Friðþjófs saga ins frœkna

‘Frithjof’s Saga’, as depicted by Swedish artist August Malmström (1829–1901)

The Saga of Bold Fr ithjof

Frithjof is the iconic hero in the ultimate Viking love story, whose rediscovery sparked a mania for all things Viking

Written by Jerry Glover

ing Beli ruled over Sogne fjord in

Kwestern Norway with his two sons, Helgi and Halfdan, and his daughter, the fair and wise Ingeborg, named for his sister, who was his most esteemed child.

Across the fjord, lived Frithjof, the tallest, stoutest, and best-loved of men. He was foster brother to Ingeborg, for a wise and trusted landowner called Hilding tutored the pair to ensure their safe nurturing.

They grew up together, dancing in the woods like the elf-king and his queen, and sailing the fjord.

Once, Frithjof dared to retrieve chicks from an eagle’s nest for her. He even hunted bears (unarmed!) to earn Ingeborg’s friendly gaze, and carved their initials on the birch tree, while she made a wreath for his brow from spring flowers. He declared his love for her to the gods, though Hilding cautioned him; she was the King’s daughter, and so was destined for a more noble life than he could give her. “All strength is noble born”, laughed Frithjof, citing the thunder-god

Thor who valued worth over birth.

Sensing death’s approach, old Beli advised his sons to be sensible rulers, and to maintain friendship with

Frithjof and his father, Thorstein Vikingson, ruler of a third of the realm. Shortly after Beli died, Thorstein fell sick, whereupon he implored Frithjof to respect the rule of Beli’s sons. Upon his death, Thorstein was interred in a mound next to his old friend Beli.

And so, Frithjof inherited Ellide, the marvellous dragon-ship given to his grandfather by the sea god

Aegir, as well as Angervadil, a gold-hilted sword, and a gold armring made by Volund the legendary smith.

Despite the enmity of kinsmen who looked down on him due to his lower social status, Frithjof wooed Ingeborg. During a feast at his homestead, they rejected his intentions towards her, to which a downcast Frithjof declared that he would never help them, no matter how much they needed it, which restored his joy.

Hearing of this falling out, the mighty King Hring tried to extort and intimidate Beli’s sons. Lacking sufficient fighters, they sent Hilding to ask Frithjof for assistance. Frithjof was playing a board game when Hilding entreated him, and sent his old foster parent back with a reply replete with cryptic allusions to the game and to the brewing trouble, which he called ‘the double game’ and ‘the red piece’, alluding to his situation concerning Ingeborg.

Frithjof then took his fine ship Ellide to the sacred shrine hall of Baldr’s Mead, where Ingeborg and eight maidens were gathered. Ingeborg was taken aback by his presence since it was strictly forbidden for men to solicit women at the shrine. “I esteem your love more than the gods’ hate,” he asserted, then pledged his gold armring to her. Thus, they plighted their troth, and Frithjof regularly made love to Ingeborg at Baldr’s Mead at nighttime thereafter.

Outnumbered by Hring’s fighters, Ingeborg’s brothers swore fealty and agreed to let Hring marry her. To atone for the shame of Frithjof’s behaviour at the shrine, they further demanded that Frithjof gather tribute from the Orkney Islands. Despite misgivings and a deep mistrust of them, Frithjof agreed, and with 18 good men, he set forth in Ellide.

The disguised Frithjof addresses King Hring and is recognised by Ingeborg Frithjof bids farewell to Ingeborg

“Enraged by the low-born Frithjof becoming k ing, Helgi gathered an army”

Halfdan. Seeing how Helgi’s wife was wearing his gold armring as she anointed Baldr’s idol by the fire, Frithjof dragged her by it towards the door, knocking the idol into the fire. Fuelled by the anointing oils, the flames leapt to the roof and engulfed the whole building (though some say Frithjof threw a firebrand into the roof). Frithjof and his men fled to their ships, followed by Kings Helgi and Halfdan and their men. Finding his ships scuttled, King Helgi aimed an arrow at Frithjof, drawing his bow so hard it broke.

For the next three years, the outcast Frithjof roamed the seas, as well as swimming to the coasts of Greece. He grew richer by slaying only wicked men, earning the name Frithjof the Bold. Wearying of these warring deeds, he returned to King Hring’s house disguised as a foolish old salt-boiler. Ingeborg wanted him to leave, but the king allowed Frithjof a high-seat beside him. When Frithjof removed his cloak, revealing a silver belt with a purse, his sword, and the splendid gold armring, Ingeborg flushed blood red at the sight of the armring and would not talk to him. Frithjof enjoyed the king’s company through the winter, while Queen Ingeborg mainly shunned him. One time he saved the king and queen from drowning in a frozen river. Even then, the king addressed him as ‘Thief.’

The next spring Frithjof and Hring trekked to a forest where they found themselves alone. As the king fell asleep, Frithjof drew his sword and cast it away. Upon waking, the king admitted he knew Frithjof’s true identity all along. Then the drink flowed freely in the hall as the folk celebrated Frithjof’s return.

The time came when Frithjof wanted to leave. Singing his thanks for their hospitality, he cast the ring towards Ingeborg, causing the king to remark how Frithjof thanked her more than he even though she had been less friendly to him. Ingeborg did not want to feast the occasion, but Hring insisted, so Frithjof sang his farewells, whereupon Hring sang about his gifts to Frithjof: his wife and lands, and the title of king. Frithjof was given rule over all Hring’s realm. The king fell sick and died soon after, and the celebration of his life was also the occasion of Frithjof and Ingeborg’s wedding.

Enraged by the low-born Frithjof becoming king, Ingeborg’s brother, Helgi gathered an army, but during the battle, Frithjof personally slew him. The other brother, Halfdan, accepted Frithjof as his lord. Frithjof ruled until he gave Hringrealm to Hring’s son, and he also ruled Hordaland afterwards. His

The Viking revival

The saga of Frithjof the Bold survives in two main versions: a shorter Icelandic version composed on vellum in the late 13th or early 14th century, and a longer, paper, version in the 15th century. The skalds of both versions are unknown. The older version describes Hring as a Swedish king, while the later version places half of the story in Hringgariki, Norway. In the 1820s, the Swedish writer Esaias Tegnér published the complete saga. In a curious echo of Frithjof’s plight, Tegnér was tormented by his passion for a married woman in Lund. The first English translation of the saga was published by Reverend William Strong in 1833, and was followed in 1839 by Professor George Strong’s preservation of the verse form. The tale proved hugely popular all over Europe, translating into 14 languages over the 19th century, with more than 20 translations each in English and German. children were Gunnthiof and Hunniof, both to become men of might.

This saga of 24 ballads, each with a different verse style, is one of the fornaldarsögur, legendary sagas by an unknown author, set around the 8th century. Its story continues a saga about Frithjof’s father, Thorstein Vikingson, in which there are similar adventures. However, Frithjof’s saga is thought to be an older tale, while that of his father was created later. Clearly the ancient Norse were just as keen on prequels as the fans of Hollywood movies are today.

Esaias Tegnér (1782-1846), whose modern retelling of Frithof’s saga captivated Europeans