The legendary kings of Denmarks are the predecessors of Gorm the Old, half history and half legend. The accounts of the Danish kings are confusing and contradictory, and so this presentation tries to separate the various sources from each other. They sometimes mention the same kings.
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Rig and Scylding line
Early line of kings mentioned by multiple sources
- Dan mikilláti, son of Danp - (He is brother-in-law of Domar.)
- Fróði mikilláti, son of Dan Mikillati
- Halfdan, son of Fróði
- Hrothgar (Roar), 6th century?, son of Halfdan
- Halga (Helge), 6th century?, son of Halfdan
- Hrólf Kraki, son of Helgi
After Hrólf Kraki no two sources give the same succession.
Adam of Bremen
Adam mentions several kings from the 10th century preceding Gorm the Old. He claims Svend Estridson as his source. Many of these are also confirmed by other sources.
- Helgi
- Olof the Brash (Olav/Ole den Frøkne): mention o. 925
- Gyrd and Gnupa: mention 934
- Sigtrygg Gnupasson (Sigerich): c. 935, but conflicts with Harthacnut's deposition of him about 917
- Harthacnut Very likely preceded Gorm the Old
Gesta Danorum
The kings from Saxo Grammaticus chronicle Gesta Danorum (deeds of the Danes).
- Dan I
- Humblus
- Lotherus
- Skioldus
- Gram
- Hadingus
- Frotho I
- Haldanus I
- Ro
- Helgo
- Rolvo Krake
- Høtherus
- Rørikus
- Wiglecus
- Wermundus
- Uffo
- Dan II
- Huglecus
- Frotho II
- Dan III
- Fridlevus I
- Frotho III
- Fridlevus II
- Frotho IV
- Ingellus
- Olavus I
- Frotho V
- Haldanus II
- Unguinus
- Sywaldus I
- Sygarus
- Haldanus III
- Haraldus Hyldetan
- Sigurd Ring
- Olo
- Omundus
- Sywardus I
- Iarmericus
- Broderus
- Sywaldus II
- Snio
- Biorn
- Haraldus II
- Gormo I
- Gudfred
- Olavus II
- Hemmingus
- Siwardus Ring
- Regner Lothbrog
- Siwardus III
- Ericus
- Kanutus I
- Frotho VI
- Gormo II
- Haraldus III
- Gormo III
Chronicon Lethrense
The kings from the Chronicle of Lejre.
- Dan, son of Ypper (a primeval king of Sweden)
- Haldan
- Ro and Helghe, the sons of Haldan.
- a dog king ruled Denmark after king named Helgi (see Snær) on the order of the Swedish king Adils (or Hakon).
- Rolf Krage
- Snær, son of Frosti
Beowulf
The kings in epic poem Beowulf
- Heremod, a Danish king
- Scyld, a foundling who became king
- Scealdwea (Scealdea), son of Heremod
- Beowa, son of Scyld
- Healfdene, son of Beowa
- Heorogar, son of Healfdene
- Hroðgar, son of Healfdene
- Hroðulf, probably the son of Hroðgar's brother Halga
Gróttasöngr
The kings in the poem Gróttasöngr
- Skjöldr
- Friðleifr
- Fróði
Skjöldunga saga (partial list)
The kings of the saga of the Scylding family.
- Scioldus
- Fridleifus I
- Frodo I
- Herleifus
- Havardus
- Leifus
- Herleifus
- Hunleifus
- Aleifus
- Oddleifus
- Geirleifus
- Gunnleifus
- Frodo II
- Vermundus
- Dan I
- Dan II
- Frodo III
- Fridleifus II
- Frodo IV
- Ingjaldus [1]
- Helgo and Roas
- Rolfo Krake
- Hiorvardus
- Rærecus
Ynglinga saga
The kings of the saga of the Ynglinga family.
- Skjöldr
- ...
- Frið-Fróði
- ...
- Danr hinn mikilláti
- Fróði hinn mikilláti eða friðsami
- Hálfdan
- Friðleifr
- Áli hinn frækni
- ...
- Fróði hinn frækni
- ...
- Helgi Hálfdanarson
- Hrólfr kraki
Other sources
- Chlochilaicus: 6th century killed by Theuderic I during a Viking raid in ca 516, mentioned as a Dane though that might have been be a mistake on the author's part. He is called 'Rex Getarum' (King of The Geats) in most accounts and is thought to be Hygelac, mentioned in Beowulf as the King of Geatland.
- Fróði: 6th century or 7th century
- Ongendus (Angantyr): mention early 8th century
- Siger: mention 8th century
- Sigfrid: mention 776, d. before 804
- Harold: of Norway?
- Gudfred (Gudrød Vejdekonge): latest 804 – d. 810
- Eystein fart (Eystein Fjært): of Västergötland?
- Halfdan (Halvdan): of Norway?
- Hemming: d. 811
- Anulo (Ole/Olav): d. 812
- Sigfrid (Sigurd): d. 812
- Harold: 812–815, died c. 863 in exile
- Reginfrid: 812–814?
- Eric the Child (Erik Barn): o. 812, d. 854
- Halfdan (Halvdan) o. 812, possibly died in exile
- Eric the younger (Erik den Yngre): c. 854, mention 864, possibly d. 873
- Harald Fairhair (Harald I of Norway): o. 871, d. o. 933 by Norway
- Uffe (Ubbe): possibly o. 873, died in exile
- Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye (Sigurd Orm i Øje): mention 873, d. 903, do coin money by East Anglia
- Halfdan (Halvdan): mention 873, d. 876/877
- Guthfrith (Godred/Canute/Harde-Knud/Gudfred/Gudrød): c. 881, d. 895/896 in Northumbria, do coin money by East Anglia
For later Danish monarchs whose existence is verified, see List of Danish monarchs
See also
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