History of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, Vol. 1 (of 2)Dunham, S. A. (Samuel Astley)
History
History of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, Vol. 1 (of 2)
Dunham, S. A. (Samuel Astley)
Scandinavia -- History
The compilers of our Universal History begin their list with the
following:—
1. Eric.
2. Gylfo.
3. Odin.
4. Niord.
5. Frode.
6. Sigtrug.
7. Swibdager.
8. Asmund.
9. Uffo.
10. Hunding.
11. Regner.
12. Holward.
13. Attil I.
14. Hoder.
15. Roderic, or Ruric.
16. Attil II.
17. Hogmor and Hogrin.
Footnote 2:
See the work, part i.
Footnote 3:
Torfœus Historia Norvegiæ, tom. i. p. 111–150.
Footnote 4:
Wheaton, History of the Northmen. Mallet, Histoire de Dannemarc, tom.
i.
Footnote 5:
Vetustissima Regum Septentrionis Series Langfedgatal dicta. According
to this “Series,” the list of Danish kings prior to Odin is as
follows:—NOAH, Japhet, Zechim, Ciprus, Celius, Saturn of Crete,
Jupiter, Darius, Erichthon, Troes, Ilus, Laomedon, Priam of Troy,
Memnon (the son-in-law of Priam), Tror or Thor, Lorith, Einrith,
Vingethar, Vingener, Moda, Magus, Seskef, Bedoig, Athra, Iterman,
Heremotr, Scealdna, Beaf, Eat, Godulf, Finn, Frealaf—ODIN.
Here is a precious list, and we should vainly inquire where it was
originally procured. One thing, however, is remarkable,—that of the
immediate predecessors of Odin, most are the same as those contained
in the Saxon Chronicle, in the genealogy of the Anglo-Saxon kings. Let
us now transcribe that of Saxo Grammaticus, who flourished in the
twelfth century, and is content with making Dan the ancestor of the
Danes, about a thousand years before Christ.
DAN I., Humble, Lother, Skiold, Gram, Swibdager, Guthrum, Hadding,
Frode I., Haldan, Roe and Helgo, Rolf or Rollo, Hoder, Ruric, Wiglet,
Guitlach, Wermund, Olaf I., Dan II., Hugleth, Frode II., Dan III.,
Fridleif, Frode III. According to Saxo it was in the reign of Hadding
that Odin first appeared in the north. In this case, the reader may
say Odin must have flourished long before the period usually assigned,
viz., A.C. 70. But most of these princes, doubtless, reigned _after_
the birth of Christ, notwithstanding the positive assertion of Saxo
(who is supported by some other chroniclers), that the Redeemer of
mankind assumed our nature in the reign of Frode III. Sweyn Aggo is
more rational than his contemporary Saxo; he rejects all the
sovereigns prior to Odin, and commences his list with Skiold, a son of
that deified hero. Undoubtedly Denmark, like the other states, had its
kings before that period; but they were mere reguli, perpetually at
war with each other in struggling for the ascendancy; and small
reliance is to be placed on their alleged actions, or even their
names. Saxo, in taking as authorities the popular songs of his
country, followed the worst of all guides.
Footnote 6:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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