Saga of Sigurd the Crusader and His Brothers Eystein and Olaf

[Ulf]

"Agrip", "Fagrskinna", and "Morkinskinna" more or less complete the story of the
sons of Magnus. They contain some things omitted by Snorre, while, on the other
hand, some facts related by Snorre are not found in the above sources.
Thjodrek the Monk tells of Sigurd that he made a Journey to Jerusalem, conquered
many heathen cities, and among them Sidon; that he captured a cave defended by
robbers, received presents from Baldwin, returned to Norway in Eystein's lifetime,
and became insane, as a result, as some say, of a poisonous drink.
The three brothers became kings in the year A.D. 1103. Olaf died 1115, Eystein 1122
or 1123, Sigurd 1130.
Skalds quoted in this saga are: Thorarin Stutfeld, Einar Skulason, Haldor Skvaldre,
and Arne Fjoruskeif

1. BEGINNING OF THE REIGN OF KING MAGNUS'S SONS.

After King Magnus Barefoot's fall, his sons, Eystein, Sigurd, and
Olaf, took the kingdom of Norway. Eystein got the northern, and
Sigurd the southern part of the country. King Olaf was then four
or five years old, and the third part of the country which he had
was under the management of his two brothers. King Sigurd was
chosen king when he was thirteen or fourteen years old, and
Eystein was a year older. King Sigurd left west of the sea the
Irish king's daughter. When King Magnus's sons were chosen
kings, the men who had followed Skopte Ogmundson returned home.
Some had been to Jerusalem, some to Constantinople; and there
they had made themselves renowned, and they had many kinds of
novelties to talk about. By these extraordinary tidings many men
in Norway were incited to the same expedition; and it was also
told that the Northmen who liked to go into the military service
at Constantinople found many opportunities of getting property.
Then these Northmen desired much that one of the two kings,
either Eystein or Sigurd, should go as commander of the troop
which was preparing for this expedition. The kings agreed to
this, and carried on the equipment at their common expense. Many
great men, both of the lendermen and bondes, took part in this
enterprise; and when all was ready for the journey it was
determined that Sigurd should go, and Eystein in the meantime,
should rule the kingdom upon their joint account.