The Gesta Danorum (Books I-IX) on Gram

The Danish History, > Books I-Ix > Customary Law.

• attestation: Gram fought Swarin and eight others for the Swedish crown.

  "Gram v. Swarin and eight more, for the crown of the Swedes"

The Danish History, > Book One.

• attestation: Gram married the daughter of his upbringer Roar, his foster-sister, and later gave her to his companion Bess.

  "He took to wife the daughter of his upbringer, Roar, she being his foster-sister"

• attestation: Gram entered Gothland disguised in goatskins to resemble a giant, intending to rescue Groa from her betrothal to a giant.

  "Gram, chancing to hear that Groa, daughter of Sigtryg, King of the Swedes, was plighted to a certain giant"

• attestation: Gram pretended to be a giant sent by Grip, claiming he only sought willing maidens.

  "For I am sent by Grip, and never seek the couch and embrace of damsels save when their wish matches mine"

• attestation: Gram offered red-glowing gold to seal the marriage troth and then revealed his true identity.

  "Thence take red-glowing gold, that the troth may be made firm by the gift, and that the faith to be brought to our wedlock may stand fast"

• attestation: Diviners told Gram that Sigtryg could only be conquered by gold, so he fixed a gold knob to a wooden mace and killed the king.

  "Having heard from the diviners that Sigtryg could only be conquered by gold, he straightway fixed a knob of gold to a wooden mace"

• attestation: After slaying Sigtryg, Gram challenged and killed Swarin, governor of Gothland, and then defeated Swarin's sixteen brothers.

  "suspecting Swarin the governor of Gothland of aspiring to the crown, he challenged him to combat, and slew him. This man's brethren, of whom he had seven lawfully born, and nine the sons of a concubine"

• attestation: Gram shared sovereignty with his aged father Skiold, but Ring of Zealand stirred insurrection, which they jointly crushed.

  "Ring, a nobly-born Zealander, stirred the greater part of the Danes with desire for insurrection"

• attestation: Gram declared war on Sumble, King of the Finns, but fell in love with his daughter Signe and pledged to marry her.

  "He declared war against Sumble, King of the Finns; but when he set eyes upon the King's daughter, Signe, he laid down his arms, the foeman turned into the suitor"

• attestation: While Gram warred against King Swipdag of Norway, Sumble treacherously promised Signe to Henry, King of Saxony.

  "he heard from a messenger that Signe had, by Sumble's treachery, been promised in marriage to Henry, King of Saxony"

• attestation: Gram left his army, disguised himself in mean clothing, and crashed the wedding, killing Henry at the sacred table and carrying off Signe.

  "he leapt up from where he lay, and there he cut Henry down while at the sacred board and the embraces of his friends, carried off his bride from amongst the bridesmaids"