List of legendary kings of Denmark

The legendary kings of Denmark are the predecessors of Gorm the Old, a king who reigned c. 930s to 950s and is the earliest reliably attested Danish ruler. Historicity of the earlier legendary kings are thus half legend and half history. The accounts of the Danish kings of the Dark Ages are confusing and contradictory, and so this article tries to separate the various sources from one another. Different sources do sometimes mention the same kings.

Multiple sources

Many kings are mentioned by multiple sources, but are for various reasons still considered more legendary than historical kings of Denmark

• Harthacnut (Hardeknud) (c. 916 – c. 936), the father of Gorm the Old according to multiple sources. The main question is whether he was king of Denmark or only king of some part of Denmark. His parentage is also disputed, as either from an unknown king Sweyn, or from either Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye or king Erik, both said to be children of Ragnar Lodbrok.
• Sigtrygg Gnupasson, either deposed c. 916 by Harthacnut or contemporary, depending on sources. Likely had base in Schleswig, but the extent of his realm is unknown. Son of Gnupa.
• Gnupa (early 900s). Father of Sigtrygg. According to one source he shared power with his brother Gyrd. According to the Saga of Olaf Tryggvason, he was defeated as one of the minor border kings by Gorm when he united Denmark, though that conflicts with Gnupa's son being deposed by Gorm's father according to other sources.
• Olof the Brash conquered Denmark (or part of Denmark) c. 900.
• Helgi, supposedly deposed by Olaf the Brash.
• Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye (Sigurd Orm-i-øje or Snogeøje) became king of Zealand and Scania according to the sagas, perhaps correctly named Sigfred and co-ruling as king of Denmark with his brother Halfdan Ragnarsson (d. 877). Mentioned by Chronicon Roskildense and Ragnarssona þáttr. Son of Ragnar Lodbrok.
• Halfdan Ragnarsson (c. 871 – 877), son of Ragnar Lodbrok and older brother of Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye. Leader of the so called Great Heathen Army of the Anglo-Saxon sources, in 870 and 871. King Bagsecg joined him to become the co-leader of the Great Summer Army of 870 but Bagsecg was killed in battle with the English in January 871. Halfdan succeeded Bagsecg as king of Jutland.
• Bagsecg, Danish king who came to England and was killed in 871.
• Horik II, king from about 854 until about 870.
• Horik I, co-ruler of Denmark from 813, the sole king of Denmark c. 828 to 854. Son of Gudfred.
• Harald Klak, 812 to 813 and 819 to 827, a period of civil war with the sons of Gudfred. Nephew of an earlier Harald.
• Hemming, c. 810 to c. 812. Nephew of Gudfred. Brother of Ragnvald, Håkon and Angantyr.
• Gudfred (Godfred or Gøtrik), a Danish king c. 804 to 810. Said to be father of Ogier the Dane (Holger Danske); possibly the son of Sigfred.
• Ragnar Lodbrok was a legendary king, allegedly flourishing before 865. He is mentioned in multiple sources, but the sources are wildly inconsistent. There is no historical record of anyone named Ragnar ruling Denmark in the 9th century. However his sons Halfdan Ragnarsson and Sigurd Snake-In-the-Eye may have become kings of Denmark, while his son Bjorn Ironside became king of Sweden and Uppsala according to various late sagas.
• Sigfred, Danish king c. 770 to c. 804. Possibly the historical basis for Sigurd Hring. Reported to have assisted the Saxons against Charlemagne.
• Harald Wartooth (Harald Hildetand), legendary king of Denmark, Sweden and parts of Norway, sometimes assigned to c. 715 to c. 770. Mentioned in multiple sources. According to one source his conquests reached as far as the Mediterranean. Said to be grandfather of Ragnar Lodbrok.
• Ongendus was a king of the Danes, reigning c. 710, the first Danish king known from contemporary literature.
• Randver, sometimes assigned to the early 700s. Son of Valdar (or Radbard) according to late sagas; fell in England.
• Valdar, sometimes assigned to the early 700s. Son-in-law of Ivar Vidfamne and sub-king in Denmark according to the late sagas.
• Ivar Vidfamne, sometimes assumed to have died in c. 700. The Viking sagas say that Ivar Vidfamne ruled over most of Denmark, Sweden, Saxland and even parts of England.

Rig and Scylding line

Early kings of the Rig and Scylding lines, mentioned by multiple sources

• Dan mikilláti, son of Danp, brother-in-law of Domar.
• Fróði mikilláti, son of Dan Mikillati
• Halfdan, son of Fróði
• Hroðgar (Roar), 6th century?, son of Halfdan
• Halga (Helge), 6th century?, son of Halfdan
• Hrólfr Kraki, son of Halga

After Hrólf Kraki no two sources give the same succession.

Adam of Bremen

Adam of Bremen mentions several kings from the 10th century preceding Gorm the Old. He claims Svend Estridson as his source. Many of these are also confirmed by other sources.

• Helge
• Olof the Brash (Olav/Ole den Frøkne): mention o. 925
• Gyrd and Gnupa: mention 934
• Sigtrygg Gnupasson (Sigerich): c. 935, but conflicts with Harthacnut's deposition of him about 917
• Harthacnut Very likely preceded Gorm the Old

Gesta Danorum

The family tree of legendary Kings of the Danes, according to the Gesta Danorum (Books I to VII)

Kings of the Danes are in bold and marked with an asterisk (*). Kings of the Swedes are marked with a dagger (†). Humble KEY Angul Dan* Grytha Marriage or coupling Parent and child The Angles Humble* Lother* King of the Saxons Inheritance by other or unclear means Sigtryg, King of the Swedes† Skiold* Alfhild Sumble, King of the Finns Gróa Gram*† Signe Henry, King of the Saxons Hakon, King of the Nitherians Swipdag*† [unnamed] Guthorm* Hadding* Ragnhild Asmund† Gunhild Guthorm Henry Uffe† Hunding† Thorhild Ulfhild Ubbe Scot Ragnar† Swanhwid Handwan Thorwald Frode* [unnamed] Hothbrodd† Halfdan* Ro Skat Thora Helge* Ro* Athils† Urse King Gewar Rolf*† Krage Rute Bjarke Skulde Hiartuar†* Hother†* Nanna Herlek Gerit Rorik* Gerwendil King of Britain Gerutha Horwendil Feng [unnamed] Amleth Hermutrude, Queen of Scotland Wiglek* Wermund* Frowin, governor of Sleswik Uffe*, aka Olaf the Gentle [unnamed] Ket Wig Dan* Hugleik* Frode* the Vigorous Dan* Kraka Ragnar Brak Fridleif* the Swift Gotar, King of Norway Hun, King of the Huns Westmar Koll Gotwar Roller Erik† Gunwar the Fair Alfhild Frode* Hanund Grep 11 other brothers (two named Grep) Hythin, King of Tellemark Alf Eyfura Arngrim Grubb Hiarn* Amund, King of Norway [unnamed] Halfdan† 12 sons, including Anganty Ane Juritha Fridleif* Frogertha Frok Hanef, King of Saxony Swerting, King of Saxony Olaf Frode* Siward† Unnamed sons [unnamed] Ingeld* Helga Helge Asa Frode Fridleif Ingeld Olaf* Karl, governor of Gothland Ulfhild Frode* Hather, a chief Harald* Signe Erik Thorhild Halfdan*† Biargramm Harald Asmund Kings of Norway Name spellings are derived from Oliver Elton's 1905 translation, The First Nine Books of the Danish History of Saxo Grammaticus, via Wikisource.

The kings from Saxo Grammaticus' chronicle Gesta Danorum ("Deeds of the Danes").

Name	Consort(s)	Claim	Note(s)
Dan I	Grytha	Title created	Did not actually rule as a king, but merely as a governor.
Humble		Son of Dan I	Elected as a king after the death of his father, however, he proved a weak ruler and was soon deposed by his brother.
Lother			After deposing his brother, he resorted to tyranny and was killed while fighting a rebellion.
Skiold	Alfhild	Son of Lother	Became king when younger than fifteen, renowned hunter and fighter, extraordinarily tall. Subjugated the Alemanni in order to marry a Saxon princess.
Gram	Groa Signe	Son of Skiod	While his father was still alive, he invaded Sweden, and his father rewarded him by crowning him as co-ruler. Later, he was killed by Svipdagr, king of the Norwegians.
Svipdagr	Daughter of Gram and Groa	Son-in-law of Gram	After Gram slew his father, he retired to Sweden and made peace with Gram when he agreed to marry his sister. Later, Gram abandoned his sister in favor of a Finnish princess, this prompted Svipdagr to continue the war, which eventually led to his victory, thus he took over Sweden and Denmark.
Guthorm		Son of Gram Nephew of Svipdagr	Puppet king of Svipdagr.

Other Danish kings include:

• Hadingus
• Frotho I
• Haldanus I
• Ro
• Helgo
• Rolvo Krake
• Høtherus (and Balderus)
• Rørikus (the grandfather of Hamlet)
• Wiglecus
• Wermundus
• Uffo
• Dan II
• Huglecus
• Frotho II
• Dan III
• Hiarnus^[1]
• Fridlevus I
• Frotho III
• Fridlevus II
• Frotho IV
• Ingellus
• Olavus I
• Haraldus I
• Frotho V
• Haldanus II
• Yngwin
• Sywaldus I
• Sygarus
• Haraldus Hyldetan (Harald Wartooth)
• Ringo
• Olo
• Omundus
• Sywardus I
• Iarmericus
• Broderus
• Sywaldus II
• Snio
• Biorn
• Haraldus III
• Gormo I
• Gudfred
• Olavus II
• Hemmingus
• Siwardus Ring
• Regner Lothbrog
• Siwardus III
• Ericus I
• Ericus II
• Kanutus I
• Frotho VI
• Gormo II
• Haraldus III
• Gormo III

Chronicon Lethrense and Annales Lundenses

The family tree of legendary Kings of the Danes, according to Chronicon Lethrense

Kings of the Danes are in bold and marked with an asterisk (*). ♂ Ypper, King of Uppsala KEY ♂ Nori ♂ Østen ♂ Dan* ♀ Dannia Marriage or coupling Parent and child ♂ Rolfcarl, aka Rolf, a baron ♂ Ro* ♀ Ro's wife Succession by other means ♀ Thora ♂ Helge* ♂ Halfdan* ♂ Athisl, King of Swethia ♀ Ursula ♂ Raka*, a dog ♂ Siward Albus ♂ Snyo* ♂ Hiarwart†* ♀ Sculd ♂ Rolf*† Kraki ♂ Hamund ♂ Aki* ♂ Haghbard ♀ daughter of Rolf Kraki ♂ Fritleff* ♂ Frothi* Largus ♂ Ingyald* ♂ Olav* ♀ Asa* ♂ Harald* Hildetan (war-tooth) ♀ Hethae* The source used for the genealogical information and name spellings is the English translation provided by Mischa Hooker of Augustana College.

The kings from the Chronicle of Lejre.

• Dan, son of Ypper (a primeval king of Sweden)
• Ro (= Haldan)
• Haldanus (= Ro) in Lejre and sea-king Helghe, the sons of Ro (= Haldan)
• A dog king Raki, Rachus or Saurr ruled Denmark on the order of the Swedish king Adils (or Hakon)
• Snyo
• Rolf Kraki
• Hiartwart
• Haki or Aki, brother of Haghbardus and son of Hamundus
• Fritleff
• Frotha Largus (the Generous)
• Ingyald
• Olavus
• Asa, queen
• Haraldus Hyldetan
• Hetha or Wysna, queen in Hedeby

Gesta Danorum på danskæ

Another document, the Gesta Danorum på danskæ (an Old Norse work separate from Saxo's Gesta Danorum) is often referred to incorrectly as the Chronicon Lethrense in its English translation by Peter Tunstall.^[2] This work is based on the kings list from the Codex Runicus, and includes kings not in the Chronicon Lethrense, such as:^[3]

• Wig
• Aki
• Hother of Saxland, son of Hodbrod and Hadding's daughter, as nearest heir.
• Rorik Slengeborre or Rake
• Wighlec
• Wermund
• Offe the Strong

Beowulf

The kings in epic poem Beowulf

• Heremod, a Danish king
• Scyld, a foundling who became king
• Scealdwea (Scealdea), son of Heremod
• Beowa, son of Scyld
• Healfdene, son of Beowa
• Heorogar, son of Healfdene
• Hroðgar, son of Healfdene
• Hroðulf, probably the son of Hroðgar's brother Halga

Gróttasöngr

The kings in the poem Gróttasöngr

• Skjöldr
• Friðleifr
• Fróði

Skjöldunga saga (partial list)

The kings of the saga of the Scylding family.

• Scioldus
• Fridleifus I
• Frodo I
• Herleifus
• Havardus
• Leifus
• Herleifus
• Hunleifus
• Aleifus
• Oddleifus
• Geirleifus
• Gunnleifus
• Frodo II
• Vermundus
• Dan I
• Dan II
• Frodo III
• Fridleifus II
• Frodo IV
• Ingjaldus
• Helgo and Roas
• Rolfo Krake
• Hiorvardus
• Rærecus

Sögubrot

Sögubrot or Sǫgubrot af nokkrum fornkonungum Dana ok svíaveldi is an Old Icelandic saga fragment which is believed to be a part of the original Skjöldunga saga. The fragment begins in the middle of a discussion between the Scanian king Ivar Vidfamne and his daughter Auðr.

Kings of the whole of Denmark or individual Danish regions, which appear in Sögubrot:

• Helgi, (joint ?) king of Zealand
• Hrœrekr Ringslinger (brother of Helgi), king / (co-kingship) of Zealand
• Ivar Vidfamne (the father-in-law of Hrœrekr), King of Scania – later King of Denmark, Sweden, Norway and parts of several adjoining countries.
• Harald Wartooth (grandson of Ivar), he became king after Ivar (possibly identical with the "former" or "senior" King Harald mentioned in connection with the royal Danish brothers Anulo and Harald in the Royal Frankish Annals)
• Hring or Sigurd Hring (nephew of Harald Wartooth), at first king of Sveariket (Beowulf: Swēorice; oldest Swedish form: Swerike), later also king of Denmark (could possibly be identical with king Sigfred).
• At the end of Sögubrot is mentioned Ragnar (Ragnarr) as a son of Sigurd Hring. From other known sources it must be concluded that this Ragnarr is the famous Viking king Ragnar Lodbrok.

Ynglinga saga

The kings of the saga of the Ynglinga family.

• Skjöldr
• ...
• Frið-Fróði
• ...
• Danr hinn mikilláti
• Fróði hinn mikilláti eða friðsami
• Hálfdan
• Friðleifr
• Áli hinn frækni
• ...
• Fróði hinn frækni
• ...
• Helgi Hálfdanarson
• Hrólfr kraki

Other sources

• Chlochilaicus: 6th century killed by Theuderic I during a Viking raid in ca 516, mentioned as a Dane though that might have been be a mistake on the author's part. He is called 'Rex Getarum' (King of The Geats) in most accounts and is thought to be Hygelac, mentioned in Beowulf as the King of Geatland.
• Fróði: 6th century or 7th century
• Ongendus (Angantyr): mentioned early 8th century
• Siger: mentioned 8th century^{[citation needed]}
• Sigfred (Sigfred/Sigurd): mentioned 777, d. before 804
  • Harold: of Norway?
• Gudfred (Godfred): latest 804 – d. 810
  • Eystein fart (Eystein Fjært): of Västergötland?
  • Halfdan (Halvdan): of Norway?
• Hemming: d. 811
• Anulo (Anulo/Ring): d. 812
• Sigfrid (Sigfred/Sigurd): d. 812
• Harold: 812–813, 819-827, died in exile
• Eric (Horik/Erik): 812-854
  • Halfdan (Halvdan) o. 812, possibly died in exile
• Eric the Child (Horik/Erik Barn): 854- after 864, dead or deposed by 873
• Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye (Sigurd Orm i Øje): mention 873, d. 903, do coin money by East Anglia
  • Halfdan (Halvdan): mention 873, d. 876/877
  • Guthfrith (Godred/Canute/Harde-Knud/Gudfred/Gudrød): c. 881, d. 895/896 in Northumbria, do coin money by East Anglia
• Guichtlac: King of the Danes in antiquity. Cited In Book III of the Historia Regum Britanniae by Geoffry of Monmouth.

For later Danish monarchs whose existence is verified, see List of Danish monarchs

See also

• List of legendary kings of Sweden
• List of legendary kings of Norway

References

1. Saxo Grammaticus, ed. Hilda Ellis Davidson, p. 165.
2. Chronicon Lethrense, with translation and commentary by Mischa Hooker of Augustana College
3. The Chronicle of the Kings of Lejre, ed. Peter Tunstall.