The Saga of Saur the Hound King

King Oesteins Hardraade, named The Mighty by some and The Evil by others, ravaged the country. He plundered and robbed, and conquered land. Peasants and Nobility fled from their household to escape his wrath and strife. King Oestein demanded high taxes and the life was hard. When he had plundered and robbed so much land that he no longer could dispose over all of it, he placed his son on the throne. The people retorted and murdered the Kings son.

Wrathful King Oestein swore vengeance over his son, and ravaged the country once more. He plundered worse than ever, and conquered the land for a second time. Wanting to punish the people further he gave them the choice of King; his slave Tore Fakse or his hound Saur.

The people considered the slave as inferior and therefore chose the hound, as they hoped it would leave them free from a hash rule. And so the dog became a king, and got the name Saur the Hound King.

The Saga of Haakon the Good tells us that three men’s wit was charmed into the dog, and he now could bark two words and speak the third. Of which words, the Saga does not tell, but Saur could now dispose over his people as a wise and sensible king.

The people got on well with Saur, the times were good and life prosperous. Saur got a collar of precious metal, and when the weather was bad and the roads muddy he was carried on the shoulders of his servants to ease his travel through the kingdom. The people gave him a hall and a throne. Saur had a mound like other kings, and lived on Inderøya, at a seat named Saurshaug.

The rule of Saur was well, but short. The Saga of Haakon the Good tells us that Saur met his end the day wolves attacked his herd. The guards urged Saur to protect his herd, so he ran down from his hall charging the wolves. The wolves were well on eating themselves full, when Saur attacked. The wolves were many and they tore Saur to pieces at once. The people buried their King, Saur The Brave, after only three years as a king. What happened to the people and his seat later, nobody knows.