Vendel era helmet, at the Swedish Museum of National Antiquities. Swedish prehistory the Vendel era ( 550 - 793) is the name given to a part of the Germanic Iron Age (or more generally the Age of Migrations Swedish Museum of National Antiquities (known in Swedish as Historiska museet or more formally Statens historiska museum) is a Museum located

The Swedish-Geatish wars refer to semi-legendary 6th century^[1] battles between Swedes and Geats that are described in the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf. A legend ( Latin, legenda, "things to be read" is a Narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to The 6th century is the period from 501 to 600 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. The Swedes (svear Old Norse: svíar; Old English: Sweonas; Suiones Suehans or Sueones) were an ancient North Geats, Geatas, Gautar, Goths, Gotar, Gøtar, Götar were a North Germanic tribe inhabiting Götaland For their language see Anglo-Saxon language. Anglo-Saxon is the term usually used to describe the invading Tribes in the south An epic is a lengthy Narrative poem, ordinarily concerning a serious subject containing details of heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation Beowulf is an Old English Heroic epic poem of anonymous authorship dating as recorded in the Nowell Codex manuscript from between ^[2] Little has survived of such battles in the Norse sagas,^[3] and later 11th century-13th century wars between Swedes and Geats, notably involving the Geatish clans House of Stenkil and House of Sverker, are referred to as Swedish civil wars. The sagas (from Icelandic saga, plural sögur) are stories about ancient Scandinavian and Germanic history about early Viking voyages The Scandinavian clan or ætt (ˈɛtt in Old Norse) was a social group based on common descent or on the formal acceptance into the group at a þing The House of Stenkil was a dynasty on the Swedish throne from c After the extinction of the House of Stenkil and the ascension of Sverker I of Sweden in 1130 a civil war commenced

The first war in Beowulf

Vendel era helmet, at the Swedish Museum of National Antiquities. Swedish prehistory the Vendel era ( 550 - 793) is the name given to a part of the Germanic Iron Age (or more generally the Age of Migrations Swedish Museum of National Antiquities (known in Swedish as Historiska museet or more formally Statens historiska museum) is a Museum located

The Anglo-Saxon epic relates that the Swedes did not keep the peace when the Geatish king Hreðel had died, because the Swedish king Ongenþeow's sons (i. Anglo-Saxon literature (or Old English literature) encompasses Literature written in Anglo-Saxon (Old English during the 600-year Anglo-Saxon An epic is a lengthy Narrative poem, ordinarily concerning a serious subject containing details of heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation Geatish kings (Rex Getarum/Gothorum existed since the provinces of Götaland /Gautland/Geatland (the Geats feature in the epic poem ' Beowulf ' are considered to have Hreðel, or Hrethel, Proto-Norse * Hrōþilaz or * Hrōþila, was the King of the Geats, in Beowulf. The semi-legendary kings of Sweden are the long line of Swedish kings who preceded Eric the Victorious, according to sources such as the Norse Sagas, Ongentheow, (Anglo-Saxon Ongenþeow, Ongenþio, Ongendþeow; Swedish Angantyr) (– ca 515 was the name of a semi-legendary Swedish e. Ohthere and Onela) had grown up and were eager to fight. This is about the Swedish king Ohthere For the Norwegian voyager by the same name see Ohthere of Hålogaland Ohthere, Ohtere (the Onela, Proto-Norse * Anula ( Diminutive with l-suffix to a name starting with * Anu-, or directly of an apellative * anuz, 'ancestor' ^[4]

The Geats under their new king Hæþcyn captured the Swedish queen, but old king Ongenþeow saved her, at a hill fort called Hrefnesholt, although they lost her gold. Geats, Geatas, Gautar, Goths, Gotar, Gøtar, Götar were a North Germanic tribe inhabiting Götaland Hæþcyn (d 514 or 515) was the son of the Geatish king Hreðel in Beowulf. A hill fort is a fortified refuge or defended settlement Hrefnesholt is a location in Beowulf where the Geatish king Hæþcyn had taken the Swedish queen ^[8] Ongenþeow killed Hæþcyn,^[9] and besieged the Geats at Hrefnesholt^[10]. Geats, Geatas, Gautar, Goths, Gotar, Gøtar, Götar were a North Germanic tribe inhabiting Götaland The Geats were, however, rescued by Hygelac, Hæþcyn's brother,^[11] who arrived the next day with reinforcements^[12]. Hygelac, Proto-Norse * Hugilaikaz, Old Norse Hugleikr (d ca 516) was a King of the Geats, but was born in Denmark Having lost the battle, but rescued his queen, Ongenþeow and his warriors returned home:

Vendel era sword from Valsgärde

However, the war was not over. Hygelac, the new king of the Geats, attacked the Swedes:

The Geatish warriors Eofor and Wulf Wonreding fought together against the hoary king Ongenþeow^[17]. Eofor ( Proto-Norse * Eburaz) son of Wonred was a Geatish warrior in Beowulf. Wulf hit Ongenþeow's head with his sword so that the old king bled over his hair, but the king hit back and wounded Wulf^[18]. Then, Eofor retaliated by cutting through the Swedish king's shield and through his helmet^[19], giving Ongenþeow a death-blow^[20]. Eofor took the Swedish king's helmet, sword and breastplate and carried them to Hygelac^[21]. When they came home, Eofor and Wulf were richly awarded^[22], and Eofor was given Hygelac's daughter^[23]. Because of this battle, Hygelac is referred to as Ongenþeow's slayer. ^[24]

The second war in Beowulf

The battle with Onela is remembered in Norse mythology as a battle on horseback. Vendel era helmet plate. Swedish prehistory the Vendel era ( 550 - 793) is the name given to a part of the Germanic Iron Age (or more generally the Age of Migrations

In Sweden, both Ongenþeow and Ohthere were apparently dead as Onela was king, and Ohthere's two sons, Eanmund and Eadgils, sought refuge with Heardred, Hygelac's successor as king of the Geats. This is about the Swedish king Ohthere For the Norwegian voyager by the same name see Ohthere of Hålogaland Ohthere, Ohtere (the Onela, Proto-Norse * Anula ( Diminutive with l-suffix to a name starting with * Anu-, or directly of an apellative * anuz, 'ancestor' Eanmund was a Swedish Prince of the Scylfing Dynasty. Unlike his relatives Eanmund is only mentioned in Beowulf. Eadgils, Adils, Aðils, Adillus, Aðísl at Uppsölum, Athisl, Athislus, Adhel was a Semi-legendary king Heardred ( Proto-Norse * Hardurādaz) d ca 530, is the son of Hygelac, King of the Geats, and his queen Hygd, Geatish kings (Rex Getarum/Gothorum existed since the provinces of Götaland /Gautland/Geatland (the Geats feature in the epic poem ' Beowulf ' are considered to have ^[25] This caused Onela to attack the Geats. During the battle, Eanmund was killed by Onela's champion Weohstan^[26] and Heardred was killed as well^[27]. Weohstan, Wēohstān or Wīhstān ( Proto-Norse * Wīhastainaz, meaning "sacred stone" Old Norse Vésteinn and Onela returned home and Beowulf became king of the Geats. ^[28]

Eadgils, however, survived and later, Beowulf helped him avenge Eanmund by slaying Onela,^[29] an event which also appears in Scandinavian sources, as the Battle on the Ice of Lake Vänern (although no Geatish involvement is remembered or mentioned). Beowulf (ˈBeɪoʊwʊlf/ /ˈBeɪəwʊlf Old English ˈbeːo̯wʊlf is a legendary Geatish hero and later king in the Old English epic poem named after him The Battle on the Ice of Lake Vänern was a 6th century battle recorded in the Norse sagas and referred to in the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf.

The foreboding of a third war in Beowulf

As Wiglaf sat beside the dead king Beowulf, he spoke of a new war with the Swedes that would surely come:

Aftermath

The famous Sparlösa Runestone raised in the Geatish heartland, in Västergötland, mentions a great battle, the names Eric and Alrik and the father who resided in Uppsala. The Sparlösa Runestone in Västergötland is the second most famous Swedish Runestone after the Rök Runestone. is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative Provinces of Sweden ( landskap in Swedish situated in the southwest of Sweden. Possibly a memorial to Swedish royalty, who had won a great battle.

According to a Scandinavian legend written down in the 13th century, in the Ynglinga saga, a 7th century Geatish king named Algaut was invited to his son-in-law, the Swedish king Ingjald, at Uppsala. A legend ( Latin, legenda, "things to be read" is a Narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to The Ynglinga saga was originally written in Old Norse by the Icelandic poet Snorri Sturluson about 1225. The 7th century is the period from 601 to 700 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. Algaut (or Algöt) was a Geatish king who ruled West Götaland according to the Heimskringla. Ingjaldr hinn illráði or Ingjald illråde ("ill-ruler" was a legendary Swedish king of the House of Ynglings Ingjald may have ruled sometime Gamla Uppsala ("Old Uppsala" is a parish and a village outside Uppsala in Sweden. During the night, he was arsoned to death together with a number of other invited kings. Ingjald then extended his rule to include the Geatish heartland in Västergötland, whereas the East Geats in Östergötland preserved their independence. is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative Provinces of Sweden ( landskap in Swedish situated in the southwest of Sweden. Östergötland is a one of the traditional Provinces of Sweden ( landskap in Swedish) in the south of Sweden. The Geats and the other Scandinavians were later united by Ivar Vidfamne. Ívarr inn víðfaðmi or Ivar Vidfamne was a king of parts of Scandinavia.

Sögubrot af nokkrum fornkonungum says that after Ivar's death, the kingdom was split between Harald Wartooth and Sigurd Ring. Sögubrot af nokkrum fornkonungum is a fragmentary Icelandic text dealing with some legendary Swedish and Danish kings. Harald Wartooth ( Old Norse: Haraldr Hilditönn, modern Swedish and Danish Harald Hildetand) was a legendary king of Sweden, Denmark Sigurd Ring ( Old Norse: Sigurðr hringr) or Ring ( Old Norse: Hringr) (ca 750) was a Swedish and Danish king mentioned in Harald ruled Denmark and the East Geats, whereas Sigurd Ring ruled Sweden and the West Geats. The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe Östergötland is a one of the traditional Provinces of Sweden ( landskap in Swedish) in the south of Sweden. Svealand ( or (rarely or historically Sweden Proper is the historical core region of Sweden. is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative Provinces of Sweden ( landskap in Swedish situated in the southwest of Sweden. These and many sources describe how these two kings met in the legendary and enormous Battle of the Brávellir (c. The Battle of Brávellir or the Battle of Bråvalla was a legendary battle that is described in the Norse sagas as taking place on the Brávellir between 750), where Sigurd Ring was victorious and became the king of both Swedes, Geats and Danes. Events By Geography Asia Gopala is proclaimed as the first ruler of the Pala Empire. From this battle and onwards, all of Geatland is described as part of the Swedish kingdom. Götaland ( Gothia, Gothland, Gothenland, Gotland, Gautland, Geatland is one of three lands of Sweden

In the 12th century, Geatish tribal independence was but a memory as the Danish chronicler Saxo Grammaticus noted in his Gesta Danorum (book 13) that the Geats had no say in the election of the king, only the Swedes. "Saxo" redirects here For the car see Citroën Saxo and for the bank see Saxo Bank Saxo Grammaticus (c Gesta Danorum ("Deeds of the Danes" is a work of Danish history by the 12th century author Saxo Grammaticus ("Saxo the Literate" It says even more of their loss of independence that when the Law of the West Geats was put to paper, in the 13th century, the law stated that the election and the deposing of the king rested with the Swedes and not with the Geats. See also Medieval Scandinavian laws Västgötalagen or the Westrogothic law is the oldest Swedish text written in the Latin script ^[32]

In 1442, the law of the Swedish, Norwegian and Danish king Christopher of Bavaria, declared that the merging of Geatland into the Swedish kingdom took place in a distant pagan time. Christopher of Bavaria known by his Danish and Norwegian title as Christoffer (III af/av Bayern and by his Swedish title as Kristofer ^[33]

Notes

Bibliography

• Lundström, I. (1972). Viking, viking. Forntidsdröm och verklighet. Statens historiska museum, Stockholm. p. 6.
• Nerman, B. (1925). Det svenska rikets uppkomst. Stockholm.

External links

• Old English edition edited by James Albert Harrison and Robert Sharp

Translations of Beowulf:

• Modern English translation by Francis Barton Gummere
• Modern English translation by John Lesslie Hall