Tryggve the Pretender

Tryggve "the Pretender" (Old Norse: "Tryggvi Ólafsson", Norwegian: "Tryggve Olavsson") was a viking chieftain from "west across the sea" (probably from the Norse settlements in Britain and Ireland) who lived in the early eleventh century. His story appears in the "Heimskringla", "Morkinskinna", and in the "Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar" composed by Oddr Snorrason. According to the "Heimskringla", in 1033, during the lordship of Canute the Great's son Svein Alfífuson over Norway, Tryggve invaded the country. He claimed to be the son of Olaf Tryggvason and his wife Gyda. [Hollander 534.] His enemies scoffed at this claim, asserting that Tryggve was instead the bastard son of a priest; however, Snorri Sturluson refers to Olaf's relatives in Viken as Tryggve's "kinsmen"; moreover, the author of "Morkinskinna" has Harald III of Norway asserting kinship with the then-deceased Tryggve, indicating that at least some people believed Tryggve's claim [Hollander 534-5; "cf." Gade 255.]

When word reached Svein and his mother Aelgifu of Northampton that Tryggve's invasion was imminent, they summoned the landholders of Halogaland and the Trondheim district to join the royal army in resisting Tryggve. The jarl Einar Tambarskjelve, angered by the policies of Canute's government, remained at home and refused to fight for Svein. Likewise, neither the powerful landowner Kalf Arnason nor any of his brothers would fight for Svein.Hollander 535.] [Shepton 464.]

Svein and his forces made their way south to Agder, believing that Tryggve would attempt to slip through the Skagerrak and join his supporters in Viken. Tryggve, however, landed instead in Hordaland, then sailed to Rogaland to attack Svein's navy. The two fleets met off the island of Bokn, where only a few years before Erling Skjalgsson had been defeated and killed.

During the battle, according to reports recorded by Snorri, Tryggve hurled javelins at his enemies with both hands simultaneously, a feat that Olaf Tryggvason had been known for. He famously exclaimed "Thus did my father teach me to say mass," simultaneously asserting his descent from King Olaf and mocking his enemies' allegation that his father was a priest. Despite his celebrated resourcefulness, Tryggve's forces were overwhelmed by Svein's fleet and Tryggve himself was killed. [Hollander 535; Shepton 464; Jones 385.]

A famous poem, the "Tryggvaflokkr", was written about Tryggve. Excerpts of the poem, usually attributed to Canute's court poet Sighvat Thordarson, were preserved in the "Heimskringla":

:"For fame eager, forth fared":"from the north King Tryggve,":"whilst Svein from the south forth ":"sailed to join the battle":"From fray not far was I.":"Fast they raised their banners":"Swiftly then-rang sword 'gainst":"sword-began the bloodshed." [Hollander 536. This poem also appears in Oddr Snorrason's longer saga. Shepton 464.]

Another poem recorded in "Heimskringla", by an unknown skald, mentioned the battle against Tryggve:

:"That Sunday morning, maiden,":"much unlike it was to":"days when at wassail women":"wait on men with ale-drink:":"when Svein the sailors bade his":"sloops of war to fasten":"by their bows, with carrion":"battening hungry ravens." [Hollander 536.]

An account preserved in the "Morkinskinna" relates that Tryggve was actually killed by a farmer after the battle. Many years later, when Harald Hardrada was king of Norway, he passed by the site of the battle. The king met an old friend of his who pointed out the alleged assassin. After questioning the purported killer and hearing him confess, King Harald had the man hanged, citing the familial bond between him and Tryggve and his duty to avenge the latter's death. [Gade 255]

Notes

References

*Gade, Kari, transl. "Morkinskinna : The Earliest Icelandic Chronicle of the Norwegian Kings (1030-1157)." Cornell Univ. Press, 2000.
*Jones, Gwyn. "A History of the Vikings". Oxford Univ. Press, USA, 2001.
*Oddr Snorrason."The Saga of King Olaf Tryggwason". Shepton, J., transl.
*Snorri Sturluson. "Heimskringla: History of the Kings of Norway." Lee Hollander, transl. Univ. of Texas Press, 2002.