Olaf Tryggvason, King of Vikings 9 September

There was once an island in the Baltic called Svolder (or Swold in modern English). Its exact location is now unknown because, in the course of a thousand years the coastline of the Baltic has altered enormousely and parts of the sea have silted up. As far as anyone knows, its most likely position was near Rügen, on the North German Coast.

On this day, 9 September, 1000, a sea battle took place there between the Norwegian Vikings, led by the great Norwegian mythic hero King Olaf Tryggvason and his enemies Eric Hakonson, his cousin and rival; Olaf, the king of Sweden; Sweyn Forkbeard, king of Denmark and the King of the Wends, Hallfred Ottarson.

The Icelandic sagas are the only source that retell the events of this great and tragic moment in viking history. During the summer, Olaf Tryggvason had been in the eastern Baltic with his fleet, biffing the Latvians.

Olaf's enemies, jealous of his power and great skill as a leader in battle, lay in wait for him at the island of Swold. Unbeknown to Olaf, they were intending to ambush him on his way home for the winter. Olaf's fleet sailed past the anchorage of Eric Hakonson in a long column - Olaf had parted earlier in the year on good terms so no attack was expected. Olaf was in the rear of his column in his great longship the Long Serpent. Olaf's enemies allowed the bulk of the Norwegian ships to pass, and then stood out to attack, hoping to catch Olaf's ship alone.

Olaf and his fleet could have escaped by the use of sail and oar, but with the true viking spirit he turned to give battle with the eleven ships immediately about him. Olaf lashed his ships together, side by side. His own, the Long Serpent, the finest war-vessel yet built in the north, was in the middle of the line, where her bows projected beyond the others. The idea was to leave all hands free to fight in a floating fort. Barriers were thrown up using oars and yards, limiting severely the enemy's routes of attack.

The Danes and Swedes rushed with 60 longships at the front of Olaf's line but with no success. Eric Hakonson attacked the flank. His vessel, the Iron Ram, was strengthened across the bows with bands of iron, and he forced his longship between the last and last but one of Olaf's line - overpowering the outer longship. He then rowed around and repeated the manouvre until, after many hours of combat, Olaf's ship, the Long Serpent alone was left.

At last, after fearsome hand to hand fighting. the Long Serpent too was overpowered. At that last, crucial moment, as his enemies pressed him about trying to capture him for ransom, a sudden blaze of vivid white light surrounded the king, blinding his enemies. Olaf, red with the blood of the slain, leapt into the sea, clasping his shield edgeways to his chest. He sank at once as the weight of his hauberk dragged him down and when at last the light faded, Olaf had disappeared forever below the heaving waves.

When the saga was told, the people would not believe that Olaf had died and looked ever to sea for his return.

So died Olaf Tryggvason, King of Vikings.