THE SCENE: Knattleikr, the ball and bat game described in Gongu-Hrolf saga, is far more violent – and deadly – than any sport we recognize today. When the vikings played games, they didn’t play around.
THE TEXT: It happened one day, as indeed it often will, that two strangers came into the hall. They were sturdy and tall, but shabbily dressed and poorly armed. When they went up to the Earl and greeted him, he responded cheerfully and asked them their names. “We’re brothers,” said the taller of the two. “I’m called Hrafn and this is Krak. We’re Flemish.”
“They must have been short of good names,” said the Earl, “when they gave those to brave fellows like you.” He said they were welcome to stay. Ball games where often played there, and people kept urging the brother to join in. They said that they’d always played ball and were considered rough players. The Earl’s men promised to take responsibility for whatever happened.
One morning the brothers joined in the game, and had the ball most of the day. They kept pushing the other players around, hitting out at some and knocking them flat. In the evening three had broken arms, and a good many others were bruised and maimed. The Earl’s men felt they’d been given a rough time of it. After things had gone on like this for some days, they asked the Earl’s son, Stefnir, to join in the game and try to level the score for them.
Stefnir agreed, and went over next morning to the playing field. When Hrafn saw him, he said, “Are you really so tough they won’t let you play anyone else? Or is it that you think yourself such a big man that no one will dare play against you?”
“I’m not too strong to play nor to arrogant either,” said Stefnir.
“Then I challenge you to a game in three day’s time,” said Hrafn. “You can choose any other man you like to play against me and my brother, if you dare to play at all.”
“You can be sure I’ll come and play you,” said Stefnir.
Then he went off, got himself a horse, and rode over to Hrolf’s castle. “I’ll tell you why I’m here,” said Stefnir: “I want you to join me and play my father’s winter guests, Hrafn and Krak.” “I’m told they’re strong men,” said Hrolf, “and that they’ve maimed several folk, and even killed a few. I know nothing about games, but if it’s what you want, I’ll go with you.”
Next day Hrolf and Stefnir went over to the playing field, where the brothers were already waiting. Hrafn picked up the ball, and Krak the bat, and they started playing their usual game. The Earl was sitting on a stool watching. When they’d been playing for a while, Hrolf managed to get the ball, then snatched the bat from Krak and gave it to Stefnir. After that, they carried on playing for quite some time, and the brothers weren’t able to get the ball.
It happened that as Hrafn was running after the ball, someone put a foot in the way, tripping him up. The practical joker was a young kinsman of the Earl. Getting to his feet in a rage, Hrafn took hold of the man who’d tripped him, lifted him in the air, and threw him down so hard that his neck broke. The Earl called to his men to take Hrafn and kill him. Hrolf rushed up to Hrafn and grabbed hold of him, while nearby, Krak and Stefnir began grappling with each other too. Hrolf would stand for no interference. They hadn’t been wrestling long before Hrolf lifted Hrafn against his chest, then threw him down flat, scraping the skin off his shoulders and knocking him unconscious.
When Hrafn came to, Hrolf went up to him. “I can see, Hrafn, that you’ve the look of a nobleman,” he said, then turned to the Earl. “I implore you, sir,” he said, “spare the lives of these men, for I know they’re well born.”
Stefnir who had beaten Krak, asked his father to let Hrolf have his way. The Earl’s anger was a long time cooling, but he decided to spare the men’s lives as Hrolf and Stefnir had pleaded. The brothers walked off very stiffly back to their room without a word and didn’t appear at table that evening.
– Gongu-Hrolf’s Saga, 14th Century AD
