Saxo's kings of Sweden
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Saxo's kings of Sweden appear in the Danish Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus.
Some kings (e.g. Athisl/Adils, Hunding/Fjölnir, Halfdan, Sigurd Ring, Ragnar Lodbrok and Erik and Alrik) are based on the same traditions as the West Norse Ynglingatal, Ynglinga saga and Historia Norwegiae. Moreover, the dynasties are the same, i.e. the descendants of the god Frey (i.e. the Ynglings) and intermediary Skjöldungs.
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 to Fjölnir in the Norse sagas).
- 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 of Götaland 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 to Ongentheow/Egil)
- Hothbrodd (his position corresponds to Ohthere/Ottar Vendelkråka).
- Athisl (corresponding to Eadgils in Beowulf and to Adils in the Norse sagas)
- Hiartuar (who killed Hrólf Kraki, but only Saxo makes him a king of Sweden)
- Hother (Athisl's brother but not the same as Eanmund. Surprisingly, he is based on the Norse god Höder)
- Alver (Alf)
- Ingild (corresponds to both Ingjald 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 as Erik Anundsson)
