Eyvind Lambi

Eyvind Lambi or "Eyvind Lamb" was a Norwegian viking and hersir of the late ninth and early tenth centuries, known from, among other sources, "Egil's Saga". Eyvind was the son of the viking Berle-Kari and brother-in-law of Kveldulf Bjalfason, who married Eyvind's sister Salbjorg Karadottir; he was thus uncle to Skallagrim and Thorolf Kveldulfsson and great uncle to the famous poet Egil Skallagrimsson. Eyvind also had a brother named Olvir Hnufa, who became a famous skald at the court of King Harald I of Norway. ["Egil's Saga" § 1 (Thorsson 3). In Egil's Saga, Olvir and Eyvind appear to be roughly the same age as Thorolf, despite being from different generations of the same family.]

Viking career

Like his brother Olvir, Eyvind joined his nephew Thorolf Kveldulfsson on a number of viking expeditions after the latter received a longship as a gift from his father Kveldulf. They gained a great deal of profit from such voyages. ["Egil's Saga" § 1 (Thorsson 3).] At a thing in Gaular, Olvir fell in love with Solveig Atladottir, the daughter of a jarl in Fjordane named Atli the Slender. The jarl refused Olvir permission to marry the girl, but he was so smitten that he abandoned his viking life to be near her. Eyvind continued to voyage with Thorolf for some time thereafter. ["Egil's Saga" § 2 (Thorsson 4).]

Harald's retainer

Together with Thorolf, Eyvind made his way to the court of King Harald of Vestfold, who was in the process of conquering the Norwegian kingdoms and uniting Norway under his rule. His brother Olvir had already joined the court as a skald. ["Egil's Saga" § 8 (Thorsson 12).] However, after swearing allegiance to King Harald, Eyvind returned home with his father Kari. ["Egil's Saga" § 8 (Thorsson 13).] With Olvir and Thorolf, Eyvind fought at the Battle of Hafrsfjord (c. 872/885) aboard Harald's flagship. ["Egil's Saga" § 9 (Thorsson 14).] Eyvind is thereafter not mentioned until the death of Thorolf at the hands of King Harald (c. 900), at which time he administered to those wounded in the battle. Eyvind assisted Thorolf's widow Sigrid in administering her estates. ["Egil's Saga" § 22 (Thorsson 37).] He subsequently married Sigrid on King Harald's orders. "Egil's Saga" relates that Eyvind and Harald "remained friends for the rest of their lives." ["Egil's Saga" § 22 (Thorsson 37).]

Family

With Sigrid Eyvind had two children: Finn Eyvindsson "the Squinter" and Geirlaug Eyvindsdottir. Finn married Gunnhild, daughter of a jarl named Halfdan and maternal granddaughter of King Harald. Their son was Eyvind the Plagiarist, court skald to Haakon the Good. ["Egil's Saga" § 22 (Thorsson 38).]

Notes

References

*Thorsson, Örnólfur, et al. "Egil's Saga." "The Sagas of the Icelanders." trans: Bernard Scudder (Penguin Classics, 2000).