Hailaga Halfdansson, {Legendary}

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halga

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Halga, Helgi, Helghe or Helgo was a legendary Danish king living in the early 6th century.

Scholars generally agree that he appears in both Anglo-Saxon (Beowulf) and Scandinavian tradition (Norse sagas and Danish chronicles). In both traditions, he was a Scylding, the son of Healfdene and the brother of Hroðgar. In Beowulf, his relationship to Hroðulf is not explained, but if he was not his father, as in the Scandinavian tradition, he was at least his uncle. Both traditions also mention his family's feud with Froda and Ingeld. Whereas, not much is said about Halga in Anglo-Saxon sources, much more is said in Scandinavian ones, all of them containing a version of the story of his incestuous relationship with his own daughter Yrsa. This liaison resulted in Halga's son Hroðulf.

In Hrólfr Kraki's saga, Halfdan (Healfdene) had three children, the sons Helgi and Hróarr (Hroðgar) and the daughter Signý. The sister was the eldest and married to Sævil Jarl, with whom she had the son Hrókr. Halfdan was murdered by his own brother Fróði (Froda) and the two brothers had to seek refuge with a man called Vivil on an island, until they could avenge their father and kill Fróði. Hróarr moved to Northumbria and married king Norðri's daughter Ögn, whereas Helgi became the new king of Denmark, but stayed unmarried. Wanting a spouse, Helgi went to the Saxons wanting to woo their warlike queen Oluf. She was, however, not interested and humiliated Helgi by shaving his head and covering him with tar, while he was asleep, and sending him back to his ship. Some time later, Helgi returned and through a ruse, he kidnapped the queen for a while during which time he made her pregnant. Having returned to her kingdom, the queen bore a child, a girl which she named Yrsa after her dog. Yrsa was set to live as a shepherd, until she was 12 years old, when she met her father Helgi who fell in love with her, not knowing it was his daughter. Oluf kept quiet about the parentage and saw it as her revenge that Helgi would wed his own daughter. Helgi and Yrsa had the son Hrólfr Kraki (Hroðulf).

For his share of the kingdom Hróarr had been given a precious ring, an heirloom. There was, however, a second relative who wanted his share, their nephew Hrókr. Since Hrókr was neither given a part of the kingdom nor the ring, he went to Northumbria, killed Hróarr and threw the ring into the water (later retrieved by Hróarr's son Agnar). Helgi avenged his brother by cutting off Hrókr's arms and legs.

Learning that Helgi and Yrsa lived happily together, queen Oluf travelled to Denmark to tell her daughter the truth. Yrsa was shocked and although Helgi wanted their relationship to remain as it was, Yrsa insisted on leaving him to live alone. She was later taken by the Swedish king Aðils (Eadgils) as his queen, which made Helgi even more unhappy. Later, one Yule, Helgi was visited by an ugly being while he was in his hunting house. No person in the entire kingdom allowed the being to enter the House, except Helgi. Later, the thing asked him to slep in his bed. Unwillingly he agreed, and as the thing got into the bed, it turned into an elvish woman, who was clad in silk and who was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He raped her, and made her pregnant with a daughter named Skuld. Helgi forgot the woman and a couple of days after the date had passed, he was visited by the woman, who had Skuld on her arms. The daughter would later marry Hjörvarðr (Heoroweard), Hrólfr Kraki's killer.

Missing Yrsa, Helgi went to Uppsala to fetch her, but was killed by Aðils in battle. He was succeeded by his son Hrólfr.

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

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http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~greenefamily/lape/pafg111....

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Halga, Helgi, Helghe or Helgo was a legendary Danish king living in the early 6th century[1]. His name would in his own language (Proto-Norse) have been *Hailaga[2] (dedicated to the gods).

Scholars generally agree that he appears in both Anglo-Saxon (Beowulf) and Scandinavian tradition (Norse sagas and Danish chronicles)[3]. In both traditions, he was a Scylding, the son of Healfdene and the brother of Hroðgar. In Beowulf, his relationship to Hroðulf is not explained, but if he was not his father, as in the Scandinavian tradition, he was at least his uncle. Both traditions also mention his family's feud with Froda and Ingeld.

Whereas, not much is said about Halga in Anglo-Saxon sources, much more is said in Scandinavian ones, all of them containing a version of the story of his incestuous relationship with his own daughter Yrsa. This liaison resulted in Halga's son Hroðulf.

Contents [hide]

1 Beowulf

2 Chronicon Lethrense and Annales Lundenses

3 Gesta Danorum

4 Hrólfr Kraki's saga

5 Skjöldunga saga and Bjarkarímur

6 Ynglinga saga

7 Notes

8 Sources

[edit] Beowulf

Hrólf Kraki Tradition

Hrólf Kraki's saga

Ynglinga saga

Lejre Chronicle

Gesta Danorum

Beowulf

People

Hrólfr Kraki

Halfdan

Helgi

Yrsa

Adils

Áli

Bödvar Bjarki

Hjörvard

Roar

Locations

Lejre

Uppsala

Fyrisvellir

In the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf, Halga is hardly mentioned. He appears early in the poem where he is listed as the brave Halga, one of the four children of Healfdene, the others being Heorogar, Hroðgar and a daughter (who is unnamed, but called Signý in Norse sources) who was married to the king of Sweden.

59 Ðæm feower bearn forðgerimed

60 in worold wocun weoroda ræswa

61 heorogar. 7 hroðgar 7 halga til

62 hyrde ic þ elan cwen

63 heaðo-Scilfingas healsgebedda

This appears in Gummere's translation as:

59 Then, one after one, there woke to him,

60 to the chieftain of clansmen, children four:

61 Heorogar, then Hrothgar, then Halga brave;

62 and I heard that — ela's queen,

63 the Heathoscylfing’s helpmate dear.

Hroðulf (Hrólfr Kraki) is only mentioned as Hroðgar's nephew, whereas he is specified as Halga's son in Norse sources.

[edit] Chronicon Lethrense and Annales Lundenses

The Chronicon Lethrense (and the included Annales Lundenses) tells that Haldan (Healfdene) had two sons, Helghe and Ro (Hroðgar). When Haldan died of old age, Helghe and Ro divided the kingdom so that Ro ruled the land, and Helghe the sea. One day, Helghe arrived in Halland/Lolland[4] and slept with Thore, the daughter of one of Ro's farmers. This resulted in a daughter named Yrse. Much later, he met Yrse, and without knowing that she was his daughter, he made her pregnant with Hrólfr Kraki (Hroðulf). Helghe later warred in Wendland and killed the king of the Wends. He also won all of Denmark by killing a Hodbrod. Lastly, he found out that Yrse, with whom he had slept, was his own daughter, went east and killed himself.

Both Helghe and Ro being dead, the Swedish king Hakon/Athisl[5] (i.e. Eadgils) forced the Danes to accept a dog as king. The dog king was succeeded by Hrolf Kraki.

[edit] Gesta Danorum

If the Chronicon Lethrense reports that the Swedes humiliated the Danes after Helghe's death, Saxo Grammaticus mentions nothing of this, but instead he has Helgo humiliate the Swedes in his Gesta Danorum, book 2. He also confused, or merged, Helgo with Helgi Hundingsbane, who in other sources is either a Völsung or a Geatish Wulfing (Ylfing). It is possible that it was the information that both killed a Hothbrodd and were called Helgi that inspired the merger.

Saxo agrees with Beowulf and the Chronicon Lethrense by describing Helgo and Ro (Hroðgar) as the sons of Haldanus (Healfdene). Like the Chronicon Lethrense, he relates that Ro and Helgo shared the kingdom after Haldanus' death (of old age), Ro taking the land, and Helgo the sea. Saxo adds that Helgo was a rather tall man.

Helgo attacked and killed king Skalk of Sklavia (i.e. the king of Wendland), subduing Sklavia into a Danish province. Continuing his sea roving, Helgo arrived at Thurø, where he found and raped the young girl Thora, which resulted in Urse.

He earned the name Hundingsbane by slaying Hunding, the king of Saxony, and conquered Jutland from the Saxons and entrusted it to his commanders Heske, Eyr and Ler. He then humiliated the Saxon aristocracy by enacting a law that the killing of one of them would be no more costly in wergild than the killing of a commoner.

When Helgo after many years returned to Thurø, Thora avenged her lost virginity by sending Urse to Helgo, who unknowingly raped his own daughter. This resulted in Roluo Kraki (i.e. Hroðulf).

Whereas the Chronicon Lethrense and the Annales Lundenses do not explain why Halga needed to kill Hodbrod to win all of Denmark, the Gesta Danorum presents Hothbrodd as a king of Sweden, who invaded Denmark and killed Ro. After having killed Hothbrodd, avenging the death of his brother, he humiliated the Swedes by forbidding that any crime against a Swede should result in any punishment by law. Then, hating his own country, he went east and died, reputedly by throwing himself onto his own sword. He was succeeded by his son Roluo.

[edit] Hrólfr Kraki's saga

In Hrólfr Kraki's saga, Halfdan (Healfdene) had three children, the sons Helgi and Hróarr (Hroðgar) and the daughter Signý. The sister was the eldest and married to Sævil Jarl, with whom she had the son Hrókr. Halfdan was murdered by his own brother Fróði (Froda) and the two brothers had to seek refuge with a man called Vivil on an island, until they could avenge their father and kill Fróði.

Hróarr moved to Northumbria and married king Norðri's daughter Ögn, whereas Helgi became the new king of Denmark, but stayed unmarried. Wanting a spouse, Helgi went to the Saxons to woo their warlike queen Oluf. She was, however, not interested and humiliated Helgi by shaving his head and covering him with tar while he was asleep, and sending him back to his ship. Some time later, Helgi returned and through a ruse, he kidnapped the queen for a while during which time he made her pregnant.

Having returned to her kingdom, the queen bore a child, a girl whom she named Yrsa after her dog. Yrsa was set to live as a shepherd until she was 12 years old, when she met her father Helgi who fell in love with her, not knowing it was his daughter. Oluf kept quiet about the parentage and saw it as her revenge that Helgi would wed his own daughter. Helgi and Yrsa had the son Hrólfr Kraki (Hroðulf).

Yrsa learns of her true father's identityFor his share of the kingdom Hróarr had been given a precious ring, an heirloom. There was, however, a second relative who wanted his share, their nephew Hrókr. Since Hrókr was given neither a part of the kingdom nor the ring, he went to Northumbria, killed Hróarr and threw the ring into the water (later retrieved by Hróarr's son Agnar). Helgi avenged his brother by cutting off Hrókr's arms and legs.

Learning that Helgi and Yrsa were living happily together, Queen Oluf travelled to Denmark to tell her daughter the truth. Yrsa was shocked and although Helgi wanted their relationship to remain as it was, Yrsa insisted on leaving him. She was later taken by the Swedish king Aðils (Eadgils) as his queen, which made Helgi even more unhappy.

Later, one Yule, Helgi was visited by an ugly being while he was in his hunting house. No person in the entire kingdom allowed the being to enter the house, except Helgi. Later, the thing asked to sleep in his bed. Unwillingly he agreed, and as the thing got into the bed, it turned into an elvish woman, who was clad in silk and who was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He raped her, and made her pregnant with a daughter named Skuld. Helgi forgot the woman and a couple of days after the date had passed, he was visited by the woman, who had Skuld in her arms. The daughter would later marry Hjörvarðr (Heoroweard), Hrólfr Kraki's killer.

Missing Yrsa, Helgi went to Uppsala to fetch her, but was killed by Aðils in battle. He was succeeded by his son Hrólfr.

[edit] Skjöldunga saga and Bjarkarímur

The Skjöldunga saga[6][7] and Bjarkarímur[8] relate that Halfdan (Healfdene) and his queen Sigrith had three children: the sons Roas (Hroðgar) and Helgo and the daughter Signy.

Ingjaldus (i.e. Ingeld, but here he is presented as Halfdan's half-brother) attacked Halfdan, killed him and married Sigrith. Ingjaldus and Sigrith had the sons Rærecus and Frodo (Froda), while Signy grew up with her mother until she was married to Sævil, the jarl of Zealand. Roas and Helgo survived by hiding on an island near Skåne, and when they were old enough, they avenged their father by killing Ingjaldus.

The two brothers both became kings of Denmark, and Roas married the daughter of the king of England. Helgo, on the other hand, raped Olava, the queen of the Saxons, and she bore a daughter named Yrsa. The girl later married king Adillus (Eadgils), the king of Sweden. Some years later, Helgo attacked Sweden and captured Yrsa, whom he raped. His daughter bore him the son Rolfo (Hroðulf). After a few years, Yrsa's mother, Queen Olava, came to visit her and told her that Helgo was her own father. Yrsa returned to Adillus, leaving her son behind. Helgo died when Rolfo was eight years old, and Rolfo succeeded him. Not much later, Roas was killed by his half-brothers Rærecus and Frodo, whereupon Rolfo became the sole king of Denmark.

[edit] Ynglinga saga

In Snorri Sturluson's Ynglinga saga, a part of the Heimskringla, he mentions the tradition of Halga, Eadgils and Yrsa, and he based his account on the Skjöldunga saga (he had access to the now lost original version).

He wrote that king Halfdan's (Healfdene) son Helgi ruled in Lejre. He invaded Sweden with such a large army that king Aðils (Eadgils) could not do anything else but to flee Uppsala. Helgi amassed a great deal of booty and took queen Yrsa (whom Aðils had found in Saxony) with him. Yrsa bore a son named Hrólfr Kraki (Hroðulf). When the boy was three years of age, Yrsa's mother, queen Alof of Saxony, came to visit her and told her that her husband Helgi was her own father. Then Yrsa returned to Sweden and king Aðils. Hrólfr Kraki was only eight years old when Helgi died during a war expedition, and Hrólfr was proclaimed his successor.

[edit] Notes

1.^ The dating has never been a matter of controversy. It is inferred from the internal chronology of the sources themselves and the dating of Hygelac's raid on Frisia to c. 516. It is also supported by archaeological excavations of the barrows of Eadgils and Ohthere in Sweden. For a discussion, see e.g. Birger Nerman's Det svenska rikets uppkomst (1925) (in Swedish). For presentations of the archaeological findings, see e.g. Elisabeth Klingmark's Gamla Uppsala, Svenska kulturminnen 59, Riksantikvarieämbetet (in Swedish), or this English language presentation by the Swedish National Heritage Board

2.^ Lexikon över urnnordiska personnamn PDF

3.^ Shippey, T. A.: Wicked Queens and Cousin Strategies in Beowulf and Elsewhere, Notes and Bibliography. In The Heroic Age Issue 5 Summer 2001.

4.^ Halland according to Chronicon Lethrense proper, Lolland according to the included Annals of Lund

5.^ Hakon according to Chronicon Lethrense proper, Athisl according to the included Annals of Lund

6.^ The Relation of the Hrolfs Saga Kraka and the Bjarkarimur to Beowulf by Olson, 1916, at Project Gutenberg

7.^ Nerman (1925:150)

8.^ The Relation of the Hrolfs Saga Kraka and the Bjarkarimur to Beowulf by Olson, 1916, at Project Gutenberg

[edit] Sources

Beowulf:

Beowulf read aloud in Old English

Modern English translation by Francis Barton Gummere

Modern English translation by John Lesslie Hall

Ringler, Dick. Beowulf: A New Translation For Oral Delivery, May 2005. Searchable text with full audio available, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries.

Several different Modern English translations

Chronicon Lethrense and Annales Lundense:

Chronicon Lethrense and Annales Lundenses in translation by Peter Tunstall

The same translation at Northvegr

Book 2 of Gesta Danorum at the Online Medieval & Classical library

The Relation of the Hrolfs Saga Kraka and the Bjarkarimur to Beowulf by Olson, 1916, at Project Gutenberg

Hrólf Kraki's saga in English translation at Northvegr

the Ynglinga saga in translation by Samuel Laing, 1844, at Northvegr

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Halga, Helgi, Helghe or Helgo was a legendary Danish king living in the early 6th century.[1] His name would in his own language (Proto-Norse) have been *Hailaga[2] (dedicated to the gods).

Scholars generally agree that he appears in both Anglo-Saxon (Beowulf) and Scandinavian tradition (Norse sagas and Danish chronicles).[3] In both traditions, he was a Scylding, the son of Healfdene and the brother of Hroðgar. In Beowulf, his relationship to Hroðulf is not explained, but if he was not his father, as in the Scandinavian tradition, he was at least his uncle. Both traditions also mention his family's feud with Froda and Ingeld.

Whereas, not much is said about Halga in Anglo-Saxon sources, much more is said in Scandinavian ones, all of them containing a version of the story of his incestuous relationship with his own daughter Yrsa. This liaison resulted in Halga's son Hroðulf.

Beowulf

In the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf, Halga is hardly mentioned. He appears early in the poem where he is listed as the brave Halga, one of the four children of Healfdene, the others being Heorogar, Hroðgar and a daughter (who is unnamed, but called Signý in Norse sources) who was married to the king of Sweden.

       59  Ðæm feower bearn    forðgerimed

       60  in worold wocun    weoroda ræswa

       61  heorogar. 7 hroðgar    7 halga til

       62  hyrde ic þ    elan cwen

       63  heaðo-Scilfingas    healsgebedda

This appears in Gummere's translation as:

       59  Then, one after one, there woke to him,

       60  to the chieftain of clansmen, children four:

       61  Heorogar, then Hrothgar, then Halga brave;

       62  and I heard that — ela's queen,

       63  the Heathoscylfing’s helpmate dear.

Hroðulf (Hrólfr Kraki) is only mentioned as Hroðgar's nephew, whereas he is specified as Halga's son in Norse sources. [edit] Chronicon Lethrense and Annales Lundenses

The Chronicon Lethrense (and the included Annales Lundenses) tells that Haldan (Healfdene) had two sons, Helghe and Ro (Hroðgar). When Haldan died of old age, Helghe and Ro divided the kingdom so that Ro ruled the land, and Helghe the sea. One day, Helghe arrived in Halland/Lolland[4] and slept with Thore, the daughter of one of Ro's farmers. This resulted in a daughter named Yrse. Much later, he met Yrse, and without knowing that she was his daughter, he made her pregnant with Hrólfr Kraki (Hroðulf). Helghe later warred in Wendland and killed the king of the Wends. He also won all of Denmark by killing a Hodbrod. Lastly, he found out that Yrse, with whom he had slept, was his own daughter, went east and killed himself.

Both Helghe and Ro being dead, the Swedish king Hakon/Athisl[5] (i.e. Eadgils) forced the Danes to accept a dog as king. The dog king was succeeded by Hrolf Kraki.

Gesta Danorum

If the Chronicon Lethrense reports that the Swedes humiliated the Danes after Helghe's death, Saxo Grammaticus mentions nothing of this, but instead he has Helgo humiliate the Swedes in his Gesta Danorum, book 2. He also confused, or merged, Helgo with Helgi Hundingsbane, who in other sources is either a Völsung or a Geatish Wulfing (Ylfing). It is possible that it was the information that both killed a Hothbrodd and were called Helgi that inspired the merger.

Saxo agrees with Beowulf and the Chronicon Lethrense by describing Helgo and Ro (Hroðgar) as the sons of Haldanus (Healfdene). Like the Chronicon Lethrense, he relates that Ro and Helgo shared the kingdom after Haldanus' death (of old age), Ro taking the land, and Helgo the sea. Saxo adds that Helgo was a rather tall man.

Helgo attacked and killed king Skalk of Sklavia (i.e. the king of Wendland), subduing Sklavia into a Danish province. Continuing his sea roving, Helgo arrived at Thurø, where he found and raped the young girl Thora, which resulted in Urse.

He earned the name Hundingsbane by slaying Hunding, the king of Saxony, and conquered Jutland from the Saxons and entrusted it to his commanders Heske, Eyr and Ler. He then humiliated the Saxon aristocracy by enacting a law that the killing of one of them would be no more costly in wergild than the killing of a commoner.

When Helgo after many years returned to Thurø, Thora avenged her lost virginity by sending Urse to Helgo, who unknowingly raped his own daughter. This resulted in Roluo Kraki (i.e. Hroðulf).

Whereas the Chronicon Lethrense and the Annales Lundenses do not explain why Halga needed to kill Hodbrod to win all of Denmark, the Gesta Danorum presents Hothbrodd as a king of Sweden, who invaded Denmark and killed Ro. After having killed Hothbrodd, avenging the death of his brother, he humiliated the Swedes by forbidding that any crime against a Swede should result in any punishment by law. Then, hating his own country, he went east and died, reputedly by throwing himself onto his own sword. He was succeeded by his son Roluo.

Hrólfr Kraki's saga

In Hrólfr Kraki's saga, Halfdan (Healfdene) had three children, the sons Helgi and Hróarr (Hroðgar) and the daughter Signý. The sister was the eldest and married to Sævil Jarl, with whom she had the son Hrókr. Halfdan was murdered by his own brother Fróði (Froda) and the two brothers had to seek refuge with a man called Vivil on an island, until they could avenge their father and kill Fróði.

Hróarr moved to Northumbria and married king Norðri's daughter Ögn, whereas Helgi became the new king of Denmark, but stayed unmarried. Wanting a spouse, Helgi went to the Saxons to woo their warlike queen Oluf. She was, however, not interested and humiliated Helgi by shaving his head and covering him with tar while he was asleep, and sending him back to his ship. Some time later, Helgi returned and through a ruse, he kidnapped the queen for a while during which time he made her pregnant.

Having returned to her kingdom, the queen bore a child, a girl whom she named Yrsa after her dog. Yrsa was set to live as a shepherd until she was 12 years old, when she met her father Helgi who fell in love with her, not knowing it was his daughter. Oluf kept quiet about the parentage and saw it as her revenge that Helgi would wed his own daughter. Helgi and Yrsa had the son Hrólfr Kraki (Hroðulf).

For his share of the kingdom Hróarr had been given a precious ring, an heirloom. There was, however, a second relative who wanted his share, their nephew Hrókr. Since Hrókr was given neither a part of the kingdom nor the ring, he went to Northumbria, killed Hróarr and threw the ring into the water (later retrieved by Hróarr's son Agnar). Helgi avenged his brother by cutting off Hrókr's arms and legs.

Learning that Helgi and Yrsa were living happily together, Queen Oluf travelled to Denmark to tell her daughter the truth. Yrsa was shocked and although Helgi wanted their relationship to remain as it was, Yrsa insisted on leaving him. She was later taken by the Swedish king Aðils (Eadgils) as his queen, which made Helgi even more unhappy.

Later, one Yule, Helgi was visited by an ugly being while he was in his hunting house. No person in the entire kingdom allowed the being to enter the house, except Helgi. Later, the thing asked to sleep in his bed. Unwillingly he agreed, and as the thing got into the bed, it turned into an elvish woman, who was clad in silk and who was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He raped her, and made her pregnant with a daughter named Skuld. Helgi forgot the woman and a couple of days after the date had passed, he was visited by the woman, who had Skuld in her arms. The daughter would later marry Hjörvarðr (Heoroweard), Hrólfr Kraki's killer.

Missing Yrsa, Helgi went to Uppsala to fetch her, but was killed by Aðils in battle. He was succeeded by his son Hrólfr.

Skjöldunga saga and Bjarkarímur

The Skjöldunga saga[6][7] and Bjarkarímur[8] relate that Halfdan (Healfdene) and his queen Sigrith had three children: the sons Roas (Hroðgar) and Helgo and the daughter Signy.

Ingjaldus (i.e. Ingeld, but here he is presented as Halfdan's half-brother) attacked Halfdan, killed him and married Sigrith. Ingjaldus and Sigrith had the sons Rærecus and Frodo (Froda), while Signy grew up with her mother until she was married to Sævil, the jarl of Zealand. Roas and Helgo survived by hiding on an island near Skåne, and when they were old enough, they avenged their father by killing Ingjaldus.

The two brothers both became kings of Denmark, and Roas married the daughter of the king of England. Helgo, on the other hand, raped Olava, the queen of the Saxons, and she bore a daughter named Yrsa. The girl later married king Adillus (Eadgils), the king of Sweden. Some years later, Helgo attacked Sweden and captured Yrsa, whom he raped. His daughter bore him the son Rolfo (Hroðulf). After a few years, Yrsa's mother, Queen Olava, came to visit her and told her that Helgo was her own father. Yrsa returned to Adillus, leaving her son behind. Helgo died when Rolfo was eight years old, and Rolfo succeeded him. Not much later, Roas was killed by his half-brothers Rærecus and Frodo, whereupon Rolfo became the sole king of Denmark.

Ynglinga saga

In Snorri Sturluson's Ynglinga saga, a part of the Heimskringla, he mentions the tradition of Halga, Eadgils and Yrsa, and he based his account on the Skjöldunga saga (he had access to the now lost original version).

He wrote that king Halfdan's (Healfdene) son Helgi ruled in Lejre. He invaded Sweden with such a large army that king Aðils (Eadgils) could not do anything else but to flee Uppsala. Helgi amassed a great deal of booty and took queen Yrsa (whom Aðils had found in Saxony) with him. Yrsa bore a son named Hrólfr Kraki (Hroðulf). When the boy was three years of age, Yrsa's mother, queen Alof of Saxony, came to visit her and told her that her husband Helgi was her own father. Then Yrsa returned to Sweden and king Aðils. Hrólfr Kraki was only eight years old when Helgi died during a war expedition, and Hrólfr was proclaimed his successor.

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Helge was married to Queen Alof. Helge made war on Sweden and captured Queen Yrsa, Swedish King Adil's wife. Helge and Yrsa had a son, Rolf Krake. But when Queen Alof came to Sweden and saw Yrsa, she told her husband that Yrsa was their own daughter. Then Yrsa went back to King Adil.

Helge Halvdansson (også referert til som Halga, Helgi, Helghe eller Helgo) var en legendarisk dansk konge som levde antagelig tidlig på 500-tallet.

Det er forskningsenighet om at han opptrer i både angelsaksisk tradisjon i diktet Beowulf og i den nordiske (norrøne sagaer og danske krøniker). I begge tradisjoner tilhørte han kongeslekten Skjoldungene («Scylding» i Beowulf), sønn av Halvdan Frodesson (Healfdene) og bror av Roar Halvdansson (Hroðgar). I Beowulf er hans forhold til Rolf Krake (Hroðulf) ikke forklart, men om han ikke var faren, noe som er vesentlig i den norrøne og danske tradisjonen, var han uansett i slekt, kanskje en onkel. Begge tradisjoner nevner familiefeiden med Frode og Ingeld.

Selv om det ikke er så mye å utlede om Halga/Helge i de angelsaksiske kildene er det langt mer i de nordiske som alle har en versjon om fortellingen om hans incestiøse forhold til sin egen datter Yrsa. Dette forbudte og tragiske forholdet resulterte i hans sønn Rolf Krake, den siste av Skjoldungene.

I den angelsaksiske diktet Beowulf er Helge Halvdansson som Halga knapt nevnt. Han opptrer tidlig i diktet hvor han er nevnt som den tapre Halga, en av fire barn av Healfdene (Halvdan), de andre var Heorogar, Hroðgar (Roar) og en datter som ikke er navngitt, men er kalt Signe i de norrøne kildene og som ble gift med en konge i Sverige.

Lejrekrøniken eller Chronicon Lethrense (og den inkluderte Annales Lundenses, også kalt Annalene i Lund) forteller at Haldan (Halvdan) hadde to sønner, Helghe og Ro (Helge og Roar). Da Haldan døde av gammel alder delte Helghe og Ro kongedømmet slik at Ro styrte landejorda og Helghe sjøen. En dag da Helghe kom til Halland/Lolland , og sov der med Thore (Ålov), datteren av en av Ros bønder. Dette resulterte i en datter kalt Yrse (Yrsa). Langt senere møtte han Yrse, og uten å vite at det var hans datter gjorde han henne gravid med Rolf Krake. Helghe herjet deretter i Vendland og drepte vendernes konge. Han vant også hele Danmark med å drepe en Hodbrod. Til sist fant han ut at Yrse, som han hadde tatt til sengs, var hans egen datter. Han dro da østover og drepte seg selv.

Da både Helghe og Ro var døde tvang den svenske kongen Hakon/Athisl[ (Eadgils i Beowulf, Adils i norrøne kilder) danskene å godta en hund som deres konge. Hunden ble dog etterfulgt av Rolf Krake.

Gesta Danorum

Om Lejrekrøniken rapporterte at svenskene ydmyket danskene etter at Helghe var død nevner Saxo Grammaticus ingenting av det, men isteden lar han Helgo ydmyke svenskene i Gesta Danorum, bok 2. Han har også plassert eller blandet sammen Helgo med Helge Hundingsbane, som i andre kilder er enten av vulsungsætten i henhold til Volsungesaga eller av vulvingætten i Gøtaland, og antagelig av langt senere datering. Det er mulig at informasjon om at begge hadde drept en Hodbrodd og hadde navnene Helge som forvirret Saxo. Saxo er enig med Beowulf og Lejrekrøniken ved å beskrive Helgo og Ro som sønner av Haldanus (Halvdan).

Som Lejrekrøniken forteller han at Ro og Helgo delte kongedømmet etter Haldanus’ død av alderdom; Ro tok landet og Helgo sjøen. Saxo legger forøvrig til at Helgo var en ganske liten mann. Helgo angrep og drepte kong Skalk av Sklavia (= kongen av Vendland), underkastet Sklavia til å bli en dansk provins. Da han fortsatte å herje til sjøs kom han til øya Thurø hvor han kom over en ung kvinne ved navn Thora (Ålov) som han gikk til sengs med og resultatet ble Urse (Yrsa).

Han fikk da navnet Hundingsbane ved å drepe Hunding, konge av sakserne og erobret Jylland fra sakserne, og overdro det til hans høvdinger Heske, Eyr og Ler. Han ydmyket den saksiske adelen ved å vedta at å drepe en av dem ikke ville koste mer i straff enn en å drepe en vanlig fri mann.

Da Helgo etter mange år kom tilbake til Thurø hevnet Thora sin tapte jomfrudom ved å sende Urse til Helgo, som uten å vite det, gikk til sengs med sin egen datter. Dette resulterte i Roluo Kraki (Rolf Krake). Mens Lejrekrøniken og Annalene i Lund ikke forklarer hvorfor Helga trengte å drepe Hodbrodd for å vinne hele Danmark presenterer Gesta Danorum denne som en konge av Sverige som invaderte Danmark og drepte Ro. Etter å ha drept Hodbrodd, hevnet drapet på sin bror, ydmyket han svenskene ved å påby at en hvert forbrytelse mot en svenske ikke skulle straffes etter loven. Deretter, grunnet at han hatet sitt eget land, dro han øst og døde, etter sigende ved å kaste seg på sitt eget sverd. Han ble etterfulgt av sin sønn Roluo.

Rolf Krakes saga

I Rolf Krakes saga hadde Halvdan tre barn, sønnene Helge (Helgi) og Roar (Hróarr) og datteren Signe (Signý). Søsteren var den eldste og ble gift med Sævil jarl som hun fikk sønnen Rok (Hrókr) med. Halvdan ble myrdet av sin bror Frode (Fróði) og de to brødrene Helge og Rolf måtte søke tilflukt hos en mann kalt Vivil som bodde på¨en øy inntil de var i stand til å hevne faren og drepe Frode.

Roar flyttet til Northumbria og giftet seg med Ågn (Ögn), datteren til kong Nordlig (Norðri), mens Helge ble den nye kongen i Danmark, men ble ugift. For å skaffe seg en ektefelle dro Helge til sakserne for å beile til saksernes skjoldmø av en dronning Ålov (Oluf). Hun var imidlertid lite interessert og ydmyket Helge ved å rake av ham håret og dekke ham med tjære mens han som og sendte ham deretter tilbake til skipet. En tid etter kom Helge tilbake og ved list og knep fikk han tatt Ålov til fange og gjorde henne da gravid.

Etter å ha kommet tilbake til sitt rike fødte dronningen et barn, en pike som hun kalte Yrsa etter sin hund. Yrsa ble satt ut for å leve som en gjeter inntil hun var tolv år gammel. Da møtte hun sin far og han ble forelsket i henne uten å vite at det var hans egen datter. Ålov sa intet om datterens farskap som hevn over hva Helge hadde gjort med henne. Helge og Yrsa fikk sønnen Rolf Krake (Hrólfr Kraki).

For sin del av kongedømmet hadde Roar fått en kostbar ring, et arvestykke, men det var ytterligere en slektning som ønsket hans del, deres nevø Rok. Ettersom Rok hverken hadde fått andel i kongedømmet eller ringen dro han til Northumbria, drepte Roar og kastet ringen i vannet (men senere gjenfunnet av Roars sønn Agnar). Helge hevnet broren ved å kappe av armene og beina til Rok.

Da Ålov fikk høre at Helge og Yrsa levde lykkelig sammen reiste hun til Danmark og fortalte datteren sannheten. Yrsa ble sjokkert og selv om Helge vill fortsette samværet insisterte Yrsa å forlate ham for å leve alene. Hun ble senere tatt av den svenske kongen Adils (Aðils) som hans dronning, noe som ikke bedret Helges sinnelag.

Senere fikk Helge besøk i jula av et motbydelig vesen mens han var i sin jakthytte. Ingen i kongedømmet hadde lov til gå inn i hytten unntatt Helge selv. Senere ba vesenet ham å osve i sengen. Uvillig gjorde han det og vesenet klatret selv opp i sengen og ble da forvandlet til en alvekvinne, kledd i silke og den vakreste kvinne han noensinne hadde sett. Han lå med henne og gjorde henne da gravid med en datter ved navn Skuld. Mange år senere fikk han besøk av kvinnen som da bar med seg Skuld. Datteren ble senere gift med Hjarvard (Hjörvarðr), den som drepte Rolf Krake.

I savnet etter Yrsa dro Helge til slutt til Uppsala for å vinne henne tilbake, men ble drept av Adils i et slag. Han ble etterfulgt som konge av sin sønn Rolf Krake.

Skjoldungesaga og Bjarkarímur

Skjoldungesaga og en rímur fra 1400-tallet, Bjarkarímur forteller at Halvdan og hans dronning Sigrith (Sigrid) hadde tre barn: sønnene Roas (Roar) og Helgo (Helge) og datteren Signy (Signe).

Ingjaldus (Ingeld, men her framstilt som Halvdans halvbror) angrep Halvdan, drepte ham og tok Sigrith som ektefelle. Ingjaldus og Sigrith fikk sønnene Rærecus and Frodo (Frode) mens Signy vokste opp his sin mor inntil hun ble giftet bort til Sævil, jarl av Sjelland. Roas og Helgo overlevde ved å skjule seg på en øy i nærheten av Skåne, og da de var gamle nok hevnet de sin far ved å drepe Ingjaldus.

De to brødrene ble begge konger av Danmark, og Roas giftet seg med datteren til kongen av England. Helgo voldtok saksernes dronning, Olava (Ålov), og hun bar fram datteren Yrsa. Piken giftet seg senere med kong Adillus (Adils), kongen av Sverige. Noen år senere angrep Helgo Sverige og tok Yrsa til fange og voldtok henne. Yrsa bar fram sønnen Rolfo (Rolf Krake). Noen få år senere kom Yrsas mor Olava på besøk og fortalte at Helgo var hennes egen far. Yrsa dro tilbake til Adillus og lot Rolfo værende igjen. Helgo døde da Rolfo var åtte år gammel og sønnen etterfulgte ham. I lenge etter ble Roas drept av sine halvbrødre Rærecus og Frodo. Rolfo ble da enekonge av Danmark.

Ynglingesaga[

I Snorre Sturlasons Ynglingesaga, den første sagaen i Heimskringla, nevner han tradisjonen med Helge, Adils og Yrsa, og han forteller at han baserer sin fortelling på Skjoldungesaga. Snorre hadde tilgang på det nå tapte manuskriptet og forteller at denne sagaen var langt mer omfattende.

Snorre skrev at kong Halvdans sønn Helge styrte i Lejre og invaderte Sverige med en slik stor hær at kong Adils ikke kunne gjøre annet enn å flykte fra Uppsala. Helge tok stort bytte og Yrsa som Adils selv hadde røvet i saksernes land. Helge tok Yrsa til sengs og til Danmark og hun fødte ham sønnen Rolf Krake. Da gutten var tre år gammel kom Yrsas mor på besøk, dronning Ålov den mektige fra saksernes land. Hun fortalte at hennes ektemann Helge var hennes egen far. Yrsa dro da tilbake til Sverige og kong Adils. Rolf Krake var kun åtte år da Helge døde på hærtokt og Rolf ble utropt til ny konge av Danmark

https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helge_Halvdansson