# Hermuthruda

Hermuthruda, Hermutrude (Old English: Eormenthryth) was a figure in Scandinavian romance.
The chief authority for the legend of Hermuthruda is the Danish chronicle Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus. Described as "the wild queen of Scotland", she became the wife of Wihtlaeg or Vigletus and is described as a Wicked Queen type of character such as found in a variety of fiction.
In the chronicle, Amlethus is sent to court Hermuthruda by the King of England. However the queen had a reputation for killing all suitors, Saxo saying "in the cruelty of her arrogance she had always loathed her wooers, and inflicted upon them the supreme punishment, so that out of many there was not one but paid for his boldness with his head". Hermuthruda takes a liking to Amlethus after stealing his shield and learning of his past. The couple are married until a battle with Wihtlaeg, before which Hermuthruda promises Amlethus her undying love for him, and that she will never marry another. After Wihtlaeg is victorious, Hermuthruda switches sides and immediately marries him in a display of inconsistency that leads to her becoming the "ancestress of Offa".
The family tree of legendary Kings of the Danes, according to the Gesta Danorum (Books I to VII) :
| | | | | Humble | Humble | Humble | Humble | Humble | Humble | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | KEY | KEY | KEY | KEY | KEY | KEY | | | | | | |
| Angul | Angul | Angul | Angul | Angul | Angul | | | Dan* | Dan* | Dan* | Dan* | Dan* | Dan* | | | Grytha | Grytha | Grytha | Grytha | Grytha | Grytha | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Marriage or coupling | Marriage or coupling | Marriage or coupling | Marriage or coupling | Marriage or coupling | Marriage or coupling | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Parent and child | Parent and child | Parent and child | Parent and child | Parent and child | Parent and child | | | | |
| The Angles | The Angles | The Angles | The Angles | The Angles | The Angles | | | Humble* | Humble* | Humble* | Humble* | Humble* | Humble* | | | Lother* | Lother* | Lother* | Lother* | Lother* | Lother* | | | King of the Saxons | King of the Saxons | King of the Saxons | King of the Saxons | King of the Saxons | King of the Saxons | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Inheritance by other or unclear means | Inheritance by other or unclear means | Inheritance by other or unclear means | Inheritance by other or unclear means | Inheritance by other or unclear means | Inheritance by other or unclear means | | | | |
| | | | | Sigtryg, King of the Swedes† | Sigtryg, King of the Swedes† | Sigtryg, King of the Swedes† | Sigtryg, King of the Swedes† | Sigtryg, King of the Swedes† | Sigtryg, King of the Swedes† | | | | | | | Skiold* | Skiold* | Skiold* | Skiold* | Skiold* | Skiold* | | | Alfhild | Alfhild | Alfhild | Alfhild | Alfhild | Alfhild | | | Sumble, King of the Finns | Sumble, King of the Finns | Sumble, King of the Finns | Sumble, King of the Finns | Sumble, King of the Finns | Sumble, King of the Finns | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | Gróa | Gróa | Gróa | Gróa | Gróa | Gróa | | | | | | | Gram*† | Gram*† | Gram*† | Gram*† | Gram*† | Gram*† | | | | | | | Signe | Signe | Signe | Signe | Signe | Signe | | | Henry, King of the Saxons | Henry, King of the Saxons | Henry, King of the Saxons | Henry, King of the Saxons | Henry, King of the Saxons | Henry, King of the Saxons | | | Hakon, King of the Nitherians | Hakon, King of the Nitherians | Hakon, King of the Nitherians | Hakon, King of the Nitherians | Hakon, King of the Nitherians | Hakon, King of the Nitherians | | |
| | | Swipdag*† | Swipdag*† | Swipdag*† | Swipdag*† | Swipdag*† | Swipdag*† | | | [unnamed] | [unnamed] | [unnamed] | [unnamed] | [unnamed] | [unnamed] | | | Guthorm* | Guthorm* | Guthorm* | Guthorm* | Guthorm* | Guthorm* | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Hadding* | Hadding* | Hadding* | Hadding* | Hadding* | Hadding* | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ragnhild | Ragnhild | Ragnhild | Ragnhild | Ragnhild | Ragnhild | | |
| | | | | | | Asmund† | Asmund† | Asmund† | Asmund† | Asmund† | Asmund† | | | Gunhild | Gunhild | Gunhild | Gunhild | Gunhild | Gunhild | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Guthorm | Guthorm | Guthorm | Guthorm | Guthorm | Guthorm | | |
| | | Henry | Henry | Henry | Henry | Henry | Henry | | | Uffe† | Uffe† | Uffe† | Uffe† | Uffe† | Uffe† | | | Hunding† | Hunding† | Hunding† | Hunding† | Hunding† | Hunding† | | | Thorhild | Thorhild | Thorhild | Thorhild | Thorhild | Thorhild | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ulfhild | Ulfhild | Ulfhild | Ulfhild | Ulfhild | Ulfhild | | | Ubbe | Ubbe | Ubbe | Ubbe | Ubbe | Ubbe |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Scot | Scot | Scot | Scot | Scot | Scot | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ragnar† | Ragnar† | Ragnar† | Ragnar† | Ragnar† | Ragnar† | | | Swanhwid | Swanhwid | Swanhwid | Swanhwid | Swanhwid | Swanhwid | | | | | | | | | Handwan | Handwan | Handwan | Handwan | Handwan | Handwan |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Thorwald | Thorwald | Thorwald | Thorwald | Thorwald | Thorwald | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Thorwald | Thorwald | Thorwald | Thorwald | Thorwald | Thorwald | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Frode* | Frode* | Frode* | Frode* | Frode* | Frode* | | | [unnamed] | [unnamed] | [unnamed] | [unnamed] | [unnamed] | [unnamed] |
| | | | | | | Hothbrodd† | Hothbrodd† | Hothbrodd† | Hothbrodd† | Hothbrodd† | Hothbrodd† | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Halfdan* | Halfdan* | Halfdan* | Halfdan* | Halfdan* | Halfdan* | | | Ro | Ro | Ro | Ro | Ro | Ro | | | Skat | Skat | Skat | Skat | Skat | Skat |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Thora | Thora | Thora | Thora | Thora | Thora | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Helge* | Helge* | Helge* | Helge* | Helge* | Helge* | | | Ro* | Ro* | Ro* | Ro* | Ro* | Ro* | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Athils† | Athils† | Athils† | Athils† | Athils† | Athils† | | | Urse | Urse | Urse | Urse | Urse | Urse | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | King Gewar | King Gewar | King Gewar | King Gewar | King Gewar | King Gewar | | | Rolf*† Krage | Rolf*† Krage | Rolf*† Krage | Rolf*† Krage | Rolf*† Krage | Rolf*† Krage | | | Rute | Rute | Rute | Rute | Rute | Rute | | | Bjarke | Bjarke | Bjarke | Bjarke | Bjarke | Bjarke | | | Skulde | Skulde | Skulde | Skulde | Skulde | Skulde | | | Hiartuar†* | Hiartuar†* | Hiartuar†* | Hiartuar†* | Hiartuar†* | Hiartuar†* | | | | | | |
| | | Hother†* | Hother†* | Hother†* | Hother†* | Hother†* | Hother†* | | | Nanna | Nanna | Nanna | Nanna | Nanna | Nanna | | | Herlek | Herlek | Herlek | Herlek | Herlek | Herlek | | | Gerit | Gerit | Gerit | Gerit | Gerit | Gerit | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Rorik* | Rorik* | Rorik* | Rorik* | Rorik* | Rorik* | | | | | | | | | Gerwendil | Gerwendil | Gerwendil | Gerwendil | Gerwendil | Gerwendil | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| King of Britain | King of Britain | King of Britain | King of Britain | King of Britain | King of Britain | | | Gerutha | Gerutha | Gerutha | Gerutha | Gerutha | Gerutha | | | Horwendil | Horwendil | Horwendil | Horwendil | Horwendil | Horwendil | | | Feng | Feng | Feng | Feng | Feng | Feng | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| [unnamed] | [unnamed] | [unnamed] | [unnamed] | [unnamed] | [unnamed] | | | | | | | Amleth | Amleth | Amleth | Amleth | Amleth | Amleth | | | Hermutrude, Queen of Scotland | Hermutrude, Queen of Scotland | Hermutrude, Queen of Scotland | Hermutrude, Queen of Scotland | Hermutrude, Queen of Scotland | Hermutrude, Queen of Scotland | | | Wiglek* | Wiglek* | Wiglek* | Wiglek* | Wiglek* | Wiglek* | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Wermund* | Wermund* | Wermund* | Wermund* | Wermund* | Wermund* | | | | | | | | | | | Frowin, governor of Sleswik | Frowin, governor of Sleswik | Frowin, governor of Sleswik | Frowin, governor of Sleswik | Frowin, governor of Sleswik | Frowin, governor of Sleswik | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Uffe*, aka Olaf the Gentle | Uffe*, aka Olaf the Gentle | Uffe*, aka Olaf the Gentle | Uffe*, aka Olaf the Gentle | Uffe*, aka Olaf the Gentle | Uffe*, aka Olaf the Gentle | | | [unnamed] | [unnamed] | [unnamed] | [unnamed] | [unnamed] | [unnamed] | | | Ket | Ket | Ket | Ket | Ket | Ket | | | Wig | Wig | Wig | Wig | Wig | Wig | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Dan* | Dan* | Dan* | Dan* | Dan* | Dan* | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Hugleik* | Hugleik* | Hugleik* | Hugleik* | Hugleik* | Hugleik* | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Frode* the Vigorous | Frode* the Vigorous | Frode* the Vigorous | Frode* the Vigorous | Frode* the Vigorous | Frode* the Vigorous | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Dan* | Dan* | Dan* | Dan* | Dan* | Dan* | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Kraka | Kraka | Kraka | Kraka | Kraka | Kraka | | | Ragnar | Ragnar | Ragnar | Ragnar | Ragnar | Ragnar | | | Brak | Brak | Brak | Brak | Brak | Brak | | | Fridleif* the Swift | Fridleif* the Swift | Fridleif* the Swift | Fridleif* the Swift | Fridleif* the Swift | Fridleif* the Swift | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Gotar, King of Norway | Gotar, King of Norway | Gotar, King of Norway | Gotar, King of Norway | Gotar, King of Norway | Gotar, King of Norway | | | | | | | | | | | Hun, King of the Huns | Hun, King of the Huns | Hun, King of the Huns | Hun, King of the Huns | Hun, King of the Huns | Hun, King of the Huns | | | Westmar | Westmar | Westmar | Westmar | Westmar | Westmar | | | Koll | Koll | Koll | Koll | Koll | Koll | | | Gotwar | Gotwar | Gotwar | Gotwar | Gotwar | Gotwar |
| Roller | Roller | Roller | Roller | Roller | Roller | | | Erik† | Erik† | Erik† | Erik† | Erik† | Erik† | | | Gunwar the Fair | Gunwar the Fair | Gunwar the Fair | Gunwar the Fair | Gunwar the Fair | Gunwar the Fair | | | Alfhild | Alfhild | Alfhild | Alfhild | Alfhild | Alfhild | | | Frode* | Frode* | Frode* | Frode* | Frode* | Frode* | | | Hanund | Hanund | Hanund | Hanund | Hanund | Hanund | | | Grep | Grep | Grep | Grep | Grep | Grep | | | | | | | 11 other brothers (two named Grep) | 11 other brothers (two named Grep) | 11 other brothers (two named Grep) | 11 other brothers (two named Grep) | 11 other brothers (two named Grep) | 11 other brothers (two named Grep) | | | | |
| | | | | Hythin, King of Tellemark | Hythin, King of Tellemark | Hythin, King of Tellemark | Hythin, King of Tellemark | Hythin, King of Tellemark | Hythin, King of Tellemark | | | | | | | Alf | Alf | Alf | Alf | Alf | Alf | | | Eyfura | Eyfura | Eyfura | Eyfura | Eyfura | Eyfura | | | Arngrim | Arngrim | Arngrim | Arngrim | Arngrim | Arngrim | | | Grubb | Grubb | Grubb | Grubb | Grubb | Grubb | | | | | | | Hiarn* | Hiarn* | Hiarn* | Hiarn* | Hiarn* | Hiarn* | | | Amund, King of Norway | Amund, King of Norway | Amund, King of Norway | Amund, King of Norway | Amund, King of Norway | Amund, King of Norway | | |
| | | | | [unnamed] | [unnamed] | [unnamed] | [unnamed] | [unnamed] | [unnamed] | | | Halfdan† | Halfdan† | Halfdan† | Halfdan† | Halfdan† | Halfdan† | | | | | | | 12 sons, including Anganty | 12 sons, including Anganty | 12 sons, including Anganty | 12 sons, including Anganty | 12 sons, including Anganty | 12 sons, including Anganty | | | Ane | Ane | Ane | Ane | Ane | Ane | | | Juritha | Juritha | Juritha | Juritha | Juritha | Juritha | | | Fridleif* | Fridleif* | Fridleif* | Fridleif* | Fridleif* | Fridleif* | | | Frogertha | Frogertha | Frogertha | Frogertha | Frogertha | Frogertha | | | Frok | Frok | Frok | Frok | Frok | Frok |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Hanef, King of Saxony | Hanef, King of Saxony | Hanef, King of Saxony | Hanef, King of Saxony | Hanef, King of Saxony | Hanef, King of Saxony | | | Swerting, King of Saxony | Swerting, King of Saxony | Swerting, King of Saxony | Swerting, King of Saxony | Swerting, King of Saxony | Swerting, King of Saxony | | | | | | | | | | | Olaf | Olaf | Olaf | Olaf | Olaf | Olaf | Frode* | Frode* | Frode* | Frode* | Frode* | Frode* |
| | | | | | | | | Siward† | Siward† | Siward† | Siward† | Siward† | Siward† | | | | | | | | | | | Unnamed sons | Unnamed sons | Unnamed sons | Unnamed sons | Unnamed sons | Unnamed sons | | | [unnamed] | [unnamed] | [unnamed] | [unnamed] | [unnamed] | [unnamed] | | | Ingeld* | Ingeld* | Ingeld* | Ingeld* | Ingeld* | Ingeld* | | | Helga | Helga | Helga | Helga | Helga | Helga | | | Helge | Helge | Helge | Helge | Helge | Helge | | | Asa | Asa | Asa | Asa | Asa | Asa |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Frode | Frode | Frode | Frode | Frode | Frode | | | Fridleif | Fridleif | Fridleif | Fridleif | Fridleif | Fridleif | | | Ingeld | Ingeld | Ingeld | Ingeld | Ingeld | Ingeld | | | Olaf* | Olaf* | Olaf* | Olaf* | Olaf* | Olaf* | | | Karl, governor of Gothland | Karl, governor of Gothland | Karl, governor of Gothland | Karl, governor of Gothland | Karl, governor of Gothland | Karl, governor of Gothland |
| | | | | | | | | Ulfhild | Ulfhild | Ulfhild | Ulfhild | Ulfhild | Ulfhild | | | Frode* | Frode* | Frode* | Frode* | Frode* | Frode* | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Hather, a chief | Hather, a chief | Hather, a chief | Hather, a chief | Hather, a chief | Hather, a chief | | | Harald* | Harald* | Harald* | Harald* | Harald* | Harald* | | | Signe | Signe | Signe | Signe | Signe | Signe | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Erik | Erik | Erik | Erik | Erik | Erik | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Thorhild | Thorhild | Thorhild | Thorhild | Thorhild | Thorhild | | | Halfdan*† Biargramm | Halfdan*† Biargramm | Halfdan*† Biargramm | Halfdan*† Biargramm | Halfdan*† Biargramm | Halfdan*† Biargramm | | | Harald | Harald | Harald | Harald | Harald | Harald | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Asmund | Asmund | Asmund | Asmund | Asmund | Asmund | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Kings of Norway | Kings of Norway | Kings of Norway | Kings of Norway | Kings of Norway | Kings of Norway | | | | |