Geatish kings ( la, Rex Getarum/Gothorum; sv, Götakungar), ruling over the provinces of Götaland (Gautland/Geatland), appear in several sources for early Swedish history. Today, most of them are not considered historical. This list follows the generally accepted identification between the names

Götar The Geats ( ; ang, gēatas ; non, gautar ; sv, götar ), sometimes called '' Goths'', were a large North Germanic tribe who inhabited ("land of the Geats") in modern southern Sweden from antiquity until the late Middle Ages. They are one of ...

( modern Swedish), Gautar (

Old Norse Old Norse, Old Nordic, or Old Scandinavian, is a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and t ...

) and Geatas ( Old English), which is based both on tradition, literary sources and on etymology. However, unlike some translations it does not identify this tribe with the

Goths The Goths ( got, 𐌲𐌿𐍄𐌸𐌹𐌿𐌳𐌰, translit=''Gutþiuda''; la, Gothi, grc-gre, Γότθοι, Gótthoi) were a Germanic people who played a major role in the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the emergence of medieval Euro ...

. Both Old Norse and Old English records clearly separate the Geats from the Goths, while still depicting them as closely related to each other. From the Middle Ages until 1974, the

king of Sweden The monarchy of Sweden is the monarchical head of state of Sweden,See the #IOG, Instrument of Government, Chapter 1, Article 5. which is a constitutional monarchy, constitutional and hereditary monarchy with a parliamentary system.Parliamentary ...

claimed the title King of the Geats as "King of Sweden and Geats/Goths" or "Rex Sweorum et Gothorum". Danish monarchs used the similar title " King of the Goths" from 1362 until 1972.

Legendary kings

Some names appear in

Norse mythology Norse, Nordic, or Scandinavian mythology is the body of myths belonging to the North Germanic peoples, stemming from Old Norse religion and continuing after the Christianization of Scandinavia, and into the Nordic folklore of the modern peri ...

and in Germanic legend and in at least one case, they were probably historical ( Hygelac). Their order of succession is uncertain (if they ever lived). * Dag, contemporary with Yngvi-Frey in

Gamla Uppsala Gamla, alt. sp. Gamala ( he, גַּמְלָא, The Camel) was an ancient Jewish city on the Golan Heights. It is believed to have been founded as a Seleucid fort during the Syrian Wars which was turned into a city under Hasmonean rule in 8 ...

, in '' Sturlaugs saga'' 19 & 23. * Gizur 4th century, who helps the

during the battles with the

Huns The Huns were a nomadic people who lived in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Eastern Europe between the 4th and 6th century AD. According to European tradition, they were first reported living east of the Volga River, in an area that was par ...

in '' Hervarar saga'' (see Hlöd). * Gauti (in ''Herraud's saga''), probably the same as Gaut the father of Gautrek according to the '' Ynglinga saga''. See Sons of Odin. *Ring son of Gauti (king of East Götaland in '' Bósa saga ok Herrauds'') *

Herrauðr Herrauðr, ''Herraud'', ''Herröðr'', ''Herruðr'', ''Herrud'', ''Herothus'' or ''Heroth'' is a legendary earl of Götaland or king of Sweden, who appears in several medieval legends, in particular those relating to Ragnar Lodbrok (e.g. '' Tale ...

, son of Ring (king of East Götaland in '' Bósa saga ok Herrauds'') * Gautrekr, appearing in several sources. *Ketill Gautreksson, in '' Hrólfs saga Gautrekssonar''. * Hrólfr Gautreksson, in '' Hrólfs saga Gautrekssonar''. * Gestiblindus, according to '' Gesta Danorum''. * Yngwin (''"Yngve"'') 5th century (in Gesta Danorum, see Halfdan) * Siward, contemporary with Yngwin's grandson (in Gesta Danorum) *

Algaut Algaut (or ''Algöt'') was a Geatish king who ruled West Götaland according to the '' Heimskringla''. Snorri Sturluson Snorri Sturluson ( ; ; 1179 – 22 September 1241) was an Icelandic historian, poet, and politician. He was elected twice ...

4th century or the 7th century (in the Norse sagas) * Thorir (the brother of Bödvar Bjarki and Elgfróði in Hrólfs saga kraka)

Siklings

* Sigar?, the father of Siggeir, who genealogically corresponds to Yngwin, the king of Götaland in Gesta Danorum. * Siggeir 5th century, a son of Sigar and the king of Götaland in the Volsunga saga

Hrethelings

* Swerting (in

Beowulf ''Beowulf'' (; ang, Bēowulf ) is an Old English Epic poetry, epic poem in the tradition of Germanic heroic legend consisting of 3,182 Alliterative verse, alliterative lines. It is one of the most important and List of translations of Beo ...

). * Hreðel (a relative of Swerting, in Beowulf) (nephew, grandson or stepson) * Hæþcyn d. 514 or 515 (the son of Hrethel, in Beowulf) * Hygelac d. 516 (the son of Hrethel, in Beowulf) * Heardred d. ca 530 (the son of Hygelac, in Beowulf) *

d. ca 580? (the nephew of Hygelac, in Beowulf) * Wiglaf (the kinsman of Beowulf, in Beowulf)

Ylfings (Wulfings)

Kings of East Gotland (Östergötland) *

Helm Helm may refer to: Common meanings * a ship's steering mechanism; see tiller and ship's wheel * another term for helmsman * an archaic term for a helmet, used as armor Arts and entertainment * Matt Helm, a character created by Donald Hamilt ...

Early 6th century, the Wulfing king mentioned in '' Widsith''. Possible Reign Date Range 475–530. *

Högne ''For other people named Högne, see Haguna.'' Högne was a king of Östergötland who appears in sources of Norse mythology. ''Heimskringla'' Snorri Sturluson wrote that he was the king of Östergötland and that he had a son named Hildur a ...

7th century, the king of East Götaland (in the Heimskringla) and the father-in-law of Granmar. Most likely descendant of Helm. * Hjörvard 7th century, king of East Götaland (in Sögubrot) Married Hildagun daughter of Granmer. Most likely descendant of Helm. *

Helgi Ylfing Helge or Helgi is a Scandinavian, German, and Dutch mostly male name. The name is derived from Proto-Norse ''Hailaga'' with its original meaning being ''dedicated to the gods''. For its Slavic version, see Oleg. Its feminine equivalent is Olga. ...

7th century, probably a king of East Götaland in the Norse sagas and son-in-law of Högne. If we separate the merged Helgi into two time frames periods. He is recorded as the killer of Hogne and his sons and also Granmers son's. * Hjörmund 7th century, king of East Götaland (in Sögubrot) and a son of Hjörvard. He was most likely grandson of Högne. Given the throne by Ivar Harold Wartooths grandfather.

Battle of Bråvalla

Chronologically assigned to the 8th century, but poorly attested historically, the Battle of Bråvalla (in a location legendarily between West and East Gothenland) was fought between the "King of Sweden" ( Sigurd Hring) who is said to have ruled Westrogothians, and the "King of Denmark" ( Harald Wartooth) whose realm is said to have included Ostrogothians.

Historical kings

When sources become more reliable, Götaland is an integrated part of the Swedish kingdom and from

Stenkil Stenkil (Old Norse: ''Steinkell'') was a King of Sweden who ruled c. 1060 until 1066. He succeeded Emund the Old and became the first king from the House of Stenkil. He is praised as a devout Christian, but with an accommodating stance towards th ...

and onwards most of the medieval Swedish kings actually belonged to Geatish clans ( House of Stenkil, House of Sverker and the House of Bjelbo, possibly also the House of Eric). In the early

High Middle Ages The High Middle Ages, or High Medieval Period, was the period of European history that lasted from AD 1000 to 1300. The High Middle Ages were preceded by the Early Middle Ages and were followed by the Late Middle Ages, which ended around AD ...

some kings in Sweden were titled rex Visigothorum and rex Gothorum, failing to hold the Swedish core provinces in

Svealand Svealand (), or Swealand, is the historical core region of Sweden. It is located in south central Sweden and is one of three historical lands of Sweden, bounded to the north by Norrland and to the south by Götaland. Deep forests, Tiveden, ...

. The non-Geatish King Ragnvald Knaphövde was killed by the Geats as he despised them and travelled among them without Geatish hostages. *

Ingold I Inge the Elder (Swedish: ''Inge Stenkilsson''; Old Norse: ''Ingi Steinkelsson''; died c. 1105–1110) was a king of Sweden. In English literature he has also been called ''Ingold''. While scant sources do not allow us to paint a full picture of hi ...

, king of

Västergötland Västergötland (), also known as West Gothland or the Latinized version Westrogothia in older literature, is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden (''landskap'' in Swedish), situated in the southwest of Sweden. Vä ...

(1081) * Halsten, king of

(1081) * Magnus the Strong, king of Västergötland (reigned 1125–1130) *Kol, king of

Östergötland Östergötland (; English exonym: East Gothland) is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden (''landskap'' in Swedish) in the south of Sweden. It borders Småland, Västergötland, Närke, Södermanland and the Baltic Sea. In older English ...

(see

Ingold II Inge the Younger was King of Sweden in c. 1110–c. 1125 and probably the youngest son of king Halsten.The article ''Inge d.y.'' in ''Nationalencyklopedin'' (1992).The article Inge, section 2. I. den yngre' in ''Nordisk familjebok'' (1910). Accordi ...

) (early 12th century) * Karl Sverkersson, rex Gothorum before becoming king of all of Sweden. * since

Magnus III of Sweden Magnus III ( 1240 – 18 December 1290), also called Magnus Ladulås, was King of Sweden from 1275 until his death in 1290. Name He was the ''first Magnus'' to rule Sweden for any length of time, not generally regarded as a usurper or ...

until accession of

Charles XVI Gustav Carl XVI Gustaf (Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus; born 30 April 1946) is King of Sweden. He ascended the throne on the death of his grandfather, Gustaf VI Adolf, on 15 September 1973. He is the youngest child and only son of Prince Gustaf Adolf, Du ...

, Sweden's monarchs were officially titled King of the Goths; and quite parallelly, since

Valdemar IV Valdemar IV Atterdag (the epithet meaning "Return of the Day"), or Waldemar (132024 October 1375) was King of Denmark from 1340 to 1375. He is mostly known for his reunion of Denmark after the bankruptcy and mortgaging of the country to finance ...

's conquest of

Gotland Gotland (, ; ''Gutland'' in Gutnish), also historically spelled Gottland or Gothland (), is Sweden's largest island. It is also a province, county, municipality, and diocese. The province includes the islands of Fårö and Gotska Sandön to th ...

until accession of

Margrethe II of Denmark Margrethe II (; Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid, born 16 April 1940) is Queen of Denmark. Having reigned as Denmark's monarch for over 50 years, she is Europe's longest-serving current head of state and the world's only incumbent fema ...

, Denmark's monarchs were similarly titled.

False kings

* The 16th-century forgery Ballad of Eric tells of the first king of Götaland Eric (''"Eiriker"''), who for a long time was considered historical.

References

{{Germanic peoples English heroic legends Barbarian kingdoms