Sywardus

In the twelfth-century Danish history Gesta Danorum (The Deeds of the Danes), Siward, (Sywardus), was an ancient king in Götaland, who had a daughter named Alfhild, who became a legendary Viking pirate.

To protect his daughter from unworthy suitors, Siward had her chamber guarded by a lizard and a snake. He also said that if any man tried to enter it, and failed, his head was to be taken off and impaled on a stake.

When Alf, a Danish prince, managed to defeat the animal guards, Siward told him that he would only accept "that man for his daughter's husband, of whom she made a free and decided choice". At first, Alfhild said no and ran away from home, but, after some adventures with her Viking fleet, she met Alf in a sea combat, and, after losing the battle, decided to marry him.

Siward also had two sons, Wemund and Osten.

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 wife 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⁾

a woman ♀ ⁽⁹⁾

2 daughters ♀♀ ⁽⁹⁾

Fridlevus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Suanlogha ♀ ⁽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⁾

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.

In popular culture

The name Synardus seems to be a medieval or modern invention.^[1] In the original Latin text of Gesta Danorum, it is rendered Siwardus and Sywardus. In Danish, it is Sivard.

References

↑ Ellms, Charles (1993). The Pirates Own Book: Authentic Narratives of the Most Celebrated Sea Robbers. Marine Research Society.

External sources

[1] Ellms, Charles (1993). The Pirates Own Book: Authentic Narratives of the Most Celebrated Sea Robbers. Marine Research Society.

[1]

In popular culture

See also

References

External sources