The Gesta Danorum (Books I-IX) on Rorik

The Danish History, > Book Two

• attestation: Rorik attempted to buy off Rolf's attack by spreading gold before the city gates rather than fighting

  "he bade his servants take the gold from the chests and spread it out in front of the city gates, making ready bribes rather than battle"

The Danish History, > Book Three.

• attestation: Rorik rallied Denmark's forces and detected the barbarians' ambush, repositioning his fleet from the shallows to open sea

  "Rorik saw the trap; and perceiving that his fleet was wedged in a certain narrow creek among the shoal water, took it out from the sands"

• attestation: Rorik's forces destroyed the barbarian ambush party, and the remaining Slavs eventually decided to attack with their fleet

  "the barbarians who had been appointed to the ambuscade knew nothing of the wariness of the Danes, and sallying against them rashly, were all destroyed"

• attestation: A giant Slavic wizard challenged the Danes to single combat, wagering freedom from tribute against continued subjection

  "Suffer a private combat to forestall a public slaughter, so that the danger of many may be bought off at the cost of a few"

• attestation: Rorik offered six interlinked bracelets as reward to whoever would fight the Slavic champion

  "Rorik chanced to have six bracelets, which were so intertwined that they could not be parted from one another"

• attestation: A brave but outmatched Danish youth accepted the challenge but was killed by the first blow

  "he smote the barbarian with his sword; but his fortune was tardier than his spirit; for the other smote him back, and he fell dead under the force of the first blow"

• attestation: Rorik tried to throw the six bracelets to Ubbe from his ship but they fell short and were lost in the water, earning him the nickname Slyngebond

  "the bracelets fell short of the intended spot, the impulse being too faint and slack, and were reft away by the waters. For this nickname of Slyngebond, (swing-bracelet) clung to Rorik"

• attestation: The mutual death of both champions restored the insurgents' loyalty to Rorik and his tribute

  "This event won back to Rorik the hearts of the insurgents and regained him the tribute"

The Danish History, > Book Four.

• attestation: Rorik died and Wiglek succeeded him, harassing Amleth's mother and stripping her of royal wealth

  "Meanwhile Rorik had died, and Wiglek, who had come to the throne, had harassed Amleth's mother with all manner of insolence and stripped her of her royal wealth"