List of legendary kings of Denmark


Image:Hjörvard and Rolf krake.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Two legendary kings of Denmark, Hjörvarðr and Hrólfr Kraki, illustrated by Jenny Nyström in a scene from Hrólfs saga kraka. King Hrólfr adjusts his belt while King Hjörvarðr, who will later overthrow Hrólfr, holds his sword and is thus tricked into being Hrólf's subordinate.
The legendary kings of Denmark were, according to legend, the monarchs of Denmark, the Danes, or specific lands of Denmark who preceded Gorm the Old, a king who reigned to and is the earliest reliably attested Danish ruler. Gorm's son, Harald Bluetooth, oversaw the widespread Christianization of Denmark, meaning that the legendary kings listed here are those from before Christianization and are predominantly pagan. Kings preceding Gorm may be partly historical, but are either semi-legendary or entirely mythological. Some are based on earlier euhemerised stories.
There are many medieval accounts of the Danish kings of the Dark Ages, and these accounts can be confusing and contradictory. This article presents the legendary kings from each source separately.

Danish sources

Runestones

Runestones are raised stones, marked with a runic inscription. In the Viking Age, and especially later in the Viking Age, runestones were often raised in memorial of dead people, including kings. Many were raised by contemporaries of the deceased, making runestones important archeological and historical evidence. Although they contain very little detail about the people they mention, they are vital corroborating evidence for individuals that are known of through other sources.
Surviving runestones that were found in lands that were part of Denmark during the Viking Age and refer to early and legendary kings of Denmark include:
In summary, the legendary Danish kings preceding Gorm the Old who are recorded on Viking Age runestones are:

Adam of Bremen

Adam of Bremen was an 11th century German chronicler. Although not Danish himself, he spent time in the court of the Danish king Svend Estridson. Adam claims to derive much of the information on Danish history from his Latin chronicle Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum from conversations with Svend and from information provided by Danish bishops. He also references the historians of the Franks and hagiographies such as Vita Ansgarii.
Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum names several 10th century kings preceding Gorm the Old. Kings whose histories are derived from information provided by Svend Estridson include:
  • Helge, who ruled Norway after the defeat of the Norsemen and was renowned for his justice and sanctity '
  • Olaf, a Swedish prince who conquered Denmark, succeeded Helge, and had many sons '
  • Chnuba and Gyrd, Olaf's sons who possessed the realm after his death '
  • Sigeric, who succeeded after Olaf and his sons '
  • Harthacnut, the son of "Svein"; Harthacnut came from "Nortmannia" and deprived Sigeric of the kingdom '
Mentioned kings preceding Gorm the Old, whose histories are derived from other sources, include:
  • Gotafrid '
  • Hemming, Gotafrid's cousin who succeeded him '
  • Sigefrid and Anulo, Gotafrid's nephews who went to war with each other over Hemming's succession. Both kings were killed, but Anulo's faction won and placed Reginfrid and Harald on the throne. '
  • Reginfrid, who was forced out of Denmark by his brother Harald and resorted to piracy '
  • Harald, who was forced out by the sons of Gotafrid and fled to the court of Louis the Pious, where he were converted to Christianity and baptised '
  • Horic, who was friendly to Christians, and who was killed in a war against his nephew Gudorm '
  • Horic the younger, the only royal survivor of the war between Horic the elder and Gudorm. On his ascension to the throne, he immediately expelled all Christian priests and closed the churches, but was later converted to Christianity by Ansgar. '
  • Sigefrid and his brother Halfdan '
  • Horic '
  • Orwig '
  • Gotafrid '
  • Rudolf '
  • Ingvar, son of Lodbrok '
  • Wrm, son of Harthacnut; described by Adam of Bremen as a "wyrm" who tried to eradicate Christianity in Denmark, but was succeeded by his son Harold who converted the country to that religion ''''

''Chronicon Roskildense''

The earliest known history of Denmark to be written in Denmark was Chronicon Roskildense, which was composed in Latin by an unknown author in the mid-12th century. Many early sections rely on the work of Adam of Bremen.
It begins in the year 826, with the introduction of Christianity to Denmark and conversion of Harald Klak. The original chronicle ends with the appointment of Eskil of Lund as Archbishop of Lund in 1137 or 1138, and this is followed by a continuation by a different author up to the ascension of Valdemar I of Denmark in 1157. As such, most of the chronicle takes place after the Christianisation of Denmark, but the early sections do list several semi-legendary kings preceding Gorm the Old. These are:
  1. Harald Klak
  2. Horik I, who is referred to here as Harald Klak's brother.
  3. Horik II, of whom the chronicle says there was significant doubt that he was Horik I's son. He temporarily ejected the Christians and priests from Denmark.
  4. Frothi
  5. Gorm
  6. Harald Bluetooth, who is incorrectly identified also as "Clac Harald". He ruled with his father Gorm for 15 years, then after his father's death for a further 50 years.
  7. Halfdan, of whom it is said it is doubtful that he was the son of Clac Harald, and that he said slain along with all his sons.
  8. Gorm, brother of Hartha Knut
The Chronicon Roskildense refers to two separate kings named Gorm, both of whom had sons named Harald. Furthermore there are two individuals named Sven, one the father of the second Gorm and the other his grandson. Both Svens invaded Anglia and overthrew a king. The second Gorm is succeeded by his son Harald, who is succeeded by the second Sven, who is temporarily replaced by Olaf Cracaben. After the second Sven dies, he is succeeded by Cnut the Great, and thereafter the chronicle begins to align more with accepted history.
Ivar the Boneless, son of Ragnar Lodbrok, isn't called a king of the Danes in Chronicon Roskildense, but he is a king of the Norsemen during the reign of Horik II and leads several kings of the Danes to destroy the kingdom of the Franks. He then leads a fleet to invade Britain. The Chronicon mentions several of his brothers as rulers of northern nations; Ingvar may be so named in reference to Adam of Bremen, who used the name Ingvar as a son of Lodbrok who ruled as King of the Danes.

''Chronicon Lethrense''

The earliest known treatment of Danish legendary history to be written in Denmark was Chronicon Lethrense, which was composed in Latin by an unknown author, likely from Roskilde and transmitted as part of the Annales Lundenses. Chronicon Lethrense was written in the mid- to late-12th century, possibly alongside or as a sort of prequel to Chronicon Roskildense, which depicts historical kings after the introduction of Christianity to Denmark.
Chronicon Lethrense was hugely influential, and many subsequent chronicles were at least partly based on it. Almost all monarchs mentioned appear in subsequent chronicles, with the notable exception of two queens regnant, Asa and Hethae. It states that the first king of the Danes was a certain Dan, who was the son of a Swedish king named Ypper. This is said to be both when Augustus invaded Denmark and during the time of the Biblical King David, referring to two rulers who lived about a thousand years apart.
Chronicon Lethrense also explicitly conflates the kingdoms of Denmark with Dacia, a conceit that appears in the earlier works of Dudo of Saint-Quentin, and in subsequent works such as Historia Regum Britanniae.
Monarchs in the Chronicon Lethrense are:
  1. Dan, son of Ypper
  2. Ro, who takes the place of Haldan in other chronicles
  3. Haldan, who takes the place of Ro in other chronicles
  4. Helgi, who rules as a sea-king while his brother rules in Lejre
  5. A dog king Raka, placed to rule over Denmark on the order of the Swedish king Athisl
  6. Snyo
  7. Rolf Kraki
  8. Hiarwart
  9. Aki, brother of Haghbardus and son of Hamundus
  10. Fritleff
  11. Frotha Largus
  12. Ingyald
  13. Olav, who is described here as the son of Ingyald and not a conqueror as in other chronicles
  14. Asa, queen, unrelated to but possibly inspired by the contemporaneous Queen Åsa of Agder
  15. Harald Hyldetan, defeated by King Ring of Swethia in battle at Brawel
  16. Hethae, queen who founded Hethaeby in Jutland

Sven Aggesen

Sven Aggesen was a 12th century Danish chronicler who wrote Brevis historia regum Dacie. He was a contemporary of Saxo Grammaticus and noted in his writings that he was aware of Saxo's then-in progress work on the Gesta Danorum, but also described himself as the first writer to document the kings of Denmark.
Sven says that the first king of Denmark was Skiold, whose descendants are the Skioldungar. The line of kings continues from Skiold to Gorm the Old with only one break, between Ingiald and Olaf. It says, "After his time no son succeeded his father to the throne for a space of many centuries. It passed to grandsons, or nephews, who, to be sure, were sprung from the royal stock on the one side." It is unclear if this represents a gap in the lineage or if Olaf succeeded Ingeld directly but began a period in which there was no direct father-to-son succession. The latter is possible given, for example, that Olaf took the throne by conquest, and that after Olaf the landowner Ennignup became guardian of the kingdom before Knut came to power. When first written, the chronicle was apparently accompanied by an extensive genealogy as an appendix, but this appendix has not survived.
Kings of Denmark mentioned in Aggesen's Brevis historia regum Dacie are:
  1. Skiold
  2. Halfdan
  3. Helghi
  4. Rolf Kraki
  5. Rokil Slagenback
  6. Frothi the Bold
  7. Wermund
  8. Uffi
  9. Dan the High-minded, or the Proud
  10. Frothi the Old
  11. Frithlefer
  12. Frothi Frithgothæ, or the Magnificent
  13. Ingiald
  14. Olaf
  15. Sighwarth, son of Regner Lothbrogh
  16. Knut, first of that name in Denmark
  17. Snio
  18. Klak-Harald
  19. Gorm Løghæ

''Gesta Danorum''

Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus is the most extensive, and most widely known Danish chronicle of Danish kings. It was written in Latin in the 12th century, and comprises 16 books, of which the first 9 relate to legendary kings leading up to Gorm the Old, and the remaining 7 are more recent and historical. The work is explicitly euhemeristic, repeatedly referring to certain individuals as mortal humans that people believed to be, and worshipped as, gods.
Saxo draws on many sources for this work. In several places where the sources appear contradictory, he will adapt more than one version at different places in the timeline, often creating multiple individuals where earlier stories had only one. For example, instead of a single king named Gorm the Old, Saxo says there were three different kings named Gorm. Sigurd Hring appears as two different kings, Ringo and Siwardus Ring.
[|Gesta Danorum] does not distinguish between kings of the same name, except through context or the occasional epithet. However, the popularity of the work meant that the kings list that first appeared in it was used extensively in later works, some of which appended regnal numbers so that the kings could be easily identified individually. For example, in the 17th century, the priest and mathematician Erico Olai Tormio produced an engraving of all Danish kings up to that date in honour of king Christian IV of Denmark, called Veræ effigies regum omnium, qvi a primo Dan usqve Christianum IV modo regnantem imperii Danici gloria eminuerunt. The legendary kings featured in the work are identical to those from the Gesta Danorum, with the addition of regnal numbers. This work also adds lengths of reigns, not always included in the original. In 1685, another work gave the stories and images of the kings up to then-King Christian V of Denmark, this time a book in German by Johann Christoph Beer called Der Königen in Dänemark Leben, Regierung und Absterben, von dem Ersten König Dan an, Biß auf den izt-regierenden König Christian den Fünfften. This book also used Gesta Danorum as its base for the list of legendary kings.
The legendary Danish kings from the Gesta Danourm are:
  1. Dan I
  2. Humblus
  3. Lotherus
  4. Skiold
  5. Gram
  6. Svibdagerus
  7. Guthormus
  8. Hadingus
  9. Frotho I
  10. Haldanus I
  11. Ro
  12. Helgo
  13. Rolvo Krake
  14. Høtherus
  15. Rørikus
  16. Wiglecus
  17. Wermundus
  18. Uffo
  19. Dan II
  20. Huglecus
  21. Frotho II
  22. Dan III
  23. Fridlevus I
  24. Frotho III
  25. Hiarnus
  26. Fridlevus II
  27. Frotho IV
  28. Ingellus
  29. Olavus I
  30. Frotho V
  31. Haraldus I
  32. Haldanus II
  33. Yngwin
  34. Sywaldus I
  35. Sygarus
  36. Haraldus Hyldetan
  37. Ringo
  38. Olo
  39. Omundus
  40. Sywardus I
  41. Iarmericus
  42. Broderus
  43. Sywaldus II
  44. Snio
  45. Biorn
  46. Haraldus III
  47. Gormo I
  48. Gotrik
  49. Olavus II
  50. Hemmingus
  51. Siwardus Ring
  52. Regner Lothbrog
  53. Siwardus III
  54. Ericus I
  55. Ericus II
  56. Kanutus I
  57. Frotho VI
  58. Gormo II
  59. Haraldus III
  60. Gormo III
In Book VI of Gesta Danorum, Saxo also refers to a certain Hakon as the tyrant of Denmark when describing the early years of the champion Starkad. However, Hakon does not appear to fit into the timeline or family tree of Danish rulers as described in the rest of Gesta Danorum.

''Gesta Danorum på danskæ''

Gesta Danorum på danskæ, a work separate from Saxo's Gesta Danorum, is the earliest surviving chronicle of Danish kings that was written in the Danish language. It was written around the year 1300. It covers much of the same legendary and historical material as Chronicon Lethrense and Saxo's Gesta Danorum, but it is not a direct translation or abbreviation of either work, and includes material from both along with alterations that appear in neither. For example, the tale of the dog king of Denmark who precedes the reign of Rolf Kraki, and how Snyo won the throne after the dog's death, appears in Gesta Danorum på danskæ and the Chronicon Lethrense, but not in Saxo's Gesta Danorum. However, the story of the mortal king Hother slaying divine Balder is included in Gesta Danorum på danskæ and Saxo's Gesta Danorum, but not in Chronicon Lethrense. In some cases, Gesta Danorum på danskæ incorporates information from both prior versions, even when these are incompatible. For example, when discussing the death of Hartwar after he overthrew Rolf Krage, Gesta Danorum på danskæ describes how he was killed by Rolf's retainer Wigge, but then says "Some say" it was Ake, brother of Hauborth, who killed Hartwar and became king. In another example, Chronicon Lethrense gives the brothers of Dan as Nori and Østen, and Gesta Danorum says his brother is Angul ; Gesta Danorum på danskæ says that his brothers are Snøre, Høsten and Angul, effectively combining both previous accounts.

Codex Runicus

The Codex Runicus is a codex written in Old Danish runes. Most of the codex is a code of Scanian Law, but two sections near the end list Danish kings. These are known in modern Danish as Kongetal and Runekrønike. They were written by a different scribe than the one who wrote the law code, likely to add legitimacy to the then-reigning royal family, and likely not before the year 1319.

''Kongetal''

Kongetal is a fragment of text, missing both its beginning and its ending. It begins partway through a line with the son of Uiþlef and ends with Hiþing the Proper, the only king on this list who doesn't appear in any other list of Danish kings. This list is interrupted halfway through with a rubric that states God was born in the reign of Froþe hin friþgoþe. Each entry is brief, giving only the king's name, his father's name, and sometimes giving his epithet and queen.
The kings and queens listed in Kongetal are:

''Runekrønike''

Runekrønike is longer than Kongetal, both in terms of the number of kings listed and in the detail given about their reigns. However, unlike the Kongetal, it names very few queens.
The Runekrønike is not wholly consistent with the Kongetal. Some names are spelled differently, for example Værmund in the Kongetal is written Uærmund in Runekrønike. It also excludes Olaf son of Inggiæld, skipping directly to Froþe son of Olaf, possibly because of a scribal error. Also, as mentioned above, the list of kings are different after Haldan son of Froþe: Kongetal says that Haldan is followed by his brother, the otherwise unknown Hiþing, whereas Runekrønike says that the kingship passed to Siwald.
The Runekrønike is heavily based on Saxo's Gesta Danorum, although shorter, but it also deviates in some places. For example, while Saxo has Ro and Helge as the sons of Halfdan, the Runekrønike says instead that they are the sons of Halfdan's own father Froþe. While Saxo mentions the battle between Hother and the semi-divine Balder, the Runekrønike goes even further with euhemerisation by making Balder a rival king from Zealand, and calls him the son of Þouhma instead of a son of Odin as in Saxo.
The Runekrønike also includes material from other sources, including the Chronicon Lethrense. Although it mentions both the dog king and King Snio from Chronicon Lethrense, Snio doesn't become king immediately after the dog king in the Runekrønike; instead, at least six other kings come between them.

Anglo-Saxon sources

''Beowulf''

The Old English epic poem Beowulf mentions several Danish kings who are members of the Scylding clan. The most notable Danish king in the poem is Hroðgar, whose hall Heorot is the main setting of the tale. Characters identified as kings of the Danes in the text include:
  1. Ecgwela, a predecessor to Heremod, presumably a king. The Scyldings are called his offspring.
  2. Heremod, who slew many of his own people and was exiled and killed
  3. Scyld, a foundling who became king
  4. Beowulf, son of Scyld. This Beowulf is unrelated to the title character of the poem, and is known by other names in other sources
  5. Healfdene, son of Beowa
  6. Heorogar, son of Healfdene
  7. Hroðgar, son of Healfdene
Several other characters, members of the same family, are not referred to explicitly as Kings in Beowulf but have been identified with kings in other traditions. These include:
Beowulf also refers to a rival family of rulers called the Heaðobards, who are not kings of Denmark in this work but are depicted as kings of Denmark when they appear in later surviving works from the continent. These are:
  • Froda, who killed or was killed by Healfdene
  • Ingeld, Froda's son, who married Hroðgar's daughter Freawaru in an attempt to settle the feud between their families, but would turn against Hroðgar after the events of the poem
Lastly, Hygelac, who is King of the Geats in the poem and liege lord of the protagonist Beowulf, has been connected with the Danish king Chlochilaicus or Chochilaicus, who appears in History of the Franks by Gregory of Tours and the Liber Historiae Francorum, based partly on shared stories of leading a raid into the Frankish Kingdoms. Hygelac has also been connected to Huglecus or Hugleik, a Danish king from the Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus.

''The Life of Willibrord''

The Vita Willibrordi archiepiscopi Traiectensis, or The Life of Willibrord, Archbishop of Utrecht, is a late 8th century hagiography of Willibrord, written by the Northumbrian scholar Alcuin. This work relates how Willibrord became a missionary to the Danes and met their ruler, Ongendus, described as "a man more savage than any wild beast and harder than stone".

''Widsith''

Widsith is an Old English poem that survives in the 10th century Exeter Book, but may significantly predate it. The first of three thulas in the poem presents a list of kings, the most notable example of a king from each of several tribes. The thula says that Alewih was known as king of the Danes, and describes him as the bravest of all men listed but that he was defeated by Offa, ruler of the Angles. The thula also lists Sigehere as ruler of the "Sea-Danes".
Widsith also mentions Hroðulf and Hroðgar as an uncle and nephew who held the longest peace together, and Ingeld as a Heaðobard Viking whom they defeated at Heorot. None of these three are explicitly mentioned as Danish in Widsith, but appear as Danish in other works.

Icelandic sources

Danish royal history were significant influences on Icelandic writing and poetry in the 12th century, perhaps because of the influence of Lund on the education of Icelanders at the time. Many surviving Icelandic works are influenced by, or wholly based on, a lost work called Skjöldunga saga, a kings' saga about the Skjöldung family of Danish kings, which was written in the late 12th century.

''Gróttasöngr''

Gróttasöngr is an Eddic poem that survives only in certain manuscripts of Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda, and as such is not always included in the Poetic Edda. It most likely dates from the early 12th century, perhaps shortly before 1140.
The song is sung by two slave-girls, Fenja and Menja, who later identify themselves as the kin of bergrisi. They are the slaves of King Fróði, son of Friðleifr. The poem itself does not specify that these men were kings of Denmark, but Snorri's prose introduction to the poem says that Friðleifr was the son of Skjöldr, whose lands "were in what is now called Denmark, but was then known as Gotland". The prose introduction also says that Fróði's reign coincided with the reign of Caesar Augustus and the birth of Christ; in Scandinavia, the resulting peace was ascribed to Fróði and known as Fróði's Peace.
A later stanza of Gróttasöngr prophesies that "Yrsa's son" would take vengeance on Fróði for the killing of Hálfdan.

''Ynglinga saga''

Ynglinga saga is a Kings' saga written around 1225 by Snorri Sturluson. Ynglinga saga is the first saga in Heimskringla, an extensive history of Swedish and Norwegian kings, focused on the Yngling family of legendary Swedish kings and their descent from the euhemerised Odin. While the main focus of Ynglinga saga is on the kings of Sweden, several Danish kings are also mentioned, and Ynglinga saga explicitly references Skjöldunga saga as a source for its treatment of these. Because the Danish kings are not the focus of the work, the genealogy of kings is incomplete and some generations are not accounted for.
The kings of Denmark mentioned in Ynglinga saga are:
In addition, some individuals are mentioned that appear as kings of Denmark in other versions. Skjöldr is mentioned as a son of Odin who married Gefjon and lived with her at Lejre, but he isn't called a king and the relationship between him and later kings isn't explicit. The Fróða friðr, often known in English as "Fróði's Peace" and attributed to the reign of the Danish king Friðfróði is instead said to take place a generation earlier during the reign of the euhemerised Freyr in Sweden.

''Sögubrot''

Sögubrot af nokkurum fornkonungum í Dana- ok Svíaveldi is a fragment of an Old Icelandic legendary saga, believed to be a part of a younger redaction of the Skjöldunga saga. The fragment begins in the middle of a discussion between the Scanian king Ivar Vidfamne and his daughter Auðr, and continues to the reign of Auðr's son Harald Wartooth, where it breaks off because of missing pages. It resumes at the end of Harald's reign, recounting the Battle of Brávellir and the reign of Sigurd Hring.
Kings of Denmark, or of individual Danish regions, who appear in [|Sögubrot] include:
  1. Helgi, brother of Hrærekr; co-king of Zealand with his brother
  2. Hrærekr, brother of Helgi and husband of Auðr; co-king of Zealand with his brother
  3. Ivar Vidfamne, father of Auðr; king in Sweden, who becomes king of Zealand also after turning Helgi and Hrærekr against each other; also ruled Jutland and parts of England that Halfdan the Brave had previously ruled
  4. Harald Wartooth, son of Hrærekr and Auðr; he became king after Ivar and came to rule all of Denmark and Sweden, parts of England, and Gautland
  5. Sigurd Hring, nephew of Harald Wartooth; initially made ruler of Sweden and West Gautland by Harald, then became king of Denmark and Sweden after Harald's death, but lost Northumbria to Adalbrikt; he is known almost exclusively as King Hring until he succeeds Harald, when he starts being called Sigurd Hring without explanation
The character of Heid, who became queen after the Battle of Brávellir according to Chronicon Lethrense, is mentioned in Sögubrot but only as a shield-maiden in Harald's army. Ragnarr is named as a son of Sigurd Hring with his wife Alfhild of Álfheimr; although he does not become king before the fragment cuts off, this is a reference to Ragnar Lodbrok. Halfdan the Valiant, Gudrod and Ingjald are mentioned in passing as having preceded Ivar Vidfamne, but their relationship to him and what lands they may have ruled in Denmark or Sweden are not explicit.

Resen manuscript

There is a collection of regnal lists and genealogies in the manuscript called AM 1 e β II fol., 85v–91r, which is a copy made by Árni Magnússon of three pages of a vellum manuscript belonging to the Danish scholar P. H. Resen. The vellum manuscript was written around 1254, but destroyed in the Copenhagen Fire of 1728, and only Árni Magnússon's copy remains. The compilation as a whole is the oldest one of its kind to survive from medieval Iceland. One of the three lists on the second page is a genealogy of the Skjöldungs, which was presumably derived either from Skjöldunga saga or from a written genealogy also used by the author of the saga.
The list, is as follows :
  1. Sciavldr, Odinn's son
  2. Fridleif, his son
  3. Friðfroði, his son
  4. Friðleifr, his son
  5. Havarr handrame, his son
  6. Froði, his son
  7. Varmundr vitri, his son
  8. Olafr litillati, his son
  9. Danr mikilati, after whom Denmark was named
  10. Froði friðsami, his son
  11. Friðleifr, his son
  12. Froði enn fręcni, his son
  13. Ingialdr, his son and foster-son of Starcaðar
  14. Halfdan, his brother
  15. Helgi and Hroarr, his sons
  16. Hrolfr kraci, Helgi's son
  17. Hręrecr hnoggvanbavgi, Ingiall's son and foster-son of Starcadar
  18. Froði, his son
  19. Halfdan, his son
  20. Hręrecr Sløngvanbavgi, his son
  21. Haralldr Hilldi tavnn, his son
  22. Sigurðr hringr.
  23. Ragnarr loðbroc, his son
  24. Sigurðr ormr i avga, his son
  25. Havrða knutr, his son
  26. Gormr gamli, his son
  27. Haralldr, his son
  28. Sveinn tivgv sceg, his son
  29. Knvtr riki, his son
  30. Valldarr milldi, Hroar's son
  31. Haralldr, his son
  32. Halfdan snialli, his son
  33. Ivarr viðfaðmi, his son
  34. Avðr divpvðga, his daughter
  35. Haralldr hillditǫnn, her son
  36. Randver, Radbardr's son
  37. Sigurð hringr, his son

''Ragnarssona þáttr''

Ragnarssona þáttr is a þáttr about Ragnar Lodbrok and his descendants, who became kings in several lands in Scandinavia. Its sources include the lost Skjöldunga saga and a version of Ragnars saga, either the surviving Ragnar Lodbrok|Ragnars saga loðbrókar] or another that has been lost. Ragnarssona þáttr was probably composed by Haukr Erlendsson, and is preserved in his hand in the Hauksbók manuscript, which has been dated to between 1302 and 1310.
Ragnarssona þáttr tells how King Ragnar became king of Sweden and Denmark after the death of his father, King Hring. Ragnar had two sons by his first wife Thora Hart-of-the-Town, who were Eirik and Agnar, and four sons by his second wife Aslaug or Randalin, who were Ivar the Boneless, Bjorn Ironside, Hvitserk, and Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye. In Denmark, the genealogy continues through Sigurd to Harald Bluetooth. The tale ends with Harald Fairhair becoming the first ruler of a united Norway.
Kings of Denmark or its constituent kingdoms mentioned in Ragnarssona þáttr are:
  • Hring, from whom Ragnar inherited Denmark and Sweden
  • Ragnar, son of Hring. He ruled in Denmark and Sweden
  • Ivar the Boneless, eldest and leader of the sons of Ragnar by Aslaug, who conquered Zealand, Reidgotaland, Gotland, and Öland and all the smaller islands in the sea during Ragnar's life, leading to conflict between them. After Ragnar's death, he instead became king of Northumbria and his brothers took the lands on the continent.
  • Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye, youngest son of Ragnar by Aslaug, who after Ragnar's death came to rule Zealand, Scania, Halland, Oslo Fjord, and Agder as far as Lindesnes and a good portion of the Norwegian Uplands
  • Knut, aka Horda-Knut, who succeeded his father in Zealand, Scania and Halland, but Oslo Fjord broke away from his rule.
  • Klakk-Harald, King of Jutland, father-in-law of Gorm
  • Gorm, son of Knut, who governed the lands of Ragnar's sons while they were away at war, and later became king after the death of Knut. He also inherited Jutland from his step-father Klakk-Harald
  • Harald, son of Gorm. He ruled in Denmark.

''Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar en mesta''

Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar en mesta is a saga compiled from numerous other sources, likely in the second quarter of the 14th century. It was modelled on the Óláfs saga helga from Snorri Sturluson's Heimskringla, but focused on an earlier king Olaf, namely Olaf Tryggvason, a King of Norway from the end of the 10th century most famous for converting Norway to Christianity.
The core sources used are Snorri's Heimskringla, particularly Snorri's version of Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar but also Ynglinga saga, Hálfdanar saga svarta, Haralds saga hárfagra and Óláfs saga helga. This is used as a framework into which material has been added from several other sagas and other tales, including Hallfreðar saga, Færeyinga saga, Grænlendinga saga, Laxdæla saga, Landnamabok and Kristni saga.
As well as the life of Olaf Tryggvason, drawn from sources including Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar from Heimskringla, the mesta saga also tells the story of Olaf's ancestors and predecessors, in particular the Danish kings leading up to Harald Bluetooth, who was king of Norway before Olaf's accession. Some of these details are from Heimskringla, particularly of kings descended from Ragnar Lodbrok mentioned in the first chapters of the work, but a later section beginning at chapter 60 tells of kings before Ragnar, and is more consistent with the kings identified by Adam of Bremen than with those listed by Snorri. Also mentioned, briefly during the story of Gorm, is king Gnupa, described as the king of Jutland that Gorm defeated as part of his unification of Denmark.
Legendary kings of Denmark, or constituent kingdoms of Denmark, mentioned in Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar en mesta, include :
  • Gorm, King of Denmark
  • Eric, King of Jutland, father of Ragnhild the Great
  • Harold Gormson, King of Denmark
  • Godefrid, King in Jutland when Charlemagne reigned
  • Hemming, Godefrid's brother's son, who made peace with Charlemagne at the river Egda
  • Sigfrod and Ring Anulo, who contended for sovereignty of Jutland
  • Harold, who was baptised after winning a battle against Reinfrid, son of Godefrid
  • Harek, Harold's brother's son, who had been baptised with him. Harek ruled Jutland until 862, when he warred against his brother's son, Guthorm, and both died along with the whole royal family except Harek
  • Harek, the sole royal survivor of Harek's war with Guthorm. Baptised by Bishop Anscarius, but Harek rejected Christianity after Anscarius' death.
  • Sigfrod and Halfdan, heathen kings after Harek. Sigfrod, or another Danish King of the same name, along with King Gudfrod and the sons of Ragnar Lodbrok, fought with the Frankish emperors until their defeat by Arnaldus around the year 900
  • *Gudfrod, mentioned as part of the host with Sigfrod
  • Frodi, King in Jutland twelve years after the defeat of the Danish host by the Franks, baptised by Biship Huno
  • Helgi, who succeeded Sigfrod and Halfdan, but was slain in a battle against Olaf, King of the Swedes, who then ruled Denmark
  • Olaf, who ruled a long time over Denmark and Sweden after defeating Helgi, and died a natural death
  • Gyrd and Knut, who succeeded Olaf in Denmark
  • Siggeir, who succeeded Gyrd and Knut
  • Sigurd Ring, father of Ragnar Lodbrok. Sigurd Ring ruled the empire of the Swedes and the Danes, and later conquered Northimbraland
  • Olaf the Englishman, who was king of Northimbraland appointed by Sigurd Ring, then after being forced out he was made ruler of Jutland as a tributary under Sigurd Ring and later Ragnar Lodbrok
  • Ragnar Lodbrok
  • Grim the Gray, son of Olaf and tributary king of Jutland
  • Audulf the Strong, son of Grim and tributary king of Jutland under Ragnar Lodbrok
  • Gorm the Foolish, son of Audulf and tributary king of Jutland
  • Knut the Foundling aka Thrall-Knut, foster son of Gorm the Foolish. Before Gorm died, he caused Knut to be made King over the realm he held in Jutland
  • Gorm, son of Knut. He reigned subject to the sons of Ragnar Lodbrok, and was regarded with special favour by Sigurd Snake i'th'eye
  • Sigurd Snake i'th'eye, ruler of Zealand and Skaney
  • Horda-Knut, son of Sigurd Snake i'th'eye and Blœia, and foster-son of King Gorm. He inherited Zealand and Skaney from Sigurd. Father of Gorm the Old
  • Gnupa, a king in Reidgotaland, now called Jutland, defeated by Gorm the Old
  • Silfrascall, another king in Jutland defeated by Gorm the Old

''Hrólfs saga kraka''

Hrólfs saga kraka ok kappa hans is a late legendary saga that tells the story of Hrólfr Kraki, including information about his family, the Skjöldungs. It was composed in its surviving form by the year 1400.
The saga begins with the brothers Halfdan and Fróði, who are called Skjöldungs and the sons of kings, but whose parentage is never given. After Fróði overthrows Halfdan, he is overthrown in turn by the brothers Hróarr and Helgi. They are jointly considered kings, but Helgi rules Denmark while Hróarr travels to Northumbria and later becomes king there, trading his claim over Denmark for a fine ring from Helgi. Hrólfr Kraki is, again, Helgi's son by incest, and comes to rule Denmark after Helgi's death. When Hrólfr himself is defeated by the forces of his half-sister Skuld and her husband King Hjörvarðr, it is Skuld who takes control of the kingdom; when she is deposed in turn, the land comes under the rule of Hrólfr's daughters Skúr and Drífa.
Kings and regnant queens of Denmark identified in Hrólfs saga kraka are:
  1. Hálfdan
  2. Fróði, brother of Hálfdan
  3. Hróarr and Helgi, sons of Hálfdan
  4. Hrólfr Kraki, son of Helgi
  5. Skuld, daughter of Helgi, with her husband Hjörvarðr
  6. Skúr and Drífa, daughters of Hrólfr Kraki

Arngrímur Jónsson

The most complete surviving source for the content of the Skjöldunga saga is a Latin rendering by the Icelandic historian Arngrímur Jónsson in his Rerum Danicarum fragmenta from 1596.

Frankish sources

Histories of the Franks

The 6th century historian Gregory of Tours, in Book 3 of his Historia Francorum, refers to a Danish king named Chlochilaicus, who led a raid into the Frankish Kingdoms during the reign of Theodericus I, and was killed in the counter-attack by Theodericus' son, Theodebertus. The 8th century Liber Historiae Francorum tells the same story, referring to the Danish King as Chochilaicus.

''Royal Frankish Annals''

The Royal Frankish Annals are a series of Latin annals of the Carolingian dynasty year-by-year between 741 and 829. Several annals refer to kings of the Danes, as follows:
  1. Sigfred : In 782, King Sigfred sends a group of "Nordmanni", Halptani and his companions, to a synod held by Charlemagne.
  2. Gudfred : Gudfred was mentioned as King of the Danes in the annals of 804, 808, 809, and 810. His reign was characterised by a worsening relationship and finally conflict with Charlemagne's Franks. Gudfred was killed by one of his own companions in 810.
  3. Hemming: Hemming was the son of Gudfred's brother, and became king in 810. He made peace with Charlemagne in 811. In 812, he was found dead.
  4. Sigfred and Anulo: Two rival claimants to the Danish throne in 812, Sigfred was a nephew of Gudfred and Anulo was a nephew of Harald. Neither succeeded to the throne as both were killed in combat, but Anulo's faction won and the throne passed to his brothers Harald and Reginfrid.
  5. Reginfrid: Reginfrid was co-king of Denmark with his brother Harald from 812. They petitioned the Emperor to return their brother Hemming, but after he was returned in 813 they were attacked by Danish forces of the sons of Gudfred and forced into exile. In 814 they returned to retake the kingdom, but Reginfrid was killed.
  6. Harald : Harald initially ruled with his brother Reginfrid from 812. After being forced out of Denmark, and the death of his brother in 814, Harald sought refuge and support from the Emperor. He continued to harry his rivals, the sons of Gudfred, and in 817 they contacted the Emperor offering peace in exchange for Harald; the Emperor refused. The Emperor helped him retake Denmark in 819. He remained in conflict with them as mentioned in 821, 822 and 823. In 826, he was baptised as a Christian in St. Alban's. He was forced out of the country in 827.
  7. Horik : One of the sons of Gudfred who took control of Denmark in 813 and battled with Harald for it until 827, Horik is only mentioned in the annal for 827, before the annals conclude in 829.

''Vita Karoli Magni''

Vita Karoli Magni is a biography of Charlemagne, King of the Franks, written by Einhard in the first half of the 9th century, with dates of composition suggested between 817 and 833. Sections 14 and 32 refer to the Danes and in particular their king Gudfred, against whom Charlemagne waged the last war he ever fought. Gudfred considered Frisia and Saxony his provinces, had made the Abodriti into his tributaries, and boasted that he would attack the Franks in Aix. However, he was killed by one of his own followers before this could happen.

''Gesta Hludowici imperatoris''

Gesta Hludowici imperatoris is a history of Holy Roman Emperor Louis the Pious by Thegan of Trier, written in Latin shortly before Louis' death in AD 840. In section 33, it says Harald Klak came to Louis from the Danes and was "elevated from the sacred baptismal font" by the Emperor, while his wife was raised by the Empress Judith. Louis gave Harald a large part of Frisia.

''Vita Ansgarii''

Vita Ansgarii is a 9th-century hagiography of saint Ansgar, written by the East Frankish archbishop Rimbert. Vita Ansgarii mentions three Danish kings:
  1. Harald,
  2. Horic the elder, and
  3. Horic the younger.
Harald was driven from Denmark and taken in by Louis the Pious, where he and many of his household were baptised as Christians. Both kings Horic were pagan, but they had good relations with Ansgar and permitted the worship and preaching of Christianity in Denmark.

''Annales Fuldenses''

The Annales Fuldenses, or Annals of Fulda, are 9th century East Frankish chronicles up to the year 901. Up to 830, they are a compilation that draws on earlier materials, especially the Royal Frankish Annals and the Annals of Lorsch, but after that the annals consist of information not found in any known sources. Several kings of Denmark are mentioned, including:
Although not a king, the Danish viking leader Rorik of Dorestad is prominently mentioned a few times, including in the entry for 850, 857, and 873. Rorik ruled land in Frisia that was later granted in 882 to Godafrid, who was referred to as a king of the Northmen alongside Sigifrid, and who was killed in 885, then apparently killed again at the Battle of Leuven in 891.

Widukind of Corvey

In The Deeds of the Saxons by Widukind of Corvey, a 10th century Saxon chronicler, two different kings of the Danes are mentioned.
In Book 1, chapter 40, Widukind describes how Henry the Fowler defeated the Danes and had their king, Knuba receive baptism. In Book 3, chapters 64 and 65, he recounts that the Danish king Harald became Christian after challenging the faith of the bishop Poppo.

Geoffrey of Monmouth

Book III of the 12th century Historia Regum Britanniae by Geoffrey of Monmouth refers to a King of the Dacians named Guichtlac. As mentioned above in the section on Chronicon Lethrense, the Danes and Dacians had been conflated by European historians since at least the works of Dudo of Saint-Quentin over a century earlier. In Geoffrey's tale, Guichtlac had been in love with the daughter of Elsingius the King of Norway, but instead she married Brennius, then King of Northumberland and the brother and rival of Belinus, King of the Britons. After a sea battle, Guichtlac and the lady were washed up in Britain and captured by Belinus. After Brennius defeated Belinus in battle and became King of the Britons, Guichtlac promised to submit Dacia to Brennius and pay yearly tribute if he was given leave to return to Dacia with his mistress, which was granted.

Multiple sources

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

Early legendary kings (Scyldings/Skjoldungs)

  • ♕ indicates that the person is explicitly identified as king of Denmark, of the Danes, or of a constituent region in the work in question.
  • ? indicates that the person is identified in the work, but not expliticly as king of Denmark or of the Danes.
  • ꕀ indicates that the person is not mentioned in the work, but that this is not necessarily inconsistent with their identification as king.
  • ? indicates that the person is not mentioned in the work, and that the kingship of an equivalent person is inconsistent with the given work.
  • Numerals after the leading symbol indicate the order in which the kings reign or individuals appear in the work in question.
Widsith Beowulf Chronicon Lethrense Sven Aggesen Gesta Danorum Ynglinga saga ?♕1 Dan ?ꕀ?ꕀꕀ
ꕀ♕3 Scyld?♕1 Skiold♕4 Scioldus? Skjöldrꕀ?1 Sciauldrꕀꕀ
ꕀ? Froda ♕11 Frothi Largus ♕6 Frothi the Bold
♕10 Frothi the Old
♕12 Frothi Frithgothæ 		♕9 Frotho I
♕21 Frotho II
♕24 Frotho III
♕27 Frotho IV
♕30 Frotho V
♕57 Frotho VI 		♕1 Friðfróði
♕3 Fróði hinn mikilláti or friðsami
♕6 Fróði hinn frækni 		ꕀ?3 Friðfroði
?6 Froði
?10 Froði friðsami
?12 Froði enn fręcni
?18 Froði 		♕2 Froþe ᚠᚱᚮᚦᛅ
♕15 Froþe ᚠᚱᚮᚦᛅ
♕18 Froþe Friþgoþe ᚠᚱᚮᚦᛅ:ᚠᚱᛁᚦᚵᚮᚦᛅ
♕20 Froþe ᚠᚱᚮᚦᛅ
♕37 Froþe ᚠᚱᚮᚦᛅ 		♕2 Fróði
ꕀ♕5 Healfdene ♕3 Haldan ♕2 Halfdan ♕11 Haldanus ♕4 Hálfdan ꕀ?14 Halfdan ♕3 Haldan ᚼᛆᛚᛑᛆᚿ ♕1 Hálfdan
♕ Hroðgar♕7 Hroðgar ♕2 Ro ?♕12 Ro ꕀꕀ?15 Hroarr ♕4 Ro ᚱᚮ ♕3 Hróarr
ꕀ? Halga ♕3 Helgi ♕3 Helghi ♕12 Helgo ♕9 Helgi ꕀ?15 Helgi ♕4 Hælhæ ᚼᛅᛚᚼᛅ ♕3 Helgi
♕ Hroþwulf ? Hroðulf ♕7 Rolf Kraki ♕4 Rolf Kraki ♕13 Rolvo Krake ♕10 Hrólfr kraki ꕀ?16 Hrolfr kraci ♕5 Rolf Krakæ ᚱᚮᛚᚠ:ᚴᚱᛆᚴᛅ ♕4 Hrólfr Kraki
ꕀ? Heoroweard ♕8 Hiarwart ?♕14 Hiartuar ꕀꕀ??♕5 Skuld
ꕀ? Hreðric ?♕5 Rokil Slagenback ♕16 Rorik Slyngebond ꕀ♕2 Hrærekr
? Hrærekr slöngvandbaugi 		?17 Hręrecr hnoggvanbaugi
?20 Hręrecr Sløngvanbaugi 		♕7 Roþrik ᚱᚮᚦᚱᛁᚴ ? Hrókr
ꕀ? Garmund ?♕7 Wermund ♕18 Wermundus ꕀꕀ?7 Varmundr vitri ♕8 Uærmund ᚢᛅᚱᛘᚢᚿᛑ ꕀ
? Offa ? Offa ?♕8 Uffi ♕19 Uffo, aka Olaf the Gentle ꕀꕀ?8 Olafr litillati ♕9 Uffi Starke ᚢᚠᚠᛁ:ᛋᛐᛆᚱᚴᛅ ꕀ
ꕀꕀ?♕9 Dan Elatus or Superbus ♕20 Dan
♕23 Dan 		♕2 Dan mikilláti ꕀ?9 Dan mikilati ♕10 Dan ᛑᛆᚿ
♕12 Dan Dahfulli ᛑᛆᚿ:ᛑᛆᚼᚠᚢᛛᛚᛁ 		ꕀ
ꕀ? Hygelac ??♕21 Huglecus
? Huglethus 		? Hugleik ꕀ?♕11 Huhlek ᚼᚢᚼᛚᛅᚴ ꕀ
ꕀꕀ♕15 Harald Hyldetan (Wartooth)?♕36 Haraldus Hyldetan ꕀ♕4 Harald Wartooth?21/35 Haralldr hillditǫnn ♕28 Harald Hilditan ᚼᛆᚱᛆᛚᛑ:ᚼᛁᛚᛑᛁᛐᛆᚿꕀ

Later semi-legendary kings

  • 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.