Rolf Krake

Rolf Krake (Hrolf Kraki) was a mythological king at Lejre on the isle of Zealand, Denmark, described in several old sagas and other documents such as the Leire chronicle and Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus. The content of the saga is also related by Snorre Sturlasson in his Ynglingasaga, as part of the now-lost saga of the Skoldungs (Shieldings).

Table of contents

1 Parentage 2 Kingship 3 Death by burning 4 Origins of the myth 5 A modern version

Parentage

Rolf Krake's father is Helge, grandfather Halfdan, and mother Yrsa. Yrsa is Helge's daughter with a Saxon queen, who is forced or seduced by Helge into marrying him. In revenge, the queen tricks her daughter and her husband into having a liaison. After Yrsa discovers that Helge is her father, she goes home to Saxony with her mother.

Kingship

Later, Yrsa is married to Adils (Eadgils), son of Ottar (Ohthere). Adils is the king of Svitjod (Sweorice or Sweden). Helge dies and is succeeded by his brother Roar since Rolf is still a young boy. After Roar's death, Rolf Krake becomes the king of the Danes. Many heroes come to advise and fight for Rolf, most notably Bodvar Bjarke. (Bodvar means "battle".) Twelve in particular were recognized as his best men. This article omits the stories that are told about them. Not long after Rolf becomes king, Adils requests his assistance in battle against his uncle, Ale (Onela). As Rolf sends his twelve companions, led by Bodvar Bjarke, Ale is defeated and Adils gains the kingdom.

But when Adils refuses to pay Rolf's men the expected tributes for their help, Rolf Krake sets off to Ubsola (ancient Uppsala, possibly placed in the county of Uppland, Sweden). His mother Yrsa helps him and give him a horn filled with gold and jewelss and a famous ring called Sweagris. Also, Rolf is joined by a young man named Vögg (Wig) who gives him the nickname Krake. With the treasure given them by Yrsa, Rolf and his men set off over Fyrisvallarna (the Fyris Wolds). When Adils sends his men after them, Rolf spills out the gold to occupy the greedy pursuers with treasure collecting instead of hunting Rolf and his men, and so he gets away.

(Incidentally, the meaning of "Krake" is unclear. It might simply be "tiny", or it might be a kind of primitive ladder consisting of a conifer trunk with the stubs of its branches. In either case, it could indicate that Rolf is physically unimpressive, especially compared to some of his twelve companions—or it could be applied ironically to someone of unusually great size.)

Death by burning

Finally, after a long and peaceful reign, Rolf is burnt to death by his brother-in-law Hjorvard, possibly a jarl or subking of Skåne (Scania). In this battle all Rolf's men are killed but Vögg. Vögg pretends to swear loyalty to Hjorvard, but as he accepts the new king's sword, he stabs Hjorvard to death as revenge for the killing of Rolf Krake. With Rolf ends the rule of the Skoldung dynasty.

Origins of the myth

The Rolf Krake saga has several interesting similarities to that of Beowulf. The character names given in parentheses here are the Anglo-Saxon names from Beowulf of characters who seem to correspond to those in Rolf's story. However, the alignment is not definite. See Origins for Beowulf and Rolf Krake.

The myth of Rolf ruling over a golden age and surrounded by legendary heroes may be compared to the myths of King Arthur and the Round Table and to those of Charlemagne and his twelve paladins in the chansons de geste.

A modern version

The American writer Poul Anderson used this story in his novel Hrolf Kraki's Saga. Anderson's story begins in earlier generations and differs in some events from the account given here. The book was well received by many fantasy fans. However, it has been criticized on the grounds that its frequent explanations, especially of the characters' feelings and motives, are incompatible with the saga traditions.