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Permission to use Heritage History documents or images for commercial OLD BRIDGE AT OEREBRO. purposes, or more information about our collection of traditional history resources can be obtained by contacting us at [email protected] Original Copyright 1904 by Charles Morris 2 Distributed by Heritage History 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS ON THE FIELD OF LEIPSIC ................ 121 CHARLES X AND THE INVASION OF DENMARK .................... 125 HOW KING ROLF WON HIS BRIDE .......................................... 4 CHARLES XII, FIREBRAND OF SWEDEN ............................... 127 RAGNAR LODBROK AND HIS WIVES AND SONS ...................... 8 ENGLISH INVADERS AND THE DANISH FLEET ...................... 134 HAROLD FAIR-HAIRED FOUNDS NORWAY ........................... 12 A FRENCH SOLDIER BECOMES KING OF SWEDEN ............... 136 GORM THE OLD, DENMARK'S FIRST KING ............................ 17 THE DISMEMBERMENT OF DENMARK ................................. 140 ERIK BLOOD-AXE AND EGIL THE ICELANDER ...................... 19 NORWAY AND SWEDEN ....................................................... 142 THE SEA-KINGS AND THEIR DARING FEATS ......................... 24 HAAKON THE GOOD AND THE SONS OF GUNHILD ................. 27 EARL HAAKON AND THE JOMSVIKINGS................................. 30 HOW OLAF, THE SLAVE-BOY, WON THE THRONE ................ 35 OLAF DETHRONES ODIN AND DIES A HERO .......................... 39 OLAF THE SAINT AND HIS WORK FOR CHRIST ...................... 43 CANUTE THE GREAT, KING OF SIX NATIONS ........................ 48 MAGNUS THE GOOD AND HAROLD HARDRULER .................. 52 SVERRE, THE COOK'S SON, AND THE BIRCHLEGS .................. 57 THE FRIENDS AND FOES OF A BOY PRINCE ........................... 62 KING VALDEMAR I AND BISHOP ABSOLON ........................... 66 THE FORTUNES AND MISFORTUNES OF VALDEMAR II .......... 68 BIRGER JARL AND THE CONQUEST OF FINLAND .................... 72 THE FIRST WAR BETWEEN SWEDEN AND RUSSIA ................ 76 THE CRIME AND PUNISHMENT OF KING BIRGER ................... 78 QUEEN MARGARET AND THE CALMAR UNION...................... 82 HOW SIR TORD FOUGHT FOR CHARLES OF SWEDEN ............. 84 STEN STURE'S GREAT VICTORY OVER THE DANES ............... 88 HOW THE DITMARSHERS KEPT THEIR FREEDOM ................... 92 THE BLOOD-BATH OF STOCKHOLM ...................................... 94 THE ADVENTURES OF GUSTAVUS VASA ............................... 98 THE FALL OF CHRISTIAN II, THE TYRANT ........................... 106 THE WEST GOTHLAND INSURRECTION ............................... 110 THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF KING ERIK...................................... 115 Original Copyright 1904 by Charles Morris 3 Distributed by Heritage History 2009 CHAPTER I brought up at the court of his foster-brother King Ring of Denmark. His elder son Kettil he kept at home, but did not love him much on account of his pride and obstinacy. So it happened HOW KING ROLF WON HIS BRIDE that when Götrik was very old and like to die, he decided that Rolf, who was very tall and strong, and very fit and able, should At one time very many centuries ago, we cannot say just succeed him, though he was the younger son. All agreed to this, when, for this was in the days of the early legends, there reigned even Kettil, so Rolf was sent for and made king of Gothland, over Upsala in Sweden a king named Erik. He had no son and which he ruled with skill and valor. only one daughter, but this girl was worth a dozen sons and daughters of some kings. Torborg she was named, and there One day Rolf and Kettil, who loved each other as were few women so wise and beautiful and few men so strong brothers should, were talking together, and Kettil said that one and valiant. She cared nothing for women's work, but was the thing was wanting to the glory and honor of Rolf's rule, and that equal of any man of the court in riding, fighting with sword and was a queen of noble birth and goodly presence. shield, and other athletic sports. This troubled King Erik very "And whom have you in mind?" asked Rolf. much, for he thought that the princess should sit in her maiden "There is Torborg, the king of Upsala's daughter. If you chamber like other kings' daughters; but she told him that when can win her for wife it will be the greatest marriage in the north." she came to succeed him on the throne she would need to know how to defend her kingdom, and now was the time for her to To this advice Rolf would not listen. He had heard of learn. how the shrewish Torborg treated her suitors, and felt that wooing her would be like taking a wild wolf by the ears. So he That she might become the better fitted to rule, she asked stayed unmarried for several years more, though Kettil often him to give her some province to govern, and this he did, spoke of the matter, and one day said to him contemptuously: making her queen of a third of his kingdom, and giving her an army of stout and bold warriors. Her court was held at Ulleraker "Many a man has a large body with little courage, and I in Upland, and here she would not let any one treat her as a fear you are such a one; for though you stand as a man, you do woman, dressing always in men's clothing and bidding her men not dare to speak to a woman." to call her King Torborg. To fail in this would be at risk of their "I will show you that I am a man," said Rolf, very angry heads. As her fame spread abroad, there were many who came to at these words. court her, for she was at once very beautiful and the heiress of a great kingdom. But she treated all such with laughter and He sent to Denmark for his foster-brother Ingiald, son of contempt. It is even said that she put out the eyes of some, and King Ring, and when he came the two set out with sixty armed cut off the hands and feet of others, but this we do not like to men for the court of King Erik in Upsala. believe. At any rate, she drove away those who troubled her too One morning, about this time, Queen Ingerd of Upsala much with lance and spear. So it was plain that only a strong and awoke and told King Erik of a strange dream she had dreamed. bold man could win this warlike maiden for his wife. She had seen in her sleep a troop of wolves running from At that time King Götrik who ruled in Gothland, a Gothland towards Sweden, a great lion and a little bear leading country in southern Sweden, had sent his younger son Rolf to be them; but these, instead of being fierce and shaggy, were smooth-haired and gentle. Original Copyright 1904 by Charles Morris 4 Distributed by Heritage History 2009 "What do you think it means?" asked the king. which would be no easy matter. The king promised not to "I think that the lion is the ghost of a king, and that the interfere but would do no more. white bear is some king's son, the wolves being their followers. I Soon after this Rolf and his men arrived at Ulleraker, fancy it means that Rolf of Gothland and Ingiald of Denmark are reaching there when the whole of Torborg's court were coming hither, bent on a mission of peace, since they appear so assembled in the great hall. Fearing a hostile reception, Rolf tame. Do you think that King Rolf is coming to woo our took wary precautions. He choose twelve of his stoutest men, daughter, Torborg?" with himself and Ingiald at their head, to enter the court with "Nonsense, woman; the king of so small a realm would drawn swords in their hands. If they were attacked, they were to show great assurance to seek for wife so great a princess as our go out backward fighting, but they were bidden to conduct daughter." themselves like men and let nothing alarm them. The others remained outside, keeping the horses in readiness to mount. So when Rolf and his followers came to Upsala King Erik showed his displeasure, inviting him to his table but giving When the party entered the hall, Rolf at their head, all him no seat of honor at the feast.