Editing Eric Bloodaxe (section)

==Jarls of Orkney (sagas)==
The Norse sagas differ in the way they treat the manner and route by which Eric first came to Britain after he was forced out of Norway. The synoptic histories offer the most concise accounts. Theodoricus goes straight for Eric's arrival in England, his welcome there by [[Æthelstan of England|King Æthelstan]], his brief rule and his death soon afterwards. Similarly, the ''Historia Norwegiæ'' makes him flee directly to England, where he was received by his half-brother Haakon, baptised and given charge of Northumbria by Æthelstan. When Eric's rule became intolerable, he was driven out and slain on an expedition in Spain. ''Ágrip'' tells that he came to Denmark first. According to ''Historia Norwegiæ'', it would have been his wife's native country and hence a power base where he might have expected to muster some support, but the text makes no such claims.<ref name="ftn35">That Haakon regarded Danish loyalties as an issue in need of military attention is suggested by his naval campaigns in Sjóland, Skáney and Vestra-Gautland, although Eric appears to have made the move forward by this time (''Ágrip'' ch. 5). However, Gunnhild's Danish background is no longer readily apparent in the text. M. Cormack, "''Egils saga'', ''Heimskringla'', and the Daughter of Eiríkr blóðøx." p. 63.</ref>

However, later sagas greatly expand upon Eric's activities in the interim between his reigns in Norway and Northumbria, claiming that he initially adopted a predatory lifestyle of raiding, whether or not he was aiming for a more political line of business in the longer run. The [[jarldom of Orkney]], the former Viking base subjected and annexed by Eric's father, came to loom large in these stages of the literary development. ''Fagrskinna'' (''c''. 1220) mentions his daughter Ragnhild and her marriage to an Orkney earl, here Hávard, but never describes Eric as actually stepping ashore.<ref>''Fagrskinna'' ch. 5 and 8. Cormack, "''Egils saga''." p. 63.</ref> The ''Orkneyinga saga'', written ''c''. 1200, does speak of his presence in Orkney and his alliance with the joint jarls [[Arnkel]] and [[Erland]], sons of [[Torf-Einarr]], but not until his rule in Northumbria was challenged by Olaf (Amlaíb Cuarán).<ref>''Orkneyinga saga'' ch. 8.</ref> However, a number of later sagas such as the ''[[Separate Saga of St. Olaf]]'' (''c''. 1225), ''Heimskringla'', ''Egils saga'' and ''Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar en mesta'' assert that he sailed directly to Orkney, where he took the joint jarls into vassalage, collected forces and so set up a base which enabled him to organise several expeditions in overseas territory. Named targets include Ireland, the Hebrides, Scotland and England. Eric sealed the alliance by giving his daughter [[Ragnhild Eriksdotter|Ragnhild]] in marriage to the future earl of Orkney, Arnfinn, son of Thorfinn Turf-Einarsson.<ref name="ftn37">''Heimskringla (Hákonar saga)'' ch. 3; ''Egils saga'' ch. 59; ''Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar en mesta'' ch. 15. For further discussion, see M. Cormack, "''Egils saga'', ''Heimskringla'', and the Daughter of Eiríkr blóðøx."</ref>