The slave Kark who killed his master to earn money, but got a reward that really sucked

After we launched our Video “10 Viking Myths Busted”, there has been some questions about The Vikings and their slavery/trafficking. 

We did some research an found a great story about the slave Kark, who killed his master, eager for a money prize. But his reward really sucked. 

Sergey Vasilyevich Ivanov [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The Vikings and the Slaves/"Treller"

The Vikings took slaves as booty and sold them to to everyone interested, across both Europe and in Arabic countries. During a period of the Viking era, the slavery business was very intense. The demand for slaves was great. As you can see, from the still image in the film, the one from Constantinople, a slave is on his knees, wearing a grotesque necklace made of a piece of wood. According to the Norwegian Wikipedia the Vikings could happily capture a monk or a soldier as a slave during a robbery. They would sell the slaves or take them as “treller” for personal use.

The slaves were mainly from Western Europe, hence many Franks, Anglo-Saxons and Celts. Many Irish and Scots was used in expeditions to populate Island. Norse also took German, Baltic, Slavic and Latin slaves.

The tale of the poor trell Kark

There is a famous slave called “Tormod Kark”, which has turned into a great tale In Snorre’s saga (and in other sagas). "Tormod Kark" killed Jarl. Haakon Sigurdsson. According to Snorre, Earl Haakon Sigurdsson had to flee from Olav Trygvasson, who was one of Norway's most important nation-builders. Together with his "faithful" servant (“trell”) Haakon fled and found shelter at the earl's great frill Tora’s farm. 

At Tora's Farm

Olav soon came to Tora’s house. Haakon and Kark had covered under the pigpen. On a stone nearby Olav made a speech, promising a reward in return for Haakon’s head. Haakon realized the reward would entice Kark to kill him. He should have said: "The two of us were born in the same night, and it will not be long between our deaths". 

Kark kills his Master, Earl Haakon

Christian Krohg [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

While Earl Haakon was sleeping, Kark nevertheless pulled a knife and killed his master. Kark cut his head off and brought it to Olav Tryggvason to claim the reward. He wasn’t rewarded at all. Instead he was taken away and got he’s own head chopped off. Olav's speech had a clear message: "There is a difference between a great man and a slave. Where would the world end if the slaves began to fail their masters?" Olav emphasized this point. Poor Kark did not get the reward a free man would have received.