The History Scrutineer

The story of the Pict who killed a Viking with his teeth is a famous, arguably legendary, tale of poetic justice from the 9th-century Orkneyinga Saga. It tells how Máel Brigte, a Pictish chieftain known as “the Bucktoothed” (or “Tusk”), killed the Viking Earl Sigurd Eysteinsson (Sigurd the Mighty) after being decapitated. 

The Context

• The Combatants: Sigurd Eysteinsson was a 9th-century Norse earl who conquered the Orkney and Shetland Islands and expanded into northern Scotland. Máel Brigte was a Pictish chieftain (sometimes referred to as a Scottish nobleman) in the region of Moray, notable for his prominent, protruding front teeth.
• The Treachery: According to the saga, Sigurd arranged to meet Máel Brigte for a battle with 40 warriors on each side. To ensure victory, Sigurd cheated by placing two men on each of his 40 horses, doubling his force to 80 men.
• The Death of Máel Brigte: Overpowered by the superior numbers, Máel Brigte and his warriors were defeated and killed. Sigurd then decapitated Máel Brigte and tied the head to his saddle as a trophy of his victory. 

The Killing

As Sigurd rode home in triumph, the severed head of Máel Brigte swung against his leg. The prominent “buck teeth” of the dead chieftain grazed or scratched Sigurd’s calf. 

• The Injury: The scratch was minor, but it went untreated and became severely infected (likely gangrenous) due to the unclean conditions.
• The Result: The injury swelled, causing a high fever, and Sigurd died from the infection. 

The story is frequently cited as a remarkable instance of “poetic justice” or “karma,” where the defeated enemy killed his conqueror from beyond the grave.