Hjorr Halfsson (815-January 878) was a nobleman of the Old Kingdom of Norway and the last petty king of Avaldsnes during the late 9th century AD. In 872 AD, he and his Mongol wife Ljufvina attended King Harald Fairhair's althing at Alrekstad, Norway, where Hjorr was the first nobleman to (albeit politely) object to Harald's ambition of uniting Norway under one crown. He said that he did not wish to be Harald's subject nor his enemy, and that he and his family would seek a greener shore. His son Geirmund Hel-hide participated in the Great Heathen Army's invasion of England.
Biography[]
Hjorr at Alrekstad in 872
Hjorr Halfsson was born in Hordafylke, Norway in 815 AD, the son of Hjorr of the Augvald dynasty. He came to marry the Bjarmelander princess Ljufvina Bjarmarsdottir during a voyage to Russia, and he later succeeded his father as King of Avaldsnes. Hjorr was once a member of western Norway's leading royal dynasty, but he left his homeland after King Harald Fairhair claimed dominion over all kingdoms. Traveling to England, Hjorr soon sat on King Ricsige of Northumbria's council in Jorvik (York).
In December of 875 AD, after Ljufvina was nearly killed in an attack by brigands sent by the Order of the Ancients, Hjorr decided to help Ljufvina and their old friend from Norway Eivor Wolf-Kissed in investigating the Order's influence in the city. Eivor and Ljufvina conducted their own investigations, assassinating Abbess Ingeborg and Grigorii the Dockmaster (despite Hjorr having previously trusted Grigorii) after discovering that they were the Order members "the Firebrand" and "the Needle". They then deduced that the third Order member, "the Vault", sat on the city council. Ljufvina and Eivor initially worried that Hjorr might be an Order member after finding a note from him to a blacksmith concerning a secret payment, but, after discovering poisoned wine at the archives on 21 December of 875 AD, they realized that the Order was planning to poison the Yuletide festival that same day. They discovered that Hjorr's fellow councilmember Audun was the culprit after he killed four of the city's nobles with poison, but Eivor killed Audun before he could assassinate the King or any other notables. Hjorr then thanked Eivor, and, when pressed as to where his silver went, he revealed that he was making a love token for Ljufvina as a Yule present. Hjorr and Ljufvina then promised to come to Eivor's aid if he ever needed them, giving him an arm-ring.
Death[]
Ljufvina grieving over Hjorr's body
In the early months of 876 AD, Eivor called in his favor from Hjorr, having him forge orders from Halfdan Whiteshirt ordering Ricsige of Northumbria to attack the Picts at Magnis fortress. Hjorr was initially hesitant, but Ljufvina persuaded him to follow along. He later accompanied her to aid Eivor at the Battle of Chippenham in 878, a fight which was supposed to be the last battle between the Danes and King Alfred the Great of Wessex, and one which would pacify England under Danish rule. Hjorr was again hesitant to fight, but Ljufvina persuaded Hjorr that they owed Eivor for all of his help. Hjorr ultimately gave his life in the battle, being slain by the Anglo-Saxon warriors. Ljufvina was inconsolable after Hjorr's death, saying that her heart died with Hjorr.