Arson in medieval Scandinavia
Quickfire or Quick-fire (Old Norse kveiking) was a type of arson sometimes employed in blood feuds in medieval Scandinavia and Iceland. In committing quickfire, a group of attackers would quickly and surreptitiously pile wood, brush and other combustible materials against the exterior of a dwelling and set it on fire. Typically the attackers would surround the house to prevent the escape of its inhabitants, although women, the elderly, and small children were sometimes allowed to leave.[1]
Under Icelandic law as codified in the Gragas, quickfire could be punished by death only if the arsonists were killed in the act; such a killing could not be prosecuted. However, if captured alive the arsonists had to be tried and sentenced to outlawry.[2] At least some Icelanders considered quickfire dishonorable, hence when the enemies of Gunnar Hámundarson attacked his home they refused to burn him inside, despite the fact that it would have been faster and less costly in lives.[3]
Famous Examples
- The semi-legendary king Ingjald Illråde used quickfire at least twice: first he used it to kill several invited petty kings in order to directly rule their territories, and lastly he used it to kill Granmar, the last independent king of Södermanland.[4]
- In the late 10th century in Iceland, Ulfar, a freedman, was the victim of an attempted quickfire by thralls (slaves) owned by his enemy Thorolf. Thorolf's own son, Arnkel Goði, captured the thralls in the act and had them executed the following day. Arnkel's rival Snorri Goði prosecuted Arnkel, at Thorolf's request, for the unlawful killing of the thralls.[5]
- Njáll Þorgeirsson, his wife Bergthora, his sons Helgi and Skarpheddin Njalsson, and his grandson Thord Karason, burned at Bergthorshvoll, Iceland in around 1010.[6]
References
- ^ Njal's Saga § 129.
- ^ Eyrbyggja Saga § 31. In this edition the translation given is simply "arson"; however, the earlier translation by William Morris and Eirikr Magnusson (Bernard Quaritch, London, 1892) uses the translation "quickfire".
- ^ Njal's Saga § 77.
- ^ Ynglinga Saga § 40.
- ^ Eyrbyggja Saga § 31.
- ^ Njal's Saga § 129.
Bibliography
- Cook, Robert, trans. Njal's Saga. Penguin Classics, 2002.
- Lang, Samuel, trans. "Ynglinga Saga, or The Story of the Yngling Family from Odin to Halfdan the Black". Heimskringla. London, 1844; with corrections and edits by Douglas B. Killings; as published by northvegr.org, 2007.
- Palsson, Hermann and Paul Edwards, trans. Eyrbyggja Saga. Penguin Classics, 1989.