermann Pálsson (1971) Introduction to King Harald's Saga , page 11, King Harald's Saga
- ↑ Magnus Magnusson and Hermann Pálsson (translation and notes) Laxdaela Saga , Chapter 1 and family table in the appendix; Penguin Classics, Penguin Books Reprint 1988
- ↑ a b Laxdaela Saga chap. 32
- ↑ Detlev Schwennicke: European Family Tables, New Series , Volume II, Plate 79.
- ↑ a b c Laxdaela Saga chap. 56
- ↑ Laxdaela Saga, chap. 50
- ↑ Magnus Magnusson and Hermann Pálsson: Laxdaela Saga , Note 1 to Chapter 32
- ↑ Detlev Schwennicke: European Family Tables New Series , Volume II, Plate 106
- ↑ Magnus Magnusson and Hermann Palsson, (1971) map in the appendix
- ↑ Laxdaela Saga chap. 78
- ↑ Magnus Magnusson and Hermann Pálsson: Laxdaela Saga (1988) op.cit . Chronological overview p. 267
- ↑ Laxdaela Saga chap. 73
- ↑ Laxdaela Saga chap. 77
- ↑ a b Saga of King Harald, chap. 9
- ↑ Harald's Saga, Chapter 9
- ↑ Michael Psellos : Fourteen Byzantine Rulers, Michael IV. Penguin Books, London 1966, pp. 87 f.
- ^ Georg Ostrogorsky: Byzantine History 324 - 1453 . Verlag CH Beck, Munich 2006, ISBN 978-3-406-39759-2 , page 278.
- ↑ Saga of King Harald, chap. 5
- ^ Georg Ostrogorsky: Byzantine History , p. 279
- ↑ Saga of King Harald, chap. 11
- ↑ Mafgnus Magnusson and Hermann Pálsson: King Harald's Saga. Cape. 11 Note 2
- ↑ Stuf was a grandson of Gudrun Oswifdotter, aunt Ulfs, a son of Thord Thorwaldsson, called Thord Katzen, the son of Gudrun from her first marriage with Thorwald Halldorsson
- ↑ The Saga of King Harald, Chapter 12
- ↑ Saga of King Harald, Note 2 to Chapter 11 of the saga
- ↑ chap. 7th
- ↑ Saga of King Harald, chap. 10
- ↑ Saga of King Harald, chap. 10
- ↑ Georg Ostrogorsky, op. Cit. P. 278
- ↑ Magnus Magnusson and Hermann Pálsson: King Harald's Saga , (1971) chap. 11, note 1
- ↑ Sigfús Blöndal (transl. Benedikt Benedikz): The Varangians of Byzantium , Cambridge University Press, 2007, ISBN 978-0-521-21745-3 , p. 70.
- ↑ Magnus Magnusson and Hermann Pálsson: Harald's Saga , chap. 11, note 1
- ^ Georg Ostrogorsky: Byzantinische Geschichte 324 - 1453 , Verlag CH Beck Munich, 2006, ISBN 978-3-406-39759-2 , p. 271.
- ↑ Michael Psellos; Chronographia , 4th Book of Michael IV 40
- ↑ Prosophography of the Byzantine World: Petros Deljan
- ↑ Michael Psellos: Chronographia , 4th book
- ↑ It does not appear in Byzantine sources, so its possible relationship to the Macedonian dynasty cannot be proven. Charles Cawley Mediaeval Lands: Byzantium 395-1057 online
- ↑ Saga of King Harald, chap. 13
- ↑ Saga of King Harald, chap. 14th
- ^ Translations by Hans-Jürgen Hube in Snorri Sturlusson "Heimskringla", Matrixverlag, Wiesbaden, 2006, ISBN 3-86539-084-6
- ↑ Saga chap. 14th
- ↑ chap. 14th
- ↑ Michael Psellus, Chronographia, Book 5
- ↑ Michael Psellos Chronographia: Michael IV 50
- ↑ The identity of this alleged niece of the empress could not be established
- ↑ a b Saga of King Harald, chap. 16
- ↑ chap. 17th
- ↑ Harald's saga, chap. 22nd
- ↑ Saga of King Harald, chap. 23
- ↑ Saga of King Harald, chap. 24
- ↑ Harald's Saga, chap. 37
- ↑ Saga of King Harald, chap. 37
- ↑ Harald's Saga, chap. 93
- ^ Charles Cawley Medieval Lands online
- ↑ Saga of King Harald, chap. 34
- ↑ Saga of King Harald, chap. 35
- ↑ Stein's great-grandfather was a brother of Ulf's grandfather
- ↑ Saga of King Harald, chap. 61
- ↑ Hans Jürgen Hube (editor, translator and commentator) Snorri Sturlusson, "Heimskringla" sagas of the Nordic kings, Harald the Harte, chap. 61, Matrix Verlag, 2006, ISBN 978-3-86539-084-4 , p. 534.
- ↑ Saga of King Harald, chap. 71
- ↑ Saga of King Harald, chap. 50
- ↑ Saga of King Harald, chap. 64
- ↑ Saga of King Harald, chap. 69
- ↑ Saga of King Harald, chap. 72
- ↑ Saga of King Harald, chap. 73
- ↑ Saga of King Harald, chap. 79 Note 1
- ↑ Saga of King Harald, chap. 79, p. 138 (free translation of the English version by Magnus Magnusson and Hermann Pálssonm)
- ^ GK-Holloway: 1066 What Fates Impose , Troubador Publishing Ltd, 2013 Google Book
- ↑ Saga of King Harald, chap. 79
- ↑ Saga of King Harald, Chapter 9
- ↑ Saga of King Harald, chap. 36
- ↑ a b Saga of King Harald chap. 37
- ↑ Magnus Magnusson and Hermann Pálsson (translators and commentators), "King Harald's Saga" chap. 12, note 1
- ↑ Magnus Magnusson and Hermann Pálsson (translators and commentators): King Harald's Saga chap. 37; Note 4
- ↑ Detlev Schwennike : European family tables , Verlag JA Stargardt, Marburg, 1984 New Series, Volume II, Plate 107
- ^ Magnus Magnusson and Hermann Pálsson (translators and commentators); Laxdaela Saga, note 1 to chapter 50; Penguin Books 1969
- ↑ This marriage is not mentioned in the sagas and does not appear in the European Family Tables NF Volume II Plates 105 and 107, so it is based on assumptions. Therefore only the descendants are listed here who appear in the European family tables NF Volume II Plate 107, as well as Ulvhild Håkonsdatter as a possible daughter
- ↑ Your descent from Ulf Ospaksson is not recorded in the sagas.
Web links
- Heimskringla English translation of Snorri Sturluson's text English translation of Snorri Sturluson's text
- Michael Psellos, Chronographia , Michael IV 40
See also
- Olav II the Saint
- Magnus I.
- Harald Hardrade
- Laxdaela Saga - Wikisource
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Úlfr Óspaksson |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Ulfr Ospaksson Stallare; Ulf Ospaksson, Ulf Ospaksson the Marshal |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Marshal of Norway |
| DATE OF BIRTH | around 1000 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Iceland |
| DATE OF DEATH | 1066 |
| Place of death | Norway |