Previously on this blog, we have discussed the lifetime of the first king of Norway. As promised, to follow that post we proceed with Harald Fairhair's son, Eric Bloodaxe. Who was this king who received this surname? What can be expected of him? Like his father, he too was a viking, but what were his deeds? These were the questions that motivated us in order to attempt to bring a discussion about this royal man.
Eric (in Norse language written as Eirik) was probably the oldest, but certaintly the favourite, son of Harald Fairhair, first King of all Norway. His mother is allegedly a woman of noble birth named Ragnhildr in rika, who some sources claim to be the daughter of Eric of Jutland. But there is not much to know about his childhood. What comes to us is that he began as Viking at the age of 12. Following one of the expeditions, he was married to Gunnhild, who was the daughter of Gorm inn Gamili ("the Old") of Denmark (whom we have already discussed on this blog as well). Sources claim Gunnhild as a witch, and the reasons for such we can only speculate.
Afterwards, we come to circumnstances that contributed to why Eric was known as "Bloodaxe". As it explains below:
But this did not mean Eric had a long and prosperous reign in Norway; even though he had his brothers killed, one did not. Apparently a half younger brother named Hakan was living under protection of the king Aethelstan of England, who, in turn, seemed to have been friends of the predecessor king of Norway. As we can see in the following paragraph:
To keep the crown of Northumbria was, nevertheless, just as difficult as it was in Norway. King Eadred fought quite a resistance against the Viking's dominion over that english area. On that matter, it is said that:
To end this post, here's a "skaldic poem Eirkismàl ('The Lay of Eric')", in which "describes Eric's heroic entrance into Valhalla and his welcome by the gods after his death in Stainmore":
Eric (in Norse language written as Eirik) was probably the oldest, but certaintly the favourite, son of Harald Fairhair, first King of all Norway. His mother is allegedly a woman of noble birth named Ragnhildr in rika, who some sources claim to be the daughter of Eric of Jutland. But there is not much to know about his childhood. What comes to us is that he began as Viking at the age of 12. Following one of the expeditions, he was married to Gunnhild, who was the daughter of Gorm inn Gamili ("the Old") of Denmark (whom we have already discussed on this blog as well). Sources claim Gunnhild as a witch, and the reasons for such we can only speculate.
Afterwards, we come to circumnstances that contributed to why Eric was known as "Bloodaxe". As it explains below:
"It is said that Erik secured his importance by gradually killing all of his brothers. These actions probably gave him his nickname 'Bloodaxe' and in one of the Latin texts dated to 1200s, Erik is called "fratris interfector"- brother killer."The problem of heritance which we have mentioned when discussing the reign of Harald I of Norway is explained by the great number of children Harald left. Although they were given lands to be overlords, Eric's authority was contested by them and so Eric resolved this issue by killing them. Hence the nickname.
But this did not mean Eric had a long and prosperous reign in Norway; even though he had his brothers killed, one did not. Apparently a half younger brother named Hakan was living under protection of the king Aethelstan of England, who, in turn, seemed to have been friends of the predecessor king of Norway. As we can see in the following paragraph:
"Erik's reign in Norway was apparently hard and unpopular, and his royal power was challenged by his one surviving, younger half-brother Hakan, who is said to have grown up in England at King Aethelstan's court. Hakan sailed to Norway to claim their inheritance, and Erik fled to England, where he was occupied with raids in Scotland and around the Irish Sea. Ancient tales say he was welcomed by Aethelstan because of the friendship between his father, Harald Fairhair, and Aethelstan, who appointed him ruler of the Viking kingdom of Jorvik Northumbria. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and various Irish chronicles, Erik became King of Northumbria (c.947-94), that is, several years after the death of Aethelsatan, but a later chronicle of William of Malmesbury mentions diplomatic relations between Athelstan and Harald Fairhair that fit with the fairy tale tradition."However began the conflict for the crown of Norway, it is clear that Eric, even if he had inherited any warrior skills of his father, could not hold it from Hakan and that way he went to exile in York (then written and spoken as Jorvic) within the realm of Northumbria. This is why Eric was also regarded as King of Northumbria as much as he was King of Norway. Even in exile, accounts claim that Eric's children inherited the norwegian crown.
To keep the crown of Northumbria was, nevertheless, just as difficult as it was in Norway. King Eadred fought quite a resistance against the Viking's dominion over that english area. On that matter, it is said that:
"Archbishop Wulfstan of York reneged on his pledge to Edred of England and hastened to offer his alliegience to Eric. Northumbria had previously been bitterly fought over between the Saxon kings and the Hiberno-Norse line of descendants from Ímair, kings of Dublin."Even so, apparently this Saxon king won the crown over Eric's as it states below:
"As the English army headed south, Eric Bloodaxe's army caught up with its rearguard and made a great slaughter at Castleford. Eadred threatened to destroy Northumbria in revenge, and the Northumbrians turned their back on Eric and made reparations to the English king.
After another change of mind they accepted Olaf Sihtricsson as their ruler, only for Eric to drive him out and take over again. Finally in 954, Eric Bloodaxe was expelled for the second and final time and King Eadred of Wessex and England gained control."Finally, this lead us to conclude that
"More careful examination of Eric's story suggests that things were rather more complicated. Despite his reputation as warrior, Eric apparently abandoned Norway to his brother Hakon [...] and he was subsequently driven out of Northumbria at least twice. The sagas represent him very much as a henpecked husband, and the likely origin of his nickname is both murkier and less glorious than the obvious explanation of his prowess in battle."However was the end of Eric, killed in battlefield or dead after he was driven out of Northumbria for the second time, he, like his father before him, was a man of his days. A man who lived accordingly his times, perhaps he would have succeeded better not being a ruler, but that is how history of monarchy is made: sometimes strenght is just not enough. Regardless, Eric left a reputation and by some means he earned respect if not inspired fear in his contemporaries.
To end this post, here's a "skaldic poem Eirkismàl ('The Lay of Eric')", in which "describes Eric's heroic entrance into Valhalla and his welcome by the gods after his death in Stainmore":
What dream is that? quoth Odin,
I thought to rise ere day-break
To make Valhall ready
For troops of slain;
I roused the champions,
Bade them rise swiftly
Benches to strew,
To wash beer-flagons,
The Valkyries to pour wine
As a prince were coming
Sources:
-http://www.ancientpages.com/2016/09/29/famous-viking-warrior-eric-bloodaxe-haraldsson-king-of-norway/
-http://www.historyofyork.org.uk/themes/viking/eric-bloodaxe
-http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/vikings_8.html
-http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/vikings/bloodaxe_01.shtml
-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Bloodaxe
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