Hermuthruda

Hermuthruda, Hermutrude (Old English: Eormenthryth) was a figure in Scandinavian romance.^[1]^[2]

The chief authority for the legend of Hermuthruda is the Danish chronicle Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus.^[3]^[4] Described as "the wild queen of Scotland",^[3] she became the wife of Wihtlaeg or Vigletus and is described as a Wicked Queen type of character such as found in a variety of fiction.^[4]

In the chronicle, Amlethus is sent to court Hermuthruda by the King of England.^[4] However the queen had a reputation for killing all suitors, Saxo saying "in the cruelty of her arrogance she had always loathed her wooers, and inflicted upon them the supreme punishment, so that out of many there was not one but paid for his boldness with his head".^[5] Hermuthruda takes a liking to Amlethus after stealing his shield and learning of his past.^[4] The couple are married until a battle with Wihtlaeg, before which Hermuthruda promises Amlethus her undying love for him, and that she will never marry another.^[3] After Wihtlaeg is victorious, Hermuthruda switches sides and immediately marries him in a display of inconsistency that leads to her becoming the "ancestress of Offa".^[3]^[4]

Kings of the Danes are marked with a crown (♕). Kings of the Swedes are marked with a dagger (†). Superscript numbers after a name indicate in which books of Gesta Danorum the individual is mentioned.

Humblus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

KEY

Angul ♂ ⁽¹⁾

♕ Dan I ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Grytha ♀ ⁽¹⁾

Marriage or coupling

Parent and child

The Angles

♕ Humblus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

♕ Lotherus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

King of the Saxons ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Succession by other or unclear means

Roarus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Sigtrugus, King of the Swedes† ♂ ⁽¹⁾

♕ Skioldus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Alvilda ♀ ⁽¹⁾

daughter of Roarus ♀ ⁽¹⁾

Bessus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

sister of Gram ♀ ⁽¹⁾

Gro ♀ ⁽¹⁾

♕ Gram† ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Sumblus, King of the Finns ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Wagnofthus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Signe ♀ ⁽¹⁾

Henricus, King of the Saxons ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Haquinus, King of the Nitherians ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Harthgrepa ♀ ⁽¹⁾

♕Suibdagerus, King of Norway† ♂ ⁽¹⁾

sister of Guthormus ♀ ⁽¹⁾

♕Guthormus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

♕Hadingus ♂ ^(1,2,4,5)

Regnilda ♀ ⁽¹⁾

Asmundus† ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Gunnilda ♀ ⁽¹⁾

Guthormus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Ulvilda ♀ ^(1,2)

♕ Ubbo ♂ ⁽²⁾

Henricus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Uffo† ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Hundingus† ♂ ^(1,2)

Thorilda ♀ ⁽²⁾

Scottus ♂ ⁽²⁾

daughter of Uffo ♀ ⁽¹⁾

Regnerus† ♂ ⁽²⁾

Suanhuita ♀ ⁽²⁾

sisters of Suanhuita ♀♀ ⁽²⁾

Andwan, King of the Hellespont ♂ ⁽²⁾

Thoraldus ♂ ⁽²⁾

♕ Frotho I ♂ ^(2,5)

daughter of Andwan ♀ ⁽²⁾

Hothbrodus† ♂ ^(2,3)

♕ Haldanus I ♂ ⁽²⁾

Roe ♂ ⁽²⁾

Skato ♂ ⁽²⁾

Thora ♀ ⁽²⁾

♕ Helgo ♂ ^(2,3)

♕ Roe ♂ ⁽²⁾

Athislus† ♂ ^(2,3)

Ursa ♀ ⁽²⁾

King Gevarus ♂ ^(2,3)

♕ Rolvo Krake† ♂ ^(2,3)

Ruta ♀ ⁽²⁾

Biarco ♂ ⁽²⁾

Sculda ♀ ⁽²⁾

♕Hiarwarthus † ♂ ^(2,3)

♕ Hotherus† ♂ ^(2,3)

Nanna ♀ ⁽³⁾

Herlecus ♂ ⁽³⁾

Gericus ♂ ⁽³⁾

former King of Britain ♂ ⁽³⁾

mother of the King of Britain ♀ ⁽³⁾

a slave ♂ ⁽³⁾

a bondmaid ♀ ⁽³⁾

♕ Roricus Slyngebond ♂ ⁽³⁾

Gerwendillus ♂ ⁽³⁾

King of Britain ♂ ^(3,4)

Queen of Britain ♀ ^(3,4)

Gerutha ♀ ^(3,4)

Horwendillus ♂ ^(3,4)

Fengo ♂ ^(3,4)

foster sister of Amlethus ♀ ^(3,4)

daughter of the King of Britain ♀ ^(3,4)

Amlethus ♂ ^(3,4)

Herminthruda, Queen of Scotland ♀ ⁽⁴⁾

♕ Wiglecus ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

son of Amlethus ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

♕Wermundus ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

Frowinus, governor of Sleswik ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

♕ Uffo, or Olavus the Gentle ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

daughter of Frowin ♀ ⁽⁴⁾

Keto ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

Wigo ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

♕ Dan II ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

♕ Huglecus ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

♕ Frotho II, the Vigorous ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

♕ Dan III ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

Craca ♀ ⁽⁵⁾

Regnerus ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Bracus ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

♕ Fridlevus I, the Swift ♂ ^(4,5)

Hun, King of the Huns ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Hun ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Gøtarus, King of Norway ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Westmarus ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Colo ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Gøtwara ♀ ⁽⁵⁾

Rollerus ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Ericus the Shrewd-spoken† ♂ ^(5,6)

Gunwara the Fair ♀ ⁽⁵⁾

Alvilda ♀ ⁽⁵⁾

♕ Frotho III ♂ ^(5,6)

Hanunda ♀ ⁽⁵⁾

Grep (eldest of three) ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

11 other sons (two named Grep) ♂♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Hythin, King of Tellemark ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

Alvo ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Ofura ♀ ⁽⁵⁾

Arngrimus ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Grubbus ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

♕ Hiarnus ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

Amundus, King of Norway ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

child of Hythin ⁽⁶⁾

Haldanus† ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

12 sons, including Angantir ♂♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Ano ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

Iuritha ♀ ⁽⁶⁾

♕ Fridlevus II ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

Frogertha ♀ ⁽⁶⁾

Hanevus, King of Saxony ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

Suertingus, King of Saxony ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

Olavus ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

♕ Frotho IV ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

Sywardus† ♂ ^(6,7)

sons of Suertingus ♂♂ ⁽⁶⁾

sister of the sons of Suertingus ♀ ⁽⁶⁾

♕ Ingellus ♂ ^(6,7)

Helga ♀ ⁽⁶⁾

Helgo ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

Asa ♀ ⁽⁶⁾

three sons that died in war ♂♂ ⁽⁷⁾

♕ Olavus I ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Karolus, governor of Gothland ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Ulvilda ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

♕ Frotho V ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Hatherus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

♕ Haraldus I ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Sygne ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Ericus† ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Thorhilda ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

♕ Haldanus II Biargrammus† ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

♕Haraldus II ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Ebbo ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

mother of Otharus ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

♕ Unguinus, King of the Goths ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Asmundus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

sister of Otharus ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

♕ Sywaldus I ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Sygrutha ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Kings of Norway

Sywardus, King of the Goths ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

mother of Alvilda ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Otharus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Syritha ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

♕ Sygarus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

queen of Sygarus ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Hamundus, a petty king ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Wemundus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Ostenus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

♕Sywaldus II ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Algerus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Helwin ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Hamundus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Regnaldus, King of the Northmen ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Alvilda ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Alf ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Sygne ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Hagbarthus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Hako ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Gro ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Borcarus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Drota ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Gunnarus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Hano, ruler of Funen ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Ostmarus, ruler of Scania ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Hundingus, ruler of Zealand ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Roricus, co-ruler of Jutland ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Hatherus, co-ruler of Jutland ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Haraldus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Hildigerus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Røtho, a Ruthenian pirate ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Wesetus ♂

♕Haldanus III ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Guritha ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Alverus† ♂ ^(7,8)

♕ Haraldus III Hyldetan ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Olavus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Ingo ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Ingeldus† ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

sister of Haraldus ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Ubbo ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

sister of Haraldus ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Sywardus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

sister of Haraldus ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Olavus, king of the Werms ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

♕ Ringo I† ♂ ^(7,8)

♕ Hetha ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Olo the Vigorous ♂ ^(7,8)

Esa ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

son of the king ♂ ^(7,8)

Atylo the Scanian ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

Ringo, ruler of Norway ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

Tola ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

Omothus, or Homothus ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

daughter of Ringo ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

Esa ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Omundus ♂ ^(7,8)

Sibbo ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

sister of Gøtarus ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

Gøtarus† ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

daughter of Omundus ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Sywardus I ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Buthlus ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

daughter of Omundus ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

Ebbo ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

early wife of Iarmericus ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

♕Iarmericus † ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

Suanilda ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

the Hellepontines, 4 brothers ♂♂ ⁽⁸⁾

Iarmericus' sister, sold to Norwegians ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

Iarmericus' sister, sold to Germans ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Broderus ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

nephews of Iarmericus ♂♂ ⁽⁸⁾

King of the Goths ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Sywaldus III ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

King of Sweden† ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

daughter of the King of the Goths ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Snio ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Biorn ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Haraldus III ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

a queen from Sweden ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Gormo I ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Gotricus, or Godefridus ♂ ^(8,9)

♕ Olavus III ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

daughter of Gotricus ♀ ⁽⁹⁾

Sywardus, King of Norway ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

unknown

♕Hemmingus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕Siwardus II Ring ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Ringo II ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Herothus† ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Hesbernus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

ruler in Norway ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Lathgertha ♀ ⁽⁹⁾

♕Regnerus Lothbrog ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Thora ♀ ⁽⁹⁾

Suanlogha ♀ ⁽⁹⁾

a woman ♀ ⁽⁹⁾

2 daughters ♀♀ ⁽⁹⁾

Fridlevus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Haraldus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Siwardus & Ericus ♂♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Rathbarthus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Dunwatus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Ubbo ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Regnaldus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Withsercus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Ericus Wind-hat ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Guthormus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Ericus I ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Sywardus Snake-Eye ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Biornus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Agnerus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Ivarus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

daughter of Guthormus ♀ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Ericus II ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Kanutus I ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Frotho VI ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Gormo II the English ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Haraldus V ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Hedelradus, King of England ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Gormo III ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Thira ♀ ⁽⁹⁾

Kanutus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Haraldus VI ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Genealogical information is derived from Oliver Elton's 1905 translation, The First Nine Books of the Danish History of Saxo Grammaticus (via Wikisource). Name spellings are from the 1931 Latin critical edition by Olrik and Ræder (via Wikisource). Regnal numbers, which do not appear in the original text, are included for clarity and taken from the engraving Veræ effigies regum omnium by Erico Olai Tormio.

References

^ Sir Israel Gollancz (1898). Hamlet in Iceland: being the Icelandic romantic Ambales saga, p. 36. AMS Press. ISBN 978-0-404-56502-2. Retrieved 6 December 2012. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
^ Jean Gabbert Harrell (31 January 2008). Profundity: A Universal Value. Penn State Press. pp. 146–. ISBN 978-0-271-02840-8. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Antonio Ballesteros González; Lucía Mora González (2001). Popular Texts in English: New Perspectives. Univ de Castilla La Mancha. pp. 30–. ISBN 978-84-8427-126-0. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Chambers, R. W., Beowulf, p. 39, Cambridge University Press, 1959.
^ Gesta Danorum, Book IV (ed. Holder, Alfred., p. 102).

[Gollancz1898-1] Sir Israel Gollancz (1898). Hamlet in Iceland: being the Icelandic romantic Ambales saga, p. 36. AMS Press. ISBN 978-0-404-56502-2. Retrieved 6 December 2012. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)

[Harrell2008-2] Jean Gabbert Harrell (31 January 2008). Profundity: A Universal Value. Penn State Press. pp. 146–. ISBN 978-0-271-02840-8. Retrieved 6 December 2012.

[GonzálezGonzález2001-3] Antonio Ballesteros González; Lucía Mora González (2001). Popular Texts in English: New Perspectives. Univ de Castilla La Mancha. pp. 30–. ISBN 978-84-8427-126-0. Retrieved 6 December 2012.

[Chambers1959-4] Chambers, R. W., Beowulf, p. 39, Cambridge University Press, 1959.

[5] Gesta Danorum, Book IV (ed. Holder, Alfred., p. 102).

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

Hermuthruda

See also

References

Content Disclaimer