History Literature / Heimskringla

* TheKingslayer: Three years after King Olaf Haraldsson's death the Battle of Stiklestad, Kalf Arneson, one of Olaf's chief enemies at Stiklestad, conspires with other Norwegian chiefs to bring back Olaf's son Magnus from exile, overthrow the Danish rule, and make Magnus king instead. Kalf is subsequently one of Magnus' closest advisors; however their relationship deteriorates until Magnus demands of Kalf to visit the battlefield of Stiklestad with him and tell him how his father Olaf died. From Kalf's account of the scene, Magnus realizes that Kalf witnessed Olaf's death up close and takes this as evidence that Kalf himself has given Olaf the deadly wound. Kalf denies it, but fearing Magnus' anger he leaves Norway to live in exile. Years later, Magnus' successor Harald (Olaf's half-brother) allows Kalf to return on the condition that Kalf must join Harald's war expeditions; soon after, Kalf is killed in battle with the Danes under circumstances that suggest Harald was intentionally trying to get him killed.

* FakingTheDead: While laying siege to a Sicilian town which seems especially hard to attack because of its strong fortifications, Harald Hardradi and his Varangian troops deceive the defenders by pretending that Harald has fallen sick, gets worse, and finally dies. They then ask the inhabitants of the town for permission to have Harald buried in their city. Because the clergy of the city expects major donations in return, they grant the request, open the gates, and walk out to the army camp in a solemn procession to join the Varangians for conducting Harald's body into the city. When the pall has passed the town gates, the Varangians put down the coffin, blow a signal, and attack the townsfolk. The rest of the army pours out of the camp and into the town through the open gate, and sacks the city.

* HundredPercentAdorationRating: Håkon the Good is so popular that “both friends and foes wept over his death and said that never again would such a good king come to Norway.”

* RhymesOnADime: ''Ynglinga saga'' says about Odin (described as a powerful and sorcerous king of the ancient past) that, among many other extraordinary and supernatural talents, "everything he said was in rhyme, like the way what is now called poetry is composed".

* AxeCrazy: What? Did you think they named him Eirik Bloodaxe just for fun?

* FalseFriend: Jarl Håkon to Gold-Harald.

* RediscoveringRootsTrip: Upon his succession Sveigdir, grandson of Freyr, and the fourth ruler of ancient UsefulNotes/{{Sweden}} after Odin, "swears an oath" to find Godheim (the "land of the Gods") from whence his ancestors formerly came to Sweden under Odin's leadership. Sveigdir and his companions succeed and reach Asgard in Asia (the land of the Aesir), where Sveigdir "[meets] many of his relatives". Sveigdir also visits Vanaheim, the birthplace of his grandfather Freyr (which is situated in the delta of the Don), marries a Vanir woman, and returns with her to Sweden after five years abroad.

* KingmakerScenario: The jarls of Lade initially serves like this. Harald Hairfair marries Håkon jarl's daughter Åsa and receives the former's important naval support which helps him control Norway. Håkon's son Sigurd later supports Håkon the Good against Eirik after the later has murdered his nephews.

%%** Harold Godwinson to Harald Hardrada, Jarl Erik to Olaf Tryggvason. %% Zero Context
* YoungestChildWins: Even before Harald Finehair's death, his twenty-odd sons begin to fight over the succession, with Harald's favorite Erik killing four of his brothers. But it is the youngest child, Håkon, who eventually outplays Erik and inherits the kingdom.

* BeautyEqualsGoodness: One of the few instances Snorri describes a character's appearance, he says Eirik Bloodaxe was tall and handsome and then goes into detail in what ways Eirik was a nasty person. It's almost as if he tried to make a point to discredit this trope.

* EvilMatriarch: Queen Gunhild Mother-of-Kings, wife of Erik Bloodaxe and the mastermind behind her sons Harald Greyfur and his brothers.
* EvilUncle: Inverted with Håkon the Good and his nephews, the sons of Erik Bloodaxe. The just and popular Håkon has supplanted his tyrannical brother Erik compliant to the will of the people, and his rule is challenged by the sons of Erik who are just as evil as their father.

* HeroicVow: Olaf Tryggvason announces that he will make all of Norway Christian "or else die". Later he also vows to never retreat from Svein Forkbeard, which becomes a plot point.