Yngling

For other uses, seeYngling (disambiguation).

The YnglingIngjaldslaying his kinsmen.

TheYnglingswere a dynasty of kings, first inSwedenand later inNorway,primarily attested through the poemYnglingatal.The dynasty also appears asScylfings(Old NorseSkilfingar) inBeowulf.WhenBeowulfandYnglingatalwere composed sometime in the eighth to tenth centuries, their respective authors (scopsandskalds) expected their audience to have a great deal of background information about these kings, which is shown in the allusiveness of the references.

According to sources such asYnglingatalandÍslendingabók,theFairhair dynastyinOppland,Norwaywas in fact a branch of the Ynglings (here Yngling is explicitly used as the name of the dynasty).Saxo Grammaticusheld that the Ynglings also includedEric the Victorious,who is usually the first king in modern regnal lists, and hisdescendants.However, this does not tally with Icelandic sources.

The dynasty claimed descent from the godsFreyrandNjörðr,and other kings were likely mythical as well, whereas others may have been real: especiallyEgil,Ottar,AleandAdilsthat are mentioned inBeowulfas well as Nordic sources.

Alrek and Eiríkfighting.

Names

Yngvi and Alfslaying each other.

In the Scandinavian sources they are the descendants ofYngvi-FreyofVanaheim.Ynglingmeansdescendant of Frey,and in theGesta DanorumofSaxo Grammaticusthey are called thesons of Frey.Several of these kings appear inBeowulf:Eadgils(Adils),Onela(Ale), andOhthere(Ottar Vendelkråka), but here they are calledScylfings(see theBeowulf sectionbelow).

In hisSkáldskaparmálthe 13th-century Icelandic writerSnorri Sturlusonhints at a less divine origin for this dynasty:One war-king was named Skelfir; and his house is called the House of Skilfings: his kindred is in the Eastern Land.InYnglinga Saga,Snorri discusses marriages between Swedish and Finnish royal families. In theSkáldskaparmálsection ofEdda,he discusses KingHalfdan the Old,Nór's great-grandson, and nine of his sons who are the forefathers of various royal lineages, including"Yngvi, from whom the Ynglings are descended".

According to theOrkneyinga Saga,Nórfounded Norway. He was a direct descendant ofFornjótr,the King of"Gotland, Kvenland and Finnland".In traditional Scandinavian lineages we find Halfdan the Old as the Great-grandfather of Ragnvald Eysteinson Jarl of Møre, the father of Rollo, called Gengu-Hrolf in Norse sources, the Viking conqueror who founded Normandy, whoDudo of Saint-Quentintestifies took the name Robert after converting to Christianity. He is also known as Count Rou of Rouen, and is said to have beenWilliam the Conqueror's great-great-great-grandfather.

Hversu Noregr byggðist('How Norway was founded') is a 14th-century account of the origin of various legendary Norwegian lineages. It too traces the descendants of the primeval Finnish ruler Fornjotr back through Nór and his siblings, Góí and Gór; Nór being here the eponym and first great king of Norway, and then gives details of the descendants of Nór and of his brother Gór in the following section known as theÆttartölur('Genealogies', a.k.a.Fundinn Noregr,'Founding of Norway'). The Hversu account is closely paralleled by the opening of theOrkneyinga saga.

The 'genealogies' also claim that many heroic families famed in Scandinavian tradition but not located in Norway were of a Finn-Kven stock, mostly sprung from Nór's great-grandson Halfdan the Old. Almost all the lineages sprung from Halfdan are then shown to reconvert in the person ofHarald Fairhair,the first king of "all Norway". This information can be confirmed in other sources.

The 'Ættartölur' account ends to a genealogy of Harald's royal descendants down toOlaf IV of Norwaywith the statement that the account was written in 1387, and with a list of the kings of Norway from this Olaf back to Harald Fair-hair.

Another origin for the nameskilfingis possible: Snorri describedErik and Alrik,the sons ofSkjalfto be the de facto ancestors of thisNorse clan.

The kings who resided atUpsalhad been the supreme chiefs over the whole Swedish dominions until the death ofAgne,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 toSnorri 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 atUppsala,until the dynasty all but exterminated itself withIngjald Ill-Rulerand his downfall. A survivorOlof Trätäljawas the ancestor of the Norwegian branch.

Remaining in Sweden

TheBattle of Bråvalla.

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

Saxo on theBattle 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 werekindred 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 ofSigurd Hring;they were men ready of hand, quick in counsel, and very close friends of Ring. They likewise held the godFrey 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 (Erect?spear-thrower?) from the district of Upsala (Old Uppsala); this man was a swift spear-thrower, and used to go in the front of the battle.

Moreover, both in Icelandic sources and in theGesta Danorum,King Sigurd Hring would become the ancestor of the houses ofRagnar Lodbrokand would thus be the semi-legendary ancestor of theHouse of MunsöthroughBjörn Ironside,and the Danish royal house throughSigurd Snake-in-the-Eye.Ragnar's eldest sonIvar the Bonelesswas the leader of theGreat Heathen Armyand appears to have been the founder of theUí Ímairdynasty of theKingdom of YorkandKingdom of Dublin,and by extension theCrovan Dynastyof theKings of Mann.

The line

Beowulf 8th–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
	Fjǫlnir	Fjölnir	Fiolnir	Fjölnir	Fjölnir
	Sveigðir	Svegðir	Swegthir	Svegðir	Sveigðir
	Vanlandi	Vanlandi	Wanlanda	Vanlandi	Vanlandi
	Vísburr	Visburr	Wisbur	Vísburr	Vísburr
	Dómaldi	Dómaldr	Domald	Dómaldi	Dómaldi
	Dómarr	Dómarr	Domar	Dómarr	Dómarr
	Dyggvi	Dyggvi	Dyggui	Dyggvi	Dyggvi/Tryggvi
	Dagr spaki	Dagr	Dagr	Dagr spaki	Dagr
	Agni	Alrekr	Alricr	Agni	Agni Skjálfarbóndi
	Alrekr and Eiríkr	Agni	Hogni	Alrekr and Eiríkr	Alrekr
	Yngvi and Alfr	Yngvi	Ingialdr	Yngvi and Álfr	Yngvi
	Jǫrundr	Jörundr	Jorundr	Jörundr and Eiríkr	Jörmunfróði/Jörundr
	Aunn	Aun inn gamli	Auchun	Aun hinn gamli	Aunn inn gamli
Ongenþeow	Egill	Egill Vendilkráka	Eigil Vendilcraca	Egill Tunnudólgr	Egill Tunnadólgr
OhthereandOnela	Óttarr	Óttarr	Ottarus	Óttarr Vendilkráka	Óttarr Vendilskráka
EadgilsandEanmund	Aðils	Aðísl at Uppsölum	Adils/Athisl	Aðils	Aðils at Uppsölum
	Eysteinn	Eysteinn	Eustein	Eysteinn	Eysteinn
	Yngvarr	Yngvarr	Ynguar	Yngvarr	Yngvarr inn hári
	Ǫnundr	Braut-Önundr	Broutonundr	Brautönundr	Braut-Önundr
	Ingjaldr	Ingjaldr inn illráði	Ingialdr	Ingjaldr hinn illráði	Ingjaldr inn illráði
	Ólafr	Óláfr trételgja	Olavus tretelgia	Óláfr trételgja	Ólafr trételgja
	Halfdan	Hálfdan hvítbeinn Upplendingakonungr	Halfdan hwitbein	Hálfdan hvítbeinn	Hálfdan hvítbeinn
	Eysteinn		Eustein	Eysteinn	Eysteinn
	Halfdan		Halfdan	Hálfdan hinn mildi	Hálfdan inn mildi
	Guðrøðr	Goðröðr	Guthrodr	Guðröðr veiðikonungr	Guðröðr veiðikonungr
	Ólafr	Óláfr	Halfdan Niger	Ólafr	Hálfdan svarti
	Rǫgnvaldr heiðumhôr	Helgi	Haraldus	Rögnvaldr heiðum hæra	Haraldr inn hárfagri

The family tree

This is the mythic Yngling family tree based onHistoria Norwegiæ,Ynglinga saga,Beowulfand otherOld Norsesources. The names of Swedish kings are shown in bold.

Ynglings

(♂Yngvi)

♂Fornjótr

♂Njǫrðr

♀(Nerthus)

♀Aurboða

♂Gymir

♂Kári

♂Logi

♀Freyja

♂(Yngvi-)Freyr

♀Gerðr

♂Frosti

♂Loki

♀Sigyn

♂Fjǫlnir

♂Snær

♂Narfi

♂Sveigðir

♀Vana

♀Nótt

♂Naglfari

♂Vanlandi

♀Drífa

♂Auðrhinn ríki

♂Rígr

♀unidentified

♂Vísburr

♀unidentified

♂Danpr

♂Gísl

♂Ǫndurr

♂Dómaldi

♂Danr

♀Drótt

♂Dómarr

♂Dyggvi

♂Dagr spaki

♂Agni

♀Skjǫlf

♂Alrekr

♂Eiríkr

♀Bera

♂Alfr

♂Yngvi

♀Þornbjǫrg

♂Hugleikr

♂Jǫrundr

♂Eiríkr

♀Ingiborg

♂Aunn hinn gamli

♂nine sons

♂Egill Vendilkráka

♂Helgi

♂Áli

♂Óttarr

♀Yrsa

♂Aðils

♂Aunmundr

♂Hrólfr kraki

♂Eysteinn

♂Gauti

♂Ingvarr

♂Óláfr hinn skyggni

♂Gautrekr

♂Óláfr

♂Sigvarðr

♂Ǫnundr

♀unidentified

♂Algautr

♂Halfdan gulltǫnn

♂Ingjaldr

♀Gauthildr

♂Eysteinn

♀Sǫlveig

♂Óláfr trételgja

♀Ása

♀Ása

♂Halfdan hvítbeinn

♂Ingjaldr Óláfssonr

♂Eiríkr Agnarssonr

♂Guðrøðr

♂Eysteinn Halfdanarsonr

♀Hildr

♂Dagr

♂Haraldr

♂Halfdan hinn mildi

♀Líf

♂Alfarinn

♂Gyrðr

♀Ása

♂Guðrøðr hinn gǫfugláti

♀Alfhildr

♂Halfdan svarti

♂Óláfr Geirstaðaalfr

♂Haraldr hárfagri

♂Ragnvaldr heiðumhár

Notes

The name Scylfing

InOld Englishseveral kings who are generally identified as Ynglings are calledScylfings.

The genealogy is given as:

Ongentheow

Ohthere

Onela

Healfdene's daughter

Eadgils

Eanmund

Ohthere (Ottar) also occurs as the father of Aedgils (Adils) inYnglingatal.There Skilfing (Skilfingr) appears as a synonym of Yngling, in a line onEgil,the father ofOttar,so that Ongentheow is considered identical toEgil.

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 Skilfinganið hœfis hjörr til hjarta stóð.[2]

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[3])

Likewise in theSkáldskaparmálthe Scylfings are described as an eastern family andEast Kingwas a conventionalkenningfor a Swedish king.

However, in theÆttartolur,(the genealogies attached toHversu Noregr byggdist), the Skilfings are ofNorwegianorigin and include a family identified asSkjöldungs.In the eddic poemGrímnismál(stanza 55),Skilfingappears as one ofOdin's names, the information there also appearing in theGylfaginning..

Beowulf

In the Old English poemBeowulf,the wordScylfingoccurs twice in the singular and twice in the plural. For alliterative purposes the name could be extended, such as the formHeathoscylfing'Battle-Scylfing', which occurs once in the singular and twice in the plural. A Scylfing whose name is partly missing but ends in-elamarried the sister ofHrothgarandHalga.Specifically identified as Scylfings areOngentheow,king of Sweden, and by extension his subjectWiglafson ofWeohstan.Wiglaf and Weohstan belonged to the family of theWægmundingsto whichBeowulfand his fatherEcgtheowalso belonged. Another extended form ishelm Scylfinga.This literally means 'Scylfings'-helmet'; it is akenningmeaning both "ruler of the Scylfings" and "protector of the Scylfings". TheBeowulfpoet uses it to refer to Ongentheow's sonOnela.

In Norse tradition

From theHyndluljóð

The eddic poemHyndluljóð,in stanza 16 speaks of descendants of an ancient king namedHalfdan the Old:

Hence come theSkjöldungs,hence the Skilfings,
Hence the Ödlings [Ǫðlingar], hence the Ylfings,...[4]

From theSkáldskaparmál

In theSkáldskaparmál,Snorri Sturlusonspeaks of the second group of nine sons of Halfdan the Old, from whom many families of legend descend, one of these sons beingYngvi,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 theYlfingswas 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 givesSkilfingas a kenning for "king" and it appears as a kenning for "sword" in thethulurfound in some versions of theSkáldkskaparmál.

From theÆttartǫlur

TheÆttartǫlurconnected toHversu Noregr byggdistare a longer variant of the genealogical passages in theSkáldskaparmál,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 ancestor 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 inBeowulf.But nothing in the following genealogy isnecessarilySwedish 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 (Vǫrs), modernVossin northernHordalandin southwestern Norway, but Halfdan's inheritance was in southeastern Norway.

Skelfir was the father of Skjöld (Skjǫldr). 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 ofDenmarkand no connection with Denmark is made here. Indeed, theÆttartǫlurlater 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 ofScyldbeing a son or descendant of Sceafa (as discussed underSceafa), though here too (at least inBeowulf) 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 theSkáldskaparmálpresented 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 ofSaxo Grammaticus'Gesta Danorumas 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. TheGesta Danorumthen somewhat forcibly identifies Ericus disertus with Eirík, a legendary king of Sweden, a king who in theYnglinga sagaand elsewhere has an elder brother (rather than a father) named Alrek. SeeAlrek and Eiríkfor details.

In theYnglinga sagathe mother of the Swedish kings Alrek and Eirík is namedSkjálf,which might also be an eponym for Skilfing.

Returning to theÆttartǫlur,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 byStarkad.The chain of descent from Alrek to Víkar to Vatnar is also found inHálfs saga ok Hálfsrekka('The saga of Hálf and his heroes'). HoweverGautreks sagagives an entirely different ancestry and different descendants to Víkar. SeeVíkarfor 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 theÆttartǫlur.

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.

See also

• Saxo's kings of Sweden
• Fairhair dynasty