Slaget vid Bråvalla

 

“The Battle of Bråvalla (also known as Bråvallaslaget) is a mythical war that is mentioned in several different sources, although in some varied forms. The lyric is based upon the fornaldarsaga “Sagobrottstycken om några fornkonungar i Dana- och Sveaväldet” (Sögubrot af nokkrum fornkonungum í dana ok svíaveldi). The battle is descripted as the largest battle that ever took place in the North and it stood between the Danish King Harald Hildetand and the Swedish King Sigurd Ring who both had gathered the foremost fighters from all Nordic countries. The Battle of Bråvalla was planned to be Hildetands last battle and also one last opportunity to avoid “sotsängen” (death due to sickness or age) in favor of a more honorable death. Hildetand had for long been a follower of Odin but when he saw the “fylking” of the Swedish army (a battle formation that only Hildetand and Odin knew about) he realize that Odin would give the victory to Ring.”

 

Lyric : 

Hör korpasång. Härar samlas, från Nordens alla riken.

Uppdämd vrede, prövar bärsärkars frid.

Ryktbara kämpar, under sköldmöars ledning

Marken skälver till härars dån

Slaget stundar vid Bråvalla hed.

 

Även Ring, här med stort mantal samlat

Ett hav av uddjärn likt havsstrandens vass

Detta mig synes, en värdig plats att dö

Stridlurar ljuda över Bråvalla hed

Ljuda, över Bråvalla hed.

 

Vill – Oden ej, giva segern oss

Som – ofta förr

 

Vill du ej giva seger till mig

Tag mig med, låt mig gästa din hall

Låt mig falla på valplatsen, samman med min här

Med ära få dö.

 

Se – Sigurds här, den i viggform står

Vill – Oden ej, giva segern oss

Vem – honom lärt, hur man fylkar här

Vill – Oden ej, giva segern oss.

 

Alla de som falla, på valplatsen, ger jag till Oden

En flod av kött och järn

härar drabbar samman

under härtecknets kraft

se lemmar kapas, se brynjor sargas

Sköldar bräckes, skallar krossas, i våldsamt raseri

Och i stora högar drottfolk faller

Där hjältar dränks i blod.

 

Vill du ej giva seger till mig…

Tag mig med, låt mig gästa din hall

Låt mig falla på valplatsen, samman med min här

Med ära få dö

Med ära dör jag.

 

 

English translation :

Hear the song of the raven. Armies gathering, from all the Nordic kingdoms.

Pent up wrath, testing the calm of the Berserkers.

Infamous warriors, at the command of the shieldmaidens.

The ground tembles with the din of armies

The battle will take place at Bråvalla Heath

 

Even Ring, brought large numbers.

A sea of spears like the reed of the seashore

This shall be a worthy place to die

Let the battle horns ring out, over the moors of Bråvalla

Singing, over the moors of Bråvalla

Will Odin not grant us victory ?

As he has so often before.

 

If you do not want to grant me victory

Then take me with you, let me be a guest in your hall

Let me fall in battle, alongside my men.

Let me die with honor !

 

Look – at Sigurd’s army, in battle formation it stands

Does – not Odin, grant us victory ?

Who – has taught him how to fylka his men ?

Does – not Odin, grant us victory ?

All those who fall on the battlefield, I give to Odin !

 

A river of flesh and iron,

Armies clashing,

under the force of the banner.

Limbs dismembered, chainmail scattered.

Shields breaking, skulls crushed, in violent fury.

And warriors falls in piles

where heroes drown in blood.

 

If you do not want to grant me victory

Then take me with you, let me be a guest in your hall

Let me fall in battle, alongside my men.

Let me die with honor !

With honor I Die.

 

 

Source : Månegarm

Illustration by : Kris Verwimp