Świętosława «Gunhilda» Mieszkówna of Poland (Księżniczka polska)

B.Brox: Don't mix her with Sigrid/Sigríð Storråda/the Haughty as several Wikipedia and other sources does.

http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9Awi%C4%99tos%C5%82awa_av_Polen

http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiatoslawa_av_Polen

Świętosława (967-1014), known in Scandinavian sagas as Gunhild, was Mieszko's I daughter and the sister of the first Polish king Boleslav the Brave. Their mother was probably the Christian wife of Mieszko I, Czech's princess, Dąbrówka.

Świętosława first became a wife of king Erik Segersäll (Eric VI of Sweden) in 980 (or 985), but she became a widow soon.

After 994 she married Svend Tveskæg (Sweyn I of Denmark) under the name Gunhild. From the second marriage she probably had five children, including Canute the Great and Harold II of Denmark. Since her marriage was not happy, she returned to Poland where her brother Boleslaw the Brave was ruling. After Sweyn died her sons, Kanut and Karald took her back from Poland. Kanut, known as Kanut the Great became later king of England, Denmark and Norway and governor of Schleswig and Pomerania. She died somewhere in English castle. In any event, Boleslaus I of Poland, the first king of Poland actually sent his troops to help Canute in his successful conquest of England, another sign of close relationships between Polish rulers and Vikings.

It is said that Świętosława's difficult character was inherited after her aunt Adelaide (Polish Adelajda) who was probably a sister of Mieszko I and also the wife of the Hungarian duke Geza. Adelaide became a mother of St. Stephen the Great (977-1038), who became the first king of Hungary and a saint.

Adelaide was known as a beauty, but she drunk excessively and loved riding horses like a man. Once, she even killed a man in a rage.

http://www.polishsite.us/index.php/history-and-people/middle-ages-and-renaissance/195--swietoslawa-piast-princess-and-vikings-queen-.html

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/POLAND.htm#MieszkoIdied992

--- (soon after 967-). This is one of the possibilities for the origin of the first wife of Svend I King of Denmark, based solely on Thietmar who refers to the mother of "filiis Suenni" as "Miseconis filia ducis, soror Bolizlavi successori eius"[69]. Europäische Stammtafeln names her "Šwiętosława [Gunhild] of Poland", although there is no indication of the basis for this suggested Polish name, and states that she married firstly Erik "Segersäll/the Victorious" King of Sweden, as his second wife[70]. This latter suggestion is implausible as it would mean that both of King Erik's wives were in turn married to Svend King of Denmark, numerous primary sources attesting that the latter's second wife Sigrid "Storråda/the Haughty" was the widow of King Erik[71]. m ([988/90]) as his first wife, SVEND I "Tveskæg/Forkbeard" King of Denmark, son of HARALD I "Blåtand/Bluetooth" King of Denmark & his first wife Gunhild ([960]-Gainsborough 3 Feb 1014, bur in England, later removed to Roskilde).]

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Gunhilda of Poland

F, #102419, d. after 1014

Last Edited=8 Jul 2005

    Gunhilda of Poland is the daughter of Mieszko I, Duke of Poland and Dubrawka of Bohemia. (1) She married Sveyn I 'Forkbeard' Haraldsson, King of Denmark and England, son of Harald I 'Bluetooth' Gormsson, King of Denmark and Gyrid Olafsdottir, circa 990. (1) She and Sveyn I 'Forkbeard' Haraldsson, King of Denmark and England were divorced in 1000. 

She died after 1014.

Children of Gunhilda of Poland and Sveyn I 'Forkbeard' Haraldsson, King of Denmark and England

-1. Gytha Sveynsdottir+

-2. Gunhilda Sveynsdottir

-3. daughter Sveynsdottir+ (2)

-4. Santslaue Sveynsdottir (2)

-5. Thyra Sveynsdottir b. c 993

-6. Harald II Sveynsson, King of Denmark b. c 994, d. bt 1018 - 1019

-7. Canute II Sveynsson, King of England and Denmark+ b. c 995, d. 12 Nov 1035

Forrás:

http://www.thepeerage.com/p10242.htm#i102419

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Død efter 2 februar 1014

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Gunhild var datter av Kong Burislav Vendeland (Pommen) av Polen.

Hun var gift med Svein Tjugeskjegg

Barn: Harald Sveinsson og Gyda Sveinsdatter

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Død efter 2 februar 1014

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General Notes:

De sikre informasjoner vi har om Gunhild er ytterst få, hennes slaviske navn er ikke kjent. Adam av Bremen setter hennes ekteskap med Erik Segersäll i forbindelse med et forenet svensk-slavisk angrep på Danmark, men den historiske bakgrunn for dette kan ikke kontrolleres. Ifølge Adam fødte hun Erik sønnen Olof Skötkonung. Etter Eriks død giftet hun seg med Svend Tjugeskjegg, muligens da denne ca. år 1000 inngikk forbund med kong Olav. Hun ble senere bortvist av Svend, og levde i mange år i Vendland, inntil hennes sønner etter Svends død hentet henne hjem til Danmark. De islandske sagaforfatterne har knyttet forskjellige ikke historiskt korrekte trekk til hennes navn, og dette har senere i tradisjonen blitt fortrengt av den svenske dronning Sigrid Storråde.

Gunhild was the sister of Boleslav I of Poland (992 - 1025) and not his daughter as Snorre Sturlasson related.

From Snorre Sturlasson: King Olaf Trygvason's Saga:

"22. OLAF TRYGVASON'S MARRIAGE.

While Olaf lay at Borgundarholm there came on bad weather, storm, and a heavy sea, so that his ships could not lie there; and he sailed southwards under Vindland, where they found a good harbour. They conducted themselves very peacefully, and remained some time. In Vindland there was then a king called Burizleif, who had three daughters, -- Geira, Gunhild, and Astrid. ..."

Noted events in her life were:

• She was a Queen.

Gunhild married Eric VI the Victorious Bjornsson, son of Bjorn the Old of Sweden Ericsson and Unknown, circa 980-985. (Eric VI the Victorious Bjornsson died in 995.)

Gunhild next married Svend I Haraldsson Tjugeskjegg of Denmark, son of Harald I Gormsson Blåtann of Denmark and Gyrid, circa 995. The marriage ended in divorce in 1000. (Svend I Haraldsson Tjugeskjegg of Denmark was born circa 960, died on 3 Feb 1014 in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England and was buried in Roskilde Cathedral, Denmark 4.)

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Død efter 2 februar 1014

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Queen Swietoslava of Sweden Norway & Denmark - also known as: Sygryda - was born about 0970, lived in Poznan, Poznan, Poland and died after 2 Feb 1014 . She was the daughter of Prince Mieszko I of Poland and Princess Dubravka of Bohemia.

Queen Swietoslava married King Erik VIII Bjornsson "Victorious" of Sweden about 0985. King Erik was born about 0930, lived in Sweden. He was the son of King Bjorn Eriksson "the Old" of Sweden. He died in 0994/0995 in Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden .

 Then Queen Swietoslava married King Svend I "Forked Beard" of Denmark, Norway & England in 0998. King Svend was born about 0960, lived in Denmark. He died on 2 Feb 1014 in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England 

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Flyttad till Roskilde domkyrka i Danmark

Noteringar

Polsk prinsessa, drottning av Danmark, Norge och England

Att Sven Tveskägg var gift med en polsk prinsessa är bevisat (Gunhild, dotter av Mieszko I) Enligt källor jag har stött på var Sven gift både med Gunhild av Polen och Sigrid Storråda. Många hävdar dock att de är en och samma person, så jag redovisar tills vidare Gunhild som moder till Estrid. Frågan är då om denna Gunhild även är mor till Olof Skötkonung.

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From the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy page on Sweden:

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/SWEDEN.htm

married to Erik Segersall (before [985]) as her first husband, SIGRID "Storråda/the Haughty", daughter of "Skoglar" TOSTE & his wife ---.

Snorre names Sigrid as daughter of "Skoglar" Toste and refers to her marriage to "the Swedish king, Eirik the Victorious"[28]. Saxo Grammaticus names "Syritha" as mother of "Erici filius Olavus"[29]. The Fagrskinna names Sigrid, mother of King Olof, as daughter of Skoglar-Tosta[30]. Morkinskinna names "Sigridr en stórráda" as mother of “the lady Ástrídr…sister of two kings, Knútr the Great and Óláfr the Swede” who married “Jarl Úlfr sprakaleggr”[31].

According to Snorre[32], she was a widow in 994. She married secondly ([1000]) Svend I "Tveskæg/Forkbeard" King of Denmark.

Adam of Bremen records the marriage of Svend King of Denmark and "Herici relictam, matrem Olaph"[33]. If it is correct that Sigrid was the mother of Olav, it necessarily places her first marriage to King Erik before [985] at the latest, assuming that King Olof's daughter Ingigerd was born in [1000/03] as shown below.

King Erik & his wife had [two] children:

1. Olof (b. before 985, d. 1022, succeeded as King Olof I of Sweden, married Estred of the Obotrites, OUR ANCESTOR)

2. Holmfrid (married Sven Haakonsson, Ladejarl of Norway)

From the Swedish-language Historiska Personer i Sverige och Norden page on Sigrid Storrada (English below):

http://historiska-personer.nu/min-s/p9bc25d83.html

Sigrid Storråda

Yrke: Drottning i Sverige och Danmark

Far: Skoglar Toste

Död: 1000

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Familj med Erik >> Segersäll (945 - 995)

Vigsel: omkring 975

Barn:

1. Olof >> Skötkonung (Eriksson) (980 - 1022)

2. Holmfrid (Helmfrid) Eriksdotter

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Familj med Sven I Tveskägg av Danmark (Haraldsson) (960 - 1014)

Vigsel: omkring 996 Kungälv (Kongahälla), Bohuslän

Barn:

1. Harald II av Danmark (994 - 1019)

2. Knut II den store av Danmark (999 - 1035)

3. Estrid av Danmark

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Noteringar

Sigrid Storråda, sagodrottning eller kungamoder?

Inga säkra bevis finns för Sigrids existens och hennes existens bestrids av många moderna historiker. Olika historiska källor ger divergerande uppgifter om Sigrid Storråda: isländska källor, Saxo, Adam av Bremen, Carl Grimberg, danska och polska källor. I Svensk uppslagsbok har L. Weibull en version och i Släkt och Hävd finns en annan version av professor Sten Carlsson.

Enligt Saxo och vissa isländska källor skall Sigrid först ha varit gift med sveakungen Erik Segersäll, med vilken hon fick sonen Olof Skötkonung. Efter Eriks död (eller möjligtvis några år tidigare) drog hon sig tillbaka till sina gods i Västergötland. Efter frierier av småkungar, som Sigrid gjorde sig kvitt genom att bränna dem inne, kom hon och Norges kung Olav Tryggvason överens om giftermål. Det kom dock till en dramatisk brytning och Sigrid gifte sig i stället med Danmarks kung Sven Tveskägg

Slaget vid Svolder i Öresund (utanför Ven?) skall ha varit en följd av hennes uppvigling av maken, Danmarks kung, och sonen, Sveriges kung, mot Olav Tryggvason av Norge.

_______________________________________________

Efter att ha studerat olika källor, kan vår uppfattning om Sigrid Storråda sammanfattas på följande sätt:

Sigrid Storråda var förmodligen dotter till den västergötske vikingen och hövdingen Skoglar- Toste. Hon gifte sig med Erik Segersäll och födde sonen Olof Skötkonung c:a år 975. Men Erik försköt (skilde sig från) sin gemål Sigrid och gifte om sig med en polsk prinsessa, som i Norden tog namnet Gunhild. Giftemålet var ett led i Eriks Östersjöpolitik. Gunhild blev sedan änka, när Erik dog år 995.

Sigrid kan ha varit 20-25 år när hon skildes från Erik. Efter att ha skilt sig från Erik, flyttade Sigrid förmodligen en tid till sina gods i Västergötland, men därefter till Danmark. Sonen Olof följde med i en form av landsflykt till Danmark, där Sigrid gifte om sig med Danmarks kung Sven Tveskägg. Hon bör då ha varit c:a 25 år gammal.

Enligt dansk historia hade Sven Tveskägg fyra barn - 2 söner, Harald och Knut (den store) och 2 döttrar. Sigrid var med säkerhet mor till två söner och en dotter. Äldst var sonen Harald, som bör ha fötts c:a år 994 medan Knut föddes c:a 997.

Erik Segersäll höll Danmark som erövrat land fram till sin död 995, därefter fick Sven Tveskägg i Danmark sitt rike och sin krona tillbaka. Den första statsmannagärning, som Olof Skötkonung utförde, var att insätta Sven Tveskägg och sin mor Sigrid Storråda på Danmarks tron. År 1013-1015 sände Olof trupper från Sverige för att hjälpa sin halvbror Knut den store i hans fälttåg att erövra England.

Sigrid bör ha dött c:a år 1000; dödsåret varierar i olika källor från 995 (vilket förefaller omöjligt) till 1013. Efter Sigrids död gifte Sven Tveskägg om sig med Eriks änka, den polska prinsessan Gunhild. Men Sven var tydligen inte nöjd med sin nya maka, eftersom han senare även försköt henne. Gunhild flyttade då till Vendland (Pommern), där brodern Boleslav I av Polen (992 - 1025) var kung, men efter Svens död år 1014 hämtade Harald och Knut den store hem henne igen till Danmark.

Sigrid Storråda liv kan sammanfattas på följande sätt:

Hon var gift med två kungar, Erik Segersäll i Sverige och Sven Tveskägg i Danmark.

Hon var mor till tre söner, vilka alla blev kungar: Olof Skötkonung, Knut den store och Harald. En av dem blev Europas mäktigaste furste - Knut den store av Danmark.

Hon var dotter till en svensk storman, som antagligen bodde i Västergötland, är en stor historisk kvinna, som bör få ett eftermäle i historien bland den heliga Birgitta och unionsdrottningen Margareta.

(Uppgifterna om Sigrid Storråda är mycket osäkra och skall därför läsas mycket kritiskt.)

In English:

Sigrid "The Haughty"

Queen of Sweden and Denmark

Father: Skoglar Toste

Died: 1000

Family with Eric the Victorious (945-995)

Marriage: around 975

Children:

1. Olof Skotkonung (Eriksson) (980-1022)

2. Holmfrid (Helmfrid) Eriksdottir

Family with Sven I "Forkbeard" of Denmark (Haraldson) (960-1014)

Marriage: around 996 Kungalv (Kongahalla), Bohuslan

Children:

1. Harold II of Denmark (994-1019)

2. Canute II the Great of Denmark (999-1035)

3. Estrid of Denmark

Entries:

Sigrid, mythical ruler or queen mother?

No conclusive evidence exists for Sigrid's existence and her very existence is challenged by many modern historians. Various historical sources provide divergent information about Sigrid: Icelandic sources, Saxo, Adam of Bremen, Carl Grimberg, Danish and Polish sources. The Swedish dictionary of L. Weibull has a version, and the family and the lead is a different version from Professor Sten Carlsson.

According to Saxo and some Icelandic sources, Sigrid was first married to Swedish King Eric the Victorious, with whom she had a son, Olof (OUR ANCESTOR).. After Eric's death (or possibly a few years earlier), she retreated to their estates in the provinces. After obtaining several suitors, Sigrid got rid of them by burning them inside a great hall, and then agree to marry the King of Norway Olaf Tryggvason. There was, however, a dramatic scene of some sort and Sigrid married instead King Sweyn of Denmark.

The Battle of Svolder Sound (outside Ven?) was said to be the result of her inciting her husband, the King of Denmark, and her son, the King of Sweden (OUR ANCESTOR) to take revenge on Olaf Tryggvason of Norway.

After studying various sources, our perception of Sigrid is summarized as follows:

Sigrid was probably the daughter of Western Goth Viking chieftain Skoglar Toste. She married Erik the Victorious and gave birth to her son Olof around the year 975. But Erik repudiates her, and marries a Polish Princess, who in the Nordic countries is known by the name Gunhild. The marriage was part of Erik's Baltic policy. Gunhild was then a widow when Erik died in 995.

Sigrid may have been 20-25 years old when she separated from Erik. After parting from him, Sigrid probably moved to western Sweden, and then Denmark. The son of Olaf removed her to Denmark, where Sigrid married King Sweyn of Denmark. She would have been around 25 years old.

In the Danish story, Sweyn had four children, including two sons - Harald and Knut (the Great), and two daughters. Sigrid was certainly the mother of two sons and a daughter. The oldest son was Harold, who should have been born around 994, but Knut was born around 997.

Eric the Victorious conquered Denmark (which he held until his death in 995), but he gave the country back to King Sweyn. The first diplomatic offense against Olaf was therefore to return Sweyn and his mother Sigrid to the Danish throne. In 1013-1015, Olof sent troops from Sweden to help his half-brother Canute in his campaigns to conquer England.

Sigrid should have died c. 1000, but the year of death varies in different sources from 995 (which seems impossible) to 1013. After Sigrid's death, Sweyn married Eric's widow, the Polish princess Grunhild. But Sweyn was obviously not pleased with his new wife because he later disowned her. Gunhild went to live in Vindland (Pomerania), where his brother, Boleslaw I of Poland (992-1025) was King. But after John's death in 1014, Harald and Canute returned to Denmark.

Sigrid's life can be summarized as follows:

1. She was married to two kings, Eric the Victorious of Sweden, and Sweyn "Forkbeard" of Denmark.

2. She was the mother of three sons who all became kings: Olof, Canute, and Harald. One of them became a most powerful prince, Canute of Denmark.

3. She was the daughter of a Swedish magnate who probably lived in western Sweden, and is a great historical woman, who should have a legacy of history among the Holy Birgitta and Queen Margaret.

(Data on Sigrid is very uncertain and should be read very critically.)

From the Wikipedia page of Sigrid the Haughty:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigrid_the_Haughty

Sigrid the Haughty, also known as Sigríð Storråda, is a queen of contested historicity appearing in Norse sagas as wife first of Eric the Victorious of Sweden, and then Sweyn Forkbeard of Denmark. While given a Nordic ancestry in the sagas, she has been hypothesized to be identical to historically attested queens of Polish or Pomeranian origin.

Alternatively, she is held to be apocryphal by some modern scholars such as Birgitta Fritz.[1]

Sigrid appears in many sagas composed generations after the events they describe, but there is no reliable evidence as to her existence as they describe her. It is unclear if she was a real person, a compound person (with the lives and deeds of several real women combined into a single fictional entity), or a complete invention of the saga authors.

Account given in the Heimskringla

The Heimskringla describes Sigrid as the beautiful but vengeful daughter of Skogul-Tosti, a powerful Swedish nobleman. As widow of Eric the Victorious, she held many great estates, and was living with her son Olav the Swede, when her foster-brother Harald Grenske, a king in Vestfold sought her hand, but she had him and another royal wooer, Vissavald of Gardarik burned to death in a great hall following a feast to discourage other suitors.

Her hand was next sought by Olaf Trygvasson, the king of Norway, but he would have required that she convert to Christianity. She told him to his face, "I will not part from the faith which my forefathers have kept before me." In a rage, Olaf struck her with a glove, and Sigrid calmly told him, "This may some day be thy death."

Sigrid then proceeded to create a coalition of his enemies to bring about his downfall. She allied Sweden with Denmark, marrying the widower Sweyn Forkbeard who had already been feuding with Olaf. Swein had sent his sister Tyri to marry the Wendish king Burislav, who had been father of Swein's first wife, Gunhild.

Tyri fled and married Olaf, goading him into conflict with her brother, while Sigrid inflamed Swein against her former suitor. This shared animosity would lead to the Battle of Swold, in which Olaf fell.

The Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus would repeat this information, writing that Eric the Victorious' widow Syritha had married Sweyn Forkbeard after having spurned Olaf Trygvasson.

Contemporary chroniclers

There is scant material in medieval chronicles to provide details regarding the marriages of Swein of Denmark and Erik of Sweden:

Thietmar of Merseburg mentions that the daughter of Mieszko I of Poland and sister of Boleslaw I of Poland married Sweyn Forkbeard and gave him two sons, Canute the Great and Harold II of Denmark, but he does not mention her name. Thietmar is probably the best informed of all medieval chroniclers, since he was contemporary with described events and well-informed about the events in Poland and Denmark. The assertion that Harald and Canute's mother was Boleslaw's sister may explain some mysterious statements which appear in medieval chronicles, such as the involvement of Polish troops in invasions of England.

Adam of Bremen writes that a Polish princess was the wife of Eric the Victorious and by this marriage the mother of Olof Skötkonung of Sweden, before she became mother of Canute the Great and Harold II of Denmark in her second marriage with Sweyn. Consequently, Adam calls Canute and Olof Skötkonung brothers. Adam's information here is considered unreliable by some historians, because he is the only source to state this relationship.

Gesta Cnutonis regis mentions in one short passage that Canute and his brother went to the land of the Slavs, and brought back their mother, who was living there. This does not necessarily mean that his mother was Slavic, but nevertheless this chronicle strongly suggests that she was.

There is an inscription in "Liber vitae of the New Minster and Hyde Abbey Winchester", that king Canute's sister's name was "Santslaue" ("Santslaue soror CNVTI regis nostri"), which without doubt is a Slavic name. J. Steenstrup suggests that Canute's sister may have been named after her mother, hence coining (the now generally agreed upon) hypothesis, that her Slavic name is Świętosława, but only as a reconstruction based on a single mention of her daughter's name and the hypothesis that she named her daughter after herself.

Modern reconstructions

These data have been used for alternative reconstructions.

One would interpret the saga account of Sigrid as a confused rendering of a historical Polish princess, 'Sviatoslava', daughter of Mieszko, who married in succession Erik and Swein, being mother of Olaf (by Erik), Harald and Canute (both by Swein). Sigrid would either be a contemporary name adopted by the Princess to conform to her new linguistic context, or else simply a name invented by saga writers who did not know or could not comprehend her Slavic name.

This solution may further make her identical to Swein's first queen in the saga, 'Gunhild' daughter of Burislav, suggested to be a confused rendering of the same historical marriage to the sister of Boleslav of Poland. Alternatively, the attributed Polish marriages of Swein and Eric may have been to different women, with 'Gunhild' being the daughter of Mieszko, while Eric's widow, the model for Sigrid, then marrying Swein after her. Finally, some consider "Sigrid" to be a fantasy created by Scandinavian saga writers.

Archaeology

Further confusion has been introduced by dated interpretations of an archaeological discovery. In 1835, the Haraldskær Woman was discovered in a peat bog in Jutland. This body of a woman was dated to the 1000s, and it was identified with Sigrid (or Gunhild). Radiocarbon dating later proved this dating incorrect.

However, the erroneous dating became intertwined with numerous episodes of Scandinavian intrigue, as the theory was elaborated to serve a variety of agendas of kings and nobles prior to its redating.

In literature

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow composed a poem with the title Queen Sigrid the Haughty of which this is the first verse.

Queen Sigrid the Haughty sat proud and aloft

In her chamber, that looked over meadow and croft.

Heart's dearest,

Why dost thou sorrow so?

Karen Blixen, in the short story "The Deluge at Norderney" in Seven Gothic Tales, refers to Sigrid, claiming that she invited all her suitors to her house and burned them in order to discourage other suitors.

References

1.^ Birgitta Fritz (2004), "Sigrid Storråda", Svenskt Biografiskt Lexikon, 32

2.^ Snorri Sturluson 1991:200–1.

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De sikre informasjoner vi har om Gunhild er ytterst få, hennes slaviske navn er ikke kjent. Adam av Bremen setter hennes ekteskap med Erik Segersäll i forbindelse med et forenet svensk-slavisk angrep på Danmark, men den historiske bakgrunn for dette kan ikke kontrolleres. Ifølge Adam fødte hun Erik sønnen Olof Skötkonung. Etter Eriks død giftet hun seg med Svend Tjugeskjegg, muligens da denne ca. år 1000 inngikk forbund med kong Olav. Hun ble senere bortvist av Svend, og levde i mange år i Vendland, inntil hennes sønner etter Svends død hentet henne hjem til Danmark. De islandske sagaforfatterne har knyttet forskjellige ikke historiskt korrekte trekk til hennes navn, og dette har senere i tradisjonen blitt fortrengt av den svenske dronning Sigrid Storråde.

Gunhild var søster til Boleslav I av Polen (992 - 1025) og ikke hans datter som Snorre Sturlasson beretter.

Fra Snorre Sturlasson: Olav Trygvessons saga:

«22. Mens Olav lå ved Bornholm, fikk han kvast vær og stormsjø, så han kunne ikke holde seg der; så seilte de derfra og sør under Vendland (Pommern), og der fikk de god havn. Der gikk alt fredelig for seg, og de ble der en stund. Kongen i Vendland het Burislav, døtrene hans var Geira, Gunhild og Astrid. ...»

Tekst: Tore nYgaard

Kilder:

Politiken's Danmarks Historie, Bind 2 (1963), side 244, 265-267. Snorre Sturlasson: Olav Trygvessons saga, avsnitt 22, 34, 91. Mogens Bugge: Våre forfedre, se nr. 170 og 518. Bent og Vidar Billing Hansen: Rosensverdslektens forfedre, side 45, 73, 80.

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Marriage (1): Eric VI the Victorious Bjornsson circa 980-985

Marriage (2): Svend I Haraldsson Tjugeskjegg of Denmark circa 995

General Notes: 

De sikre informasjoner vi har om Gunhild er ytterst få, hennes slaviske navn er ikke kjent. Adam av Bremen setter hennes ekteskap med Erik Segersäll i forbindelse med et forenet svensk-slavisk angrep på Danmark, men den historiske bakgrunn for dette kan ikke kontrolleres. Ifølge Adam fødte hun Erik sønnen Olof Skötkonung. Etter Eriks død giftet hun seg med Svend Tjugeskjegg, muligens da denne ca. år 1000 inngikk forbund med kong Olav. Hun ble senere bortvist av Svend, og levde i mange år i Vendland, inntil hennes sønner etter Svends død hentet henne hjem til Danmark. De islandske sagaforfatterne har knyttet forskjellige ikke historiskt korrekte trekk til hennes navn, og dette har senere i tradisjonen blitt fortrengt av den svenske dronning Sigrid Storråde.

Gunhild was the sister of Boleslav I of Poland (992 - 1025) and not his daughter as Snorre Sturlasson related.

From Snorre Sturlasson: King Olaf Trygvason's Saga:

"22. OLAF TRYGVASON'S MARRIAGE.

While Olaf lay at Borgundarholm there came on bad weather, storm, and a heavy sea, so that his ships could not lie there; and he sailed southwards under Vindland, where they found a good harbour. They conducted themselves very peacefully, and remained some time. In Vindland there was then a king called Burizleif, who had three daughters, -- Geira, Gunhild, and Astrid. ..."

 Noted events in her life were:

• She was a Queen.

Gunhild married Eric VI the Victorious Bjornsson, son of Bjorn the Old of Sweden Ericsson and Unknown, circa 980-985. (Eric VI the Victorious Bjornsson died in 995.)

Gunhild next married Svend I Haraldsson Tjugeskjegg of Denmark, son of Harald I Gormsson Blåtann of Denmark and Gyrid, circa 995. The marriage ended in divorce in 1000. (Svend I Haraldsson Tjugeskjegg of Denmark was born circa 960, died on 3 Feb 1014 in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England and was buried in Roskilde Cathedral, Denmark

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" OLAF TRYGVASON'S MARRIAGE.

While Olaf lay at Borgundarholm there came on bad weather, storm, and a heavy sea, so that his ships could not lie there; and he sailed southwards under Vindland, where they found a good harbour. They conducted themselves very peacefully, and remained some time. In Vindland there was then a king called Burizleif, who had three daughters, -- Geira, Gunhild, and Astrid. ..."

She was a Queen.

Gunhild married Eric VI the Victorious Bjornsson, son of Bjorn the Old of Sweden Ericsson and Unknown, circa 980-985. (Eric VI the Victorious Bjornsson died in 995.)

Gunhild next married Svend I Haraldsson Tjugeskjegg of Denmark, son of Harald I Gormsson Blåtann of Denmark and Gyrid, circa 995. The marriage ended in divorce in 1000. (Svend I Haraldsson Tjugeskjegg of Denmark was born circa 960, died on 3 Feb 1014 in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England and was buried in Roskilde Cathedral, Denmark)

Gunhilda married Eric VI 'the Victorious' Björnsson, son of Björn 'the Old' Ericsson, about 980-985.1 (Eric VI 'the Victorious' Björnsson died in 995 1.)

Gunhilda next married Sveyn I 'Forkbeard' Haraldsson King of Denmark about 995.1 2 (Sveyn I 'Forkbeard' Haraldsson King of Denmark was born about 960,2 died on 3 Feb 1014 in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England 2 and was buried in Roskilde Cathedral, Copenhagen, Denmark 2.)

Sources

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1 Lundy, Darryl, "The Peerage.com - A Genealogical Survey of the Peerage of England as well as the Royal Families of Europe" (http://www.thepeerage.com rev. 12 Mar 2006), Citing: Alison Weir, Britain's Royal Family: A Complete Genealogy (London, U.K.: The Bodley Head, 1999), page 24-26. 

2 I Alison Weir, Britain's Royal Family: A Complete Genealogy (London, U.K.: The Bodley Head, 1999), page 25.

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Have FOund the wife listed at one time as

PRINCE OBOTRITES MIECESLAS was born 919. He married SOPHIA [-?-] . She was born Abt. 921.

Child is:

ASTRID OR INEGRID, PSS. OF OBOTRITES, b. Abt. 979, Sweden;married III OLAF, KING OF SWEDEN son of VIII ERIK and QUEEN SKOGLAR-TESTEDOTTER. He was born Abt. 950 in Sweden, and died 1022." -------------------- It is said that she was the mother of Knud den Store, who was born ab. 995. At that point her brother Boleslaw is 29 and Swietoslawa is 28 years. After Sven Tveskæg's death in 1014, Knud and Harald fetched their mother in Slavia, which might mean that she had gone home to her brother Boleslaw. The brothers buried their father's body - which had been brought to Denmark "by a certain English lady" - in the church he had let build in Roskilde. According to a note Boleslaw helped ab. 1015 Knud den Store (his nephew) with a detachment of Polish horsemen, when he went to England with his army to claim the throne.

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This is one of the possibilities for the origin of the first wife of Svend I King of Denmark, based solely on Thietmar who refers to the mother of "filiis Suenni" as "Miseconis filia ducis, soror Bolizlavi successori eius” [Thietmar VII.39, p. 334.].  Europäische Stammtafeln names her "Šwiętosława [Gunhild] of Poland", although there is no indication of the basis for this suggested Polish name, and states that she married firstly Erik "Segersäll/the Victorious" King of Sweden, as his second wife [ES II 114 and 120.].  This latter suggestion is implausible as it would mean that both of King Erik's wives were in turn married to Svend King of Denmark, numerous primary sources attesting that the latter's second wife Sigrid "Storråda/the Haughty" was the widow of King Erik [For example, Laing, S. (trans.) (1907) Snorri Sturluson, Heimskringla: A History of the Norse Kings Snorre (Norroena Society, London), King Olav Trygvason's Saga Part III, 98, available at Online Medieval and Classical Library Release 15b, http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/OMACL/Heimskringla/ (24 Jan 2003).].