Sögubrot af nokkrum fornkonungum
Encyclopedia
Sögubrot af nokkrum fornkonungum (Fragment of a Saga about Certain Ancient Kings) is a fragmentary Icelandic text dealing with some legendary Swedish and Danish kings
. It is thought to be based on the lost Skjöldunga saga
and perhaps represents a late state of that work.
The fragment begins in the middle of the story of Ívarr inn víðfaðmi
, '"Ivar the Widely Embracing", describing how he won the realm of Zealand through trickery, and how he committed suicide under strange circumstances while on an invasion of the realm of Ráðbarðr, who had married his daughter Auðr the Deep-Minded
without his permission. The fragment then recounts the early life of Harald Wartooth
but breaks off; it resumes with the arrival of Sigurd Ring
, Harald's old age, and the colossal Battle of Brávellir. It breaks off again towards the end of Sigurd's life.
Legendary Danish kings
The legendary kings of Denmark are the predecessors of Gorm the Old, half history and half legend. The accounts of the Danish kings are confusing and contradictory, and so this presentation tries to separate the various sources from each other...
. It is thought to be based on the lost Skjöldunga saga
Skjöldunga saga
The Skjöldunga saga was a Norse saga on the legendary Danish dynasty of the Skjöldungs, the same dynasty featured in the Old English poem Beowulf...
and perhaps represents a late state of that work.
The fragment begins in the middle of the story of Ívarr inn víðfaðmi
Ivar Vidfamne
Ivar Vidfamne was a Danish and Swedish king hailing from Scania. He may have died c. 700. According to the Heimskringla and the Hervarar saga, Ivar was also the king of Norway, Denmark, Saxony and parts of England.- Ivar in the Sagas :He began as king of Scania and conquered Sweden by defeating...
, '"Ivar the Widely Embracing", describing how he won the realm of Zealand through trickery, and how he committed suicide under strange circumstances while on an invasion of the realm of Ráðbarðr, who had married his daughter Auðr the Deep-Minded
Auðr the Deep-Minded
Auðr the Deep-Minded was a Norse princess, the daughter of Ivar Vidfamne, and the mother of Harald Wartooth, who appears in Sögubrot, Hversu Noregr byggdist and in the Lay of Hyndla...
without his permission. The fragment then recounts the early life of Harald Wartooth
Harald Wartooth
Harald Wartooth or Harold Hiltertooth was a legendary king of Sweden, Denmark, Norway and the historical northern German province of Wendland, in the 8th and 9th century...
but breaks off; it resumes with the arrival of Sigurd Ring
Sigurd Ring
Sigurd Hring was a Swedish and Danish king mentioned in many old Scandinavian legends. According to Bósa saga ok Herrauds, there was once a saga on Sigurd Hring, but this saga is now lost...
, Harald's old age, and the colossal Battle of Brávellir. It breaks off again towards the end of Sigurd's life.