- Thorolf Kveldulfsson
Thorolf Kveldulfsson was the oldest son of
Kveldulf Bjalfasson and the brother of the Norwegian/Icelandicgoði andskald Skalla-Grimr . Thorolf is a hero of the early part of "Egils saga ". According to that work, he served as a retainer ofHarald I of Norway and fought on the latter's own ship at theBattle of Hafrsfjord . After Harald's conquest of Norway Thorolf became his governor over the northern region of Norway and was responsible for collecting tribute from theSaami to the north. In this capacity he took part in an expedition by KingFaravid ofKvenland against theKarelians .Thorolf became involved in an inheritance dispute with the brothers Hraerek and Harek, who were distant kinsmen of his wife Sigrid. The brothers slandered him to King Harald, who grew increasingly suspicious of Thorolf (the situation was exacerbated by the refusal of Thorolf's father Kveldulf to swear allegiance to the king.) Ultimately, fearful of Thorolf's growing power, King Harald had him surrounded in his hall at
Sandness and killed.Skalla Grimr went with
Olvir Hnufa , his maternal uncle, to King Harald after Thorolf's murder. HE demanded compensation, which resulted in his being chased out of the king's court. Together with his father Kveldulf, and their kinsman Ketil Trout, Skalla-Grimr took revenge by killing those of Harald's servants who took part in Thorolf's killing before fleeing toIceland .References
*Thorsson, Örnólfur, et al. "Egil's Saga." "The Sagas of the Icelanders." trans: Bernard Scudder (Penguin Classics, 2000).
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.