Herleif (Latinized as Herleifus) was one of the earliest legendary Danish kings according to
Arngrímur Jónsson
Arngrímur Jónsson the Learned ( is, Arngrímur Jónsson hinn lærði; 1568 – 27 June 1648) was an Icelandic scholar and a Christian Apologetics, apologist. His father was Jón Jónsson, who died in 1591. Arngrímur studied in Copenhagen, co ...
's Latin summary of the lost
Skjöldunga saga. He was the son of Frodo I and the father of Havardus ''hinn handramme'' and Leifus ''hinn frekne''. He supposedly "left behind many sons" but their names are not recorded and they seem to be excluded from the
royal line of succession.
Originally, Herleif was named simply Leif (Leifus) after his grandfather, but later in life he became known as Herleif due to his courage in battle. Herleif derives from the
Old Norse elements herr "army" and leifr "heir" or "descendant". During his reign, peace and tranquility were replaced by growing wars and banditry. The
Skjöldunga saga does not record how he died. He was succeeded by his son Havardus.
See also
*
Fróði
*
List of legendary kings of Denmark
*
Danish monarchs' family tree
The Danish royal family traces its descent from the 10th century to the present monarch, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.
House of Gorm
House of Estridsen
''Note: This chart also includes the kings from the Houses of Bjelbo ( Ola ...
References
Sources
* "Fragments of Danish History" by Clarence Miller.
* English translation of Arngrímur Jónsson's paraphrase in the journa
ANQ 20.3 (2007): 3-33
External links
''ANQ: A Quarterly Journal of Short Articles, Notes, and Reviews''
Mythological kings of Denmark
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