3 Norse Tales of Bravery You Might Not Have Heard About-
1. Rauðr did not yield
In Olaf Trygvasson's tyrranical reign over the kindgom of Norway, he tried to convert the whole land by force: refusal could result in full outlawry or death.
During one of his purges, he personally went to a landed man, Rauðr who was known to be heathen, in the night and the king appeared over his bed. Quote:
"Rauðr shouted in protest, saying that he would never believe in Christ, and blaspheming greatly. Then the king became angry and said that Rauðr should die the worst death. Then the king had him taken and bound face upwards on a beam, had a piece of wood put between his teeth so as to open up his mouth. Then the king had a heather-snake taken and brought to his mouth … the snake wriggled into Rauðr’s mouth and after that into his throat and tore out through his side. There Rauðr lost his life." (Source: Olaf Trygvasson's saga by Snorri Sturlusson)
Just one of the many who accepted torture over conversion, but the gruesome choice makes it stand out.
2. Thjódólf the Strong (Berserker at Stamford Bridge, recorded by Snorri)
As the combined force of England and the treacherous Jarl Tostig neared Harðraða's split and tired army, the norse king needed to buy time for reinforcements to arrive. According to the saga, Thjódólf, a court poet volunteered to hold the bridge at Stamford by himself only using an axe. There he took down around 40 men, being the most impressive last stand in history, before one englishman floated in a barrel and took him from below with a spear.
3. Arinbjörn's honesty (Egill's Saga)
An Icelandic viking-hero, Egill got shipwrecked off the coast in England. There the short-tempered Eirik Bloodaxe ruled, somebody who hated this man badly. Luckily, an old friend of his was around named Arinbjörn and inside the hall where the king was, he said Egill had come to England only to make peace and asked the ruler to spare Egill's life or he would be forced to take his as well. Eirik agreed only because of the friendship with Arinbjörn, and at the cost of a heroic poem made by the Icelander which was to be read in the morning.
Despite a loud bird hindering progress with the poetry, Arinbjörn helped secretly and with more help later Egill got out of England alive.
3 Norse Tales of Bravery You Might Not Have Heard About-
1. Rauðr did not yield
In Olaf Trygvasson's tyrranical reign over the kindgom of Norway, he tried to convert the whole land by force: refusal could result in full outlawry or death.
During one of his purges, he personally went to a landed man, Rauðr who was known to be heathen, in the night and the king appeared over his bed. Quote:
"Rauðr shouted in protest, saying that he would never believe in Christ, and blaspheming greatly. Then the king became angry and said that Rauðr should die the worst death. Then the king had him taken and bound face upwards on a beam, had a piece of wood put between his teeth so as to open up his mouth. Then the king had a heather-snake taken and brought to his mouth … the snake wriggled into Rauðr’s mouth and after that into his throat and tore out through his side. There Rauðr lost his life." (Source: Olaf Trygvasson's saga by Snorri Sturlusson)
Just one of the many who accepted torture over conversion, but the gruesome choice makes it stand out.
2. Thjódólf the Strong (Berserker at Stamford Bridge, recorded by Snorri)
As the combined force of England and the treacherous Jarl Tostig neared Harðraða's split and tired army, the norse king needed to buy time for reinforcements to arrive. According to the saga, Thjódólf, a court poet volunteered to hold the bridge at Stamford by himself only using an axe. There he took down around 40 men, being the most impressive last stand in history, before one englishman floated in a barrel and took him from below with a spear.
3. Arinbjörn's honesty (Egill's Saga)
An Icelandic viking-hero, Egill got shipwrecked off the coast in England. There the short-tempered Eirik Bloodaxe ruled, somebody who hated this man badly. Luckily, an old friend of his was around named Arinbjörn and inside the hall where the king was, he said Egill had come to England only to make peace and asked the ruler to spare Egill's life or he would be forced to take his as well. Eirik agreed only because of the friendship with Arinbjörn, and at the cost of a heroic poem made by the Icelander which was to be read in the morning.
Despite a loud bird hindering progress with the poetry, Arinbjörn helped secretly and with more help later Egill got out of England alive.