Kári Sölmundarson facts for kids
Kári Sölmundarson was a brave viking and warrior from the Hebrides islands. He lived a long time ago, around the late 900s and early 1000s. Kári is a very important character in an old Icelandic story called Njál's Saga. He was the son of Solmund.
Kári's Early Adventures
We don't know exactly where Kári was born. He was a loyal warrior for Sigurd the Stout, who was a powerful leader (called a jarl) in Orkney.
Kári helped Helgi Njálsson and Grim Njálsson, the sons of Njáll Þorgeirsson from Iceland. This happened in the 990s. The brothers were on a trading trip near the British Isles. They were attacked by other vikings named Snaekolf and Grjotgard. Kári bravely fought and defeated these attackers.
After the fight, Kári took Helgi and Grim to Orkney. They stayed at Jarl Sigurd's home for a while. There, they joined Sigurd's battles in northern and central Scotland. Kári also helped Helgi and Grim again later. This was when they were arrested in Norway.
Life in Iceland
Kári went with Helgi and Grim when they returned to Iceland. He bought some land at Dyrholmar. But he chose to live at Bergthorshvoll. There, he married Njál's daughter, Helga. He also became very good friends with Njál's son, Skarphéðinn. Kári likely became a Christian around the year 1000. This was when Iceland officially adopted Christianity.
Kári became involved in a big family disagreement. This was a "blood feud" between Njál's family and the family of Thrain Sigfusson. Kári helped Skarphéðinn in an attack where Thrain was killed.
Around the year 1010, Thrain's friends and family attacked Bergthorshvoll. Their leader was Flosi Þórðarson. They set the house on fire with everyone inside. Kári managed to escape through the smoke. But his friends Helgi and Skarphéðinn both died. Njál, his wife Bergthora, and Kári's young son Thord also died in the fire. Flosi offered to let them leave, but they refused. Kári's special sword was named Fjörsváfnir.
Seeking Justice
After the terrible fire, Kári gathered his supporters. He pushed for the people who started the fire, called the Burners, to be punished by law. There was a big legal meeting and arguments between the two groups. Fighting almost turned into a full-scale war. But a wise leader named Snorri Goði helped stop the conflict.
As part of a peace agreement, the Burners were sent away for three years. But Kári attacked them as they were going home. He chased those who escaped to other countries. Kári and a small group of friends spent the next few years seeking justice against the Burners. They followed them to Orkney and Wales.
One time, Kári did something very bold. He walked into Jarl Sigurd's great hall in Orkney. Inside, a man named Gunnar Lambason was telling a false and mean story about the burning of Bergthorshvoll. Kári killed Gunnar right there. Then Kári made up a short poem:
- Men bold of battle,
- boast of the burning of Njál.
- But have you heard,
- how we harried them?
- Those givers of gold had a good return,
- ravens feasted on their raw flesh.
Kári stayed in Caithness during the Battle of Clontarf in 1014. This was a big battle in Ireland. During his time in Scotland, Kári's wife Helga died.
Later, Flosi, the leader of the Burners, returned to Iceland after a trip to Rome. Kári followed him. Kári's ship was wrecked near Flosi's home. Kári went to Flosi for help, testing his honor. They finally made peace. Kári then married Flosi's niece, Hildigunn. She was the widow of Hoskuld Thrainsson, who was Thrain Sigfusson's son.
Kári's Family
Kári had four children with his first wife, Helga:
- His son Thord, who sadly died in the Bergthorshvoll fire.
- His daughters Thorgerd, Ragnheid, and Valgerd.
With his second wife, Hildigunn, Kári had three sons:
- Starkadr
- Thord
- Flosi
