- Saxo's kings of Sweden
Saxo's kings of Sweden appear in the Danish
Gesta Danorum bySaxo Grammaticus .Some kings (e.g. Athisl/
Adils ,Hunding /Fjölnir ,Halfdan ,Sigurd Ring ,Ragnar Lodbrok andErik and Alrik ) are based on the same traditions as theWest Norse Ynglingatal ,Ynglinga saga and Historia Norwegiae. Moreover, the dynasties are the same, i.e. the descendants of the godFrey (i.e. the Ynglings) and intermediarySkjöldung s.However, there are many differences. These differences are not only due to a considerable distance in time from the kings they describe and to the traditions being kept in different parts of
Scandinavia . Whereas Ynglingatal glorifies the Norwegian kings by their Swedish origins, Saxo's Swedish kings are there to glorify the Danes by being dominated by them, the task of which might have needed some creativity from Saxo's side and/or Danish tradition. On the other hand, it did not need to move the Ynglings to Norway and so describes kings following Ingjald as kings of Sweden as Ynglings as well.This list is presently incomplete:
*Hunding (corresponding toFjölnir in theNorse saga s).
*Erik and Alrik (corresponding to Erik and Alrek in the Norse sagas)
*Halfdan Eriksson
*Siward
*Halfdan vs. Erik Frodisson (corresponding to Halfdan vs.Aun )
*Ungvin ofGötaland at the death of Halfdan (apparently corresponding to Aun's return from Götaland to reclaim the Swedish throne at the death of Halfdan)
*Ragnvald (his position corresponds toOngentheow /Egil)
*Hothbrodd (his position corresponds toOhthere /Ottar Vendelkråka).
*Athisl (corresponding to Eadgils inBeowulf and toAdils in the Norse sagas)
*Hiartuar (who killedHrólf Kraki , but only Saxo makes him a king of Sweden)
*Hother (Athisl's brother but not the same asEanmund . Surprisingly, he is based on the Norse godHöder )
*Alver (Alf)
*Ingild (corresponds to bothIngjald and Yngvi)
*Sigurd Ring (the same as in the Norse sagas)
*Ragnar Lodbrok (the same as in the Norse sagas)
*Björn Ironside
*Erik Weatherhat (may be the same asErik Anundsson )
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