Battle of Hjörungavágr

Battle of Hjörungavágr
The hailstorm during the battle
Date Circa 986 Location Coast of Sunnmøre Result Norwegian victory
Belligerents
Norway	Jomsvikings
Commanders and leaders
Hákon Sigurðarson Eiríkr Hákonarson Sveinn Hákonarson	Sigvaldi Strut-Haraldsson Vagn Ákason Búi digri
Strength
180 ships	60 ships

The Battle of Hjörungavágr (Modern Norwegian Hjørungavåg) is a semi-legendary naval battle that took place in the late 10th century between the Jarls of Lade and a Danish invasion fleet led by the fabled Jomsvikings. The battle is described in the Norse kings' sagas—such as Heimskringla—as well as in Jómsvíkinga saga and Saxo Grammaticus' Gesta Danorum. Those late literary accounts are fanciful but historians believe that they contain a kernel of truth. Some contemporary skaldic poetry alludes to the battle, including verses by Þórðr Kolbeinsson and Tindr Hallkelsson.

References

• Megaard, John. Hvor sto "Slaget i Hjörungavágr"? : Jomsvikingeberetningens stedsnavn og Sæmundr fróði. [1]
• Slupecki, Leszek P. Facts and Fancy in Jómsvíkinga saga. (abstract) [2]