The Gesta Danorum (Books I-IX) on Siwald

The Danish History, > Book Seven.

• attestation: Siwald of illustrious birth incited the Swedes against Halfdan by lamenting Frode and his queen's deaths, winning enough support to be crowned king

  "A certain Siwald, of most illustrious birth, related with lamentation in the assembly of the Swedes the death of Frode and his queen; and inspired in almost all of them such a hatred of Halfdan"

• attestation: Siwald had seven sons who were berserkers — they bit shields, swallowed hot coals, walked through fire, and required chains to restrain their battle-frenzy

  "Siwald had seven sons, who were such clever sorcerers that often, inspired with the force of sudden frenzy, they would roar savagely, bite their shields, swallow hot coals, and go through any fire that could be piled up"

• attestation: Siwald challenged Halfdan to single combat against himself and all seven sons simultaneously, taunting Halfdan's childless bachelor status

  "Siwald sent him ambassadors and requested him, if he was as great in act as in renown, to meet himself and his sons in single combat"

• attestation: Siwald's daughter Sigrid was of such modesty she could not be made to look at any suitor, and she asked for a husband who could win a glance from her

  "Siwald's daughter, Sigrid, was of such excellent modesty, that though a great concourse of suitors wooed her for her beauty, it seemed as if she could not be brought to look at one of them."

• attestation: Siwald seized Ottar and planned to hang him for defiling his daughter Sigrid

  "Siwald afterwards seized Ottar, and thought that he ought to be hanged for defiling his daughter."

• attestation: Siwald and Ragnald fought a three-day battle in Zealand with picked warriors; Ottar broke through enemy ranks and killed Ragnald, winning the Danes a sudden victory

  "Ottar, whether seized with weariness at the prolonged battle, or with desire of glory, broke, despising death, through the thickest of the foe, cut down Ragnald among the bravest of his soldiers"

• attestation: Siwald was succeeded by his son Sigar, who had sons Siwald, Alf, and Alger, and a daughter Signe

  "Siwald was succeeded by his son SIGAR, who had sons Siwald, Alf, and Alger, and a daughter Signe."

• attestation: Siwald, son of Sigar, mustered an army to avenge his father's death

  "SIWALD, the son of Sigar, had thus far stayed under his father's roof. But when he heard of this, he mustered an army in order to have his vengeance"

The Danish History, > Book Eight.

• attestation: Siwald succeeded as king of Denmark, and his son Snio took to roving in his father's old age

  "The next king was SIWALD. His son SNIO took vigorously to roving in his father's old age"