The Battle of Hjorungavagr was fought in 986 AD between the Norwegian Jarls of Lade and a Danish invasion fleet led by the fabled Jomsvikings. The Norwegians, led by Haakon Sigurdsson, defeated Harald Bluetooth's attempt to end their newly-acquired independence.
Background[]
In 975 AD, Haakon Sigurdsson, the de facto ruler of Norway, rebelled against King Harald Bluetooth of Denmark after Harald attempted to force Christianity upon him. Haakon succeeded in achieving Norwegian independence from Denmark while Harald was occupied with fighting against the Holy Roman Empire, so Harald responded by hiring the famed Jomsvikings to reconquer Norway. A fleet of 60 ships, led by Sigvaldi Strut-Haraldsson and Vagn Akesson, met the larger 180-ship Norwegian fleet under Haakon and his sons off Sunnmore, Norway.
Battle[]
In the ensuing battle, the larger Norwegian fleet prevailed over the smaller Jomsviking fleet, but the Jomsvikings fought bravely. The disillusioned Jomsviking warrior Thors Snorresson faked his death during the battle after slaying whole shiploads of Norwegian warriors, and, soon after, the tide of battle turned against the Danes, who were defeated. Norway retained its independence as a result of Haakon's victory.