Swerting

Swerting (

Beowulf

.

The Heaðobard tradition

A Swerting of the same timeframe also appears in Scandinavian traditions as the killer of a Danish king named Fróði/Frotho, who corresponds to

Heaðobard, in Beowulf.^[2]^[3] In the Scandinavian traditions, Froda's son Ingeld

also appears with the name forms Ingjald or Ingellus.

Skjöldunga saga and Bjarkarímur

The

Halfdan, but another woman became Fróði's legitimate wife and gave him an heir named Ingjaldr. Together with one of his earls, Swerting, Jorund conspired against Fróði and killed him during the blót

.

Gesta Danorum

Starkad meets Ingellus with a mistress (probably Swerting's daughter), from Olaus Magnus' Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus (1555).

There is also a second version in
Halfdan
's (Haldanus) court instead. As Ingellus continued his sinful life and did not do his duty to avenge his father, Starkad appeared during a banquet that Ingellus had with the sons of Swerting, his father's slayer. Starkad strongly admonished Ingellus and humiliated his queen who tried to calm Starkad with kindness and her costly ribbon. Starkad succeeded in exciting Ingellus to kill Swerting's sons and to divorce his Saxon bride.

Historia Brittonum

The pedigree of king
Aella of Deira given in Historia Brittonum includes the name "Sguerthing" as great-grandfather of the king,^[4]
and this has been interpreted as a reference to the Swerting of Beowulf. The name does not appear in other versions of the royal pedigree and may represent an attempt by the author of Historia Brittonum to interpose this heroic character into the royal pedigree.

Notes and references

^ The meaning of "Higelac Geata, nefa Swertinges" (v. 1202-1203) can be either Hygelac Geat, 'nephew, grandson or stepson' of Swerting.

^ ^a ^b The article Starkad in Nordisk familjebok (1909).

^ ^a ^b ^c The Relation of the Hrolfs Saga Kraka and the Bjarkarimur to Beowulf by Olson, 1916, at Project Gutenberg

^ Archeologia Cantiana p. 37-38

Legendary titles

Preceded by
Yngve or Yngwin?
King of the Geats Succeeded by
Hreðel

Hrethlings

Swerting^[i]

daughter
Hreðel

Herebeald Hæþcyn Hygelac daughter Ecgþeow

Hygd Beowulf

Heardred daughter Eofor

Notes

^ The relationship between Swerting and Hreðel is not clear from the poem. He may also have been his father, or his brother-in-law.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swerting&oldid=1191860781"

[1] The meaning of "Higelac Geata, nefa Swertinges" (v. 1202-1203) can be either Hygelac Geat, 'nephew, grandson or stepson' of Swerting.

[nordisk-2] The article Starkad in Nordisk familjebok (1909).

[Olson-3] The Relation of the Hrolfs Saga Kraka and the Bjarkarimur to Beowulf by Olson, 1916, at Project Gutenberg

[4] Archeologia Cantiana p. 37-38

[5] The relationship between Swerting and Hreðel is not clear from the poem. He may also have been his father, or his brother-in-law.

[2]

[3]

[4]

[i]