Alf and Alfhild

According to the Gesta Danorum, Alfhild,^[a] daughter of the Geatish king Siward, was a shieldmaiden who had her own fleet of longships with crews of young female pirates and raided along the coasts of the Baltic Sea.

As a young princess, Alfhild's chamber was guarded by a lizard and a snake, which scared away unworthy suitors. A Danish prince named Alf, also of Geatish descent, came to Geatland and defeated the animal guards. But Alfhild, advised by her mother, fled from Alf dressed as a man, and she became a shield maiden.

Alf and his Scanian comrade, Borgar, together with their Danish sea-warriors, searched for and eventually found Alfhild and her fleet by the coast of southern Finland. After some deadly fighting aboard the ships, Alfhild's helmet was knocked off, and she was recognised. Alf and Borgar ordered their men to stop fighting, and Alf embraced Alfhild, happy to finally have found her. She then decided to lay off her warrior clothes and follow Alf to Denmark, where they got married.

Some years later, in a war fought against a revolting Danish clan, Alf and his brothers and their father King Sigar were killed. Only Alf's and Alfhild's daughter Gurid had survived of the royal family. After being queen for a while, Gurid married one of Borgar's sons, Halfdan, and they had a son named Harald, who became the new king of Denmark.

Kings of the Danes are marked with a crown (♕). Kings of the Swedes are marked with a dagger (†). Superscript numbers after a name indicate in which books of Gesta Danorum the individual is mentioned.

Humblus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

KEY

Angul ♂ ⁽¹⁾

♕ Dan I ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Grytha ♀ ⁽¹⁾

Marriage or coupling

Parent and child

The Angles

♕ Humblus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

♕ Lotherus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

King of the Saxons ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Succession by other or unclear means

Roarus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Sigtrugus, King of the Swedes† ♂ ⁽¹⁾

♕ Skioldus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Alvilda ♀ ⁽¹⁾

daughter of Roarus ♀ ⁽¹⁾

Bessus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

sister of Gram ♀ ⁽¹⁾

Gro ♀ ⁽¹⁾

♕ Gram† ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Sumblus, King of the Finns ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Wagnofthus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Signe ♀ ⁽¹⁾

Henricus, King of the Saxons ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Haquinus, King of the Nitherians ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Harthgrepa ♀ ⁽¹⁾

♕Suibdagerus, King of Norway† ♂ ⁽¹⁾

sister of Guthormus ♀ ⁽¹⁾

♕Guthormus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

♕Hadingus ♂ ^(1,2,4,5)

Regnilda ♀ ⁽¹⁾

Asmundus† ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Gunnilda ♀ ⁽¹⁾

Guthormus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Ulvilda ♀ ^(1,2)

♕ Ubbo ♂ ⁽²⁾

Henricus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Uffo† ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Hundingus† ♂ ^(1,2)

Thorilda ♀ ⁽²⁾

Scottus ♂ ⁽²⁾

daughter of Uffo ♀ ⁽¹⁾

Regnerus† ♂ ⁽²⁾

Suanhuita ♀ ⁽²⁾

sisters of Suanhuita ♀♀ ⁽²⁾

Andwan, King of the Hellespont ♂ ⁽²⁾

Thoraldus ♂ ⁽²⁾

♕ Frotho I ♂ ^(2,5)

daughter of Andwan ♀ ⁽²⁾

Hothbrodus† ♂ ^(2,3)

♕ Haldanus I ♂ ⁽²⁾

Roe ♂ ⁽²⁾

Skato ♂ ⁽²⁾

Thora ♀ ⁽²⁾

♕ Helgo ♂ ^(2,3)

♕ Roe ♂ ⁽²⁾

Athislus† ♂ ^(2,3)

Ursa ♀ ⁽²⁾

King Gevarus ♂ ^(2,3)

♕ Rolvo Krake† ♂ ^(2,3)

Ruta ♀ ⁽²⁾

Biarco ♂ ⁽²⁾

Sculda ♀ ⁽²⁾

♕Hiarwarthus † ♂ ^(2,3)

♕ Hotherus† ♂ ^(2,3)

Nanna ♀ ⁽³⁾

Herlecus ♂ ⁽³⁾

Gericus ♂ ⁽³⁾

former King of Britain ♂ ⁽³⁾

mother of the King of Britain ♀ ⁽³⁾

a slave ♂ ⁽³⁾

a bondmaid ♀ ⁽³⁾

♕ Roricus Slyngebond ♂ ⁽³⁾

Gerwendillus ♂ ⁽³⁾

King of Britain ♂ ^(3,4)

Queen of Britain ♀ ^(3,4)

Gerutha ♀ ^(3,4)

Horwendillus ♂ ^(3,4)

Fengo ♂ ^(3,4)

foster sister of Amlethus ♀ ^(3,4)

daughter of the King of Britain ♀ ^(3,4)

Amlethus ♂ ^(3,4)

Herminthruda, Queen of Scotland ♀ ⁽⁴⁾

♕ Wiglecus ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

son of Amlethus ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

♕Wermundus ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

Frowinus, governor of Sleswik ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

♕ Uffo, or Olavus the Gentle ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

daughter of Frowin ♀ ⁽⁴⁾

Keto ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

Wigo ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

♕ Dan II ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

♕ Huglecus ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

♕ Frotho II, the Vigorous ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

♕ Dan III ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

Craca ♀ ⁽⁵⁾

Regnerus ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Bracus ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

♕ Fridlevus I, the Swift ♂ ^(4,5)

Hun, King of the Huns ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Hun ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Gøtarus, King of Norway ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Westmarus ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Colo ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Gøtwara ♀ ⁽⁵⁾

Rollerus ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Ericus the Shrewd-spoken† ♂ ^(5,6)

Gunwara the Fair ♀ ⁽⁵⁾

Alvilda ♀ ⁽⁵⁾

♕ Frotho III ♂ ^(5,6)

Hanunda ♀ ⁽⁵⁾

Grep (eldest of three) ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

11 other sons (two named Grep) ♂♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Hythin, King of Tellemark ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

Alvo ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Ofura ♀ ⁽⁵⁾

Arngrimus ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Grubbus ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

♕ Hiarnus ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

Amundus, King of Norway ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

child of Hythin ⁽⁶⁾

Haldanus† ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

12 sons, including Angantir ♂♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Ano ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

Iuritha ♀ ⁽⁶⁾

♕ Fridlevus II ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

Frogertha ♀ ⁽⁶⁾

Hanevus, King of Saxony ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

Suertingus, King of Saxony ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

Olavus ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

♕ Frotho IV ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

Sywardus† ♂ ^(6,7)

sons of Suertingus ♂♂ ⁽⁶⁾

sister of the sons of Suertingus ♀ ⁽⁶⁾

♕ Ingellus ♂ ^(6,7)

Helga ♀ ⁽⁶⁾

Helgo ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

Asa ♀ ⁽⁶⁾

three sons that died in war ♂♂ ⁽⁷⁾

♕ Olavus I ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Karolus, governor of Gothland ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Ulvilda ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

♕ Frotho V ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Hatherus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

♕ Haraldus I ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Sygne ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Ericus† ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Thorhilda ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

♕ Haldanus II Biargrammus† ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

♕Haraldus II ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Ebbo ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

mother of Otharus ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

♕ Unguinus, King of the Goths ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Asmundus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

sister of Otharus ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

♕ Sywaldus I ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Sygrutha ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Kings of Norway

Sywardus, King of the Goths ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

mother of Alvilda ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Otharus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Syritha ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

♕ Sygarus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

queen of Sygarus ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Hamundus, a petty king ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Wemundus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Ostenus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

♕Sywaldus II ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Algerus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Helwin ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Hamundus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Regnaldus, King of the Northmen ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Alvilda ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Alf ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Sygne ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Hagbarthus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Hako ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Gro ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Borcarus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Drota ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Gunnarus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Hano, ruler of Funen ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Ostmarus, ruler of Scania ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Hundingus, ruler of Zealand ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Roricus, co-ruler of Jutland ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Hatherus, co-ruler of Jutland ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Haraldus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Hildigerus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Røtho, a Ruthenian pirate ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Wesetus ♂

♕Haldanus III ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Guritha ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Alverus† ♂ ^(7,8)

♕ Haraldus III Hyldetan ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Olavus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Ingo ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Ingeldus† ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

sister of Haraldus ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Ubbo ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

sister of Haraldus ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Sywardus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

sister of Haraldus ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Olavus, king of the Werms ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

♕ Ringo I† ♂ ^(7,8)

♕ Hetha ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Olo the Vigorous ♂ ^(7,8)

Esa ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

son of the king ♂ ^(7,8)

Atylo the Scanian ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

Ringo, ruler of Norway ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

Tola ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

Omothus, or Homothus ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

daughter of Ringo ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

Esa ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Omundus ♂ ^(7,8)

Sibbo ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

sister of Gøtarus ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

Gøtarus† ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

daughter of Omundus ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Sywardus I ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Buthlus ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

daughter of Omundus ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

Ebbo ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

early wife of Iarmericus ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

♕Iarmericus † ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

Suanilda ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

the Hellepontines, 4 brothers ♂♂ ⁽⁸⁾

Iarmericus' sister, sold to Norwegians ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

Iarmericus' sister, sold to Germans ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Broderus ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

nephews of Iarmericus ♂♂ ⁽⁸⁾

King of the Goths ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Sywaldus III ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

King of Sweden† ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

daughter of the King of the Goths ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Snio ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Biorn ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Haraldus III ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

a queen from Sweden ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Gormo I ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Gotricus, or Godefridus ♂ ^(8,9)

♕ Olavus III ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

daughter of Gotricus ♀ ⁽⁹⁾

Sywardus, King of Norway ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

unknown

♕Hemmingus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕Siwardus II Ring ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Ringo II ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Herothus† ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Hesbernus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

ruler in Norway ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Lathgertha ♀ ⁽⁹⁾

♕Regnerus Lothbrog ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Thora ♀ ⁽⁹⁾

Suanlogha ♀ ⁽⁹⁾

a woman ♀ ⁽⁹⁾

2 daughters ♀♀ ⁽⁹⁾

Fridlevus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Haraldus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Siwardus & Ericus ♂♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Rathbarthus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Dunwatus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Ubbo ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Regnaldus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Withsercus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Ericus Wind-hat ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Guthormus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Ericus I ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Sywardus Snake-Eye ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Biornus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Agnerus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Ivarus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

daughter of Guthormus ♀ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Ericus II ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Kanutus I ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Frotho VI ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Gormo II the English ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Haraldus V ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Hedelradus, King of England ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Gormo III ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Thira ♀ ⁽⁹⁾

Kanutus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Haraldus VI ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Genealogical information is derived from Oliver Elton's 1905 translation, The First Nine Books of the Danish History of Saxo Grammaticus (via Wikisource). Name spellings are from the 1931 Latin critical edition by Olrik and Ræder (via Wikisource). Regnal numbers, which do not appear in the original text, are included for clarity and taken from the engraving Veræ effigies regum omnium by Erico Olai Tormio.

[a]

Alf and Alfhild

Context

In popular culture

See also

Notes

References

External sources

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