NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Hrólf Kraki's saga

Hrólf Kraki (Old Norse), Rolf Kraki or Rolf Krake was a legendary king at Lejre on the isle of Zealand, Denmark, described in several old sagas and other documents such as the Leire chronicle and Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus. The content of the saga is also related by Snorri Sturluson in his Ynglinga saga and summarized in the Latin epitome to the now-lost Skjöldunga saga. The same personage appears in the Old English poem Beowulf as Hrothulf. The following summary is a composite which ignores variations between accounts. The Ynglinga saga or Ynglingesaga, was originally written in Old Norse by the Icelandic poet Snorri Sturluson about 1225 CE. He based it on an earlier Ynglingatal which is attributed to the Norwegian 10th century skald Tjodolf of Hvin, and which also appears in Historia Norwegiae. ... The Chronicon Lethrense (Chronicle of Lejre or Chronicle of Leire) is an early chronicle of legendary Danish kings preserved in the fourteenth century Latin Annals of Lund. ... Bishop Asgar, etching by the Danish-Norwegian illustrator Louis Moe (1857—1945) Gesta Danorum (Deeds of the Danes) is a work of Danish history, by 12th century author Saxo Grammaticus (Saxo the Grammarian). It is the most ambitious literary undertaking of medieval Denmark. ... The first page of Beowulf This article describes Beowulf, the epic poem. ... Halfdan (half dane) (Old Norse sources) or Healfdene (Beowulf) or Haldan (Danish Latin sources) was a legendary king of Denmark of the Skjöldung (Scylding) lineage, the son of king named Fródi in many accounts, noted mainly as the father to the two kings who succeeded him in the rule of... Helgi means holy and is an old Nordic name still used in e. ... Yrsa learns of her true fathers identity In Scandinavian legendary tradition Yrsa is the illegitimate daughter of Helgi whom Helgi later unwittingly married and on whom he fathered his famous son Hrólf Kraki. ... Eadgils was a 6th century king of Sweden who appears in the Old English epic Beowulf. ... Onela was according to Beowulf a Swedish king during the first half the 6th century. ... Bödvar Bjarki is the hero appearing in tales of Hrólf Kraki in the Saga of Hrölf Kraki, in the Latin epitome to the lost Skjöldunga saga, and as Biarco in Saxo Grammaticus Gesta Danorum. ... Heoroweard, Hjörvard, Hjorvard or Hiar(t(h))uar is a character who appears both in Beowulf and in Norse mythology, where he is named Hjörvard. ... Lejre is a municipality in east Denmark, in the county of Roskilde on the peninsula of Zealand. ... Gamla Uppsala is an area rich in archaeological remains seen from the grave field whose larger mounds (left part) are close to the royal mounds. ... Hrolf Kraki fleeing the Swedish king Adils on the Fýrisvellir Fyrisvellir, Fyris Wolds or Fyrisvallarna was the marshy plain (vellir) south of Gamla Uppsala where travellers had to leave the ships and walk to the Temple at Uppsala and the hall of the Swedish king. ... Old Norse or Danish tongue is the Germanic language once spoken by the inhabitants of the Nordic countries (for instance during the Viking Age). ... This article treats the generic title monarch. ... Lejre is a municipality in east Denmark, in the county of Roskilde on the peninsula of Zealand. ... This article is about the Danish island. ... The Kingdom of Denmark is geographically the smallest Nordic country and is part of the European Union. ... The Norse sagas or Viking sagas (Icelandic: Íslendingasögur), are stories about ancient Scandinavian and Germanic history, about early Viking voyages, about migration to Iceland, and of feuds between Icelandic families. ... Bishop Asgar, etching by the Danish-Norwegian illustrator Louis Moe (1857—1945) Gesta Danorum (Deeds of the Danes) is a work of Danish history, by 12th century author Saxo Grammaticus (Saxo the Grammarian). It is the most ambitious literary undertaking of medieval Denmark. ... Saxo, etching by the Danish-Norwegian illustrator Louis Moe (1857—1945) Saxo Grammaticus (estimated. ... Snorri Sturlason (1178 – September 23, 1241) was an Icelandic historian, poet and politician. ... The Ynglinga saga or Ynglingesaga, was originally written in Old Norse by the Icelandic poet Snorri Sturluson about 1225 CE. He based it on an earlier Ynglingatal which is attributed to the Norwegian 10th century skald Tjodolf of Hvin, and which also appears in Historia Norwegiae. ... Note: This page contains phonetic information presented in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) using Unicode. ... The first page of Beowulf This article describes Beowulf, the epic poem. ...

Parentage

Hrólf Kraki's father is Helgi son of Halfdan. His mother is Yrsa who is also his elder sister, being Helgi's daughter fathered upon a Saxon queen who was either raped by Helgi or seduced into marrying him. In revenge, the queen tricked her daughter and her husband into having a liaison. After Yrsa learned that Helgi was her father, she went home to Saxony to live with her mother. Helgi means holy and is an old Nordic name still used in e. ... Old Norse persons with the name Halfdan (half dane) (Old Norse sources) or Healfdene (Beowulf) or Haldan (Danish Latin sources) was probably kings. ... Yrsa learns of her true fathers identity In Scandinavian legendary tradition Yrsa is the illegitimate daughter of Helgi whom Helgi later unwittingly married and on whom he fathered his famous son Hrólf Kraki. ... -1... This article treats the generic title monarch. ...

Kingship

Later Yrsa married Adils (Eadgils) the king of Sweden, the son of Ottar (Ohthere), Helgi died and was succeeded by his brother Hróar (Hrothgar) since Hrólf was still a young boy. After Hróar's death, Hrólf became the king of the Danes. Many heroes came to advise and fight for Hrólf, most notably Bödvar Bjarki (bödvarr means "battle"), who may be the Scandinavian version of Beowulf. Twelve in particular were recognized as his best men. Not long after Hrólf became king, Adils requested his assistance in battle against his uncle, Áli (Onela). Hrólf sent his twelve companions, led by Bödvar Bjarki, Áli was defeated and Adils gained the kingdom. Adils pursuing Hrolf Kraki on the Fýrisvellir Eadgils (Beowulf), Adils the Great, or Athisl (Saxo Grammaticus) (all forms are based an older Aðgils, the Anglo-Saxon form is not etymologically identical but it was the only corresponding name used by the Anglo-Saxons) was a Swedish king of... The Kingdom of Sweden (Swedish: Konungariket Sverige listen) is a Nordic country in Scandinavia, in Northern Europe. ... This is about the Swedish king Ohthere. ... Hroðgar (Hrothgar, Hróar, Ro), legendary Danish king. ... Bödvar Bjarki is the hero appearing in tales of Hrólf Kraki in the Saga of Hrölf Kraki, in the Latin epitome to the lost Skjöldunga saga, and as Biarco in Saxo Grammaticus Gesta Danorum. ... Beowulf is the hero of the Anglo-Saxon poem by his name (see Beowulf). ... Onela was according to Beowulf a Swedish king during the first half the 6th century. ...

But when Adils refused to pay Hrólf's men the expected tributes for their help, Hrólf Kraki set off to Gamla Uppsala. Hrólf and his men evaded traps set for them by Adils. When Adils gathered reinforcements, Hrólf's mother/sister Yrsa then gave him a silver horn filled with gold and jewels and a famous ring called Sviagris 'Pig of the Swedes' (the pig was a symbol of wealth and fertility). Hrólf was also joined by a young man named Vögg (Wig) who gives him the nickname Kraki, perhaps 'spindly pole' in reference to height and gangliness. With the treasure given them by Yrsa, Hrólf and his men flee over the Fy´risvellir (Fyris Wolds). When Adils and his men pursued them, Hrólf spilled out the gold to occupy the pursuers with treasure collecting. Adils, however, overtook Hrólf who in desperation threw away Sviagris. When Adils stooped to pick it up with his spear Hrólf ungloriously cut him in the back screaming that he had bent the back of the most powerful man in Sweden, stole the ring once again and fled Hugo Hamilton, 1830 This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... Hugo Hamilton, 1830 This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... Adils pursuing Hrolf Kraki on the Fýrisvellir Eadgils (Beowulf), Adils the Great, or Athisl (Saxo Grammaticus) (all forms are based an older Aðgils, the Anglo-Saxon form is not etymologically identical but it was the only corresponding name used by the Anglo-Saxons) was a Swedish king of... Gamla Uppsala is an area rich in archaeological remains seen from the grave field whose larger mounds (left part) are close to the royal mounds. ... Horn may refer to: horn (anatomy), a hollow, pointed projection of the skin of various animals Horn, Austria horn (diacritic), a diacritic mark used to indicate that a normally rounded vowel such as o or u is to be pronounced unrounded horn (instrument) horn, a slang term for any wind... General Name, Symbol, Number Gold, Au, 79 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11 (IB), 6, d Density, Hardness 19300 kg/m3, 2. ... A gemstone is a mineral, rock (as in lapis lazuli) or petrified material that when cut or faceted and polished is collectible or can be used in jewellery. ... Hrolf Kraki fleeing the Swedish king Adils on the Fýrisvellir Fyrisvellir, Fyris Wolds or Fyrisvallarna was the marshy plain (vellir) south of Gamla Uppsala where travellers had to leave the ships and walk to the Temple at Uppsala and the hall of the Swedish king. ...

(Incidentally, the meaning of kraki is unclear. The word does refer to a primitive ladder consisting of a conifer trunk with only the stubs of its branches left. It could indicate that Rolf is physically unimpressive, especially compared to some of his twelve companions—or it could be applied to someone of unusual tallness, which is the explanation usually given in the sagas.)

Hroðgar (Hrothgar, Hróar, Ro), legendary Danish king. ... This list of Dubious Danish Kings is half history and half legendary. ...

Death by burning

After a long and peaceful reign, Hrólf was burned to death by his relative Hjörvard (see Heoroweard for more about this personage). In this battle all Hrólf's men are killed but Vögg. Vögg pretended to swear loyalty to Hjörvard, but as he accepted the new king's sword, he stabbed Hjörvard to death and so avenged Hrólf Kraki's death. With Hrólf's and Hjörvard's deaths the rule of the Skjöldung (Scylding) dynasty came to an end. The sources vary greatly about who succeeded Hrólf on the Danish throne. This page deals with the type of injury called burns; for other meanings of burn see burn (disambiguation) In medicine, a burn is a type of injury to the skin caused by heat, electricity, chemicals, or radiation (an example of the latter is sunburn). ... Hjörvard was the name of several characters in Norse mythology. ... Heoroweard, Hjörvard, Hjorvard or Hiar(t(h))uar is a character who appears both in Beowulf and in Norse mythology, where he is named Hjörvard. ... See also the town of Battle, East Sussex, England Generally, a battle is an instance of combat between two or more parties wherein each group will seek to defeat the others. ... Old English Scylding (plural Scyldingas) and Old Norse Skjöldung (plural Skjöldungar), meaning in both languages Shielding, refers to members of a legendary royal family of Danes and sometimes to their people. ...

Origins of the tale

The Hrólf Kraki saga has several interesting similarities to that of Beowulf. The character names given in parentheses here are the Old English names from Beowulf of characters who correspond to those in Rolf's story. See Origins for Beowulf and Hrólf Kraki. The first page of Beowulf This article describes Beowulf, the epic poem. ... Beowulf and Hrólf Kraki are two well-known characters in the myths and sagas of ancient Scandinavia. ...

The concept of Hrólf ruling over a golden age and surrounded by legendary heroes may be compared to the myths of King Arthur and the Round Table and to those of Charlemagne and his twelve peers in the chansons de geste. King Arthur is an important figure in the mythology of Great Britain. ... For other uses, see Round Table (disambiguation). ... A Frankish king, like Charlemagne, (center) depicted in the Sacramentary of Charles the Bald (about 870) Charlemagne (c. ... The chansons de geste, Old French for songs of heroic deeds, are the epic poetry that appears at the dawn of French literature. ...

A modern version

The American writer Poul Anderson used this story in his novel Hrolf Kraki's Saga. Anderson's story begins in earlier generations and differs in some events from the account given here. The book was well received by many fantasy fans. However, it has been criticized on the grounds that its frequent explanations, especially of the characters' feelings and motives, are incompatible with the saga traditions. Poul Anderson (November 25, 1926 - July 31, 2001) was a prolific science fiction author of the Golden Age; some of his short stories were first published using the pseudonyms A. A. Craig, Michael Karageorge, and Winston P. Sanders. Poul Anderson also wrote fantasy books, such as the King of Ys...

Alternate Anglicizations

Bibliography and external links

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