Bjørn Farmann

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Bjørn Farmann was a son of Harald Fairhair, first king of Norway. When Harald died, his kingdom was divided again between his sons, and Bjørn resided mostly at Tønsberg in the county of Vestfold. Today, he is considered the founder of that city, and the central downtown street is named after him. Bjørn lost his life in a feud with his brother Eirik, and is buried in a mound outside Tønsberg, in Sem, close to the manor of the Jarlsberg family. Through his son Gudrød Bjørnsson, he is the great-grandfather of Olaf II of Norway.

Snorri Sturluson tells this of Bjørn, in an exstract from Heimskringla, Harald Harfager's Saga:

King Harald and Svanhild's son Bjorn, who went by the name Bjorn Farmann, ruled over Vestfold at that time, and generally lived at Tunsberg, and went but little on war expeditions. Tunsberg at that time was much frequented by merchant vessels, both from Viken and the north country, and also from the south, from Denmark, and Saxland. King Bjorn had also merchant ships on voyages to other lands, by which he procured for himself costly articles, and such things as he thought needful; and therefore his brothers called him Farman (the Seaman), and Kaupman (the Chapman). Bjorn was a man of sense and understanding, and promised to become a good ruler. He made a good and suitable marriage, and had a son by his wife, who was named Gudrød Bjørnsson. Eirik Blood-axe came from his Baltic cruise with ships of war, and a great force, and required his brother Bjorn to deliver to him King Harald's share of the scat and incomes of Vestfold. But it had always been the custom before, that Bjorn himself either delivered the money into the king's hands, or sent men of his own with it; and therefore he would continue with the old custom, and would not deliver the money. Eirik again wanted provisions, tents, and liquor. The brothers quarrelled about this; but Eirik got nothing and left the town. Bjorn went also out of the town towards evening up to Saeheim. In the night Eirik came back after Bjorn, and came to Saeheim just as Bjorn and his men were seated at table drinking. Eirik surrounded the house in which they were; but Bjorn with his men went out and fought. Bjorn, and many men with him, fell. Eirik, on the other hand, got a great booty, and proceeded northwards. But this work was taken very ill by the people of Viken, and Eirik was much disliked for it; and the report went that King Olaf would avenge his brother Bjorn, whenever opportunity offered. King Bjorn lies in the mound of Farmanshaug at Saeheim.

[edit] External links

• Bjorn Farmann was the name given to the Norwegian magazine Farmann