Rolf Krake

Rolf Krake (Hrolf Kraki) was the mythological king at Lejre on Zealand, Denmark, described in several old sagas and other documents, such as the Leire chronicle and Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus. The content of the saga is also related by Snorre Sturlasson in his Ynglingasaga, as being part of the now lost saga of the Skoldungs (Shieldings).

Table of contents 1 Parentage 2 Kingship 3 Death by burning 4 Origins for the myth

Parentage

Rolf Krake's father is Helge, grandfather Halfdan, and mother Yrsa. Yrsa is Helge's daughter with a Saxon queen, who is forced or seduced by Helge into marrying him. As a revenge, the queen deceives her daughter and her husband into having liaison. After Yrsa discovers that Helge is her father, she goes home with her mother.

Kingship

Later, Yrsa is married to Adils (Eadgils), the Swea king, son of Ottar (Othere). Rolf Krake later becomes the king of Danes, following Roar, Helge's brother, who rules after Helge's death since Rolf is still a young boy. At this time, Adils request Rolf's assistance in battle against his uncle, Ale (Onela), and as Rolf sends his twelve best men lead by Bodvar Bjarke, Ale is defeated and Adils gets the kingdom of Svitjod (Sweorice), nowadys normally assumed to be the origins of Sweden, the Svealand region.

But when Adils refuses to pay Rolf's men the expected tributes for their help, Rolf Krake sets of to Ubsola (Ancient Uppsala, possibly placed in the county of Uppland, Sweden). His mother Yrsa helps him and give him a horn filled with gold and jewels, and a famous ring called Sweagris. Rolf and his men sets off over Fyrisvallarna and when Adils sends his men after them, he spills out the gold to have the greedy followers occupied with treasure collecting instead of hunting Rolf and his men, and so he gets away.

Death by burning

Finally, after a long and peaceful reign, he is burnt to death by his brother-in-law Hjorvard, possible a jarl or subking of Skåne (Scania). In this battle all his men are killed, but for Vögg (Wig), the young man that gave him the nickname Krake. Vögg says to swear loyalty to Hjorvard, but as he accepts the new kings sword, he stabs Hjorvard to death as a revenge for the killing of Rolf Krake. With Rolf, the family of the Skoldungs is ended as kings of Denmark.

Origins for the myth

The Rolf Krake saga holds several elements of interesting similarities to that of Beowulf. No definite alignments, however, are made on these two characters. Also see Origins for Beowulf and Rolf Krake.