Vidkun (Jonsson) Bjarkøy (abt. 1055 - 1140)

Born about 1055 in Bjarkøy, Troms, Norway

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 1140 at about age 85 in Bjarkøy, Troms, Norway

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Rakelle Teschner [send private message]

Biography

Lendermann Vidkun Jonson was from Bjarkøy in Hålogaland, and was the son of Ranveig Sigurdsdatter from Bjarkøy and Jon Arnesson of the Arnmøding family.^[1]

His wife is unknown. His son was:

• Erling Vidkunsson, died about 1182^[1]

Vidkun Jonsson of Bjarkøy participated in king Magnus Barefoot's army in Ireland. Snorre ends Magnus Barefoot's saga thus: "When Thorgrim and his men came over the ditch they cast their shields behind their backs, and set off to the ships.

When the king saw this, he said, " Thou art deserting thy king in an unmanly way. I was foolish in making thee a lenderman, and driving Sigurd Hund out of the country; for never would he have behaved so."

King Magnus received a wound, being pierced by a spear through both thighs above the knees. The king laid hold of the shaft between his legs, broke the spear in two, and said, " Thus we break spear-shafts, my lads; let us go briskly on. Nothing hurts me." A little after King Magnus was struck in the neck with an Irish axe, and this was his death-wound. Then those who were behind fled. Vidkun Jonson instantly killed the man who had given the king his death-wound, and fled, after having received three wounds; but brought the king's banner and the sword Legbit to the ships. Vidkun was the last man who fled; the other next to him was Sigurd Hranason, and the third before him, Dag Eilifson. There fell with King Magnus, Eyvind Olboge, Ulf Hranason, and many other great people. Many of the Northmen fell, but many more of the Irish. The Northmen who escaped sailed away immediately in autumn. Erling, Earl Erlend's'son, fell with King Magnus in Ireland; but the men who fled from Ireland came to the Orkney Islands. Now when King Sigurd heard that his father had fallen, he set off immediately, leaving the Irish king's daughter behind, and proceeded in autumn with the whole fleet directly to Norway.

28. OF KING MAGNUS AND VIDKUN JONSON.

King Magnus was ten years king of Norway (A.D. 1094-1105), and in his days there was good peace kept within the country; but the people were sorely oppressed with levies. King Magnus was beloved by his men, but the bondes thought him harsh. The words have been transmitted from him that he said when his friends observed that he proceeded incautiously when he was on his expeditions abroad, -- "The kings are made for honour, not for long life." King Magnus was nearly thirty years of age when he fell. Vidkun did not fly until he had killed the man who gave the king his mortal wound, and for this cause King Magnus's sons had him in the most affectionate regard."

Vidkun is mentioned also in the saga of the sons of Harald, where it is mentioned that Magnus was in winter (A.D. 1139) north in Bjarkøy with Vidkun Jonson.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Bjarkøy bygdebok. 1, p. 131.

• Jenssen, Jens L. Bjarkøy bygdebok. 1 : Inntil 1850 årene. Self published, 1947. Available to Norwegian IPs at Nasjonalbiblioteket