Bjorn Farmann Haraldsson

  General Notes:

Marriage: Unknown
Died: 927
General Notes:
From Snorre Sturlasson: Harald Hårfagre's saga:"38. KING BJORN KAUPMAN'S DEATH.King Harald's son, Bjorn, ruled over Vestfold at that time, and generally lived at Tunsberg, and went but little on war expeditions. Tunsberg at that time was much frequented by merchant vessels, both from Viken and the north country, and also from the south, from Denmark, and Saxland. King Bjorn had also merchant ships on voyages to other lands, by which he procured for himself costly articles, and such things as he thought needful; and therefore his brothers called him Farman (the Seaman), and Kaupman (the Chapman). Bjorn was a man of sense and understanding, and promised to become a good ruler. He made a good and suitable marriage, and had a son by his wife, who was named Gudrod. Eirik Blood-axe came from his Baltic cruise with ships of war, and a great force, and required his brother Bjorn to deliver to him King Harald's share of the scat and incomes of Vestfold. But it had always been the custom before, that Bjorn himself either delivered the money into the king's hands, or sent men of his own with it; and therefore he would continue with the old custom, and would not deliver the money. Eirik again wanted provisions, tents, and liquor. The brothers quarrelled about this; but Eirik got nothing and left the town. Bjorn went also out of the town towards evening up to Saeheim. In the night Eirik came back after Bjorn, and came to Saeheim just as Bjorn and his men were seated at table drinking. Eirik surrounded the house in which they were; but Bjorn with his men went out and fought. Bjorn, and many men with him, fell. Eirik, on the other hand, got a great booty, and proceeded northwards. But this work was taken very ill by the people of Viken, and Eirik was much disliked for it; and the report went that King Olaf would avenge his brother Bjorn, whenever opportunity offered. King Bjorn lies in the mound of Farmanshaug at Saeheim."Bjørns hovedsete var Sem i Vestfold. Tilnavnet Farmann eller kjøpmann fikk han fordi han drev det stort i handel - han fikk varer nordfra, og kjøpte og solgte både i Danmark og lenger s¸r. Så sier Snorre, og det stemmer godt med det som var rimelig for en Vestfold-konge å ta seg til. Det kan da være at det nettopp var han som flyttet kaupangen fra Skiringssal til Tønsberg, nærmere sin egen kongsgård i Sem. Kaupang forsvinner iallfall fra historien omkring denne tiden.En dag kom hans halvbror Eirik reisende fra Østersjøen, han hadde mye folk og trengte proviant og telt. Han krevde skatten på sin fars vegne - underkongene delte landsinntektene halvt med Harald. Men Bjørn ville ikke gjøre regnskap for noen annen enn Harald selv. Det endte med at Eirik gikk til angrep. Om kvelden, da Bjørn og hans menn satt ved drikken, omringet de huset. Bjørn falt der.Bjørn ligger i Farmannshaugen ved Tønsberg.
Noted events in his life were:
• He was a King of Vestfold in Norway.