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The Ynglings - ancient dynasty

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lyra

unread,

Nov 5, 2006, 11:19:29 AM11/5/06

the Ynglings appear often in
Byron's family tree,
and no doubt in a lot of
other family trees,

maybe Shakespeare too?!

...............................................................................................................

Yngling

>From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(Redirected from House of Yngling)

The Yngling Ingjald slaying his kinsmen

The Ynglings were the oldest known Scandinavian dynasty. It can be
divided into the following clans:

* The Scylfings (Old Norse: Skilfingar), the semi-legendary royal
Swedish clan during the Age of Migrations, with kings such as Eadgils,
Onela and Ohthere. When Beowulf and Ynglingatal were composed sometime
in the 8th-10th centuries, the respective scop and skald expected his
audience to have a great deal of background information about these
kings, which is shown in the allusiveness of the references.

* The Fairhair dynasty, descending from the kings of Oppland,
Norway. According to surviving early sources, such as Ynglingatal and
Íslendingabók these kings were descended from the Swedish Scylfings
of Uppland, Sweden.

* The House of Munsö, a Swedish dynasty. The earliest kings of
this dynasty that historians generally agree are historical are Eric
the Victorious and Olof Skötkonung.

Some kings early kings probably mythical, whereas some probably existed
in real life. Especially, Egil, Ottar, Ale and Adils are mentioned in
several sources and are very likely to have been real kings.

.......................................................................................................................................................................................................

Alrek and Eirík fighting

Contents

* 1 Names
* 2 From Sweden to Norway
* 3 Remaining in Sweden?
* 4 Family Tree
* 5 The line
* 6 The name Scylfing
o 6.1 Beowulf
o 6.2 In Norse tradition
+ 6.2.1 From the Hyndluljód
+ 6.2.2 From the Skáldskaparmál
+ 6.2.3 From the Ættartolur
* 7 Variant spellings
* 8 See also

Names

Yngvi and Alf slaying each other

In the Scandinavian sources they are the descendants of Yngvi-Frey of
Vanaheim. Yngling means descendant of Frey, and in the Gesta Danorum of
Saxo Grammaticus they are called the sons of Frey.

Several of these kings appear in Beowulf: Eadgils (Adils), Onela (Ale)
and Ohthere (Ottar Vendelkråka), but here they are called Scylfings
(see the Beowulf section below). Snorri Sturluson hints at a less
divine origin in Skáldskaparmál for this dynasty: One war-king was
named Skelfir; and his house is called the House of Skilfings: his
kindred is in the Eastern Region (Sweden is the eastern part of
Scandinavia, and the Swedish kings could be called east kings).

Another origin for the name skilfing is possible: Snorri described Erik
and Alrik, the sons of Skjalf to be the de facto ancestors of this
Norse clan.

The kings who resided at Upsal had been the supreme chiefs over the
whole Swedish dominions until the death of Agne, when, as before
related, the kingdom came to be divided between brothers (Alrek and
Erik). After that time the dominions and kingly powers were spread
among the branches of the family as these increased; but some kings
cleared great tracts of forest-land, and settled them, and thereby
increased their domains.[1]

........................................................ From Sweden to
Norway

According to Snorri Sturluson, the dynasty led the settlement of the
Swedish provinces and established themselves as the kings of its
provinces, accepting the overlordship of the Swedish king at Uppsala,
until the dynasty all but exterminated itself with Ingjald Ill-Ruler
and his downfall. A survivor Olof Trätälja was the ancestor of the
Norwegian branch.

........................................................ Remaining in
Sweden?

the Battle of Bråvalla
Enlarge
the Battle of Bråvalla

However, both Snorri (as in the earlier quote) and Saxo described the
clan as remaining in Sweden after this date.

Saxo on the Battle of Bråvalla (ca 750):

Now the bravest of the Swedes were these: Arwakki, Keklu-Karl
(Kelke-Karl), Krok the Peasant, (from Akr), Gudfast and Gummi from
Gislamark. These were kindred of the god Frey, and most faithful
witnesses to the gods. Ingi (Yngwe) also, and Oly, Alver, Folki, all
sons of Elrik (Alrek), embraced the service of Ring (Sigurd Ring); they
were men ready of hand, quick in counsel, and very close friends of
Ring. They likewise held the god Frey to be the founder of their race.
Amongst these from the town of Sigtun (Old Sigtuna) also came Sigmund,
a champion advocate, versed in making contracts of sale and purchase;
besides him Frosti surnamed Bowl: allied with him was Alf the Lofty
(Proud?) from the district of Upsala (Old Uppsala); this man was a
swift spear-thrower, and used to go in the front of the battle.[2]

Moreover, both in Icelandic sources and in the Gesta Danorum, king
Sigurd Ring would become the ancestor of the houses of Ragnar Lodbrok
and would thus be the semi-legendary ancestor of later Swedish and
Danish royal houses. (See the House of Munsö.)

........................................................ Family Tree

This is a family tree which is not only based on Historia Norwegiae and
Ynglinga saga. It also includes some members who are mentioned in other
Old Norse sources (and in Beowulf). The names of Swedish kings are
shown in bold.

(1) Germanic goddess often suggested to be the same as Njord's unknown
sister with whom he had Frey and Freyja.

(2) Gymir is identified with Ægir in accordance with Skáldskaparmál.

(3) Erik's only child, the warrior princess Þornbjörg, appears in
Gautreks saga and in Hrólfs saga Gautrekssonar

(4) Ingeborg appears in the Tyrfing Cycle, e.g. Orvar-Odd's saga and
Hervarar saga.

(5) Here Áli's inclusion is based on Beowulf, the oldest source.

(6) Adils' brother who is only mentioned in Beowulf.

........................................................ The line

Beowulf

8th c.-10th c.
Ynglingatal

late 9th c.
Íslendingabók

early 12th c.
Historia Norvegiæ

late 12th c.
Ynglinga saga

c. 1225
Hversu Noregr byggðist

1387
Burri
Burr
Óðinn Ásakonungr
Yngvi Tyrkjakonungr Ingui Freyr
Njörðr Svíakonungr Neorth Njörðr Njörðr
Freyr Froyr Yngvifreyr Freyr
Fjölnir Fjölnir Fiolnir Fjölnir Fjölnir
Sveigðir Svegðir Swegthir Svegðir Sveigðir
Vanlandi Vanlandi Wanlanda Vanlandi Vanlandi
Vísburr Visburr Wisbur Vísburr Vísburr
Dómaldi Dómaldr Domald Dómaldi Dómaldr
Dómarr Dómarr Domar Dómarr Dómarr
Dyggvi Dyggvi Dyggui Dyggvi Dyggvi/Tryggvi
Dagr Spaka Dagr Dagr Dagr Spaka Dagr
Agni Alrekr Alricr Agni Agni Skjálfarbóndi
Alrekr and Eiríkr Agni Hogni Alrekr and Eiríkr Alrekr
Yngvi and Álfr Yngvi Ingialdr Yngvi and Álfr Yngvi
Jörundr Jörundr Jorundr Jörundr and Eiríkr
Jörmunfróði/Jörundr
Aun Aun inn gamli Auchun Aun hinn gamli Aunn inn gamli
Ongenþeow Egill Egill Vendilkráka Eigil Vendilcraca Egill
Tunnudólgr Egill Tunnadólgr
Ohthere and Onela Óttarr Óttarr Ottarus Óttarr Vendilkráka
Óttarr Vendilskráka
Eadgils and Eanmund Aðils Aðísl at Uppsölum Adils/Athisl Aðils
Aðils at Uppsölum
Eysteinn Eysteinn Eustein Eysteinn Eysteinn
Yngvarr Yngvarr Ynguar Yngvarr Yngvarr inn hári
Önundr Braut-Önundr Broutonundr Brautönundr Braut-Önundr
Ingjaldr Ingjaldr inn illráði Ingialdr Ingjaldr hinn illráði
Ingjaldr inn illráði
Óláfr Óláfr trételgja Olavus tretelgia Óláfr trételgja
Ólafr trételgja
Hálfdan Hálfdan hvítbeinn

Upplendingakonungr
Halfdan hwitbein Hálfdan hvítbeinn Hálfdan hvítbeinn
Eysteinn Eustein Eysteinn Eysteinn
Hálfdan Halfdan Hálfdan hinn mildi Hálfdan inn mildi
Guðröðr Goðröðr Guthrodr Guðröðr veiðikonungr Guðröðr
veiðikonungr
Ólafr Óláfr Halfdan niger Ólafr Hálfdan svarti
Rögnvaldr Helgi Haraldus Rögnvaldr heiðum hæra Haraldr inn
hárfagri

.......................................................................................................................................................................................................

........................................................ The name
Scylfing

In Old English several kings who are generally identified as Ynglings
are called Scylfings. In Old Norse Skilfing (Skilfingr) actually
appears as a synonym of Yngling in Ynglingatal, in a line on Egil
(Ongentheow). Unfortunately, this occurrence was overlooked in Laing's
translation:

Ok lofsæll
ór landi fló
Týs óttungr
Tunna ríki,
en flæming
farra trjónu
jötuns eykr
á Agli rauð.
Sás of austr
áðan hafði
brúna hörg
of borinn lengi,
en skíðlauss
Skilfinga nið
hœfis hjörr
til hjarta stóð.[3]

The fair-haired son of Odin's race,
Who fled before fierce Tunne's face,
Has perished by the demon-beast
Who roams the forests of the East.
The hero's breast met the full brunt
Of the wild bull's shaggy front;
The hero's heart's asunder torn
By the fell Jotun's spear-like horn."(Laing's translation [4])

Likewise in the Skáldskaparmál the Scylfings are described as an
eastern family and East King was a conventional kenning for a Swedish
king.

However, in the Ættartolur, (the genealogies attached to Hversu Noregr
byggdist), the Skilfings are of Norwegian origin and include a family
identified as Skjöldungs. In the eddic poem Grímnismál (stanza 55),
Skilfing appears as one of Odin's names, the information there also
appearing in the Gylfaginning..

........................................................ Beowulf

In the Old English poem Beowulf, the word Scylfing occurs twice in the
singular and twice in the plural. For alliterative purposes the name
could be extended, such as the form Heathoscylfing 'Battle-Scylfing',
which occurs once in the singular and twice in the plural. A Scylfing
whose name is partly missing but ends in -ela married the sister of
Hrothgar and Halga. Specifically identified as Scylfings are
Ongentheow, king of Sweden, and by extension his subject Wiglaf son of
Weohstan. Wiglaf and Weohstan belonged to the family of the
Wægmundings to which Beowulf and his father Ecgtheow also belonged.
Another extended form is helm Scylfinga. This literally means
'Scylfings'-helmet'; it is a pun meaning both "ruler of the Scylfings"
and "protector of the Scylfings". The Beowulf poet uses it to refer to
Ongentheow's son Onela.

........................................................ In Norse
tradition

........................................................ From the
Hyndluljód

The eddic poem Hyndluljód, in stanza 16 speaks of descendants of an
ancient king named Halfdan the Old:

Hence come the Skjöldungs, hence the Skilfings,
Hence the Ödlings [Oðlingar], hence the Ylfings, ...[5]

........................................................ From the
Skáldskaparmál

In the Skáldskaparmál, Snorri Sturluson speaks of the second group of
nine sons of Halfdan the Old, from whom many families of legend
descend, one of these sons being Yngvi, purported ancestor of the
Yngling lineage. But neither Skylfings or Skjöldungs are specifically
derived from these sons. Snorri continues with examples of famous
descendants of three of those lineages, followed by: "Of the house of
the Ylfings was Eirík the Eloquent (Eiríkr inn málspaki)." But
Ylfings have not been previously mentioned. Then follows the names of
four ancestors of four lineages not descended from Halfdan, which
include Yngvi and the Ynglings a second time. There is obvious
confusion or corruption in this passage or its source. The fourth
lineage is identified:

One war-king was named Skelfir; and his house is called the House
of Skilfings: his kindred is in the Eastern Region.

A connection with the east might mean a connection to Sweden, but the
vagueness of expression suggests Snorri knows no more about these
Skilfings than he has written.

Snorri also gives Skilfing as a kenning for "king" and it appears as a
kenning for "sword" in the thulur found in some versions of the
Skáldkskaparmál.

........................................................ From the
Ættartolur

The Ættartolur connected to Hversu Noregr byggdist are a longer
variant of the genealogical passages in the Skáldskaparmál, also
speaking of Halfdan the Old and lineages descended from him and of
other notable lineages, but in much greater detail. In this list of the
sons of Halfdan, Yngvi the ancester of the Ynglings is missing and
Skelfir the ancestor of the Skilfings appears in his place. This might
be a remembrance of an earlier identity or connection of the Swedish
Ynglings and the Swedish Scylfings in Beowulf. But nothing in the
following genealogy is necessarily Swedish though possible Swedish
parallels do appear, particular the names Alrek and Eirík as discussed
below.

There are many oddities in this account.

It claims Skelfir was king of Vörs (Vors), modern Voss in northern
Hordaland in southwestern Norway, but Halfdan's inheritance was in
southeastern Norway.

Skelfir was the father of Skjöld (Skjoldr). The account ends by
saying that lineage of Skelfir was called the Skilfing lineage or the
Skjöldung lineage, seemingly identifying the two. But Skjöldungs are
normally the legendary royal family of the rulers of Denmark and no
connection with Denmark is made here. Indeed the Ættartolur later
twice gives a quite different list of descendants of the Danish Skjöld
who is there made a son of Odin as commonly in Norse texts. Skjöld as
son of Skelfir might be related to English traditions of Scyld being a
son or descendant of Sceaf (as discussed under Sceaf), though here too
(at least in Beowulf) the connection is to Danish matters, not to
Norway.

This Norwegian Skjöld, ancestor of the Norwegian Skjöldungs, is
father of Eirík, father of Alrek (Alrekr), father of Eirík the
Eloquent, whom the Skáldskaparmál presented as an Ylfing. These two
mentions are the only occurrences of Eirík the Eloquent in Norse
texts. But what seems to be the same figure appears prominently in book
5 of Saxo Grammaticus' Gesta Danorum as Ericus disertus. This Ericus
disertus is indeed a Norwegian, but his father is not named Alrek but
rather Regnerus pugilex, that is Ragnar the Champion. The Gesta Danorum
then somewhat forcibly identifies Ericus disertus with Eirík, a
legendary king of Sweden, a king who in the Ynglinga saga and elsewhere
has an elder brother (rather than a father) named Alrek. See Alrek and
Eirík for details.

In the Ynglinga saga the mother of the Swedish kings Alrek and Eirík
is named Skjálf, which might also be an eponym for Skilfing.

Returning to the Ættartolur, there Eirík the Eloquent is father of
Alrek, father of Víkar (Víkarr), father of Vatnar. This Víkar is the
famous Víkar, king of Hördaland, who was sacrificed to Odin by
Starkad. The chain of descent from Alrek to Víkar to Vatnar is also
found in Hálfs saga ok Hálfsrekka ('The saga of Hálf and his
heroes'). However Gautreks saga gives an entirely different ancestry
and different descendants to Víkar. See Víkar for details.

This genealogy may have been based on attempts to ascribe a Norwegian
origin to both Swedish Scylfings and Danish Skjöldungs and also be
related to Saxo's account of the Norwegian Ericus desertus. If so, as
it stands, it has been edited to remove material that would obviously
conflict with the standard genealogies of the Skjöldungs and Ynglings
which also appear in the Ættartolur.

........................................................

Variant spellings

Other anglicized spellings: Eirík: Eirik ; Eirík the Eloquent: Eirik
the Eloquent, Eiríkr the Wise in Speech ; Halfdan the Old: Hálfdan
the Old ; Skjöld: Skjold, Skiold, Scyld ; Starkad: Starkath ; Víkar:
Vikar ; Vörs: Vor.

........................................................