Battle of Bråvalla
The Battle of Bråvalla is said to have taken place in the first half of the 8th century on the plains of the Swedish province of Östergötland . The battle is mentioned in several Norse sagas such as the Hervarar saga , in the Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus and on the rune stone by Rök . According to various statements, the conflict, also known as the "Battle of Nations", is said to have occurred between 715 and 730 or around the year 740. However, today's historians doubt that the battle actually took place. In the various sagas there are also different information about the location of the event.
Harald Hildenand was King of the Danes and Svear , but could only take care of Denmark and Östergötland. Therefore he put his nephew Sigurt Ring (Sigurd Hring) as sub-king who guarded Västergötland and Svealand . In a very simplified way, Harald was called the Danish king and Sigurt the Swedish king.
Harald grew very old (150 years according to some sagas) and was afraid he would not end up in Valhalla , the realm of the dead of successful fighters. He therefore equipped a fleet and allegedly offered Sigurt a final battle in which Harald fell on his chariot.
According to other traditions, the war and battle between Harald and Sigurt broke out because Sigurt refused to accept the role of a vassal king and wanted to replace Danish supremacy. The official reason for the war was that Sigurt had covered attacks by looting gangs in Harald's realm from his domain. After the battle Sigurt conquered the country of the Danes, but could not consolidate his rule there.
