Bjørn Farmann
Encyclopedia
Bjørn Farmann was the king of Vestfold
. Bjørn was one of the sons of Harald Fairhair, the first king of Norway
. Bjørn Farmann was also the great-grandfather of Olaf II
of Norway, through his son Gudrød Bjørnsson
.
, the county west of the Oslofjord
, and is considered as the founder of Tønsberg
. Bjørn Farmann spent most of his time at the court at Sæheimr located near Sem, Norway
. Erik Bloodaxe (Old Norse: Eiríkr blóðøx, Norwegian: Eirik Blodøks) was the eldest son of Harald Fairhair and became the second king of Norway (930–934). Once the power was in his hands, Erik Bloodaxe began to quarrel with his other brothers and had four of them killed, including Bjørn Farmann. Bjørn was killed by Eirik Bloodaxe in a feud around 927 AD at Sæheimr. Later in battle at Tønsberg
, Erik Bloodaxe killed Olaf Haraldsson Geirstadalf
, king of Vingulmark
and later also of Vestfold
together with Sigrød Haraldsson, king of Trondheim
.
word haugr meaning burial mound), outside Tønsberg about 3 km east of the village of Sem
, close to the manor of the Jarlsberg
family. Farmannhaugen is visible from route 312. Farmannhaugen was archaeologically investigated during 1917.
, sometimes as tradesman.
tells this of Bjørn, in an extract from Heimskringla
, Harald Harfager's Saga:
Vestfold
is a county in Norway, bordering Buskerud and Telemark. The county administration is in Tønsberg.Vestfold is located west of the Oslofjord, as the name indicates. It includes many smaller, but well-known towns in Norway, such as Larvik, Sandefjord, Tønsberg and Horten. The river Numedalslågen runs...
. Bjørn was one of the sons of Harald Fairhair, the first king of Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. Bjørn Farmann was also the great-grandfather of Olaf II
Olaf II
Olaf II may refer to:* Olof Björnsson of Sweden* Amlaíb Cuarán of Dublin* Olaf II of Norway * Olaf Haraldsen * Olaf II of the Isle of Man...
of Norway, through his son Gudrød Bjørnsson
Gudrød Bjørnsson
Gudrød Bjørnsson was the son of Bjørn Farmann, the king of Vestfold, and a grandson of Harald Fairhair. Gudrød was the father of Harald Grenske, and the paternal grandfather of Saint Olaf....
.
Biography
Bjørn Farmann was one of the sons born of Harald Fairhair with Svanhild, daughter of Eystein Earl. When Harald Fairhair died, his kingdom was divided up between his sons. Bjørn Farmann became the king of VestfoldVestfold
is a county in Norway, bordering Buskerud and Telemark. The county administration is in Tønsberg.Vestfold is located west of the Oslofjord, as the name indicates. It includes many smaller, but well-known towns in Norway, such as Larvik, Sandefjord, Tønsberg and Horten. The river Numedalslågen runs...
, the county west of the Oslofjord
Oslofjord
The Oslofjord is a bay in the south-east of Norway, stretching from an imaginary line between the Torbjørnskjær and Færder lighthouses and down to Langesund in the south to Oslo in the north....
, and is considered as the founder of Tønsberg
Tønsberg
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, southern Norway, located around north-east of Sandefjord. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tønsberg....
. Bjørn Farmann spent most of his time at the court at Sæheimr located near Sem, Norway
Sem, Norway
Sem is a village in Tønsberg in Vestfold county, Norway.Sem was a former municipality in Vestfold. The parish of Sæm was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . According to the 1835 census the municipality had a population of 3,590. On 1 January 1965 the district Stang with 126...
. Erik Bloodaxe (Old Norse: Eiríkr blóðøx, Norwegian: Eirik Blodøks) was the eldest son of Harald Fairhair and became the second king of Norway (930–934). Once the power was in his hands, Erik Bloodaxe began to quarrel with his other brothers and had four of them killed, including Bjørn Farmann. Bjørn was killed by Eirik Bloodaxe in a feud around 927 AD at Sæheimr. Later in battle at Tønsberg
Tønsberg
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, southern Norway, located around north-east of Sandefjord. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tønsberg....
, Erik Bloodaxe killed Olaf Haraldsson Geirstadalf
Olaf Haraldsson Geirstadalf
Olaf Haraldsson , was a reputed son of King Harald Fairhair of Norway with Svanhild Øysteinsdotter, daughter of Øystein Jarl.The saga Heimskringla, written in Iceland in the thirteenth century by the poet and historian Snorri Sturluson, gives the ninth century Norwegian founder king Harald Fairhair...
, king of Vingulmark
Vingulmark
Vingulmark is the old name for the area in Norway which today makes up the counties of Østfold, western parts of Akershus , and eastern parts of Buskerud , and includes the site of Norway's capital, Oslo...
and later also of Vestfold
Vestfold
is a county in Norway, bordering Buskerud and Telemark. The county administration is in Tønsberg.Vestfold is located west of the Oslofjord, as the name indicates. It includes many smaller, but well-known towns in Norway, such as Larvik, Sandefjord, Tønsberg and Horten. The river Numedalslågen runs...
together with Sigrød Haraldsson, king of Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
.
Farmannhaugen
Bjørn Farmann was reportedly killed by his brother King Eirik Bloodaxe at the Sæheimr estate. He is said to be buried in Farmannshaugen (from the Old NorseOld Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
word haugr meaning burial mound), outside Tønsberg about 3 km east of the village of Sem
Sem, Norway
Sem is a village in Tønsberg in Vestfold county, Norway.Sem was a former municipality in Vestfold. The parish of Sæm was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . According to the 1835 census the municipality had a population of 3,590. On 1 January 1965 the district Stang with 126...
, close to the manor of the Jarlsberg
Jarlsberg
Jarlsberg was a former county which forms part of Vestfold county in Norway. The former counties of Jarlsberg and Larvik were merged in 1821...
family. Farmannhaugen is visible from route 312. Farmannhaugen was archaeologically investigated during 1917.
Egil Skallagrimsson
Egil Skallagrimsson tells this of Bjørn: Bjørn var farmaður mikill, var stundum í víking, en stundum í kaupferðum; translated into English: Björn was a great traveller; sometimes as vikingViking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
, sometimes as tradesman.
Snorri Sturluson
Snorri SturlusonSnorri Sturluson
Snorri Sturluson was an Icelandic historian, poet, and politician. He was twice elected lawspeaker at the Icelandic parliament, the Althing...
tells this of Bjørn, in an extract from Heimskringla
Heimskringla
Heimskringla is the best known of the Old Norse kings' sagas. It was written in Old Norse in Iceland by the poet and historian Snorri Sturluson ca. 1230...
, Harald Harfager's Saga: