Hákonarmál (Old Norse: 'The Song of Hákon')[1] is askaldic poem which theskaldEyvindr skáldaspillir composed about the fall of theNorwegian kingHákon the Good at thebattle of Fitjar and his reception inValhalla. This poem emulates the approximately seven years olderEiríksmál and is intended to depict the Christian Hákon as a friend to thepagan gods. The poem is preserved in its entirety and is considered to be of great beauty.
The poem consists of 21ljóðaháttr stanzas. It begins with a description of thevalkyries who come down to witness the battle and bring the slain to Valhalla (1). It then describes the bloody battle in ornate language (2–8), culminating with the fall of Hákon’s army (9). We then hear how Hákon is escorted to the green land of the gods (10–13) and welcomed by the godsHermod andBragi (14). Hákon expresses his fear ofOdin's intentions, but Bragi reassures him that he is in good standing (15–16). Hákon then declares that he will keep his armour on, since a warrior must always be ready for war (17); he is then bid welcome by all Norse gods as thanks for his reverence for pagan shrines (18). The poem ends with three stanzas of praise (19–21):
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The last stanza is clearly related to a stanza fromHávamál. The traditional view[by whom?] is thatHákonarmál borrowed from that poem but it is also possible that the relation is reversed or that both poems drew on a third source.
On his deathbed, Hákon the Good willed that his bodyguard, including Eyvindr, the author ofHákonarmál, should enlist into the service of the new kingHarald Greycloak rather than carry on a doomed resistance. Eyvindr was not pleased with the new king and his missionary activities, as evidenced by the final stanza ofHákonarmál; he further composed severalloose stanzas expressing his discontent with Harald, labelling him a tyrant (folkstríðir).[2] These insulting poems led to Eyvindr’s falling out of the king’s favour, and he soon fled Harald’s court instead to serve his rival and eventual successor, the staunchlyNorse paganHákon jarl, for whom he composed the geneological poemHáleygjatal.
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