Vonde-Åsmund
Encyclopedia
Vond-Åsmund Rygnestad or Åsmund the evil, is a legend
in the history of Setesdal
. He built and lived at the farm Rygnestadstunet. The legend states that he was blond, handsome, well built - strong and vigorous. The legend also tells that he had great courage, he was proud and bold, smart, literate, wise and a good man. He was a real Viking and a chief in Setesdal. He was very well liked in the community, particularly by the girls - no one could lead them on the dance floor as he could, and no one looked as good as him on his horse.
. The Norwegians were shipped to war as the Danish citizens they were at the time. Though, it was not very popular to go to war for the Danish Crown; so many fled to the Netherlands
. The Netherlands had strong trade connections with Norway at the time, buying wood for the building of their enormous fleet. So Åsmund joined the Danish king’s war, but then fled to the Netherlands. However, ending up joining The Dutch Independence War 1567-1648.
in Viki. He came up to a fight, and was badly stab
bed in the arm so the blood was flooding - a girl named Hege ripped off her headscarf
and rushed up to him to tie it around his arm; stopping the bleed
ing. It was love at first sight
, and they agreed to engage; to her father's and brother's dismay. Hege promised to wait for him for the next 3 years until he came back from the war, and happily - off he went.
. The stories says that Hege waited patiently for 3 years, some tales sais 5 to 7 years, but no Åsmund returned. In the end, her family persuaded her to marry the neighbor son. At the same time Åsmund came ashore on Agderstrandi, on the south tip of Norway. Many things had prevented his return, but he was still hoping Hege had waited for him. Quite soon he learned that Hege was soon to marry - and that made him act quickly. He got hold of a horse and ran him to collapse, and then he got a new horse and managed to arrive at Rygnestad the day before Hege's wedding.
Hege was preparing for the wedding celebrations at a farm in Nodeland
, when she saw a man at horse in a red uniform. At once she recognized him. Åsmund came riding into the courtyard - the groom and all the wedding guest had to flee not to be rundown. Hege ran down to him, and he lifted her up on his horse, screaming to all around him: "If anyone that dares take my bride away, do it now!" But no one dared.
Hence Åsmund became both a deserter and bride’s thief - he was declared lawless. Hege and Åsmund fled up into the mountains. The legend says nothing about how he got back to the farm. However years later, Åsmund and Hege returns to Rygnestad
and lived there unmarried.
Legend
A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...
in the history of Setesdal
Setesdal
Setesdal is a valley and a traditional district in Aust-Agder County in southern Norway. It consists of the municipalities of Bykle, Valle, Bygland, Iveland, and Evje og Hornnes....
. He built and lived at the farm Rygnestadstunet. The legend states that he was blond, handsome, well built - strong and vigorous. The legend also tells that he had great courage, he was proud and bold, smart, literate, wise and a good man. He was a real Viking and a chief in Setesdal. He was very well liked in the community, particularly by the girls - no one could lead them on the dance floor as he could, and no one looked as good as him on his horse.
Commanded to war
However - at a young age he was commanded by the Danish king to join the war. At the time the Danish king lead several wars, particularly against SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. The Norwegians were shipped to war as the Danish citizens they were at the time. Though, it was not very popular to go to war for the Danish Crown; so many fled to the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. The Netherlands had strong trade connections with Norway at the time, buying wood for the building of their enormous fleet. So Åsmund joined the Danish king’s war, but then fled to the Netherlands. However, ending up joining The Dutch Independence War 1567-1648.
Love
Before leaving Rygnestad and Setesdal, he went to a Christmas partyChristmas Party
"Christmas Party", alternately titled "Santa Claus is Coming to Scranton", is the tenth episode of the second season of The Office —the show's sixteenth episode overall. It was written by Michael Schur and directed by Charles McDougall. It was first broadcast on December 6, 2005 on NBC.In this...
in Viki. He came up to a fight, and was badly stab
Stab
STAB or stab can mean:*The act of stabbing with a sharp instrument*Stab, a short form of stab jacket, another word for buoyancy compensator*Stab vest, a type of armour designed to resist knife attacks...
bed in the arm so the blood was flooding - a girl named Hege ripped off her headscarf
Headscarf
Headscarves or head scarves are scarves covering most or all of the top of a woman's hair and her head. Headscarves may be worn for a variety of purposes, such as for warmth, for sanitation, for fashion or social distinction; with religious significance, to hide baldness, out of modesty, or other...
and rushed up to him to tie it around his arm; stopping the bleed
Bleed
Bleed may refer to:*Bleeding, the loss of blood*Bleed *Ink bleeding*Bleed *Bleed *Bleed *Bleed , a 2002 horror film...
ing. It was love at first sight
Love at first sight
Love at first sight is a common trope in Western literature, in which a person, character, or speaker feels romantic attraction for a stranger on the first sight of them...
, and they agreed to engage; to her father's and brother's dismay. Hege promised to wait for him for the next 3 years until he came back from the war, and happily - off he went.
Bride stealing
The years went, and Åsmund did not return to RygnestadRygnestad
Rygnestad is a village in the municipality of Valle in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is located in the Setesdal region near the river Otra in northern Valle near the lake Store Bjørnevatn. It is about north of the municipal center of Valle. The Rygnestadtunet museum is located just north of the...
. The stories says that Hege waited patiently for 3 years, some tales sais 5 to 7 years, but no Åsmund returned. In the end, her family persuaded her to marry the neighbor son. At the same time Åsmund came ashore on Agderstrandi, on the south tip of Norway. Many things had prevented his return, but he was still hoping Hege had waited for him. Quite soon he learned that Hege was soon to marry - and that made him act quickly. He got hold of a horse and ran him to collapse, and then he got a new horse and managed to arrive at Rygnestad the day before Hege's wedding.
Hege was preparing for the wedding celebrations at a farm in Nodeland
Nodeland
Nodeland is the administrative centre of Songdalen municipality, Norway. Its population is 1,834. The distance from the city of Kristiansand is about 10 km....
, when she saw a man at horse in a red uniform. At once she recognized him. Åsmund came riding into the courtyard - the groom and all the wedding guest had to flee not to be rundown. Hege ran down to him, and he lifted her up on his horse, screaming to all around him: "If anyone that dares take my bride away, do it now!" But no one dared.
Hence Åsmund became both a deserter and bride’s thief - he was declared lawless. Hege and Åsmund fled up into the mountains. The legend says nothing about how he got back to the farm. However years later, Åsmund and Hege returns to Rygnestad
Rygnestad
Rygnestad is a village in the municipality of Valle in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is located in the Setesdal region near the river Otra in northern Valle near the lake Store Bjørnevatn. It is about north of the municipal center of Valle. The Rygnestadtunet museum is located just north of the...
and lived there unmarried.