Gesta Danorum is a patriotic work of Danish history, by the 12th-century author Saxo Grammaticus. It is the most ambitious literary undertaking of medieval Denmark and is an essential source for the nation's early history. It is also one of the oldest known written documents about the history of Estonia and Latvia.
Ragnar Lodbrok, according to legends, was a Viking hero and a Swedish and Danish king. He is known from Old Norse poetry of the Viking Age, Icelandic sagas, and near-contemporary chronicles. According to traditional literature, Ragnar distinguished himself by conducting many raids against the British Isles and the Carolingian Empire during the 9th century. He also appears in Norse legends, and according to the legendary sagas Tale of Ragnar's Sons and a Saga about Certain Ancient Kings, Ragnar Lodbrok's father has been given as the legendary king of the Swedes, Sigurd Ring.
Margaret I was Queen regnant of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden from the late 1380s until her death, and the founder of the Kalmar Union that joined the Scandinavian kingdoms together for over a century. She had been queen consort of Norway from 1363 to 1380 and of Sweden from 1363 to 1364 by marriage to Haakon VI. Margaret was known as a wise, energetic and capable leader, who governed with "farsighted tact and caution," earning the nickname "Semiramis of the North". She was derisively called "King Breechless", one of several derogatory nicknames invented by her rival Albert of Mecklenburg, but was also known by her subjects as "Lady King", which became widely used in recognition of her capabilities. Knut Gjerset calls her "the first great ruling queen in European history."
Halfdan the Old was an ancient, legendary king from whom descended many of the most notable lineages of legend. A second Halfdan the Old is the purported great-grandfather of Ragnvald Eysteinsson.
Sigurd Ring according to legend was a king of the Swedes, being mentioned in many old Scandinavian sagas. According to these sources he was granted rulership over Sweden as a vassal king under his uncle Harald Wartooth. Later he would take up arms against his uncle Harald in a bid to overthrow him and take the crown of Denmark, a conflict which Sigurd eventually won after the legendary Battle of the Brávellir, where it is said that Odin himself intervened and killed Harald. In the Sagas, Sigurd is also known for being the father of the Norse Viking hero and legendary king of Denmark and Sweden, Ragnar Lodbrok. According to Bósa saga ok Herrauds, there was once a saga on Sigurd Ring, but this saga is now lost.
Alaric and Eric, according to legend, were two kings of Sweden.
The Scyldings or Skjǫldungs, both meaning "descendants of Scyld/Skjǫldr", were, according to legends, a clan or dynasty of Danish kings, that in its time conquered and ruled Denmark and Sweden together with part of England, Ireland and North Germany. The name is explained in many texts, such as Friedrich Christoph Dahlmann's 'Research on the Field of History', by the descent of this family from an eponymous king Scyld, but the title is sometimes applied to rulers who purportedly reigned before him, and the supposed king may be an invention to explain the name. There was once a Norse saga on the dynasty, the Skjöldunga saga, but it survives only in a Latin summary by Arngrímur Jónsson.
Halfdan was a late 5th and early 6th century legendary Danish king of the Scylding (Skjöldung) lineage, the son of king named Fróði in many accounts, noted mainly as the father to the two kings who succeeded him in the rule of Denmark, kings named Hroðgar and Halga in the Old English poem Beowulf and named Hróar and Helgi in Old Norse accounts.
Signy or Signe is the name of two heroines in two connected legends from Norse mythology which were very popular in medieval Scandinavia. Both appear in the Völsunga saga, which was adapted into other works such as Wagner's 'Ring' cycle, including its famous opera Die Walküre. Signy is also the name of two characters in several other sagas.
Harthacnut or Cnut I was a semi-legendary King of Denmark. The old Norse story Ragnarssona þáttr makes Harthacnut son of the semi-mythic viking chieftain Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye, himself one of the sons of the legendary Ragnar Lodbrok. The saga in turn makes Harthacnut the father of the historical king, Gorm. It has been suggested he is to be identified with the Hardegon of Northmannia whose early-10th century conquest of Denmark was related by Adam of Bremen.
Gram was one of the earliest legendary Danish kings according to Saxo Grammaticus' Gesta Danorum. His history is given in more detail than those of his predecessors. Georges Dumézil argued that Gram was partially modelled on the god Thor, in particular his defeat of Hrungnir and subsequent encounter with Gróa.
Hadingus was one of the earliest legendary Danish kings according to Saxo Grammaticus' Gesta Danorum, where he has a detailed biography. Georges Dumézil and others have argued that Hadingus was partially modelled on the god Njörðr.
Hrólfs saga kraka, the Saga of King Rolf Kraki, is a late legendary saga on the adventures Hrólfr Kraki, a semi-legendary king in what is now Denmark, and his clan, the Skjöldungs. The events can be dated to the late 5th century and the 6th century. A precursor text may have dated to the 13th century, but the saga in the form that survived to this day dates to c. 1400. Forty-four manuscripts survive, but the oldest one of them is from the 17th century, although a manuscript is known to have existed c. 1461 at the monastery of Möðruvellir in Iceland.
The Legacy is a Danish television drama created by Maya Ilsøe and produced by DR. Series 1 was first broadcast on the Danish national television channel DR1 on 1 January 2014, and was sold to a number of other countries worldwide even before it had aired in Denmark. The series is a modern family portrait which tells the story of four siblings trying to cope with their mother's death which has turned all of their lives upside down. After the success of the 10-episode first series, a second season of seven more episodes started broadcast on Danish television on 1 January 2015, and a third series of nine episodes started in January 2017.
Guthorm or Guthormus was one of the earliest legendary Danish kings according to Saxo Grammaticus. He was a son Danish king, Gram and Swedish princess, Groa.
Sumble, Sumbli or Sumblus was a legendary king of the Finns during the 1st century. According to Gesta Danorum, Gram, the king of the Danes invaded his realm, but halted after noticing Sumble's daughter, Signe and proposed to her. This enraged Gram's brother-in-law, the king of Norwegians, thus Gram was forced to leave Finland in order to defeat him. However, while he was away, Sumble arranged a marriage between Signe and Henry, the king of the Saxons. Nonetheless, this plan was foiled when Gram murdered Henry during the wedding feast for Signe had informed him.
Bess or Bessus was a legendary Danish general mentioned in Gesta Danorum. His master, Prince Gram gave his wife to him after he grew tired of her. Later Bess served as the principal general of Gram during his invasion of Sweden and led the negotiations with the future wife of Gram, Groa. After Gram married Groa, Bess urged the continuation of war, which eventually led to the death of the Swedish king.
Henry or Henricus was a Saxon king mentioned in Gesta Danorum. Having just married Finnish princess, Signe in Finland he was slain by king of the Danes, Gram who crashed the wedding. His murder compelled his retainers to join forces with Gram's enemy, Swipdag, who eventually killed him in battle. Later, Swipdag's grandson was named Henry probably after Henry, poetically this Henry was killed by a son of Gram and Signe, Hading.
Svipdagr or Swipdag was a legendary Swedish king and important figure in Book One of Gesta Danorum. The realm of his father was invaded by a Danish prince, Gram in to order marry, Svipdagr's sister, Groa. The prince was eventually successful and Svipdagr's father, Sigtryg was killed. Svipdagr escaped to Norway and carved himself a kingdom of his own. Later, Gram's act to dishonor his wife compelled Svipdagr to invade Sweden. After Gram murdered the King of the Saxons many Saxons joined Svipdagr's side. The war continued many years and during this time Gram tried to rape Svipdagr's daughter. Finally, Svipdagr was able to kill Gram in battle and took over Sweden and Denmark.
