It was written during 1857 and first performed at Christiania Norske Theater in Oslo on 24 November 1858.
The plot takes place during the time of Erik Blood-axe (c. 930–934) in the north of Norway in historic Helgeland, a time in which Norwegian society was adjusting from the tradition of Old Norse Sagas to the new era of Christianity.
It concerns the arrival of Ornulf, who with his seven sons is seeking his daughter, Dagny, and foster-daughter, Hjordis, who were abducted and married by Sigurd and Gunnar, respectively.
This play was translated into English by Scottish writer and critic William Archer as a part of his publication Henrik Ibsen's Prose Dramas Vol.
[1] The appearance of the character Dagny in this play is considered to have contributed to the revival of the popularity of this name in Norway and in Scandinavia in general, in the second half of the 19th century.