The Gesta Danorum (Books I-IX) on Athisl

The Danish History, > Book Two

• attestation: Athisl, son of Hothbrodd, married Rolf's mother Urse to gain influence and free Sweden from Danish tribute

  "Athisl, the son of Hothbrodd, in pursuit of a crafty design to set his country free, contrived to marry Rolf's mother, Urse"

• attestation: Athisl was renowned for his stinginess and considered it a disgrace to be called generous

  "Athisl had from his boyhood been imbued with a hatred of liberality, and was so grasping of money, that he accounted it a disgrace to be called openhanded"

• attestation: Athisl taunted Rolf and Urse at the banquet with insinuations of impure intercourse

  "Athisl, when he saw him reclining close to his mother at the banquet, taunted them both with wantonness, declaring that it was an impure intercourse of brother and sister"

• attestation: Athisl proved his generosity by showering treasures on Rolf, capped with an enormously heavy necklace

  "he showered treasures on his stepson, and at last, in order to crown the gift, bestowed on him an enormously heavy necklace"

• attestation: Athisl prostrated himself to pick up the necklace he had given Rolf, and Rolf smiled at seeing a king brought low by his own gifts

  "Athisl, when he saw the necklace that he had given to Rolf left among the other golden ornaments, gazed fixedly upon the dearest treasure of his avarice, and, in order to pick up the plunder, glued his knees to the earth"

The Danish History, > Book Three.

• attestation: Athisl died by drinking too greedily while celebrating Rolf's funeral feast

  "Athisl was cut off by an ignominious death. For whilst, in great jubilation of spirit, he was honouring the funeral rites of Rolf with a feast, he drank too greedily"

The Danish History, > Book Four.

• attestation: Athisl, King of Sweden, challenged Frowin to battle near Sleswik and killed him in personal combat

  "He carried his arms into Denmark, and challenged Frowin to battle near Sleswik"

• attestation: Athisl defeated the Danish ranks and boastfully bragged of killing Frowin

  "Athisl prevailed and overthrew Frowin, and won a public victory as well as a duel"

• attestation: Folk fought Athisl in battle, wounded him, and drove the Swedes to flight; afterwards he drank his own blood from his helmet to fulfill his vow

  "he caught his own blood in his helmet, and put it to his lips to drain: by which deed he gloriously requited the king's gift of the cup"

• attribution: Athisl boasted that he alone had killed Frowin in personal combat and asked about Frowin's sons

  "it was idle to credit others with the death of Frowin, which he, and he alone, had accomplished in mutual combat"

• attestation: Athisl offered to pay money as compensation for Frowin's death rather than fight, but Ket refused

  "let them suffer him to requite with money the trespass done them in their father's death"

• attestation: Athisl confidently invited both brothers to attack him at once, but Ket refused and fought alone

  "Athisl was filled with such assurance that he bade them both assail him at once"