GEN-MEDIEVAL-L Archives

From: (Jared Linn Olar)
Subject: Re: Numbering Swedish kings
Date: 1 Apr 2004 13:19:28 -0800
References: <ac1a3786.0403300915.1380a9ef@posting.google.com>

As a follow-up to my comments the other day, I thought I'd post a good
portion of the legendary Swedish kinglist of Johannes Magnus, with the
kings named "Erik" in all-caps:

Patriarchs and Eponymous Figures:

Magog, Suevus (Sueno) [eponym and ancestor of the Swedes], Gothar I
[eponym and ancestor of the Gautar or Goths], Ubbo [eponym of
Uppsala], Siggo II

Chieftains or Judges:

ERIK I, Uddo, Ale, Osten I, Charles I, Biorn I, Gothar II, Siggo II,
Berich (Erik) [This is the Gothic king mentioned by Jordanes who
traditionally the led the Goths from Scandza to the land around the
Vistula River]

Kings (many of them are mentioned in Saxo Grammaticus' Gesta Danorum):

Humble (Humli), Gothilas (Totilas), Sigtrygg, Svarin, Svipdag, Asmund,
Uffo, Hunding, Ragnar, Hodbrodd, Adils (Attila) I, Hodr (Hother),
Rorik Slyngeband, Adils (Attila) II, Botvild, Charles II, Gram, Thord
I, Gothar III, Adolph, Algod I, ERIK II, Lindorn, Alrek I, ERIK III
Wise-in-Speech, Godrich [this is the Gothic king Gadaric the Great
mentioned by Jordanes], Halfdan I, Filmer [another Gothic king
mentioned by Jordanes], Nordian, Sigurd I, Charles II, ERIK IV,
Halfdan II Bjargrammi, Yngvin, Ragnvald I, Amund I (Hamund, father of
Haki and Hagbard, lover of Signy, dau. of Sigar), Haron (presumably a
typo for Hacon, i.e. Hakon or Haki Hamundarson), Sigurd II,

(At this point, the traditional Swedish version of the Ynglingatal
begins -- the Icelandic version of the Ynglingatal is slightly
different)

Ingi I, Njord (Nearch), Froda (Frey), Yrban [eponym of Uppsala], Osten
II, Fjolner, Sverker I (i.e. Svegdir), Vanlandi, Visbur, Domaldi,
Domar, Adils (Attila) III, Dyggvi, Dag, Alrek (II), Ingemar I (Yngvi),
Ingjald, Jorund, Hakon I (Aukun or Aun), Egil, Gothar IV (Ottar),
Fasti, Gumund, Adelus (Adils IV), Osten III,

(Here is where Johannes Magnus inserted the following 22 additional
kings not found in earlier kinglists)

Ingemar II, Halsten I, Biorn II, Ragnvald II, Svartmann, Thord II,
Rodulf, Hatin, Attila IV (V), Thord III, Algod II, Godstagus [a parody
of Johannes Magnus' enemy Gustavus Vasa], Arthus, Hakon II, Charles
IV, Charles V, Borgar, ERIK V, Thord IV, Biorn III, Alrek II (III),
Biorn IV,

Bratemunder (Braut-Onund), Sigurd III, Heroth (Herraud, father of
Ragnar Lodbrok's wife Thora), Charles VI, Biorn V (probably Bjorn
Jarnsida, son of Ragnar Lodbrok), Ingjald, Olaf I Traetelja, Ingi II,
ERIK VI Wederhatt, ERIK VII Arsaell, ERIK VIII Segersall,

(Here the kinglist becomes dependably historical)

Olaf II Skotkonung, Amund II (Onund-Jakob), Amund III (Emund Slemmi,
Emund Kolbrenner), Hakon Rufus, Stenkil, Ingi III, Halsten II, Philip,
Ingi IV, Ragnvald III Knaphovde, Magnus I Nikulasson, Sverker II
Jatvardsson, St. ERIK IX, etc.

When I get a little time, I'll post something on the traditional
Icelandic version(s) of the Swedish kinglist, so you can get an idea
of the numbering of the Eriks in that version.

Jared L. Olar

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