Augvald

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King Augvald (Ögvaldr) was a semi-legendary figure from the Norse sagas. He reportedly lived at Karmøy, controlling the realm that included parts of what is today Hordaland and southern Norway. He may have lived between 500-650 AD.

Augvald is noted for his honoring of a holy cow and drinking its milk to gain power. He may have claimed that Ymir, the giant from whose body the world was created, was his ancestor. Probably Ymir was identified with Fornjot, the legendaric founder of various royal lines.^{[citation needed]} There may have been a connection with his ceremonial behaviour and the story about Audhumbla, the cow that gave milk to Ymir.

King Augvald was the son of king Rongnvald and originally ruled an area between Hjelmeland and Fyresdal. He is considered as a great conqueror. Two of his daughters followed him in every war. He won a large territory after fighting many sea battles. Then he settled at Karmøy.

Augvald and the cow were killed at a battle against his rival King Ferking of western Karmøy. When the two daughters saw that, they jumped in a river and drowned.

Augvald himself was the ancestor of West coast kings such as Hjør, Hjørleiv "the women lover" and Halv.

It is said that king Olav Tryggvason dug up two mounds at Karmøy, finding the bones of a man in the one and the bones of a cow in the other.

The place Avaldsnes is allegedly called after king Augvald.

Some of this is related in the Flateyjarbok, The saga of Halv and Halvsrekkene and The saga of Olav Tryggvason, as well as Heimskringla.