His mother is known only from the Sagas as a " woman of low birth " , and is not spoken of much in the written record. Jarl Haakon himself did not have any feelings for his illegitimate son, and literally gave him to a friend to raise in their household. In Bandadrapa it reveals this indifference out to be almost dislike when Eirik is told by his father to move his ship, which was berthed next to his, so that his friend Skopti, could tie his ship along side the Jarl's vessel. Eirik obeyed, really what else could he do, but he never forgot this humiliating incident. The very next year he out - sailed Skopti' s ship and killed him in battle. Young Eirik was only 13 years old at the time.
Later he sailed to Denmark and met with King Harald Bluetooth, who took a liking to the young man. So much so that King Harald made him a Jarl in Southern Norway. In the year 986 Eirik sided with his father against the Christian Danes, which his father Jarl Haakon of course hated, and commanded, according to the Sagas, as many as 60 ships at the Battle of Hjorungavagr. The Danish fleet was defeated, and against his father's wishes, Eirik released many of the Jomsvikings who fought against them including my favorite Jomsviking warrior Vagn Akason, who I have written about previously.
In around 995 A.C.E. Olaf Tryggvason seized power, and forced many of the Jarls to flee Norway. Eirik took refuge in Sweden where he allied himself with the Swedish King Olaf whose daughter, Gytha, he married. After raiding the lands of the Rus Eirik together with King Olaf of Sweden, and King Swein of Denmark attacked Olaf Tryggvason off of the coast of the Island of Svolder. This battle lead to the death of King Olaf, apparently by suicide, when he jumped overboard with his full armor on to flee capture. Having just written about this I will not go into further detail .
Next : Jarl Eirik : Ruler of Southern Norway, and the conquest of England.
Glenn Bergen
Go with Odin's wisdom, Freyja's love, and Thor' s protection !