Rstykt

The legendary kings of Sweden are the Swedish mythological kings who preceded Eric the Victorious, according to sources such as the Norse Sagas, Beowulf, Rimbert, Adam of Bremen and Saxo Grammaticus, but who are of disputed historicity because the sources are more or less unreliable, and sometimes contradictory. They are called sagokonungar or sagokungar in Swedish, meaning "Saga kings" according to the etymology given by SAOB.

The first Kings attested in contemporary sources are those mentioned in the Vita Ansgari. However, very little is known about the extent of their rule. The first king attested in more than one source was Eric the Victorious, who lived around 970–995. He was succeeded by his son King Olof Skötkonung (late-960s – circa 1020), who also is the first king we know ruled over both parts of Svealand and Götaland. Earlier kings often only ruled over parts of the present territory of Sweden, and so their validity as 'kings of Sweden' may be questioned. ^{[1][not specific enough to verify]} However, according to the Viking sagas, those territories were sometimes united under a single ruler.

In sources such as Heimskringla and Ynglinga saga there appear early Swedish kings who belong in the domain of mythology. From about the 6th century, these kings are gradually succeeded by semi-legendary kings with at least partial claim to historicity, who were all depicted as descendents of the House of Ynglings/Scylfings, either in direct royal line, or through the House of Ragnar Lodbrok and the house of Skjöldung (Scylding).

A historical basis of some of the mythological kings was one of the last of Thor Heyerdahl's archeo-anthropological theories, as in The Search for Odin. Such suggestions are generally considered speculative, not scientific, but while there is no historiographical tradition that would confirm the historicity of Swedish kings prior to the 6th century, it is safe to assume that the Suiones, as a tribe mentioned by Tacitus in the 1st century AD, did have kings (Common Germanic *kuningaz) during the prehistoric period.

House of Ynglings/Scylfings

The list is mainly based on the Ynglinga saga, in turn based on the Ynglingatal. In addition, Snorri uses a king Gylfe in his prologue to his Edda.

The genealogy is traced to Odin himself (as are the Anglo-Saxon royal genealogies). Odin is euhemerised as an Asian noble with a genealogy going back to the Trojans. King Fjölnir, the 4th generation after Odin, in the Grottisongr is named a contemporary of Caesar Augustus, placing him late in the 1st century BC. The kings following Fjölnir based on internal chronology would then span the 1st to 7th centuries AD.^[2]
The later Yngling kings of the Vendel Period (6th to 7th century) may well correspond to historical rulers, even if biographical detail from the Heimskringla has to be considered legendary; the kings Egil, Ottar and Ale are also attested in Beowulf. After Ingjald, Snorri does not relate any further stories of Swedish kings, and follows the descendants of the house to Norway.

• Odin


• Njord


• Yngvi-Frey


• 
  Fjölnir (1st century BC)


• 
  Sveigder (1st century AD)


• Vanlade


• Visburr


• 
  Domalde (c. 2nd century)


• Domarr


• Dyggve


• 
  Dag the Wise/Dagr Spaka (c. 3rd century)


• 
  Agne (c. early 4th century)


• Erik and Alrik


• Yngvi and Alf


• Hugleik


• Haki


• 
  Jorund (c. late 4th century)


• 
  Aun and Ale the Strong (c. 5th century)


• Egil (Ongentheow) (c. late 5th to early 6th century)


• Ottar (Ohthere)


• Ale (Onela)


• Adils (Eadgils) (c. 530–575)


• 
  Östen (late 6th century)


• 
  Sölve (late 6th to early 7th century)


• 
  Ingvar (early 7th century)


• 
  Anund (early to mid 7th century)


• 
  Ingjald (mid 7th century)

House of Ivar Vidfamne

These are kings who succeeded the Yngling dynasty and who were part of the legends of Harald Hildetand and Ragnar Lodbrok. Björn Ironside is considered to be the founder of the next dynasty. According to the Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus, Sigurd Hring belonged to the Ynglings and he was the son of Ingjald. The sagas, on the other hand, give his father as Randver, variously the son of Ráðbarðr, King of Garðaríki, or of Valdar, Viceroy of Denmark, or of Hrœrekr Ringslinger, King of Denmark and Zealand.

• 
  Ivar Vidfamne (c. 655 – c. 695)


• 
  Valdar (c. 695 - ?)


• 
  Randver (died c. 715)


• 
  Harald Hildetand (c. 715 – 770)


• 
  Sigurd Hring (c. 770 – c. 804)


• 
  Ragnar Lodbrok (c. 804 – c. 865)


• 
  Östen Beli (mid 9th century)

House of Munsö (8th to 10th centuries)

• 
  Sigurd Hring (c. 770 – c. 804)


• 
  Ragnar Lodbrok (c. 804 – c. 865)


• 
  Olof I of Sweden (King at Birka in 854)


• 
  Östen Beli (subking of Ragnar Lodbrok in mid 9th century?)


• 
  Björn Ironside (c. 865 - ?)


• 
  Erik Björnsson (9th century)


• 
  Erik Refilsson (9th century)


• 
  Anund Uppsale (c. 840 or 872?)


• 
  Björn at Hauge (c. 830 or 872?)


• 
  Erik Anundsson (died 882)


• 
  Björn Eriksson (882 – 932)


• 
  Ring of Sweden (c. 932 - 940)


• 
  Erik Ringsson (c. 940 - 950)


• 
  Emund Eriksson (c. 950 - c. 970)


• 
  Olof Björnsson (c. 970 – c. 975)


• 
  Erik the Victorious (c. 970 – c. 995)


• 
  Olof Skötkonung (c. 995 – 1022)

The sources for the period are conflicting, but the kings Bern and Anund named in the only contemporary account, Rimbert's Vita Ansgari, seem to correspond to Björn at Hauge and Anund Uppsale. Suggestions for explanations of the inconsistencies have been to stipulate a tradition of co-rulership where two brothers were elected kings at the same time. The sources only seem to mention the details when there was civil war (Björn at Hauge and Anund Uppsale) or problems of succession (Eric the Victorious, Olof (II) Björnsson and Styrbjörn Starke).

The line of Swedish kings is continued in List of Swedish monarchs.

Gesta Danorum

Certain kings of Sweden appear in the Danish Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus. Of these, some (for example Athisl/Adils, Hunding/Fjölnir, Halfdan, Sigurd Hring, 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.^[3]

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 fictional creativity from Saxo's side and/or Danish bias and tradition. On the other hand, in some sources the Ynglings did not solely rule Norway after ruling Sweden and so describes kings following Ingjald as kings of Sweden and Norway Ynglings as well as Norway.

This list is 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 Hring (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)

Johannes Magnus

Johannes Magnus in his Historia de omnibus Gothorum Sveonumque regibus (published posthumously in 1554) lists Gustav Vasa (r. 1521–1523) as the 143rd and Eric the Victorious (Ericus Victoriofus, the first Swedish king who can unambiguously be regarded as historical^[4]) as the 110th Swedish king, in a list beginning with Magog ("2259 BC").
Magnus inserts 49 kings and 20 centuries between Odin (Othen, 9th, "1866–1746 BC", with a reign of 120 years) and Fjölnir of the House of Yngling (Fliolmus , 59th, "AD 265–273")
where the Old Norse tradition has only two or three (Freyr, Njördr, Yngvi):

1. Magog (2259 BC BCE)


2. Suenno (2217 BCE)


3. 
   Gethar (Göthar I, 2161 BCE)


4. 
   Ubbo [sv] (2101 BCE)


5. Siggo (2000 BCE)


6. Ericus (1990 BCE)


7. Uddo (1921 BCE)


8. Alo (1896 BCE)


9. Othen (Odin, 1866 BCE)


10. Carolus (Carl I, 1746 BCE)


11. Biorno (Björn I, 1695 BCE)


12. Gethar (Göthar II, 1599 BCE)


13. Siggo (Sigge II, 1570 BCE)


14. Berico (1511 BCE)


15. Humpulphus (1471 BCE)


16. Humelus (1367 BCE)


17. Gothilas (1292 BCE)


18. Sigthunius (1246 BCE)


19. Scarinus (1213 BCE)


20. Sibdagerus (1173 BCE)


21. Asumundus (1113 BCE)


22. 
    Uffo (1065 BCE)


23. 
    Hunding (1021 BCE)


24. Regnerus (Regner I, 973 BCE)


25. Hothebrotus (944 BCE)


26. Attilus (Adils I, 879 BCE)


27. Hotherus (830 BCE)


28. Rodericus (752 BCE)


29. Attilus (Adils II, 668 BCE)


30. Botuildus (638 BCE)


31. Carolus (Carl II, 596 BCE)


32. Grimerus (548 BCE)


33. Tordo (508 BCE)


34. Gotharus (Göthar III, 389 BCE)


35. Adulphus (315 BCE)


36. Algothus (292 BCE)


37. Ericus (Eric II, 263 BCE)


38. Lindormus (209 BCE)


39. Alaricus and Gefsillus (177 BCE)


40. Ericus (Eric III, 75 BCE)


41. Getricus (4 BCE)


42. Haldanus (Haldan I, 42 CE)


43. Vilmerus (70 CE)


44. Nordianus (82 CE)


45. Sivardus (Sifvar I, 103 CE)


46. Carolus (Carl III, 130 CE)


47. Ericus (Eric IV, 169 CE)


48. 
    Haldanus (Halvdan II, 181 CE)


49. Euginus (194 CE)


50. Ragnaldus (202 CE)


51. Amundus (220 CE)


52. Hacho (Hakon I, 225 CE)


53. Sivardus (Sifvar II, 234 CE)


54. Ingo (240 CE)


55. Nearchus (246 CE)


56. 
    Frotho (Frode I, 255 CE)


57. Urbanus (Urban I, 257 CE)


58. Ostenus (Öste I, 262 CE)


59. Fliolmus (Fjölnir, 265 CE)


60. Svercherus (Sveigðir, 273 CE)


61. Valander (Vanlandi, 276 CE)


62. 
    Visbur (282 CE)


63. 
    Domalde (288 CE)


64. 
    Domar (307 CE)


65. Attilus (Adils III, 314 CE)


66. Dignerus (336 CE)


67. 
    Dagerus, 341 CE)


68. Alaricus (Alrik II, 356 CE)


69. Ingemarus (Ingemar I, 367 CE)


70. Ingellus (378 CE)


71. Germundus (382 CE)


72. Haquinus, Ringo (Hakon II, 387 CE)


73. Egillus (399 CE)


74. Gotharus (Göthar IV, 405 CE)


75. Fatho (421 CE)


76. Gudmudus (427 CE)


77. 
    Adelus (433 CE)


78. Oftanus (Östen II, 437 CE)


79. Ingemarus (Ingemar II, 453 CE)


80. Holstanus (455 CE)


81. Biorno (Björn II, 460 CE)


82. Raualdus (Ragnvald I, 464 CE)


83. Suartmanus (481 CE)


84. Tordo (Tord II, 509 CE)


85. Rodulphus (519 CE)


86. Hathinus (527 CE)


87. Attilus (Adils IV, 547 CE)


88. Tordo (Tord III, 564 CE)


89. Algothus (Algöt II, 582 CE)


90. Gostagus, Oftanus (Östen III, 606 CE)


91. Arthus (630 CE)


92. Haquinus (Hakon III, 649 CE)


93. Carolus (Carl IV, 670 CE)


94. Carolus (Carl V, 676 CE)


95. Birgerus (Birger I, 685 CE)


96. Ericus (Eric V, 700 CE)


97. Torillus (717 CE)


98. Biornus (Björn III, 764 CE)


99. Alaricus (Alrik III, 776 CE)


100. Biornus (Björn IV, 800 CE)


101. Bratemundus (824 CE)


102. Sivardus (Sigurd III, 827 CE)


103. Herotus (842 CE)


104. Carolus (Carl VI, 859 CE)


105. Biornus (Björn V, 868 CE)


106. 
     Ingevallus, Ingellus (883 CE)


107. 
     Olaus (891 CE)


108. Ingo (Inge II, 900 CE)


109. Ericus (Eric VI Weatherhat, 907 CE)


110. Ericus Victoriofus (Eric VII the Victorious, 917 CE)

See also

• Hrothgar


• Scyld


• List of Danish monarchs


• List of legendary kings of Denmark


• List of legendary kings of Norway


• House of Yngling


• Germanic Heroic Age

References