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258 HELIGION* OP THE NORTHMEN.
fundamental idea was, that the Gods would make
manifest by the issue of the battle which of the con-
tending parties had justice on his side. Therefore
it was, even after its religious significance had become
a matter of seconda,ry importance, frequently
attended with sacrifices, prayers, and other religious
performances. The holmgang was thus in effect a
judgment of the Gods, intimately connected with
the Asa-faith, and among the Northmen it disappeared
with that faith, at least as a judicial act,
although among many kindred nations, especially
among the Germans, the duel passed over from the
heathen into the Christian code. In Norway it was
the Christian Jarls Eirik and Sveinn Hakonssons
who abolished the holmgang while Christianity was
yet far from being generally introduced into the
country (A. D. 1000-1014), while they at the same
time established the penalty of outlawry against the
h61mgang-men and Berserks who ag^eved the
citizens.* In Iceland, where Christianity became
the established religion by a decree of the people in
the Al-Thing, A. D. 1000, the holmgang was soon
afterward abolished by the popular voice, in consequence
of a duel of this kind between two Icelandic
youths of distinction, the skalds Gunnlaug Orms-
t6nga and Skdld-Eafii. The issue of the battle be-
tween them being indecisive, and the combatants
wishing to renew it, their influential kinsmen inter-
fered and obtained the prohibition of all h&lmgangs
by law.f
• Grettifl S. M.
f Gunnlaugs Ormstdnga S. II.