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hood
however was not yet strongly enough entrenched to execute their decree
against a marriage made according to the law of the land but contrary to the
canons of the Church.
Very
little is said in the Sagas of Göngu Hrolf, the
first jarl of Normandy, for he, like all those who left their country to
settle in foreign lands, was forgotten by the scalds at home, as these
did not take part in their expeditions. The sagas confirm each other in
regard to him. But the little we have concerning him is extremely
interesting, as his descendants conquered England
and part of France.
All the different Sagas agree in calling him a son of Rognvald
jarl of Norway.
[The Viking Age, by Paul B. Du Challeau, vol.
2, page 452.] For example one saga says: -
"Rognvald Maera jarl was a
very great friend of King Harald, and was much
valued by him. Rognvald was married to Hrolf Nefja's daughter Hild, and
had by her sons Hrolf and Thorir. . " The Battle song of Einar, Earl of Orkney, fixes their relationship so
beautifully that it will bear repetition: -
Where
is the spear of Hrollaug, where is
Stout
Rolf Ganger's bloody spear?
I
see them not, yet never fear,
For
Einar will not vengeance spare
Against
his father's murderers though
Hrollaug and Rolf are somewhat
slow
And
silent Thorir sits and dreams
At
home, beside the mead-bowl's stream.
There
have been quite a few historians of Rollo and his times, beginning with Dudo. They have, however, all failed to distinguish
between Rollo and the Norman adventurers who preceded him.
It
is important therefore to have an accurate chronology of events contemporary
with the time of Rollo and his conquest of Normandy. The following is the
chronology as accepted in Norway,
and it can be depended on as being accurate in sequence and time of
events, to wit: 853. Is the year of Harald Haarfager's birth. 863. Harald succeeded to
his father Halfdan the Black. 864. One Gardar went to Iceland, which had been
discovered in 861 by Nadodd. 867. Flakke went to Iceland. 875. Ingulf went as a colonist to occupy Iceland.
885. The battle in Hafursfiord, by which Harald Haargafer became
supreme king of Norway.
895. Harald Haarfager's
expedition to Orkney. The banishment of Rolf Ganger from Norway is
placed in this year. 898. Eric Bloodyaxe was
born. 923. Hakon, called afterwards Athelstan's
foster-son, born. 931. Hakon sent to England.
936. Death of Harald Haarfager.
937. Hakon, Athelstan's foster-son, king. 941.
Athelstan king of England, died. 963. Hakon,
Athelstan's foster-son, killed in battle. [The Chronicles of the Kings of
Norway, vol. 1, Ed. 1844, with notes by Lang, page 384.]
Rollo
was the beneficiary of a large number of Norman expeditions which had
harassed France,
particularly the expeditions of his near cousins Halfdan
and Gorm, and as the Norman historians wanted
to make Rollo appear as a great shining light, they attributed to him
events that happened before he was born. The result is there are two Rollos; one a mythical personage who represents all
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