Jarl Hákon Sigurðarson
ᛉ 937 - 995 ᛦ
Hákon Sigurðarson (937-995 CE), also known as Hákon Jarl or Jarl Hákon, gained his title of jarl in 961, after his father was killed by Harald Greycloak. He was the Jarl of Lade, Trøndelag, and Hålogaland in Norway. Adam of Bremen claimed that Jarl Hákon was descended from Ivar the Boneless, and Hákon himself claimed to be descended from the All-Father, as he was a devout Ásatrúar.
After the death of his father and his elevation to the title of jarl, he warred with Harald Greycloak for a time, until being forced to flee to Denmark. Once in Denmark, he and Harald Bluetooth managed to defeat and kill Harald Greycloak. After Greycloak’s defeat, Bluetooth gave Jarl Hákon fiefs in Denmark. After defeating Greycloak’s surviving brothers, Jarl Hákon ruled Norway as one of Bluetooth’s vassals.
In 973, Hákon went south to Denmark to help Bluetooth fight off Otto II of the Holy Roman Empire. Despite this help, Otto managed to fight off their combined forces and Germany retained its influence over Denmark. Following this, in 975, Bluetooth convinced Jarl Hákon to accept Christ and be baptized, and to take clergymen with him back to Norway in order to convert his Folk. However, when a perfect wind came along for him to return to Norway, he ordered the Christian clergy to stay ashore. He returned to Norway, his loyalty to the Æsir intact.
On the face of it, this story may look like a betrayal by Jarl Hákon, but consider the words of the Hávamál: “to a friend be a friend, but with an enemy, swap lies for lies.” Once Bluetooth forced baptism onto Hákon, he had no choice but to break his allegiance and leave Bluetooth’s Christian clergy behind.
Twenty years later, in 995, a disagreement erupted between Jarl Hákon and his Folk in Trøndelag. At the same time, the infamous snake known as Olaf Tryggvason arrived in the area, likely to convert the area to his foreign faith. Jarl Hákon’s support from his Folk ran out, and he was murdered by his friend and servant, Tormod Kark. Kark betrayed his lord in the hopes that Olaf would reward him, but he was decapitated for the crime of betraying his master.
Jarl Hákon was a man who helped his allies when called, navigated the politics of northern Europe with skill, and kept his troth with the Æsir even when his lord forced him to be bathed in the name of Christ. If not for the treachery of Tormod Kark, he may have stood a chance against Olaf the traitor.
On the ninth day of April, we honor both his strength as a ruler, and his devotion to both his Folk and our Gods. Even though it only lasted an extra 20 years, he managed to keep the torch of Trøndelag’s Troth with the Æsir alight. May we all be steadfast in our devotion, dauntless in our piety!
Hail Jarl Hákon Sigurðarson!
Hail the Asatru Folk Assembly!