Battle of Boghmoot (Merveilles des Morte)
The Battle of Boghmoot, also known as the Kjalarnes Feud, the First Beothuk War, and "the First War in Vinland", was a legendary event in the early history of Vinland. The event is said to have occurred some time around the 1040s, and is a principle event in the foundation myths of many dynasties and nations across Vinland, such as Nóatúna. The primary source for the event comes from the Rauðkráka ("Saga of the Red Crow"), which describes the event in full as well as the exploits of its primary character, Býleistr Rauðkrákur, a legendary ancestor of many of Vinland's most influential dynasties.
According to legend, the Kjalarnes Feud was a war between the early founders of Vinland, especially the settlers of Kjalarnes, Leifsland, Ísagríma, and the Nýsog, against a unified, aggressive skræling presence under a mysterious Beothuk leader. Known as Izzobath, this king is described as using magical powers to unify the entire island against the Vinlander settlers, necessitating that he be stopped. Under the leadership of Býleistr Rauðkrákur, Eirík þakklát of Leifsland, Thorvald Ísfingur of Lágrstrǫnd, and other heroes, the Vinlanders are said to have put aside their differences toward repelling this mutual enemy. The Battle of Boghmoot, which took place at Izzobath's legendary fortress in the heart of the island, was the culmination of the war, and was mythologized as the greatest and largest battle in Vinlander history. Izzobath would ultimately be defeated, allowing the Vinlanders to propagate across the island.
Historians generally regard the war as a legendary event created centuries later, to serve as a foundation myth and unifying event for the Vinlander people. The myth is most prominent in the sagas of the Rauðkrákur states such as Nýsogland, Tryggviskjól, and Ísagríma, that is to say nations that could not claim descent from other the more historically attested founders of Vinland, such as Leif Eriksson. The exception to this is the rulers of Kjalarnes, who stressed involvement in the war as early as the 14th century, despite their claimed descent from Thorfinn Karlsefni. However, it is not unlikely that the myth is based on a series of battles and skirmishes that often occurred during the early decades of Vinland's founding. There is no archaeological evidence to suggest the Beothuk were ever completely unified during the 11th century, let alone into anything resembling the almost urbanized, feudal monarchy described in the sagas. The legend of Izzobath quickly became a part of Vinlander mythology and the cited origin of Beothuk hostilities; subsequent Beothuk rulers of note were ascribed descendance from Izzobath, or claimed it themselves.
Sources
The Battle of Boghmoot and the Kjalarnes Feud is found in numerous works of Vinlander literature and depicted in numerous works of art. There is no single, authoritative text from which all the events of the war are described, however, the Rauðkráka, written in the late 14th century, is generally considered the most complete depiction of the event. The saga is generally split into several parts, of which only the first part details the war, while the second part mentions the life of Býleistr Rauðkrákur and his descendants, many of whom were involved in subsequent wars against Izzobath's former forces.
Other parts of the war are told in the poems of the Jórvatn Cycle, a collection of epic poems regarding the great deeds of central and southern Vinland, as well as the Illskipsaga, the latter only surviving in fragments. Both the Codex Varðmára and the Book of the Lawspeakers (Ásólfsnes texts from c. 1368 and 1502 respectively) also contain stories regarding Boghmoot. There is also a brief mention in the Nýtingetsaga, at the founding of Vinland's historic legislative body. Although dated later than the others, the Skagisaga of Nóatúna gives an alternate depiction of the events and its aftermath as it relates to the eastern city states.
In subsequent centuries many authors would create works inspired by the Boghmoot stories or make allusions to them. This is most readily seen surrounding the Beothuk leader Nonosbawsut (c. 1376 - 1415), whose story is heavily tied to that of Izzobath. Other legendary Beothuk leaders such as Odeusook the Wall were also intertwined into the Boghmoot stories, most notably in the Madaboochsaga of the 14th century.
Legend
Prelude
Traditionally, the war is said to have begun a generation after the founding of Vinland, after the time of such figures as Leif Eriksson, Thorfinn Karlsefni, or Thorkel Farsærk. It is said that although skirmishes sometimes arose between Vinlanders and native parties, since the truces of Freydís Eiríksdóttir there had been a time of trade and cooperation between the two. During that time the Beothuk had no central authority or leader, instead being broken into numerous small communities and families, who generally quarreled among themselves. As the Vinlanders settled deeper into the island and along the coasts, the Beothuk generally were into the center of the island and the far south, relying on hunting and trading with the coastal dwellers to survive. The Rauðkráka describes the Vinlanders as becoming weak during this time of prolonged peace, becoming accustomed to security and safety while traveling and trading, and forgetting the hard times of the founding decades prior. Only the wisest among them, such as Snorri Thorfinnsson (who would go on to become Vinland's first lawspeaker in 1087) cautioned the Vinlanders.
There was a respected man and drengr named Býleistr who had sailed from Iceland. Arriving in Kjalarnes, he observed that the skrælingjar had taken up a vow of silence and spoke less to the Vinlanders, only disappearing into the rugged interior. Day by day, hundreds disappeared this way, until trade began to dry up between the two parties. One day a red raven appeared from the mountains and called Býleistr's name. He followed it as it led him down a secret path, until he came upon the walls of Boghmoot, a massive citadel located at the confluence of Kjalarnes, Ísagríma, and Ásólfsnes. Upon returning to the cities on the coast, Býleistr warned the goði of the impending threat, but they did not heed his words. Additionally, among the Vinlanders was a native shapeshifter, who tricked the others of banishing Býleistr from among their community. The shapeshifter alluded to the Great Tree of Peace, a massive tree in Kjalarnes where the first settlers had swore a blood oath with the natives, smearing the tree with the blood of a sacrificed horse to symbolize their friendship. The Vinlander chiefs concluded that as long as the tree stood the natives were magically bound from warfare.
Various accounts differ on the next events, as only the Rauðkráka briefly mention the next year of Býleistr's life, as does the Poem of Júkefring in the Codex Varðmára. According to this story, Býleistr led a large continent east after his banishment toward the Nýsog River. Although possibly already known to the Vinlanders since the founding of Straumfjörð and Ásólfsnes nearby, Býleistr is set to have been the first person to traverse the entire river to its source, and settle many of the cities along the river. It is said that after a year had transpired, Býleistr was walking along the southern lake, which would later bear his name as the Rauðkrávatn. There he hunted a hundred moose in one day, a seemingly impossible feat. That night, just as all these moose were being brought back upriver, a giant named Júkefring emerged, angered that Býleistr had hunted all her food. The pair engaged in a legendary battle, in which Býleistr wounded Júkefring severely. In desperation, Júkefring fled north into the night, coming upon the Great Tree of Peace and uprooting it as a shield. Casting the tree aside, the giant remarked that the time to vanquish the Norse had come.
Soon after, all across Vinland men reported their stores had been broken into, and livestock from across the island had been stolen. Many more people disappeared, and things were left ransacked in the outskirts of towns. Each goðorð soon turned against each other, accusing the other of stealing their things, leading to a great amount of violence across the island. Finally, Býleistr arrived in Ásólfsnes with food for all and they listened to his evidence. He claimed that the shapeshifter had disappeared with many of their stolen children to the fabled city in the interior, allured by his spells and songs. He had turned all of Vinland against each other and stolen their children so that they might die off and leave the island for good, Býleistr claimed. He said he would lead a party of all those willing to accompany him south in search of those who had disappeared, and a great number came to his side.
The War
When the natives saw that the Norse were organizing against them, a great army was fielded from across the island to combat Býleistr before his movement could grow. It is said they quickly ransacked their way across the north, destroying numerous towns and conquering others as far north as the northern tip of Kjalarnes and as far south as Jórvatn. Býleistr's army made their stand at the city of Blárnes, giving a brave defense. Having suffered their first defeat the natives fled, and it is said Izzobath revealed his true identity before Býleistr for the first time, but quickly disappeared into a shadow to escape. After the stand made at Blárnes, all the peoples of Vinland became united in an alliance with Býleistr at the head.
An army was assembled composed from men from each city, and despite being outnumbered this army marched toward the great city that Býleistr had been led to by the red raven. They eventually reached the site, known as Boghmoot, discovering massive walls guarding a great hill fort. There the native host had been assembled by Izzobath, and a siege commenced. The siege is said to have lasted over a year, as the defendants and besiegers fought throughout in a series of fierce engagements. However, neither side managed to gain the advantage during this time. During this siege numerous heroes battled and ultimately fell in combat. According to one legend, Thorbjorn Thorfinnsson, younger brother and joint chief with Snorri, fell in battle having been poisoned by Ashmudyim, one of Izzobath's sons.
Eager to find a way to break the siege, Býleistr traveled to the top of Kolkista, the tallest point in all of Vinland. There he sought to find a magical grove that Thorvald Ísfingur had whispered to him of. Coming upon the peak he found a shrine where the red raven was perched, and an old seer of unknown origin. The seer listened to Býleistr's plight and gifted him a magic ring of power, which he said would turn the tide of the war, but cautioned Býleistr about its corrupting abilities. Recalling Thorvald's eponymous ring finger that was as cold and blue as ice, Býleistr decided against putting the ring on.
Upon arriving in the vicinity of Boghmoot once more, Býleistr discovered the Vinlander army was weak and on its last legs. Desperate, he rode forth alone toward the gates and called upon Izzobath to duel him. The king emerged from a puff of smoke and they fought for several rounds. Býleistr's horse was cut out from under him, and he threw out the ring to Izzobath's feat as a trophy to distract him. Upon putting the ring on however, Izzobath withered in pain, discovering his magical spells were leaving him. The defenders of the city, many of whom had been compelled to join Izzobath's army through magic, broke from their spell and started fighting against each other. Chaos broke out in the city and the walls and gates, crumbled, allowing the Vinlanders to rush inside. Meanwhile, Býleistr charged forward and slew Izzobath, cutting his hand off his fallen body.
Aftermath
After the death of Izzobath the city of Boghmoot quickly fell and was violently sacked. Hundreds were killed, while the rest of the native army fled in every direction. Within the city the stolen goods and kidnapped people from the coasts were discovered, and the leaders of the Vinlander army praised Býleistr as their savior. Býleistr took with him many treasures, as well as the great ring of power, vowing to destroy it and never use its powers himself. Among the spoils was discovered a golden spear, which Býleistr gave to Snorri Thorfinnsson and later was used to mark the first assemblies of the Vinlanders.
After the war, Býleistr returned to Nýsogland with hundreds of veterans and their families, founding a strong kingdom along the river. Others such as Ísleifur Ironside and Tryggvi Kálfrsson accompanied him or followed in his footsteps, founding the cities of Sálstað and Tryggviskjól respectively. According to the Tryggvisaga, the legendary account of Tryggvi's descendants and their subsequent nation, Býleistr is said to have ultimately died in the year 1111. This is because it is claimed that he died the same year Haraldr the Witch, one of the saga's central characters, was burn. The Rauðkráka does not give a date, but states that Býleistr lived 90 years. Then as an old man he returned to the lake where the war began. A native man challenged him to swim across the lake to prove his legendary strength and he accepted. However, there was a sea monster who was the daughter of Júkefring, who weighed him down with thick, black ink. Too old and weak to fight back, the great goði was pulled to the bottom and drowned.
Four of Býleistr's sons would become legendary founders in their own right. The eldest, known as Jörundr the Echoer, would become the first Goði of Nýsogland after his father, and would establish a dynasty there that did battle with the forces of Haraldr the Witch. The second eldest, Sveinn One-eye, led the settlement of Svansauma, founding his own chiefdom there. Gormundur Giantsbane would travel to the west to purge Vinland of the last vestiges of the giants that had plotted against his father, and led the war against any subsequent stragglers of Izzobath's army. It is said that he founded the town of Reinahús in Ísagríma, conquered a second Beothuk city called Skáldmoot, and battled against Izzobath's son Ashmudyim the Exodist. The fourth son was Kaapa Priesthater, who became the founder of Logandeyjar and the ancestor to a number of fiercesome sea-kings who ruled the north.
The Skagisaga, a Vinlandic-language saga written by Jónanun Shebinsson around the year 1400, gives additional details regarding the aftermath of the war, especially as it pertains to the founding of Nóatúna. The saga claims there was a Norse hero who chose to live among the Beothuk and had infiltrated Boghmoot, named Óttvanuar. He was apparently a patrilineal descendant of the Norse Vanir deity Frey/Yngvi, as his lineage is partially traced to Halfdan the Old, a legendary ruler of the Yngling Dynasty and the common ancestor of many of Scandinavia's famous dynasties, and then through his sixth son, Jǫfurr. Matrilineally, Óttvanuar was said to be a descendant of Erik the Red, founder of Greenland, as his mother was said to be Bergþóra, who was either a daughter or niece of Leif Eriksson. No such women is mentioned in the Grænlendinga Saga, which details Leif Eriksson's discovery of Vinland, but several relatives of his are mentioned in the founding myths of Kjalarnes, including a niece's marriage to an adventurer named Eeshang (Vinlandic for "blue"), which is believed to have been a nickname or alternative name of Óttvanuar.
This saga claims that Boghmoot had been located at place where the ancient borders of Kjalarnes, Ísagríma, and Ásólfsnes all met. There Óttvanuar had lived and learned their ways, when the siege began. According to the Skagisaga and Nóatúna's myths, Njörun appeared to the hero in his dreams and warned him the impending fall of the city and how to escape, relaying to him his destiny in the east. With a band of freed Norse prisoners, native brides, and soldiers of the war, Óttvanuar escaped the fall of Boghmoot and traveled by sea around the eastern edge of Vinland.
The text alludes to a great journey around the entire coast of Vinland, although many of the exact details have been lost. The Skagisaga picks up again with Óttvanuar's arrival at the Mjór, the narrow strip of land that separates the peninsula from the rest of Vinland. It is said that the cities of the peninsula ruled the seas to the east, and imposed harsh taxation on any ship wishing to pass. Refusing to pay this tax, Óttvanuar instead perilously forded the Mjór and arrived on the other side, going on to found the settlement of Nóatúna. This infuriated the towns of the peninsula, who vowed to fight the upstart city for the rest of their days. According to the Nóatúninga saga, dated to around 1450, the first ruler of the city was "Nóatún", a son of Odin, whereas the Skagisaga implies the city was named after the abode of Njörðr, who had guided Óttvanuar's journey by sea and was related to or coexistent with similarly named Njörun. The Nóatúninga also makes reference to a hero named "Eeshangr", who follows roughly the same story as Óttvanuar.
Footnotes
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