# Skjöldr

Skjöldr (Old Norse Skjǫldr, Icelandic Skjöldur, sometimes Anglicized as Skjold or Skiold, Latinized as Skioldus; Old English Scyld, Proto-Germanic *Skelduz ‘shield’) was among the first legendary Danish kings. He is mentioned in the Prose Edda, in Ynglinga saga, in Chronicon Lethrense, in Sven Aggesen's history, in Arngrímur Jónsson's Latin abstract of the lost Skjöldunga saga and in Saxo Grammaticus' Gesta Danorum. He also appears in the Old English poem Beowulf. The various accounts have little in common.

## Primary sources
### Beowulf

Skjǫldr appears in the prologue of Beowulf, where he is referred to as Scyld Scefing, implying he is a descendant or son of a Scef (‘Sheaf’, usually identified with Sceafa), or, literally, 'of the sheaf'. According to Beowulf he was found in a boat as a child, possibly an orphan, but grew on to become a powerful warrior and king:
   Scyld the Sheaf-Child from scourging foemen, From raiders a-many their mead-halls wrested. He lives to be feared, the first has a waif, Puny and frail he was found on the shore. He grew to be great, and was girt with power Till the border-tribes all obeyed his rule, And sea-folk hardy that sit by the whale-path Gave him tribute, a good king was he.
After relating in general terms the glories of Scyld's reign, the poet describes Scyld's funeral, his body was laid in a ship surrounded by treasures:
   They decked his body no less bountifully with offerings than those first ones did who cast him away when he was a child and launched him alone out over the waves.
In line 33 of Beowulf, Scyld's ship is called īsig, literally, ‘icy.’ The meaning of this epithet has been discussed many times. Anatoly Liberman gives a full survey of the literature and suggests that the word meant "shining."
William of Malmesbury's 12th century Chronicle tells the story of Sceafa as a sleeping child in a boat without oars with a sheaf of corn at his head.
Olrik (1910) suggested Peko, a parallel "barley-figure" in Finnish, in turn connected by Fulk (1989) with Eddaic Bergelmir.

### Scandinavian
#### Legendary sagas

In the Ynglinga saga and in the now-lost Skjöldunga saga, Odin came from Asia (Scythia) and conquered Northern Europe. He gave Sweden to his son Yngvi and Denmark to his son Skjöldr. Since then the kings of Sweden were called Ynglings and those of Denmark Skjöldungs.

#### Gesta Danorum

In Gesta Danorum, Skioldus is the son of Lotherus, a wicked king who met his end in an insurrection.
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 | | | | |

#### Sven Aggesen's history

In Sven Aggesen's Brevis historia regum Dacie, Skiold is described as the first man to rule the Danes. He was known by that name because of the shielding power of his kingship.
The family tree of legendary Kings of the Danes, according to Brevis historia regum Dacie by Sven Aggesen :
| | | | | Skiold | Skiold | Skiold | Skiold | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | KEY | KEY | KEY | KEY | KEY | KEY | | |
| Frothi | Frothi | Frothi | Frothi | Frothi | Frothi | Halfdan | Halfdan | Halfdan | Halfdan | Halfdan | Halfdan | | | | | | | | | 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 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Parent and child | Parent and child | Parent and child | Parent and child | Parent and child | Parent and child | | | Helghi | Helghi | Helghi | Helghi | Helghi | Helghi | | | | | | | 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 |
| | | | | | | Rolf Kraki | Rolf Kraki | Rolf Kraki | Rolf Kraki | Rolf Kraki | Rolf Kraki | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Rokil Slagenback | Rokil Slagenback | Rokil Slagenback | Rokil Slagenback | Rokil Slagenback | Rokil Slagenback | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Frothi the Bold | Frothi the Bold | Frothi the Bold | Frothi the Bold | Frothi the Bold | Frothi the Bold | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Wermund | Wermund | Wermund | Wermund | Wermund | Wermund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Uffi | Uffi | Uffi | Uffi | Uffi | Uffi | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Dan the High-minded, or the Proud | Dan the High-minded, or the Proud | Dan the High-minded, or the Proud | Dan the High-minded, or the Proud | Dan the High-minded, or the Proud | Dan the High-minded, or the Proud | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Frothi the Old | Frothi the Old | Frothi the Old | Frothi the Old | Frothi the Old | Frothi the Old | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Frithlefer | Frithlefer | Frithlefer | Frithlefer | Frithlefer | Frithlefer | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Frothi Frithgothæ, or the Magnificent | Frothi Frithgothæ, or the Magnificent | Frothi Frithgothæ, or the Magnificent | Frothi Frithgothæ, or the Magnificent | Frothi Frithgothæ, or the Magnificent | Frothi Frithgothæ, or the Magnificent | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Ingiald | Ingiald | Ingiald | Ingiald | Ingiald | Ingiald | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Olaf | Olaf | Olaf | Olaf | Olaf | Olaf | Regner Lothbrogh | Regner Lothbrogh | Regner Lothbrogh | Regner Lothbrogh | Regner Lothbrogh | Regner Lothbrogh | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | daughter | daughter | daughter | daughter | daughter | daughter | Sighwarth | Sighwarth | Sighwarth | Sighwarth | Sighwarth | Sighwarth | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Knut (first of that name in Denmark) | Knut (first of that name in Denmark) | Knut (first of that name in Denmark) | Knut (first of that name in Denmark) | Knut (first of that name in Denmark) | Knut (first of that name in Denmark) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Snio | Snio | Snio | Snio | Snio | Snio | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Klak-Harald | Klak-Harald | Klak-Harald | Klak-Harald | Klak-Harald | Klak-Harald | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Gorm Løghæ | Gorm Løghæ | Gorm Løghæ | Gorm Løghæ | Gorm Løghæ | Gorm Løghæ | | | Thyrwi, the Ornament of the Realm | Thyrwi, the Ornament of the Realm | Thyrwi, the Ornament of the Realm | Thyrwi, the Ornament of the Realm | Thyrwi, the Ornament of the Realm | Thyrwi, the Ornament of the Realm |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | historical kings of Denmark | historical kings of Denmark | historical kings of Denmark | historical kings of Denmark | historical kings of Denmark | historical kings of Denmark | | | | |

### Beowulf and Tolkien's legendarium

The passage at the start of the Old English poem Beowulf about Scyld Scefing contains a cryptic mention of þā ("those") who have sent Scyld as a baby in a boat, presumably from across the sea, and to whom Scyld's body is returned in a ship funeral, the vessel sailing by itself. Shippey suggests that J. R. R. Tolkien may have seen in this several elements of his legendarium: a Valar-like group who behave much like gods; a glimmer of his Old Straight Road, the way across the sea to the earthly paradise of Valinor forever closed to mortal Men by the remaking of the world after Númenor's attack on Valinor; and Valinor itself.