Kálfr Árnason (modern NorwegianKalv Arnesson; c. 990 – 1051) was an 11th-century Norwegian chieftain who played a major role both in defeating King Olaf Haraldsson (later named St. Olaf) at the Battle of Stiklestad and in bringing back his young son Magnus and raising him to the throne.
Kálfr was a son of Árni Arnmódsson or Armódsson and Þora Þorsteinsdóttir. Finn Árnasson (died c. 1065) and Þorbergr Árnasson (died c. 1050) were his brothers.[1]
In the 1020s and 1030s, he was one of the most powerful chieftains in Norway. He was married to Sigrid Þorisdóttir, sister of Thorir Hund, and his sister Ragnhild was married to Hárek of Tjøtta.[1] According to the earlier, summary histories of Norway such as the Ágrip, he opposed King Olaf as early as the Battle at Nesjar in 1016; in contrast, Snorri Sturluson's Heimskringla depicts him as an early ally of the king, who according to Snorri bestowed on Kálfr both his lands in the Trøndelag and his wife Sigrid after killing the heathen Olvir of Egge, to whom Sigrid had previously been married.[1][2] According to the one contemporary source which mentions Kálfr, the Kálfsflokkr, by the Icelandic skáld Bjarni gullbrárskáld, he was at Olaf's side in the battle against Erling Skjalgsson. After the latter's death, Olaf was forced to flee Norway in 1028, and Kálfr supposedly went to England and pledged his support to Cnut the Great of Denmark, who became king of Norway that year.[1][3]
When Olaf returned in 1030 to attempt to regain his kingdom, according to the skaldic poem, Kálfr was one of his strongest opponents. According to the sagas, however, his brothers remained loyal to Olaf. Scholar Claus Krag sees echoes of Judaskissing Jesus in the scenes in Heimskringla between Kálfr and Olaf.[1] At the Battle of Stiklestad, he, Thorir Hund and Hárek of Tjøtta led the farmer army which defeated Olaf, and Heimskringla depicts either him or his kinsman Kálfr Árnfinsson as giving the former king one of his three fatal wounds, a neck wound;[4] however, the poet merely describes him as "[fighting] ... stout of heart ... until that fallen lay the liege-lord", and according to another skáld, Sigvatr Þórðarson, Thorir Hund struck the fatal blow.[1]
Cnut had installed his son Svein as his regent in Norway, together with Svein's mother Ælfgifu, known in Norway as Álfífa. They rapidly became unpopular, and it is likely that Kálfr and other chieftains who had supported Cnut had expected more in return.[1] In about 1034, he and Einar Thambarskelfir, another former supporter of Cnut, went to Garðaríki (now Russia) and brought back Olaf's then 11-year-old illegitimate son, Magnus, who was installed in 1035 as king and later became known as Magnus the Good.[1][5]
Kálfr was initially the most influential advisor of the young king, but later fell into disrepute with him, probably because of Einar's ambition to be his most powerful advisor;[1] according to Heimskringla, at Einar's urging Magnus forced Kálfr to incriminate himself in his father's death by showing him exactly where he had been killed.[6][7] He spent a number of years abroad, in Ireland and the Hebrides. In 1050, Magnus' successor, Harald Hardrada, asked him to return, but only to send him to fight in Denmark, leading to his death in about 1051. His brother Finn regarded the king as having treated Kálfr deceitfully and broke with him over it.[1]
^Timothy Bolton, The Empire of Cnut the Great: Conquest and the Consolidation of Power in Northern Europe in the Early Eleventh Century, Northern world 40, Leiden/Boston: Brill, 2009, ISBN9789047443308, p. 263.
^Ólafs saga Helga, trans. Hollander, ch. 228, p. 515.
^Claus Krag, "The Early Unification of Norway", in The Cambridge History of Scandinavia, ed. Knut Helle, Volume 1 Prehistory to 1520, Cambridge: Cambridge University, 2003, ISBN9780521472999, pp. 184–201, p. 195.
^Magnúss saga ins Góða, trans. Hollander, ch. 14, p. 551.
^Frank MacLynn, 1066: The Year of the Three Battles, 1998, repr. London: Pimlico, 1999, ISBN9780712666725, p. 107.
External linksedit
Bjarni gullbrárskáld, Kálfsflokkr text at Skaldic Arts
April 14, 2024
kálfr, Árnason, modern, norwegian, kalv, arnesson, 1051, 11th, century, norwegian, chieftain, played, major, role, both, defeating, king, olaf, haraldsson, later, named, olaf, battle, stiklestad, bringing, back, young, magnus, raising, throne, with, young, mag. Kalfr Arnason modern Norwegian Kalv Arnesson c 990 1051 was an 11th century Norwegian chieftain who played a major role both in defeating King Olaf Haraldsson later named St Olaf at the Battle of Stiklestad and in bringing back his young son Magnus and raising him to the throne Kalfr Arnason with the young Magnus at Stiklestad illustration by Halfdan Egedius for the Saga of Magnus the Good in HeimskringlaKalfr was a son of Arni Arnmodsson or Armodsson and THora THorsteinsdottir Finn Arnasson died c 1065 and THorbergr Arnasson died c 1050 were his brothers 1 In the 1020s and 1030s he was one of the most powerful chieftains in Norway He was married to Sigrid THorisdottir sister of Thorir Hund and his sister Ragnhild was married to Harek of Tjotta 1 According to the earlier summary histories of Norway such as the Agrip he opposed King Olaf as early as the Battle at Nesjar in 1016 in contrast Snorri Sturluson s Heimskringla depicts him as an early ally of the king who according to Snorri bestowed on Kalfr both his lands in the Trondelag and his wife Sigrid after killing the heathen Olvir of Egge to whom Sigrid had previously been married 1 2 According to the one contemporary source which mentions Kalfr the Kalfsflokkr by the Icelandic skald Bjarni gullbrarskald he was at Olaf s side in the battle against Erling Skjalgsson After the latter s death Olaf was forced to flee Norway in 1028 and Kalfr supposedly went to England and pledged his support to Cnut the Great of Denmark who became king of Norway that year 1 3 When Olaf returned in 1030 to attempt to regain his kingdom according to the skaldic poem Kalfr was one of his strongest opponents According to the sagas however his brothers remained loyal to Olaf Scholar Claus Krag sees echoes of Judas kissing Jesus in the scenes in Heimskringla between Kalfr and Olaf 1 At the Battle of Stiklestad he Thorir Hund and Harek of Tjotta led the farmer army which defeated Olaf and Heimskringla depicts either him or his kinsman Kalfr Arnfinsson as giving the former king one of his three fatal wounds a neck wound 4 however the poet merely describes him as fighting stout of heart until that fallen lay the liege lord and according to another skald Sigvatr THordarson Thorir Hund struck the fatal blow 1 Cnut had installed his son Svein as his regent in Norway together with Svein s mother AElfgifu known in Norway as Alfifa They rapidly became unpopular and it is likely that Kalfr and other chieftains who had supported Cnut had expected more in return 1 In about 1034 he and Einar Thambarskelfir another former supporter of Cnut went to Gardariki now Russia and brought back Olaf s then 11 year old illegitimate son Magnus who was installed in 1035 as king and later became known as Magnus the Good 1 5 Kalfr was initially the most influential advisor of the young king but later fell into disrepute with him probably because of Einar s ambition to be his most powerful advisor 1 according to Heimskringla at Einar s urging Magnus forced Kalfr to incriminate himself in his father s death by showing him exactly where he had been killed 6 7 He spent a number of years abroad in Ireland and the Hebrides In 1050 Magnus successor Harald Hardrada asked him to return but only to send him to fight in Denmark leading to his death in about 1051 His brother Finn regarded the king as having treated Kalfr deceitfully and broke with him over it 1 References edit a b c d e f g h i j Claus Krag Kalv Arnesson Norsk biografisk leksikon in Norwegian olafs saga Helga ch 110 Lee M Hollander trans Heimskringla History of the Kings of Norway The American Scandinavian Foundation Austin University of Texas 1964 repr 1995 ISBN 9780292730618 p 368 Timothy Bolton The Empire of Cnut the Great Conquest and the Consolidation of Power in Northern Europe in the Early Eleventh Century Northern world 40 Leiden Boston Brill 2009 ISBN 9789047443308 p 263 olafs saga Helga trans Hollander ch 228 p 515 Claus Krag The Early Unification of Norway in The Cambridge History of Scandinavia ed Knut Helle Volume 1 Prehistory to 1520 Cambridge Cambridge University 2003 ISBN 9780521472999 pp 184 201 p 195 Magnuss saga ins Goda trans Hollander ch 14 p 551 Frank MacLynn 1066 The Year of the Three Battles 1998 repr London Pimlico 1999 ISBN 9780712666725 p 107 External links editBjarni gullbrarskald Kalfsflokkr text at Skaldic Arts Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kalfr Arnason amp oldid 1173841974, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
