OLD ARTICLES

Our family relation to Harald Hårfagre

Our Bøyum family is (as almost everybody in Norway) related to the old viking kings. Our link goes through one of Harald Hårfagre (Harald Fairhair) daughter (Ålov Haraldsdtr.). This shortened story from the Heimskringla (The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway) gives us the link:

King Harald sent his men to a girl called Gyda, daughter of King Eirik of Hordaland, who was brought up as foster-child in the house of a great "farmer" in Valdres. The king wanted her for his concubine; for she was a remarkably handsome girl, but of high spirit withal. Now when the messengers came there, and delivered their errand to the girl, she answered, that she would not throw herself away even to take a king or her husband, who had no greater kingdom to rule over than a few districts. "And me thinks," said she, "it is wonderful that no king here in Norway will make the whole country subject to him, in the same way as Gorm the Old did in Denmark, or Eirik at Upsala." The messengers thought her answer was dreadfully haughty, and asked what she thought would come of such an answer; for Harald was so mighty a man, that his invitation was good enough for her. But although she had replied to their errand differently from what they wished, they saw no chance, on this occasion, of taking her with them against her will; so they prepared to return. When they were ready, and the people followed them out, Gyda said to the messengers, "Now tell to King Harald these my words. I will only agree to be his lawful wife upon the condition that he shall first, for my sake, subject to himself the whole of Norway, so that he may rule over that kingdom as freely and fully as King Eirik over the Swedish dominions, or King Gorm over Denmark; for only then, methinks, can he be called the king of a people." Now came the messengers back to King Harald, bringing him the words of the girl, and saying she was so bold and foolish that she well deserved that the king should send a greater troop of people for her, and inflict on her some disgrace. Then answered the king, "This girl has not spoken or done so much amiss that she should be punished, but rather she should be thanked for her words. She has reminded me," said he, "of something which it appears to me wonderful I did not think of before. And now," added he, "I make the solemn vow, and take God to witness, who made me and rules over all things, that never shall I clip or comb my hair until I have subdued the whole of Norway, with scat, and duties, and domains; or if not, have died in the attempt." Guthorm thanked the king warmly for his vow; adding, that it was royal work to fulfil royal words.

The king started to gather Norway into one kingdom. There were a lot of battles against kings and local leaders, but after the BATTLE IN HAFERSFJORD he was the king of whole Norway.

When King Harald had now become sole king over all Norway, he remembered what that proud girl had said to him; so he sent men to her, and had her brought to him, and married her. And these were their children: Ålov -- she was the eldest; then was their son Hrorek; then Sigtryg, Frode, and Thorgils. King Harald had many wives and many children. That's the reason why so many people can claim that they are related to the king.

Ålov are our link to King Harald Hårfagre. For more information about this story and our link to the viking king Harald Hårfagre (born aprox. 850 and died 931 or 932).

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Additional information:

If you are interrested in this subject it's a good idea to se my page about Harald Hårfagre and his saga.