Housecarl in the context of Slavery in medieval Europe

The hird (also named "De Håndgangne Menn" in Norwegian), in Scandinavian history, was originally an informal retinue of personal armed companions, hirdmen or housecarls. Over time, it came to mean not only the nucleus ('Guards') of the royal army but also a more formal royal court household.

The Thingmen (Old English: Þingalið) was a unit (or a body of men) in the service of the Kings of England during the period 1013–1051. The unit was financed by direct taxation which had its origins in the tribute known as Danegeld. It consisted mostly of men of Scandinavian descent and it had an initial strength of 3,000 housecarls and a fleet of 40 ships, which was subsequently reduced. The last remnant of a Thingmen was disbanded by Edward the Confessor in 1051.

In the 11th century, three courts outside Scandinavia were particularly prominent in recruiting Scandinavian troops: Novgorod-Kiev (Kievan Rus') c. 980–1060, Constantinople (the Varangian Guard) 988–1204, and England 1018–1051. Scandinavia was however also a recruiting area for attacks against England and this is why a defence needed to be organized by the Danish king Cnut the Great. The Thingmen attracted Swedish mercenaries, and probably some Norwegian as well.

Óláfr Þórðarson (Old Norse: [ˈoːˌlɑːvz̠ ˈθoːrðɑz̠ˌson]; Modern Icelandic: Ólafur Þórðarson [ˈouːˌlaːvʏr ˈθourðarˌsɔːn]; c. 1205/1210 – 1259) was an Icelandic skald and scholar. He is usually called Óláfr hvítaskáld (O.N.: [ˈxwiːtɑˌskɑːld]; M.I.: [ˈkʰviːtaˌskault]; "Olaf the white skald") in contrast to a contemporary skald called Óláfr svartaskáld ("Olaf the black skald"). Óláfr was the paternal nephew of Snorri Sturluson and spent his youth in Snorri's home where he had an important part of his scholarly education. Particular important is his Grammatical Treatise. His father was Þórður Sturluson (c. 1165-April 10, 1237), his mother was Þóra “Yngri” Bjarnadóttir (c. 1165-1224) and he was the brother of Guttormur Thordarson (c. 1200-October 17, 1255), Böðvar Þórðarson (c. 1200-c. 1263), Halla Þórðardóttir (c. 1205-?), Thordur Thordarson (c. 1210-?), Valgerdur Thordardottir (1210-?), Gudrun Thordardottir (1210-?), Sturla Thordarson (July 29, 1214-July 30, 1284) and Ogmundur Thordurson (born btwn.1175-1235).

After his father Þórður Sturluson died on April 10, 1237, he travelled to Norway, where he stayed with king Haakon IV of Norway and Jarl Skule, before he went to Denmark and its king Valdemar II of Denmark. He probably also visited king Eric XI of Sweden. In 1240, he served as king Haakon's housecarl in the Battle of Oslo.