Page "Eiríkr Hákonarson" Paragraph 3

The principal sources on Eric's youth are Fagrskinna and Heimskringla.

They relate that Eric was the son of Hákon Sigurðarson and a woman of low birth whom Hákon bedded during a sojourn in Uppland.

Hákon cared little for the boy and gave him to a friend of his to raise.

On one occasion when Eric was eleven or twelve years old he and his foster father had harboured their ship right next to earl Hákon.

Then Hákon's closest friend, Skopti, arrived and asked Eric to move away so that he could harbour next to Hákon as he was used to.

When Eric refused, Hákon was infuriated by the boy's pride and sternly ordered him away.

Humiliated, Eric had no choice but to obey.

In the following winter he avenged the humiliation by chasing down Skopti's ship and killing him.

This was Eric's first exploit, as commemorated by his skald Eyjólfr dáðaskáld who mentions the incident in his Bandadrápa.