George Sinclair (mercenary) facts for kids
George Sinclair (born around 1580, died 1612) was a Scottish soldier who fought for money, also known as a mercenary. He died during a war called the Kalmar War. People still remember him today through a famous folk song, Sinklars Visa, sung in Norway and the Faroe Islands.
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Who Was George Sinclair?
George Sinclair was related to a powerful Scottish family. He went to Edinburgh High School. In 1595, he was part of a student protest that got out of hand. City officials had to step in to stop it.
The Kalmar War Adventure
The Kalmar War (1611-1613) was a fight between Denmark-Norway and Sweden. James VI and I, the King of Scotland and England, was related to the Danish King. He told Scottish soldiers not to join the Swedish side.
But George Sinclair and about 300 of his men decided to go anyway. They were led by Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Ramsay. They sailed in two ships and landed in Romsdalen, Norway, on August 19 or 20, 1612.
The Battle of Kringen
Soon after they landed, they faced a group of Norwegian farmers who were also soldiers. This fight is known as the Battle of Kringen. Only a few of Sinclair's men managed to escape.
Sinclair himself was shot and killed by a Norwegian farmer named Berdon Segelstad. He was buried in Kvam, near the old church. A special stone still marks his grave there today.
How Sinclair is Remembered
George Sinclair's story lives on in many ways.
The Ballad of Sinklars Visa
His story is told in a popular folk song called Sinklars Visa. This song is sung in Norway and is also one of the Kvæði, which are traditional ballads from the Faroe Islands.
A modern metal band from the Faroe Islands, Týr, even made their own version of Sinklars Visa. It's a very popular song at their concerts!
Poems and Plays
An old poem called "The Ballad of George Sinclair" was written in 1781 by Edvard Storm. It tells the story of Sinclair's journey and his sad end. Here are a few lines: Childe Sinclair and his menyie steered
Across the salt sea waves;
But at Kringellens' mountain gorge
They filled untimely graves.
The famous Norwegian writer Henrik Wergeland wrote a play about the event around 1840. It was called Sinklars Død (Death of Sinclair). Wergeland also mentioned the battle in another poem, calling the log barricade used by the Norwegians a "barricade of freedom." Wergeland's play even inspired another famous writer, Henrik Ibsen, to write his first play, Catiline.
Sinclair Hilt and Weapons
Later, in the late 1800s, old swords from Scandinavia that looked like Scottish swords were named the "Sinclair Hilt" after George Sinclair.
Some of the weapons captured from the Scottish soldiers, like a pistol, a lochabar axe, and several basket hilt claymores, are now shown at the Gudbrandsdal Museum in Kvam. They help people remember the battle.
