King of the Geats
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Geatish kings (Rex Getarum/Gothorum) existed since the provinces of Götaland/Gautland/Geatland are considered to have been more or less independent with their own kings. This is a list of the kings who appear in the sources, which does not claim to be comprehensive. It also follows the generally accepted identification between the names Götar (modern Swedish), Gautar (Old Norse) and Geatas (Old English), which is based both on tradition, literary sources and on etymology. However, unlike some translations[1] it does not identify this tribe with the Goths, since the Goths were far away from Scandinavia, when these kings are said to have lived. Moreover, the land of the Goths is not called Gautland, in these sources, but Reidgotaland. Though this category will not deny that the Geats (who are mention by Jordanes as 'Gautigoths') may be related to the Goths of mainland Europe and a Gothic people, it will however ignore the relationship due to the fact that the Goths left Scandinavia to form their own Kingdom (mentioned earlier) according to a number or sources and archaeological finds (Wielbark Culture). The Geatish Kings were separate from the Kings of the Goths.
From the Middle Ages until 1974, the king of Sweden, claimed the title king of the Geats as "king of Sweden and Geats/Goths" or "Rex Sweorum et Gothorum", as was also the king of Denmark.
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[edit] Legendary kings
Some names appear in Norse mythology and in Germanic legend and in at least one case, they were probably historical (Hygelac). Their order of succession is uncertain (if they ever lived).
- Gestiblindus, according to Gesta Danorum.
- Gizur, who helps the Goths during the battles with the Huns in Hervarar saga (see Hlöd).
- Gauti (in Herraud's saga), probably the same as Gaut the father of Gautrek according to the Ynglinga saga. See Sons of Odin.
- Ring son of Gauti (king of East Götaland in Bósa saga ok Herrauds)
- Herrauðr, son of Ring (king of East Götaland in Bósa saga ok Herrauds)
- Gautrekr, appearing in several sources.
- Ketill Gautreksson, in Hrólfs saga Gautrekssonar.
- Hrólfr Gautreksson, in Hrólfs saga Gautrekssonar.
- Ungvin 5th century (in Gesta Danorum, see Halfdan)
- Algaut 4th century or the 7th century (in the Norse sagas)
- Thorir (the brother of Bödvar Bjarki (Beowulf?) in the Hrólf Kraki's saga)
[edit] Siklings
- Sigar?, the father of Siggeir, who genealogically corresponds to Ungvin, the king of Götaland in Gesta Danorum.
- Siggeir 5th century, a son of Sigar and the king of Götaland in the Volsunga saga
[edit] Hrethelings
- Swerting (Swartingaz) (in Beowulf)
- Hreðel (Hrōþilōn)(a relative of Swerting, in Beowulf)
- Hæþcyn (Haþukunjaz) d. 514 or 515 (the son of Hrethel, in Beowulf)
- Hygelac (Hugilaikaz, Hugleikr) d. 516 (the son of Hrethel, in Beowulf)
- Heardred (Hardarēdaz, Harðráðr). ca 530 (the son of Hygelac, in Beowulf)
- Beowulf (Bīōwulfaz, Bjólfr) d. ca 580? (the nephew of Hygelac, in Beowulf)
[edit] Ylfings (Wulfings)
- Helm? Wulfing king mentioned in Widsith.
- Högne 7th century, the king of East Götaland (in the Heimskringla) and the father-in-law of Hjörvard.
- Hjörvard 7th century, king of East Götaland (in Sögubrot)
- Hjörmund 7th century, king of East Götaland (in Sögubrot) and a son of Hjörvard.
- Helgi Hundingsbane 7th century, probably a king of East Götaland in the Norse sagas.
[edit] Battle of Bråvalla
Chronologically to the 8th century assigned, historically unsecurely attested battle of Bråvalla (in a location legendarily between West and East Gothenland) was fought between "king of Sweden" who is said to have ruled Westrogothians, and "king of Denmark" whose realm is said to have included Ostrogothians.
[edit] "Historical" kings
When sources become more reliable, Götaland is an integrated part of the Swedish kingdom and from Stenkil and onwards most of the medieval Swedish kings actually belonged to Geatish clans (House of Stenkil, House of Sverker and the House of Bjelbo, possibly also the House of Eric). In the early high middle ages some kings in Sweden were titled rex Visigothorum and rex Gothorum, failing to hold the Swedish core provinces in Svealand. The non-Geatish King Ragnvald Knaphövde was killed by the Geats as he despised them and travelled among them without Geatish hostages.
- Ingold I, king of Västergötland (1081)
- Halsten, king of Västergötland (1081)
- Magnus the Strong, king of Västergötland (reigned 1125–1130)
- Kol, king of Östergötland (see Ingold II) (early 12th c.)
- Karl Sverkersson, rex Gothorum before becoming king of all of Sweden.
- since Magnus III of Sweden until accession of Charles XVI Gustav, Sweden's monarchs were officially titled King of the Goths; and quite parallelly, since Valdemar IV's conquest of Gotland until accession of Margaret II of Denmark, Denmark's monarchs were similarly titled.
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