Hærmændene på Helgeland

The Vikings at Helgeland is Henrik Ibsen's seventh play and was written during 1857. The play takes place at a time in which Norwegian society was adjusting from the tradition of Old Norse Sagas to the new era of Christianity. The play concerns the arrival of Ornulf, who with his 7 sons is seeking his daughter, Dagny, and foster-daughter, Hjordis, who were abducted and married by Sigurd and Gunnar, respectively. Tragedy compounded by conceptions of honour and duty lead to the deaths of all of Ornulf's sons, Sigurd (who is killed by Hjordis) and Hjordis (by suicide).