Read Ebook: The Viking Age. Volume 2 (of 2) The early history manners and customs of the ancestors of the English-speaking nations by Du Chaillu Paul B Paul Belloni

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If a man married a girl without the consent of her parents or guardians, or made a runaway match, the husband was outlawed.

"In the autumn ships arrived at Iceland from Norway, bringing the report that Bj?rn had run away with Thora, without the consent of her kinsmen, and that the king had for that reason outlawed him from Norway" .

"The king and the jarl agreed that Thyri should have the possessions in Vindland which Gunnhild had owned, and also other large possessions as dower . Thyri wept sorely, and went, very much against her will. When they came to Vindland B?risleif made his wedding-feast and married Thyri, but she would neither take food nor drink from the heathens for seven days" .

The dowry included movable property and lands.

If the betrothed woman was injured or wronged in any way the man had the same right to gain redress as if she were his wife.

The virtue of a betrothed woman was very carefully guarded.

The breaking of a betrothal by either party was severely punished, and the laws on the subject were strict.

The betrothed who without valid reason did not fulfil her engagement, and the giver-away who kept back the betrothed woman, were outlawed. If she of her free will took another man than her betrothed, both she and the giver-away were outlawed.

"If a man betroths a woman he shall have her married within twelve months if no necessity hinders" .

"The giver-away of a woman may keep her from her betrothed man for twelve months" .

"If she wants to break the betrothal within twelve months, and says she has been betrothed against her will, he can use his witnesses against her words and get her. If he lacks witnesses then she and also her father and mother, or their nearest kinsmen if they do not exist, shall assure it is against her will with an oath, and pay the betrothed man as much as was promised. If this takes place after the wedding she loses her third" .

"If the man to whom a woman is betrothed becomes sick he shall send word half a month before to the man who has betrothed the woman that he will not come to the wedding on account of his health, and the woman need not be brought home to him though it was agreed, and the reasons must be told. Then the wedding shall not be before the same time next year, unless the man wants it before, and then word must be sent half a month or more before, and he shall keep the wedding at his sole cost. If he does not recover in the next twelvemonth the betrothal is dissolved, unless both wish otherwise" .

The j?tun Thrym had got Thor's hammer and would not give it back, unless Freyja were married to him. Thor was disguised as Freyja, and sent as a bride to Thrym; he got hold of the hammer, and crushed Thrym and the j?tnar.

Then said Thor, The mighty ?s, The Asar will me Effeminate call If I let myself Be tied in bridal linen.

Then they tied Thor In the bridal linen, And the great Brisinga-necklace; Let keys hang From his belt, And woman's clothes Hang round his knees, And broad stones Be on his breast, And fastened the cloth On his head with skill.

The mind laughed In the breast of Hl?rridi As the hard-minded one Saw the hammer; Thrym killed he first, The lord of Thursar, And thrashed The J?tun's whole kin.

"Bj?rg?lf, a landed man in Halogaland, once in his old age was at a feast with H?gni, a rich bondi, and saw his daughter Hildirid, whom he liked well.

The father or the guardian of the girl had the decision over her marriage. If the father was dead the brothers were the guardians of the unmarried sister. If she had neither father nor brothers, her mother in connection with the nearest uncle could give her away; and as the maiden had no voice in the matter, she could be forced by her father or guardians into a marriage against her will.

"Thorvald Usvifrsson, a rich man, demanded Hallgerd in marriage from her father H?skuld, an Icelandic chief. H?skuld told him that she was proud, but Thorvald said that did not matter. H?skuld did not ask his daughter, because he intended to give her in marriage and betroth her to Thorvald. When he told her, she said: 'Now I have found out what I long suspected, that thou dost not love me so much as thou always pretendest, as thou didst not think it worth while to speak to me about this matter; nor do I think this match as high as you have promised me.' It could be seen that she considered herself to be married beneath her rank" .

"The giver away next to a father or brother is a lawfully wedded mother. If there is no mother, then the man twenty winters old or more who is the nearest heir after the woman who is married" .

The father did not always exercise his right of deciding about the marriage; sometimes he left the decision of the suit entirely in the hands of the daughter, but such cases must be regarded as an exception.

If a girl married against the will of her parents or kinsmen the latter could disinherit her, and her progeny were illegitimate, and this act of disobedience would even get her self-chosen husband declared an outlaw as a woman-robber.

When a poor girl was given in marriage to a rich man, one of the conditions made was that her clothes and ornaments should be provided, though if she was an heiress and fifteen years of age she could betroth herself with the advice of her kinsmen.

The different Sagas and laws place the age of majority of men as well as of women at fifteen years, and early marriages of women at that age were not uncommon.

"The maiden who becomes an heiress may marry herself to whomever she likes when she is fifteen winters old, with the counsel of those of her kinsmen who are the wisest and nearest both on her father's and mother's side" .

"Gl?m, a powerful man, went with his brother to H?skuldsstadir with eighteen men to ask in marriage Hallgerd, the daughter of the chief H?skuld who lived there. When they had stayed there overnight Gl?m's brother, Th?rarin, said: 'I have come here, H?skuld, with my brother Gl?m to ask thy daughter Hallgerd in marriage for him. Thou must know that he is high-born.' 'I know,' said H?skuld, 'that your brothers are of good kin, but I will also tell thee that I married her once and it became a great misfortune.' Th?rarin answered: 'We will not let that prevent the bargain, for a single oath is no evidence for all cases.'"

As Hallgerd had been unfortunately married, Hrut said:--

"This time Hallgerd must not, as before, be kept in ignorance of the betrothal; she shall know all this bargain and see Gl?m, and have her way about marrying him or not; then she cannot accuse others if it does not do well; all this shall be without deceit.' Th?rarin said: 'Now, as always, it will be best to take thy advice.'"

Hallgerd was sent for; and after coming in with two women--

"She sat down between Hr?t and her father. She greeted them all with fine words, and spoke well, and asked for news. Then she grew silent. Gl?m said: 'I and my brother Th?rarin have spoken about a bargain to thy father, namely, that I should marry thee, Hallgerd, if it is thy will, as it is theirs. Thou wilt also tell now, as thou art called a highly accomplished woman, whether it is somewhat to thy mind; but if the bargain with us is not to thy wish, we will not speak of it.' Hallgerd said: 'I know that your brothers are men of good kin, and that I will now be married much better than before; but I want to know what you have said, and how far the matter has advanced; but as thou lookest to me, I think I will love thee well if our tempers agree.' Gl?m himself told her all the conditions, and left nothing out, and asked H?skuld and Hr?t whether they were rightly told. H?skuld said they were. Hallgerd said: 'You, my father, and Hr?t have behaved so well to me in this matter that I will do this at your advice, and this bargain shall be as you have made it.' Hr?t said: 'I think it advisable that I and H?skuld should name witnesses, and that Hallgerd should betroth herself if the lawman thinks it right.' Th?rarin answered: 'It is right.' Then the property of Hallgerd was valued, and Gl?m was to give as much, and there was to be joint-partnership between them. Then Gl?m betrothed Hallgerd to himself, and they rode home. H?skuld was to hold the wedding feast" .

When girls were of age they could transact their own business.

A widow, who had the same rights as a girl of age, could not be forced into a new marriage by her father or kinsmen, but on the other hand she could not marry without their consent; and the conditions of the marriage were generally settled by the spokesmen of the suitor and her nearest of kin in the usual manner.

"A widow shall betroth herself and take the advice of her kinsmen" .

"Thorgerd, Thorstein's daughter, H?skuld's mother, was still a young and very beautiful woman. She did not like to stay in Iceland after the death of Koll . She declared to her son H?skuld that she wished to go abroad with the property she owned. H?skuld said he was sorry to part with her, but would not oppose her will in this any more than in other things. Then H?skuld bought the half of a ship in D?gurdarnes for his mother. Thorgerd went on board with much property, set sail, and after a good journey landed in Norway. She had in Norway a large family and many highborn kinsmen; they received her well, and offered her everything she might wish. Thorgerd accepted this thankfully, and said she intended to settle down there. She was not long a widow; Herj?lf, a wealthy and highly-honoured lendirmadn, asked her in marriage. She accepted him, although he was not handsome, and a splendid wedding was celebrated. A son was born to them, who was called Hrut, and who quickly grew up and became very strong and large. He was fair of face like his mother's family. Herj?lf fell sick and died, and men thought it a great loss. After his death Thorgerd did not like to remain in Norway, but returned to Iceland to her son H?skuld with much property, and remained there until her death, after which she was buried in a mound. After her burial H?skuld took all her property, and offered half of it to Hrut, who had remained in Norway" .

The Icelandic chief Thorkel Eyjolfsson wanted to marry the widow Gudrun, Usvifr's daughter. The chief Snorri godi asked her in marriage on his behalf.

"Gudrun answered: 'My sons Thorleik and Bolli will have most of the power in this, but thou, Snorri, art the third man to whom I would most willingly entrust the matters which I think very important, for thou hast long given me good advice.' Snorri said it was evident that Thorkel ought not to be rejected. Thereafter Snorri had the sons of Gudrun called thither; he told them how much support they could get from Thorkel on account of his wealth and foresight, and gave good advice about it. Bolli answered: 'My mother will be best able to see this; I shall consent to her will. But surely we think it advisable to take into account that thou hast supported this matter, Snorri, for thou hast done many good things for us.' Gudrun said: 'We shall carefully heed the advice of Snorri in this matter, for thy counsels have been good to us.' Snorri urged her strongly to do it, and it was settled that the marriage should take place. Snorri offered to make the wedding-feast. Thorkel was pleased at that, and said: 'I have got provisions enough to supply as much as you like.' Then Gudrun said: 'It is my will that the feast shall be here at Helgafell'" .

People could not marry unless they had means enough to support themselves in comfort. If they acquired wealth afterwards, then he owned two-thirds, and she one-third, both of land and movable property, and the husband could not take his wife's property out of the country without her consent. Partnership between husband and wife was said to be established after a certain time, which according to Frostathing's Law was twelve months.

But according to the Gulathing, man and wife could not, without the consent of the heirs of both, enter into partnership before they had children; but when they had, they could make whatever partnership they liked. When they had been married twenty years they were partners according to law.

"If a wife loses her husband, and they have lived twelve months together, she owns one-third of the farm and of all loose property, and her clothes besides" .

"If a man marries a widow or maiden who owns a farm, he owns nothing of the farm before they have lived together twelve months. Then the laws lay their property together.

"If two paupers marry according to the laws of the land, and their property increases, then he owns two-thirds, and she one-third of lands and loose property" .

"If a man wants to leave the country with the property of his wife, she may give full powers to any man she wishes to forbid him going, and prosecute him and the men who take him away, if needed" .

"A wife shall not refuse partnership to her husband. If a man marries a maiden, they cannot enter into partnership unless the men who have right to their inheritance assent; but if they have inheritance-born children, they can enter into such partnership as they like.

"If a man marries a widow, and she has children which are under age, and the man nevertheless wants to enter into partnership with her, 'then a meeting shall be summoned of the children nearest of kin on their father's side, and a partnership be made according to the worth of their property; land shall be valued against land, and loose property against loose property,' and his property valued also if it is more than hers. It cannot be broken if thus made.

"Wherever husband and wife enter into partnership, they shall declare it before many men. Now if they have lived together twenty winters or more, they are partners according to the laws, if they were not before. Then she owns a third of the property, and he two-thirds. Though it be made, if it is not made public during the twenty winters, it is as if it had not been made" .

Marriages were forbidden to the fifth degree of relationship.

"It is a new law that marriage is not allowed nearer than the fifth degree in the same degrees of relationship and kinsmanship. If they are both kinsmen in the fifth degree they may marry if they like, but pay a larger tithe of all their property" .

The wedding feasts, at which the gods were invoked for the happiness of the marriage, were often very splendid, and guests, to whom presents were given, came from long distances. The length of the feasts varied according to the rank and wealth of the family, and were so gorgeous that they remained long in the memories of the people.

"Sigmund rode to Orradal, and visited Thorkel, and was well received. He now began his wooing, and asked Thurid in marriage. Thorkel took this well, and thought it a great honour for his daughter and them all. Sigmund made his wedding-feast at Hladir with Hakon jarl, and the jarl made it last for seven nights" .

"Heidrek married Herborg, the daughter of King Hrollaug in Gardariki. Their wedding-feast was made, and no man had heard of a greater feast in these lands; it lasted a month; when it ended the chiefs were led away with gifts. Hrollaug gave his daughter a dower of gold and silver and costly things; Vindland, which lies next to Reidgotaland, was also to follow her as dower" .

The celebration of King Olaf's wedding is thus related:--

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