Ancient kings of Finland
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Old Scandinavian sources mention some early medieval kings associated with Finland, presumed to be rulers of the Finns or the Sami. To example, the Fundinn Noregr, written by Snorre Sturluson ca. 1220, mentions the king Fornjótr and his descendants.
In some pseudo-scientific theories these kings have been assumed to be real historical persons, ruling a wide Finnish kingdom. According to the scholarly view, most of these kings are mythological figures. Fornjótr and his sons are probably antropomorphised elements of nature. Despite extensive research, the archaeological evidence does not support the existence of a unified Finnish kingdom.
Chiefs or "petty kings" existed in Finland during the Iron Age and early medieval period, but they are known only from occasional well-furnished burials found by archaeologists. An exception might be a 12th century Kven king called "Faravid", mentioned in Egil's Saga in a realistic setting.
[edit] Legendary kings
According to the Ynglinga saga, king Vanlande of Sweden married Drifa, daughter of Old Snow, and their son Visbur ascended later the throne of Svea kingdom. Erik and Alrik were born to king Agne, Visbur's descendant, by Skjalf, daughter of Frosti. From Alrik's descendant Hygelac descend the lines of kings in Denmark (Skjoldung) and in Sweden (later in Norway, Yngling = Scylfing).
According to an Old English poem Widsith, "Caelic reigned Finns". The name has been speculatively connected to the mythological name Kaleva.
- See also: Fornjót
In Finnish mythology, Kaleva is the great king of Kainuu in Kalevala. His twelve sons are later the twelve constellations in the sky. Hiisi is one of his sons.
Other mythical kings of Finland are: Auðr (Aude Rikas), Gisi, Andur, Froste (not to be confused with Froste), and Loge (son of Froste)(not to be confused with Logi, son of Fornjót).[1]
