Swerting (Proto-Norse * Swartingaz [1]) is briefly mentioned in Beowulf, where he had a son or son-in-law,[ The meaning of "Higelac Geata, nefa Swertinges" (v. 1202-1203) can be either Hygelac Geat, 'nephew, grandson or stepson' of Swerting.] Hrethel, who was the maternal grandfather of the hero Beowulf.
The Heaðobard tradition
A Swerting of the same timeframe also appears in Scandinavian traditions as the killer of a Danish king named Fróði/Frotho, who corresponds to
Froda, the Heaðobard, in
Beowulf.
[ The article Starkad in Nordisk familjebok (1909).][ The Relation of the Hrolfs Saga Kraka and the Bjarkarimur to Beowulf by Olson, 1916, at Project Gutenberg] In the Scandinavian traditions, Froda's son
Ingeld also appears with the name forms
Ingjald or
Ingellus.
Skjöldunga saga and Bjarkarímur
The
Skjöldunga saga and the
Bjarkarímur tell that the king of Sweden,
Jorund, was defeated by the Danish king Fróði, who made him a tributary and took his daughter. The daughter gave birth to
Halfdan, but another woman became Fróði's legitimate wife and gave him an heir named
Ingeld. Together with one of his
, Swerting, Jorund conspired against Fróði and killed him during the blót.
Gesta Danorum
There is also a second version in
Gesta Danorum, concerning the adventures of
Starkad, and which is based on the old warrior who restarted the conflict between the Heaðobards and the Danes.
The Danish king
Frotho IV (Froda) was killed through treachery by a Saxon named Swerting (Swertingus) (cf. the Swedish earl, above). Frotho's son Ingellus (Ingeld) lived a wanton life and married one of Swerting's daughters. This angered Starkad so much that he enlisted at the Swedish king
Halfdan's (Haldanus) court instead. As Ingellus continued his sinful life and did not do his duty to avenge his father, Starkad appeared during a banquet that Ingellus had with the sons of Swerting, his father's slayer. Starkad strongly admonished Ingellus and humiliated his queen who tried to calm Starkad with kindness and her costly ribbon. Starkad succeeded in exciting Ingellus to kill Swerting's sons and to divorce his Saxon bride.
Historia Brittonum
The pedigree of king Aella of Deira given in
Historia Brittonum includes the name "
Sguerthing" as great-grandfather of the king,
[ Archeologia Cantiana p. 37-38] and this has been interpreted as a reference to the Swerting of
Beowulf. The name does not appear in other versions of the royal pedigree and may represent an attempt by the author of
Historia Brittonum to interpose this heroic character into the royal pedigree.
Notes and references
