Battle of Hjörungavágr

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Battle of Hjörungavágr

The hailstorm during the battle
Date Circa 986
Location Coast of Sunnmøre
Result Norwegian victory
Belligerents
Norway Jomsvikings
Commanders
Hákon Sigurðarson
Eiríkr Hákonarson
Sveinn Hákonarson
Sigvaldi Strut-Haraldsson
Vagn Ákason
Búi digri
Strength
180 ships 60 ships

The Battle of Hjörungavágr (Modern Norwegian Hjørungavåg) is a semi-legendary naval battle that took place in the late 10th century between the Jarls of Lade and a Danish invasion fleet led by the fabled Jomsvikings. The battle is described in the Norse kings' sagas—such as Heimskringla—as well as in Jómsvíkinga saga and Saxo Grammaticus' Gesta Danorum. Those late literary accounts are fanciful but historians believe that they contain a kernel of truth. Some contemporary skaldic poetry alludes to the battle, including verses by Þórðr Kolbeinsson and Tindr Hallkelsson.

[edit] References

  • Megaard, John. Hvor sto "Slaget i Hjörungavágr"? : Jomsvikingeberetningens stedsnavn og Sæmundr fróði. [1]
  • Slupecki, Leszek P. Facts and Fancy in Jómsvíkinga saga. (abstract) [2]

Coordinates: 62°21′30″N 6°06′00″E / 62.35833, 6.1