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Battle of Hjörungavágr (Jomsvikings)

Type Event Region Norway Time c. 986

Around 986, Norwegian ruler Hákon Sigurðarson defeated the Jomsvikings near Hjörungavágr in a key naval battle for 10th-century Norwegian royal power.

Timeline

  1. c. 985–986Jóm (base of the Jomsvikings) · Baltic SeaAccording to the sagas, the Jomsvikings were a disciplined Viking military brotherhood; their leader Sigvaldi Strut-Haraldsson, at the invitation of Danish prince Harald Gráfeldr, led an elite fleet north to Norway intending to overthrow Jarl Hákon Sigurðarson and install a puppet ruler.
  2. c. 986Hjörungavágr · NorwayJar Hákon led the Norwegian fleet into fierce close-quarters naval combat with the Jomsvikings. The sagas say both sides suffered heavy casualties, with Viking leaders such as Vogg Vésetisson killed; Hákon's side ultimately prevailed thanks to a shift in wind and the tactical command of his retainer Eiríkr Jómskálvi, and the rebel fleet was routed.
  3. c. 986–990Norway · NorwayAfter this battle the Jomsviking brotherhood was gravely weakened and never again posed a serious threat to Norwegian royal power. Some survivors (such as Óláfr Tryggvason) moved on to England and elsewhere, while the Norwegian jarl regime endured until Óláfr returned home to claim the throne in 995.

Sources