[De antiquissimis DanieDaniae regibus]

[On the most ancient kings of Denmark]

I. Primo tempore inuadente Daciam Imperatore, in etateaetate Dauid, partes isteistae: JuciaJutia, Feonia, Sialandia, Møn, Falster, Laland, Scania, non dicebantur Dania uel Dacia, sicut postea docebimus, quia nullo regebantur imperio <proprio>, sed ad regem SuethieSuethiae habuerunt respectum. Fuit enim in Upsala ciuitate SuethieSuethiae rex quidam, Ypper nomine, tres filios habens, quorum unus Nori, alter Østen, terciustertius Dan dicebatur.

I. In the earliest times, when the Emperor invaded Dacia, in the age of David, those parts -- Jutland, Fyn, Sjælland, Møn, Falster, Lolland, and Scania -- were not called Dania or Dacia, as we will show afterwards, because they were ruled by no sovereignty of their own, but (instead) had regard for the king of Swethia. For there was a certain king named Ypper in Uppsala, a city of Swethia, having three sons, one of whom was called Nori, the second Østen, the third Dan.

Quem pater suus misit in has partes, quequae nunc dicuntur Dacia, ad regendum insulas IIIIorquattuor, scilicet Sialand, Møn, Falster, Laland, quequae omnes uno uocabulo nuncupabantur Withesleth. Impetrauit enim Ypper hoc ab intus habitantibus, ut hanc plagam, scilicet Withesleth, filio suo Dan darent ad sedem regni. Quo facto regnauit Dan in Withesleth tantum, SialandieSialandiae ciuitatem construens, Lethram nomine, quam magnis opibus ditauit. Fuit autem Dan rex sedis illius uel regulus per triennium.

His father sent this one into these parts, which are now called Dacia, for the purpose of ruling four islands, that is, Sjælland, Møn, Falster, and Lolland, which were all named with one designation -- Withesleth. For he asked (and obtained) from the inhabitants of the interior that they give this region -- that is, Withesleth -- to his son Dan for the seat of his kingdom. This having been done, Dan ruled in Withesleth only, constructing a city in Sjælland named Lethra, which he enriched with great wealth. Moreover, Dan was king of that place -- or "little king" -- for three years.

II. Nunc uero scire uolumus, vnde Dacia nomen assumpsit. Attestatur equidem nobis antiquorum memoria, predictaspraedictas partes istas, JuciamJutiam, Feoniam, Scaniam et Withesleth, a nullo extitisseexstitisse subiectas, excepto tantum Lodowico, cuius pace et beniuolenciabeneuolentia baptizato Haroldo rege apud Magunciam Dani christianitatem receperunt; aliter nec <a> suo subsequente nec antecessore aliquo unquam erant subiectesubiectae, sed resistentes quibusque inuadentibus inuiseinuisae ab omnibus in principio permanserunt.

II. But now we want to know where Dacia took its name from. Indeed, the memory of the ancients confirms for us that those parts mentioned beforehand -- Jutland, Fyn, Scania, and Withesleth -- had been made subject by no one, with the exception of Lodowicus, with whose peace and goodwill, King Harold having been baptized at Mainz, the Danes accepted Christianity. Otherwise they had been made subject neither by any successor of his nor any predecessor at any time, but rather, resisting all invaders, they remained envied by all in the beginning.

Erat igitur JuciaJutia, quia periculis proxima, quodam lignorum fragore munita, ubi nunc est Danæwirchi, preprae insidijsinsidiis Augusti, primi CesarisCaesaris; ad quem ipse Augustus collecta multitudine primo constituebat preliaproelia. Quibus resistentes Jutones Dan, principi Withesleth, nunciaueruntnuntiauerunt, ut eis veniret in adiutorium. Quo nuncionuntio Dan magno repletus gaudio suos conuocans exercitus sine mora procedebat ad preliumproelium. Cumque Dan venisset ad fragorem, Jutones cum eo castra sua mouebant ad CesaremCaesarem et cum eo graue preliumproelium commiserunt; quo plerosque eius in ore gladijgladii deiecerunt, ceteros autem fugauerunt.

Therefore Jutland, because it was closest to dangers, had been fortified by a barrier of wood, where the Danæwirchi is now, before the stratagems of Augustus, the first Caesar. At this place, Augustus himself, gathering a great multitude, first brought about battles. The Jutes resisting them announced to Dan, the ruler of Withesleth, that he should come to help them. Dan, filled with great joy at this message, calling together his own armies, advanced to the battle without delay. And when Dan had come to the barrier, the Jutes moved their own camp with him towards Caesar and they joined with him in a serious battle, and laid low most of his forces with the edge of the sword while they put the others to flight.

Videntes autem Jutones Dan strennuumstrenuum uirum et fortem et uirtuosum duxerunt eum ad lapidem, qui dicitur Danærigh, posueruntque eum super lapidem, inponentes ei nomen regis; sequentesque eum Jutones Feoniam Scaniamque cum alijsaliis adiacentibus insulis <sibi> subdiderunt. Vidit autem rex Dan regionem suam, super quam regnauit, quod esset bona; uocauit principes suos et exactores et ait: "Bene placet michimihi regio mea; quo nomine appellabimus eam?" Qui dixerunt: "Rex, in eternumaeternum uiue! Tu es rex Danus: regio tua Dania uel Dacia uocabitur; quod nomen in eternumaeternum non delebitur."

Moreover, seeing that Dan was a vigorous and strong and virtuous man, the Jutes led him to a rock, which is called Danærigh; and they placed him on the rock, naming him king. And the Jutes, following him, subjected Fyn and Scania to themselves, along with the other adjacent islands. Now King Dan saw his territory, which he ruled over, that it was good; he called his chiefs and tax collectors, and said, "My kingdom is very pleasing to me; by what name shall we call it?" They replied "King, live forever! You are King Dan: your kingdom shall be called Dania or Dacia: which name shall not be blotted out for eternity."

III. Erat ergo Dan rex in Dacia per triennium. Tandem cognouit uxorem suam Danniam genuitque ex ea filium, nomine Ro. Qui post patris obitum hereditarie possidebat regnum; patrem uero suum Dan colle quodam apud Lethram tumulauit SialandieSialandiae, ubi sedem regni pro eo pater constituit; quam ipse post eum diuicijsdivitiis multiplicibus ditauit.

III. So then, Dan was king in Dacia for a period of three years. Eventually, he knew his wife Dannia, and produced a son from her, by the name of Ro, who possessed the kingdom by inheritance after his father's death; but he buried his father Dan in a certain hill at Lethra in Sjælland, where his father established the seat of the kingdom before him. And he himself enriched it after him with plentiful riches.

Tempore illo ciuitas magna erat in medio SialandieSialandiae, ubi adhuc mons desertus est, nomine Høkæbiærgh; quequae Høkækøping nuncupata est. Ad quam ut mox Ro rex vidit quod mercatores a nauibus in uia currus conducentes multum expenderent, a loco illo ciuitatem amoueri iussit ad portum, ubi tenditur Ysæfjorth, et circa fontem pulcherrimum domos disponere. EdificauitAedificauit ibi Ro ciuitatem honestam, cui nomen inposuit partitiuum post se et fontem, partem capiens fontis partemque sui, Roskildis Danice uocans; quequae hoc nomine uocabitur in eternumaeternum.

At that time there was a great city in the middle of Sjælland, where there is still a deserted mountain by the name of Høkæbiærgh -- and the city was called Høkækøping. As soon as King Ro saw that the merchants gathering carts from the ships on the road to it were spending a lot, he ordered the city to be moved from that place to the port, where Ysæfjorth extends, and to place the homes around the most beautiful spring. There, Ro established a respectable city, to which he gave a "partitive" name, after himself and after the spring, taking part from the word "spring" and part from his own name, calling it Roskilde in Danish -- and it will be called by this name forever.

Vixit autem Ro rex ita pacifice, ut nullus ei aciem opponeret; nec ipse usquam expedicionemexpeditionem direxit. Erat autem uxor eius fecunda sobolesubole, ex qua genuit duos filios; nomen primi Helgi et secundi Haldan. Cumque cepissentcoepissent puerjpueri robore confortari et crescere, obijtobiit pater eorum Ro et sepultus est tumulo quodam LethreLethrae; post cuius obitum partiti sunt filijfilii eius regnum illud, in duas partes diuidentes. Alter terras, mare possedit alter.

King Ro, moreover, lived in such a peaceful manner that no one took up arms against him; and he himself did not direct an expedition anywhere. His wife, moreover, was fertile with offspring; from her he produced two sons. The name of the first was Helgi and the name of the second Haldan. And when the boys had begun to get strong and grow up, Ro their father died and was buried in a certain mound at Lethra. After his death, his sons shared the kingdom, dividing it into two parts. The one possessed the land and the other possessed the sea.

IV. Rexit itaque terras Haldanus et genuit filium, nomine Siwardum, cognomine Album; qui patrem suum Haldanum mortuum tumulauit LethreLethrae. Helgi autem rex erat marinus et multos ad se traxit maleficos, nauali bello bene aptus; diuersas partes, quasdam pace, quasdam autem piratia, petisse peribeturperhibetur.

IV. Therefore, Haldan ruled the land and begot a son, named Siward, nicknamed Albus, who buried his dead father Haldan at Lethra. However, Helgi was the king of the sea, and he attracted to himself many wicked men, being well prepared for a naval war. He is said to have gone after diverse places, some through peace and some through piracy.

Tempore igitur quodam contingebat, ut indigens portu Helgi uenit ad portum quendam iuxta Laland, lassus remigio; ubi per tres noctes in regno fratris quiescens cum exercitibus suis, tentorijstentoriis in terra extensis cum pace, carnali captus concupiscenciaconcupiscentia milites regi aptam quesiturosquaesituros puellam mittit. Qui cuiusdam baronis Rolfcarl filiam, nomine Thoram, prosequente patre regi adducunt. QueQuae ab illo fecundata postmodum protulit filiam, quam Ursulam nominauit.

Therefore at a certain time it happened that as he was in need of a port, exhausted from rowing, he came to a certain port in Lolland; there resting for three nights with his armies in the kingdom of his brother, with his tents having been extended in the land peacefully; captured by carnal desire, he sent soldiers to look for a girl suitable for a king. They brought to the king the daughter, named Thora, of a certain baron, Rolfcarl, with her father accompanying her. Having been impregnated by him, she afterward brought forth a daughter, whom she named Ursula.

Rex quoque Helgi inde procedens diuersas cepitcoepit uastare regiones. Contigit iterum, ut post multos annos idem Helgi, portui predictopraedicto iniectus, facti prioris inmemor exiberiexhiberi sibi puellam iussit; qui propriam filiam, quam a Thora Rolfi filia accepit, uiolauit. QueQuae patris semine suscepto fecundata filium edidit, quem aui nomine Rolf nominauit. Interea obijtobiit Thora, uxor eiusdem Helgi et socrus, et in insula humata est, quequae Thorhø dicitur.

Also, King Helgi proceeding from there, began to devastate various kingdoms. It happened again, that after many years the same Helgi, having been thrown into the aforementioned port, forgetful of the prior deed, ordered that a young girl be presented to him. And then he violated his own daughter, whom he had "received" from Thora the daughter of Rolf. She, having been impregnated by the seed of her father, brought forth a son, whom she named Rolf, after the name of her grandfather. Meanwhile, Thora the wife and mother-in-law of the same Helgi, died, and was buried on an island, which is called Thorhø.

Et postea eciametiam ibi sepultus est pater suus, senex Rolf. Helgi quoque, gener suus, rex marinus, ibi tumulatus est. Filius autem eius et UrsuleUrsulae, puer Rolf, crescebat et fortitudine uigebat. Mater uero eius Ursula, uelo uiduitatis deposito, data est regi SuethieSuethiae Athislo; qui ex ea filiam sibi genuit, Rolf uero, quod ex matre eius, sororem, nomine Sculd.

And later on the old man Rolf, her own father, was buried there also. Helgi too, the sea king, his (own) son-in-law, was buried there. The son of him and Ursula, the child Rolf, grew and thrived with strength. But his mother Ursula, with the veil of widowhood having been laid aside, was given to the king of Swethia, Athisl. From her, he produced a daughter to himself, but a sister to Rolf (because she came from his mother), named Sculd.

V. Interea, dum hechaec de rege marino Helgi agerentur, frater eius, rex DacieDaciae Haldanus, mortuus est; post quem rex SuethieSuethiae Athisl a Danis suscepit tributum. Quibus constituit regem catulum quendam latrabilem, nomine Raka, nimis <sibi> dilectum. Qui dum una dierum sederet cum exercitu suo, regali servicioservitio honoratus, uidit canes in fundo luctantes; quos dum a lesionelaesione separare uellet, prosiliens de mensa inter eos Rachi ad mortem oppressus est. Quod nullus Athislo nunciarenuntiare audebat, quia, siquis nunciaretnuntiaret interitum Racha, decollacionedecollatione protinus interiret. Erat autem gygasgigas quidam, nomine Læ, in insula, quequae uocatur Leshø, pastorem quendam habens, nomine Snyo; quem in Suethiam misit petiturum regnum a rege.

V. Meanwhile, while these things concerning the sea king Helgi were being accomplished, his brother Haldan, the king of Dacia, died; after which the king of Swethia, Athisl, received tribute from the Danes. For them, he established a king, named Raka, a certain barking whelp that was loved excessively by himself. He, while he was sitting with his army one day, honored with royal service, saw dogs fighting on a farm. And because he wished to keep them from harm, Raka sprang forth from the table and was crushed to death between them. No one dared to announce this to Athisl, because anyone who announced Raka’s death would immediately be killed by beheading. However, there was a certain giant, Lae by name, on the island which is called Leshø; and he had a certain shepherd, named Snyo, whom he sent to Swethia to seek the kingship from the king.

Qui in Suethiam ueniens, prima sciscitacionesciscitatione ab Athislo diligenter interrogatus, qualis esset rumor in Dacia, figuratiue respondit: "Apes equidem omnes sine principe existuntexsistunt errantes."

He, coming to Swethia, when he had been diligently asked in a first inquiry by Athisl, what the news was in Dacia, responded figuratively: "Indeed, all the bees are straying without a leader."

Secunda autem interrogacioneinterrogatione, ubi pernoctauit, respondit: "Vbi oues lupum manderunt." Vidit enim medicum infirmis ouibus dantem ex lupo pocula cocto.

To a second questioning however, regarding where he spent the night, he answered: "Where the sheep ate the wolf." For he had seen a doctor giving to the weak sheep a cup from a cooked wolf.

Interrogatus iterum ab Athislo, ubi prius pernoctauerat, Snyo respondit: "Vbi lupi currum comederunt, boues autem in siluam fugierunt." Vidit enim illic fibros tres ligna colligentes, quorum unus, qui seruus dicitur, scilicet biæuerthrel, extensis pedibus resupinus ad terram cecidit, cui alii duo inter crura eius ligna congregarunt, illumque quasi boues precedentespraecedentes traxerunt; quos dispergentes lupi currum deuorauerunt.

Having been questioned yet again by Athisl, where he had spent the previous night, Snyo answered: "Where wolves ate a cart, the cows meanwhile fled into the forest." For he had seen there three beavers collecting wood -- one of which, said to be a slave, that is, a biæuerthrel, fell to the ground on his back with his feet extended, while the other two gathered wood between his legs, and dragged him behind just like cows [pulling a cart]; and then wolves, scattering them, devoured the "cart."

Adhuc ab Athislo, ubi preteritopraeterito pernoctauit, interrogatus respondit: "Vbi securim mus rosit, cuius hasta remansit." Sciuit enim se securim fabricasse ex caseo.

Having been asked further by Athisl, where he spent the past night, he responded: "Where a mouse nibbled the axe, but its handle remained." For he knew that he himself had made the axe out of cheese.

QuesiuitQuaesiuit iterum rex, quis esset rumor in Dacia; cui Snyo respondit: "Apes equidem omnes sine principe existuntexsistunt errantes." Quod intelligensintellegens Athisl ait: "Mortuusne est rex Rachi?" Cui respondit Snyo: "Tu dicis." Et iterum rex ait: "Rachi mortuus est." Videns autem rex Athisl, quod [Snyo] esset promptus ad loquendum, et non posset eum capere in sermone, regem Danorum predestinauitpraedestinauit eum, dicens: "Vis esse rex in Dacia?" Cui respondit Snyo: "Fiat uoluntas tua." Rex autem Athisl regali nomine decorauit eum, dicens: "Ingredere tu, Snyo, in Daciam, et esto ibi rex robustus et furore flagiciosusflagitiosus, multas iniquas leges illis et iniustas instituens, ut memores Dani sint imperijimperii tui per euumaeuum."

Again, the king asked, what the news was in Dacia; Snyo answered him: "Indeed, all the bees are straying without a leader." Understanding this, Athisl said: "Is King Raka dead?" To whom responded Snyo: "You say it." And again, the king said: "Raka is dead." However, King Athisl, because he was quick with words and he could not catch him in conversation, appointed him the king of the Danes, saying: "Do you wish to be king in Dacia?" And Snyo answered him: "Thy will be done." Moreover, King Athisl adorned him with the name of king, saying: "Go, Snyo, into Dacia, and there, be a king firm, immoral with fury, instituting many hostile and unjust laws, so that the Danes will be mindful of your rule for an eternity.

VI. Regnauit igitur Snyo secundum iussum regis crudeliter in Dacia, et superbus et iniquus, elatus et in maliciamalitia nimis potens, per omnia terribilis, more fulminis [furibundus] incedens; flentibus, siquid uidebantur habere, abstulit, habentibus et male ridentibus sparsit. Multas iniquas leges et iniustas instituens, in iudicio minime rectus Snyo, plebem sustinere cogens † compatique, <proceres> pessundauitpessum dedit. Erat enim ei omnis plebs subdita et fauens.

VI. Therefore, Snyo ruled cruelly in Dacia, following the command of the king; he was arrogant and unjust, exalted and excessively powerful in malice, a terrible man in all respects, marching along [furiously] in the manner of lightning; he took things away from people as they wept, if anyone seemed to possess anything, and he scattered things to those who possessed anything were laughing wickedly at others. By no means righteous in judgement, setting up many unfair and unjust laws, Snyo, forcing the common people to suffer *** ruined the nobles. For all the common people were subjected and favorable to him.

Vnus tantum, nomine Røth, resistebat ei contrarius. Quem in insulam misit ad querendumquaerendum a gygantegigante Læ, qua morte esset moriturus rex Snyo, ea intentione, ut ne iterum rediret uiuus Røth. Qui in insulam ueniens, dicta salutatione regis, quesiuitquaesiuit, qua morte moriturus esset rex. Cui prius, quam tria proferret ueridica, gygasgigas Læ nichilnihil respondere de morte <regis> uolebat. Dixit ergo Røth, in monte sedens, nunquam spissiores uidisse se parietes parietibus domus illius. Aliud dixit: prius nunquam se ullum plura capita habentem uidisse et minorem numerum familiefamiliae. Ad hoc terciumtertium, quod fuit uerissimum: si illinc esset, nunquam redire uellet. Dictis hijshis tribus uaticinauit ei gygasgigas, moriturum regem morsu pediculorum.

Only one man, by the name of Røth, offered resistance in opposition to him. He sent him to an island for the purpose of asking from the giant Lae by what kind of death King Snyo was going to die, with the intention that Røth would not return alive again. When Røth came onto the island, with the greeting of the king having been proclaimed, he asked by what kind of death the king was going to die. The giant Lae was unwilling to give any answer concerning the death of the king, before he brought forth three truthful things. Therefore Røth, sitting on the mountain, said that he had never seen thicker walls than the walls of that house. Secondly he said that he had never seen anyone having more heads and smaller number of people in the household. In addition to this, a third thing, which was the truest: If he was away from that place, he would never wish to return. At these three statements the giant prophesied to him that the king was going to die by the bites of lice.

Cui sedenti in pretoriopraetorio apud Jutlandiam [regi Snyo] Røth nunciauitnuntiauit; quod instanter apparuit coram omnibus. Exierunt enim pediculi de naribus <eius> et auribus, quorum multitudine totum corpus tegebatur. Erat autem rex Snyo mortuus morsu pediculorum; cuius nominis memores sunt Dani per euumaeuum.

Røth announced this [to King Snyo] in the general's quarters in Jutland; and it instantly became manifest before everyone. For lice came out of his nostrils and ears -- his whole body was covered by a great number of them. Moreover King Snyo had died by the bites of the lice; the Danes will be mindful of his name for ever".

VII. Interea, dum regnarent Rachi et Snyo, confortabatur filius Helgi Rolf, cognomento Kraki; quem post mortem Snyo Dani <in> regem assumpserunt. Qui SialandieSialandiae apud Lethram, sicut antecessores sui, sepissimesaepissime moratus est.

VII. Meanwhile, as long as Raka and Snyo ruled, Helgi's son Rolf, surnamed Kraki, was growing stronger. The Danes accepted him into the kingship after the death of Snyo. Just like his predecessors, he most often spent his time in Sjælland at Lethra.

Sororem suam, nomine Sculd, secum habuit, Athisli regis filiam et suesuae matris UrsuleUrsulae, de qua superius dictum est; quam fraterno amore dilexit. Cui prouinciam Hornshæræth SialandieSialandiae ad pascendas puellas suas in expensam dedit; in qua uillam edificauitaedificauit nomine SculdeSculdae, unde nomen <Sculdælef> sumpsit.

He had his sister, named Sculd, with him, the daughter of King Athisl and his mother Ursula, about whom it was spoken earlier; he esteemed her with brotherly love. To her he gave the province of Hornshæræth in Sjælland, for expenses used in maintaining her maidens. There he built a villa in the name of Sculd, whence it took the name Sculdælef.

VIII. Hoc tempore erat quidam comes ScanieScaniae, nomine Hiarwart, Teotonicus genere, Rolf tributarius. Qui ad eum procos misit, ut sororem suam Sculd Hiarwardo daret uxorem. Quo nolente, propria ipsius puellepuellae uoluntate clanculo eam raptam sociauit sibi. Vnde conspirauerunt inter se deliberantes Hiarwart et Sculd, quomodo Rolf interficeretur, et Hiarwart superstes regni heres efficeretur.

VIII. At this time, there was a certain Count in Scania named Hiarwart, Teutonic by origin, a tributary to Rolf. He sent suitors to him [Rolf Kraki], so that he would give his sister Sculd to Hiarwart as a wife. He [Rolf Kraki] was unwilling, but by the individual free will of the girl herself, he [Hiarward] carried her off, and secretly married her. After this, Hiarwart and Sculd conspired, deliberating among themselves how Rolf could be killed, and the surviving Hiarwart be made the heir to the kingship.

Non post multum uero temporis animosus ad uxoris exortationemexhortationem Hiarwart Sialandiam classe pecijtpetiit; genero suo Rolf tributum attulisse simulauit. Die quadam dilucessentedilucescente ad Lethram misit: ut videret tributum, Rolf nunciauitnuntiauit. Qui cum uidisset non tributum sed exercitum armatum, uallatus est [Rolf] militibus, et a Hiarwardo interfectus est. Hiarwardum autem Sialandenses et Scanienses, qui cum eo erant, in regem assumpserunt; qui breui tempore, a mane usque ad primam, regali nomine potitus est.

Now, not much long afterwards, Hiawart, boldly, at his wife’s encouragement, came to Sjælland with a fleet. He pretended that he had brought tribute to his brother-in-law. On a certain day at dawn he sent to Lethra; he announced to Rolf that he should see the tribute. When he saw not the tribute, but an armed army, [Rolf] was surrounded by soldiers, and was killed by Hiarwart. Moreover the people of Sjælland and Scania who were with him, adopted Hiarwart as king; and for a brief time, from daybreak to prime, he held the royal title.

Tunc uenit Aki, frater Haghbardi, filius Hamundi; Hiarwardum interfecit et Danorum rex effectus est. Quo regnante uenit quidam, nomine Fritleff, a partibus septemtrionalibus et filiam sibi desponsauit Rolf Crake; ex qua filium, nomine Frothæ, genuit, cognomine Largus.

Then Aki, brother of Haghbard, son of Hamund, came; he killed Hiarwart and was made king of the Danes. During his reign someone named Fritleff came from the northern regions, and betrothed the daughter of Rolf Kraki to himself; with her he had a son, named Frothi, nicknamed Largus.

IX. Postquam genuerat filium Frothi, Aki regem interfecit Fritleff et in eundem gradum leuatus est. Quo eciametiam defuncto, ei in regnum Frothi filius successit. Quo a Swærthingi filijsfiliis interempto, filius eius Ingyald in regnum leuatur. Huic quoque defuncto successit Olauus filius eius, et ipsi filia, nomine Asa, de qua prouerbia multa dicuntur.

IX. After he [Fritleff] had begotten a son, Frothi, Fritleff killed King Aki and he was raised to the same rank. When he too [Fritleff] had died, his son Frothi succeeded him in his kingship. When he had been killed by Swerting’s sons, his son Ingyald was raised to the kingship. He too died and was succeeded by his son Olav and his daughter, named Asa, about whom many proverbs are told.

Mortua Asa, quequae patri Olauo successerat, rex Danorum factus Haraldus, qui et Hyldetan dicebatur; iste dominium <maximum> habuisse dicitur, factis sibi tributarijstributariis omnibus regnis usque ad mare mediterraneum. Cumque ad Suethiam exigendorum tributorum causa proficisceretur, bello excepit eum rex Ring in campo, nomine Brawel; ubi ex parte Haraldi uexillifereuexilliferae puellepuellae pugnasse feruntur, quarum una Hethæ, altera Wysna dicebatur. In congressu illo Haraldus occubuit, et ex permissu Ring, regis SuethieSuethiae, Dani puellam Hethæ regem super se constituerunt. QueQuae eciametiam DacieDaciae imperans ciuitatem sui nominis Hethæby apud Jutlandiam in portu statuit Sleswicensi.

When Asa, who had succeeded her father Olav, had died, Harald, who was also called Hildetan was made the king of the Danes. This man is said to have had very great power and he took tribute for himself from all the kingdoms all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. When he left for Swethia for the purpose of demanding tribute, King Ring received him with battle in the plain called Brawel. On Harald’s side, girls are said to have fought and carried Harald’s military banners -- one of them was called Hethae, the second Wysna. Harald died in that encounter, and by permission of Ring, the king of Swethia, the Danes made the girl Hethae king over them. While she was still ruling over Dacia, she established a city with her own name, Hethaeby, in Jutland, in the port of Schleswig.