Haakon Sigurdsson

[citation needed] Haakon was a strong believer in the old Norse gods, even after Harald Bluetooth forced him to accept baptism around 975 and assigned him clergymen to take to Norway to spread Christianity.

When a favourable wind came for Haakon to leave, he commanded the clergymen to return ashore,[3] and broke his allegiance to Denmark.

[citation needed] In 995, a quarrel broke out between Haakon and the Trønders just as Olaf Tryggvason, a descendant of Harald Fairhair, arrived.

Haakon quickly lost all support, and was killed by his own slave and friend, Tormod Kark, while hiding in the pig sty in the farm Rimul in Melhus.

Jarlshola is the location in Melhus thought to have been the hiding place of Haakon Jarl and Tormod Kark on their last night before the infamous murder at Rimul.

After his death, Haakon Jarl's two sons Eirik Håkonson and Sveinn Hákonarson fled for protection to the king of Sweden, Olof Skötkonung.

[citation needed] A number of (textually related) sources recount Earl Haakon's predilection for raping women, whether the daughters of nobles or of commoners.

The play is based on the story of Haakon Jarl and Tormod Kark as portrayed in the Sagas by Snorri Sturluson.