As far as can be ascertained, the Trnnders’ tribal league stood
almost exclusively in peaceable relations with the outside world,
and only had a small share in the great development of power which
took place in the later iron age, through the viking expeditions.
These warlike expeditions began at the end of the eighth
century. Through them, the Norwegian tribes which had not yet
attained to the harmony characteristic of the Tronders, came into
immediate contact with neighbouring and far-distant races living
in conditions developed under the influence of the Graeco-Roman
and Christian culture. Warriors from the west set out on expeditions
to the British Isles, where they founded new kingdoms without
breaking off the intercourse with their native country. Warriors
also went from the south or east country, and, in conjunction
with armies from Denmark and Sweden, laid waste the land of
the Franks.
I t is possible that this movement was accelerated by the
revolutions in connection with the establishment of the Norwegian
monarchy. In the east country, in the districts nearest to the
Kristiania Fjord, during the first half of the ninth century, several
shires were united under one royal race, the Ynglings, who came
from Vestfold, but traced their descent from the old Upsala kings
and from the god Frey. Under one of the Vestfold kings, the
able and beloved H a l v d a n Sva r t e («the Swarthy»), who died
about the year 860, their kingdom was extended to the districts
round and to the north of the Kristiania Fjord (Viken and Op-
landene). Halvdan’s son, H a r a l d , afterwards called H a r a l d
H a a r f a g r e («the Fair-haired»), had first to secure the kingdom
he had inherited from his father, and thereupon crossed the
Dovre Mountains to Trondhjem, which he succeeded in- subjugating.
He then took up his abode in this well-populated and
excellently organised community, and made thence one expedition
after another against the western shires, whose opposition was
at last completely broken down at the great battle of Hafrsfjord
(872). From this time is reckoned, Norway’s union into one kingdom.
In order to strengthen the monarchy, Harald attached to
himself the mightiest men in the various shires by conferring upon
them positions of dignity, such as herser or lendermaind, as they
were afterwards called. At the same .time he limited the influence
of the yeomen, and compelled them to pay taxes. But by so doing,
he- caused great discontent, and many who could not become
reconciled to the new order of things, left the country. Some of
them joined the vikings, who were scouring the seas, and some
settled down on the Faroe Isles, or the islands off the coast of
Scotland, and thence made frequent inroads upon the Norwegian
coast. One summer — about the year 875 Harald himself
set out on a warlike expedition to the Orkneys, the Shetland
Islands and the Hebrides, which he subjugated and placed under
the government of earls (jarler). The emigration from Norway
and the Norwegian settlements in the-west subsequently took the
direction of Iceland, which had shortly before been discovered by
Norwegian sailors. During the two succeeding generations, an
active emigration went on to this lonely island, where a free
political community was developed after the pattern of the old
conditions in th e ' mother-country.
In his old age, Harald Haarfagre marred his great achievement
by dividing the kingdom between his sons in the year 930. I t
was to be governed, however, by a supreme sovereign. For quite
a century, this occasioned disputes between the various branches
of the royal house who fought for the throne. I t also gave occasion
for the interference of the Danish, and to some extent of
the Swedish king in the affairs of the kingdom, and was the origin
of endeavours to re-establish the former order of things. But with
all this schism, the achievement of Harald Haarfagre made itself
apparent in the growing consciousness in the mind of the nation
that it constituted one people. •
Three years before the death of Harald, his son E r i k B l o d o k s
(«liloodv-axe») had become the supreme sovereign of-the country. In
934, however, he had to yield to his youngest brother H a a k o n , who
had been brought np in England by King Athelstane, and was supported
by the Tronders. Haakon’s reign was marked by a series of meritorious
reforms. The old Thing-association of the Tronders was extended by
the union with it of several shires; and the common Thing-place was
now removed to Frosta ‘ (Frostathmg). The 0rething, however, continued
to exist as well, and it , came to have a special importance
as the- place where the oath of allegiance to the Norwegian kings
was taken. The west-country Thing too, which originally consisted
of the three shires that joined one another at the month of the
Sogne Fjord, was enlarged by the addition of three other shires.
They had common laws, and a common Thing-place at Gulen
(Grulathing). The defence of the country was also now organised