The Siege of the Rock of Tunsberg (1201), from the Sverrissaga
The Saga of King Sverri (Sverrissaga) is the only source still existing that chronicles the life and rule of Sverri Sigurdarson (1177-1202), son of King Sigurd Haraldsson. This saga can be considered a good historical source for this period. According to the prologue, "the beginning of the book is written according to the one that Abbot Karl Jonsson first wrote when King Sverri himself sat over him and settled what he should write." The later portions of this Saga came from eyewitnesses of the many battles and sieges that took place during the King's reign. The following text deals with the final campaign of King Sverri, in which he besieges the Baglar forces under Hreidar Sendiman. One interesting note to this episode is the arrival of 200 ribbalds (perhaps mercenaries), sent by King John of England.
King Sverri besieges the Bagals under Hreidar
Sendiman on the rock of Tunsberg [1201].
The next spring King Sverri called out the levy everywhere from the north of the land, and sailed with a great host east to the Vik. Hreidar abode on the rock in Tunsberg with scarcely two hundred men; Hallvard Bratti was there and many other captains of companies, but their young King and Sigurd Earlsson were up in the country with a large force. King Sverri sailed east over the Fold and visited the yeomen in the summer, and took fines from them; all the folk submitted to him except the Skeynir. After this he sailed up the river [Raum-Elf] to Borg, and had his cutters dragged past the waterfall Sarp, and rowed up the river. Then he marched his men up into Skaun and burnt all the homesteads. The yeomen then came to be reconciled and paid fines, and the King went back to his ships and sailed north across the Fold to Tunsberg. This was about the time of the later Mariumass.
King Sverri encamped about the
rock and hindered the Bagals from leaving it. He set up tent-booths east of the
rock, and between the rock and the town, and north to the sea. He had a trench
dug outside his camp, from the bay in the north to Skeliasteins-sound in the
south, and erected palisades inside the trench; all this was done to guard
against sudden attacks of the land host. The King had his ships laid up on shore
and protected. He divided the work of the siege among his force. The Gests were
in the north by the road which comes down from the Froda-as; Petr Steypi was
their chief, and they took buildings from the town below and removed them there,
and it was called Gestabakki. The King slept for the most part in the town, and
a large force with him.
Siege of the rock of Tunsberg. Unsuccessful attempt
to storm the rock. Other devices.
King Sverri arranged his force for an assault on the rock. On the south his men ascended with his standard to the shelf of the rock, and the Gests advanced against the northern blockhouse. The Bagals were prepared for the defence, and as the Birkibeins marched up the rock, they hurled down on them stones and missiles. The Birkibeinn came quite close to the blockhouse, and men on both sides thrust at one another with spears. The Bagals in the blockhouse cast stones that flew so fast and were so big that they could not be withstood; they crushed both shields and steel caps, and the Birkibeins retired wounded to the shelf. The King then perceived that the vantage-ground was such that the rock could not be taken by assault. The Bagals then were jubilant and scornful in their language.
After the King had abode a long time by the rock he dispatched men into all the districts round to collect for him war-contributions and provisions, and the Birkibeins succeeded easily in this, so long as they were not prevented by ice from using the ships.
King Sverri thought it a grievous hurt that no one was found to tell him of the preparations on the rock. So he devised this plan. The church ladders in the town were taken and fastened to one another, and placed against the south side of the tower of Lafranskirk. A man then climbed up to the part of the roof that looked away from the rock. Clasping with his arms the ball at the top, he saw all that was to be seen on the rock. The Bagals observed him, and Hreidar Sendiman shot at him; he sent a first arrow into the ball, and a second instantly after, which struck it between the man's hands. With that he loosed his hold, and the roof sheltered him from more shots. Then he came down and told the King what he had seen. The Bagals had dragged cutters up the rock; their well was a short distance below the northern blockhouse, and they had turned one of the cutters keel upwards, so that they might easily go to the well from the rock. The blockhouses were built on four pillars; on these were fixed sills and a raised platform; below, between the pillars there were hurdles.
One night during autumn, when it was pitch dark, the King sent a man on the rock whose name was Svein Munki; he took with him a cable, and carried two spears, one in his hand, the other, a short-shafted one, in his belt. Having ascended the rock, he fastened the cable round one of the pillars as high as he could. At the other end of the cable were more than a hundred men. Svein struck the cable as a sign to the men that the one end was fast, and they seized the cable and pulled hard. The blockhouse began to sway considerably, and the Bagals inside were greatly terrified; but at that moment the rope broke asunder. Svein Munki walked up the rock, and on the east side were two watchmen, both asleep. Through one he thrust his spear; the other sprang up, and Svein thrust at him as he stood, and thus slew them both. He then went down the rock on the east side and back to the Birkibeins.
King Sverri planned many devices
to win the rock. He had a great wicker shield made, which he fixed on stout
pillars, and had it taken right under the blockhouse; but it was not easy to
manage, and the device came to nothing. Every day the Birkibeins went within
range, and the two armies exchanged shots, but the Bagals always had the
advantage in the fight.
Siege of the rock of Tunsberg. The garrison send for
help to Ingi and Sigurd Earlsson.
Ingi, chief of the Bagals, Sigurd Earlsson, Arni
Bishops-kin, and many captains of companies besides, with the main force of the
Bagals, were in the Uplands, and at times in the Vik. These chiefs had made an
agreement with Hreidar that the one force should come to the assistance of the
other if there was need at any time. But Hreidar and his men, being closely
beset by King Sverri, thought the help of their men was slow in coming; they
felt themselves placed m great danger, and determined to send messengers to Ingi
and the other chiefs. For this purpose one night they took a little eight-oared
cutter and dragged it over to the west side of the rock near the sea; and having
laid oars in it and fastened ropes to it, they swung it off the rock by means of
levers. Ten men went on board, under the command of Thord Dokka, and the cutter
was lowered by the ropes to the sea. This was an exploit of great danger,
especially so because there were Birkibeins in cutters opposite the rock who
kept watch there every night. The Bagals dashed their oars into the water and
rowed hard over the sound past the Birkibeins, and sprang on shore within
Smiorberg. The Birkibeins rowed after them and captured the empty cutter, but
nothing more. The Bagals went on their journey till they came to Ingi and Sigurd,
and gave the message of Hreidar with tidings of what had happened. The Bagals
declared that they heard only that about the Birkibeins which gave them no
longing for an encounter, and said that King Sverri would turn away from the
rock as soon as snow came or frost. The morning after the Bagals had escaped
from the rock, King Sverri was told of it, and said to his men, "However
weary you are of sitting around the rock, you see now that they are more weary
still of sitting on it."
King John of England sends King Sverri two hundred
Ribbalds.
In the summer when King Sverri was in Bergen, John, King of the English, had sent him two hundred warriors of those called Ribbalds. They were swift of foot as deer, excellent bowmen, very brave, and did not shrink from evil deeds. King Sverri despatched them to the Uplands, and set over them, as their chief, a brother of Sigurd Skialgi, named Hidi, a man little praised by others. The Ribbalds came down into Haddingiadale, marched by the upper road over Soknadale, and down into Thelamork. Wherever they came they slew every one, young and old, women as well as men. They killed all the cattle they could, and even dogs and cats and every living thing in their way; they burnt, too, all the homesteads they came near. But if people gathered to encounter them, they fled to the fells and inaccessible places, and ever appeared where no one expected them. They plundered homesteads which no hostile force had ever before visited, and committed outrages the like of which no man knew. They came to King Sverri when he was besieging the rock, and ever marched boldly to attack the Bagals, and exchanged shots
with them. One day the Bagals hit a Ribbald with an arrow
so that he was instantly slain. The others uttered a loud yell at the sight and
shot at the Bagals, running at one time towards the rock, and at another from
it. Soon after, one of them shot Viking Nefia with an arrow, which struck him in
the throat on the left side and caused his death. He had been a very great
warrior.
Siege of the rock of Tunsberg: Stratagem of King
Sverri.
Thord Dokka was sent from the rock because Hreidar felt
that he needed help from Ingi and Sigurd. King Sverri had been told of this, and
he said: "The Bagals will expect them to come, should they wish to be moved
by the message. We will try one trick upon them. At night, in the thick
darkness, our men shall march past the Froda-as with a large force, and take
care that neither the Bagals nor the townsmen get to know. The Birkibeins who
are left behind shall listen for the sound of the trumpet, and seize their
weapons. Then both divisions shall draw up in battle array and make as though
you were fighting, but, of course, forbear hurting one another. You who go from
the town shall fall before those who are coming to it. Make as much noise as you
can and act as if you were having the best of it, but in the end let all turn
away and flee. I expect the Bagals will then come down from the rock; so we
shall place some of our troops in ambush close to it, and ‘trolls will come
between house and yeomen’.” This
stratagem was carried out. In the morning as soon as it became light, the
watchmen of the Bagals observed from the northern blockhouse a large and
well-equipped force marching along the way down by the Froda-as. They went at
once and roused Hreidar, telling him those must be their fellows coming. Hreidar
rose up and bade his men take arms; and when they were armed they went to the
northern blockhouse. Thence they saw two standards, one with the force
descending the ridge, and the other with the force that went from the town; they
heard also much blowing of trumpets. Next, swords were brandished, and they saw
that the Birkibeins fled, and some fell. The Bagals then urged Hreidar to quit
the rock and help their men, and not let the Birkibeins come again within the
trench. Hreidar answered: "Let us see first how they deal with one another.
If the Birkibeins are chased to the trench, they will be slow in getting over
the palisades, and our men will slay as many of them as they like." And
again he said: “This flight proceeds strangely. It seems to me as if they were
playing a game. Do you observe how they seek dry spots to fall on, or else fall
on their shields? And do you see any marks of blood on their weapons or clothes?
No! neither do I," he said. " This must be a trick of Sverri."
When the King saw that the Bagals were on their guard and did not quit the rock,
he turned back to his camp with all his force.
Siege of the rock of Tunsberg: Speech of King Sverri.
And now the winter came on with frost and sheets of ice, and the Birkibeins found it harder to rake together provisions, as the yeomen grew more difficult to take by the horns. Their fare became much worse, and a general murmur arose throughout the host, and nearly all the levies wished to return home. The King held a council, and spoke and said: "I hear now that my men consider this a wanton siege, and that it would be good to be at home, and happy would he be that should go home. To murmur thus against your King is unworthy of warriors, even if you don't fill your stomachs as labourers at the flail. You are unlike those men of the olden time of whom the story is told, how they besieged their foes to destroy them so stubbornly that their clothes rotted from them, and they devoured the sheaths of their swords and the upper leathers of their shoes, and abandoned not the siege till they were victorious. Though I take these men as an example, there is a nearer one to mention in the Bagals on the rock, who will not surrender, and show more steadfastness and stubbornness than you. Now, let me hear no longer of any murmuring, for here we shall sit whether it seems to you fair or foul, blithe or harsh, crooked or straight, until we have the Bagals in our power."
As the winter advanced, food on
the rock diminished, and Hreidar saw that they would soon be at their last gasp
in the struggle if no help came from Ingi and Sigurd. But no answer came to
their message, no answer save one which the Birkibeins made them every day, that
their King Ingi would soon come with a mighty force to free them. To the Bagals
this seemed a mockery, which it was.
The Bagals send a force into Bogn to divert King
Sverri from the siege.
After this, Hreidar caused a letter to be written to Ingi
and Sigurd, in which he said that though in evil plight they might hold the rock
until Nicolas-mass; and he begged them with fair words to come with help. There
was now a hard frost, and a sheet of ice lay from the rock over the bay. The
next night Hreidar despatched a man from the rock, north, with the letter. The
man had a pair of snow-skates and slipped away on them, keeping close to land
until he was beyond the trench; and the Birkibeins knew nothing of it till he
was quite gone. He went on his journey and came with the letter to Ingi, in
Hamar-Kaupang. Ingi held a meeting of his captains and had the letter read
before them. Sigurd Earlsson thus answered: "We have roamed about in bands
a while, we have ever lost our men through King Sverri, and we have caused much
loss of life among his men. We shall not now rush headlong to certain death
though Hreidar would point the way. We shall try another plan. Let us march
north to the fiords and procure ships; and Sverri will hear such news of us that
he will think it more needful to defend the land there than to besiege a few men
on the rock." This important counsel pleased the whole meeting.
The Bagals went on their journey
north into the dales, and came down into Raumsdale, where they procured cutters,
and hastened south, coastwise. When they were opposite Sogn-Sea they turned into
it, pulling hard against the wind. In the night they reached Vik, where they
captured a cutter and all that it contained. Jon Stal was on it, and he intended
to sail south to Bergen. Jon sprang on shore and escaped with all his men into
the wood, and the yeomen supplied them with weapons and clothes.
The Birkibeins defeat the Bagals in Sogn.
Next morning nearly fifty men of the Bagals went on shore
to the bath at Hof. They were seen to go by Jon Stal, who was on the fell with
seventeen men; and when he thought the moment favourable he hurried down to the
homestead. The Bagals saw him coming, and escaped; but he followed them down to
Aldinhagi and there slew one of them. Then he turned back, and the next day
began a march overland south to Bergen. In Bergen he found Einar Kings-kin and
Dagfinn, and they made ready straightway the force they had got, took shipping,
and sailed north to Sogn. Here they learnt that the Bagals were staying in
Lusa-Kaupang, and had summoned an Assembly of the men of Sogn and called out the
levy. Ingi was there accepted as King. Gunnthiof was the name of the yeoman who
gave him the name of King, and the Bagals consented to his words. The Birkibeins
rowed in the night into Sogn, and came to Kaupang at dawn. They went straight to
the quays, sounded their trumpets, and marched up boldly. The Bagals seized
their weapons and fled; some of them were slain. There was a man named Biorn
Furulegg, a vagrant. In the fell above Lusa-Kaupang, in a mountain-shed, he came
upon Arni Bishops-kin, who was sorely wounded and had not been able to escape
further. Biorn slew him for the clothes he wore and his money, and concealed the
deed. The body was found the following spring. The Bagals ran up into Kaupangs-fell
and down to Svaforni; some fled to Folka, whence they sailed to Lustr on
ferry-boats and smaller vessels. The Birkibeins seized their ships, a great part
of their weapons and clothes, and all their money. The Bagals joined one another
in Lustr, and then passed over the fell down to Ardale. Jon Stal heard of them
and went there after them, but the Bagals had then gone beyond the lake, and the
next morning they marched over the fell to Valdres, and so on to the Uplands.
Surrender of the rock of Tunsberg
This text is from Sverrissaga: The Saga of King Sverri of Norway, translated by J. Sephton (London, 1899). For the full text of this work, please go Saganet Website.