Shortly after becoming King of England in 924, Athelstan sent Harald Fairhair of Norway a magnificent sword. When Harald picked it up, Athelstan’s ambassadors declared that Athelstan was now his acknowledged overlord. This rankled with Harald, but he bided his time, waiting until the following summer to send his minister Hauk to England with Harald’s young son, Haakon.

At Athelstan’s court, Hauk placed young Hakon, Harald’s son, on the English king’s knee, and bade him act as foster-father. Popular prejudice sneered that Athelstan was now Harald’s inferior, and he was briefly angered; but he rose above it, and treated Haakon as his own child; indeed, when Harald died Athelstan helped Hakon win the crown of Norway.

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