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Alf and Alfhild

Legends in Norse mythology

Wikipedia contributorsAdapted for Fathomly · View authors

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Source updated August 28, 2026

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According to the Gesta Danorum, Alfhild, daughter of the Geatish king Siward, was a shieldmaiden who had her own fleet of longships with crews of young female pirates and raided along the coasts of the Baltic Sea.

As a young princess, Alfhild's chamber was guarded by a lizard and a snake, which scared away unworthy suitors. A Danish prince named Alf, also of Geatish descent, came to Geatland and defeated the animal guards. But Alfhild, advised by her mother, fled from Alf dressed as a man, and she became a shield maiden.

Alf and his Scanian comrade, Borgar, together with their Danish sea-warriors, searched for and eventually found Alfhild and her fleet by the coast of southern Finland. After some deadly fighting aboard the ships, Alfhild's helmet was knocked off, and she was recognised. Alf and Borgar ordered their men to stop fighting, and Alf embraced Alfhild, happy to finally have found her. She then decided to lay off her warrior clothes and follow Alf to Denmark, where they got married.

Some years later, in a war fought against a revolting Danish clan, Alf and his brothers and their father King Sigar were killed. Only Alf's and Alfhild's daughter Gurid had survived of the royal family. After being queen for a while, Gurid married one of Borgar's sons, Halfdan, and they had a son named Harald, who became the new king of Denmark.

The family tree of legendary Kings of the Danes, according to the Gesta Danorum (Books 1 to 9)

Kings of the Danes are marked with a crown (♕). Kings of the Swedes are marked with a dagger (†). Superscript numbers after a name indicate in which books of Gesta Danorum the individual is mentioned.

Humblus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

KEY

Angul ♂ ⁽¹⁾

♕ Dan I ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Grytha ♀ ⁽¹⁾

Marriage or coupling

Parent and child

The Angles

♕ Humblus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

♕ Lotherus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

King of the Saxons ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Succession by other or unclear means

Roarus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Sigtrugus, King of the Swedes† ♂ ⁽¹⁾

♕ Skioldus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Alvilda ♀ ⁽¹⁾

daughter of Roarus ♀ ⁽¹⁾

Bessus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

sister of Gram ♀ ⁽¹⁾

Gro ♀ ⁽¹⁾

♕ Gram† ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Sumblus, King of the Finns ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Wagnofthus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Signe ♀ ⁽¹⁾

Henricus, King of the Saxons ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Haquinus, King of the Nitherians ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Harthgrepa ♀ ⁽¹⁾

♕Suibdagerus, King of Norway† ♂ ⁽¹⁾

sister of Guthormus ♀ ⁽¹⁾

♕Guthormus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

♕Hadingus ♂ ^(1,2,4,5)

Regnilda ♀ ⁽¹⁾

Asmundus† ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Gunnilda ♀ ⁽¹⁾

Guthormus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Ulvilda ♀ ^(1,2)

♕ Ubbo ♂ ⁽²⁾

Henricus ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Uffo† ♂ ⁽¹⁾

Hundingus† ♂ ^(1,2)

Thorilda ♀ ⁽²⁾

Scottus ♂ ⁽²⁾

daughter of Uffo ♀ ⁽¹⁾

Regnerus† ♂ ⁽²⁾

Suanhuita ♀ ⁽²⁾

sisters of Suanhuita ♀♀ ⁽²⁾

Andwan, King of the Hellespont ♂ ⁽²⁾

Thoraldus ♂ ⁽²⁾

♕ Frotho I ♂ ^(2,5)

daughter of Andwan ♀ ⁽²⁾

Hothbrodus† ♂ ^(2,3)

♕ Haldanus I ♂ ⁽²⁾

Roe ♂ ⁽²⁾

Skato ♂ ⁽²⁾

Thora ♀ ⁽²⁾

♕ Helgo ♂ ^(2,3)

♕ Roe ♂ ⁽²⁾

Athislus† ♂ ^(2,3)

Ursa ♀ ⁽²⁾

King Gevarus ♂ ^(2,3)

♕ Rolvo Krake† ♂ ^(2,3)

Ruta ♀ ⁽²⁾

Biarco ♂ ⁽²⁾

Sculda ♀ ⁽²⁾

♕Hiarwarthus † ♂ ^(2,3)

♕ Hotherus† ♂ ^(2,3)

Nanna ♀ ⁽³⁾

Herlecus ♂ ⁽³⁾

Gericus ♂ ⁽³⁾

former King of Britain ♂ ⁽³⁾

mother of the King of Britain ♀ ⁽³⁾

a slave ♂ ⁽³⁾

a bondmaid ♀ ⁽³⁾

♕ Roricus Slyngebond ♂ ⁽³⁾

Gerwendillus ♂ ⁽³⁾

King of Britain ♂ ^(3,4)

Queen of Britain ♀ ^(3,4)

Gerutha ♀ ^(3,4)

Horwendillus ♂ ^(3,4)

Fengo ♂ ^(3,4)

foster sister of Amlethus ♀ ^(3,4)

daughter of the King of Britain ♀ ^(3,4)

Amlethus ♂ ^(3,4)

Herminthruda, Queen of Scotland ♀ ⁽⁴⁾

♕ Wiglecus ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

son of Amlethus ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

♕Wermundus ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

Frowinus, governor of Sleswik ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

♕ Uffo, or Olavus the Gentle ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

daughter of Frowin ♀ ⁽⁴⁾

Keto ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

Wigo ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

♕ Dan II ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

♕ Huglecus ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

♕ Frotho II, the Vigorous ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

♕ Dan III ♂ ⁽⁴⁾

Craca ♀ ⁽⁵⁾

Regnerus ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Bracus ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

♕ Fridlevus I, the Swift ♂ ^(4,5)

Hun, King of the Huns ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Hun ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Gøtarus, King of Norway ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Westmarus ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Colo ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Gøtwara ♀ ⁽⁵⁾

Rollerus ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Ericus the Shrewd-spoken† ♂ ^(5,6)

Gunwara the Fair ♀ ⁽⁵⁾

Alvilda ♀ ⁽⁵⁾

♕ Frotho III ♂ ^(5,6)

Hanunda ♀ ⁽⁵⁾

Grep (eldest of three) ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

11 other sons (two named Grep) ♂♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Hythin, King of Tellemark ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

Alvo ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Ofura ♀ ⁽⁵⁾

Arngrimus ♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Grubbus ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

♕ Hiarnus ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

Amundus, King of Norway ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

child of Hythin ⁽⁶⁾

Haldanus† ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

12 sons, including Angantir ♂♂ ⁽⁵⁾

Ano ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

Iuritha ♀ ⁽⁶⁾

♕ Fridlevus II ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

Frogertha ♀ ⁽⁶⁾

Hanevus, King of Saxony ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

Suertingus, King of Saxony ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

Olavus ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

♕ Frotho IV ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

Sywardus† ♂ ^(6,7)

sons of Suertingus ♂♂ ⁽⁶⁾

sister of the sons of Suertingus ♀ ⁽⁶⁾

♕ Ingellus ♂ ^(6,7)

Helga ♀ ⁽⁶⁾

Helgo ♂ ⁽⁶⁾

Asa ♀ ⁽⁶⁾

three sons that died in war ♂♂ ⁽⁷⁾

♕ Olavus I ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Karolus, governor of Gothland ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Ulvilda ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

♕ Frotho V ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Hatherus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

♕ Haraldus I ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Sygne ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Ericus† ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Thorhilda ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

♕ Haldanus II Biargrammus† ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

♕Haraldus II ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Ebbo ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

mother of Otharus ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

♕ Unguinus, King of the Goths ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Asmundus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

sister of Otharus ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

♕ Sywaldus I ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Sygrutha ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Kings of Norway

Sywardus, King of the Goths ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

mother of Alvilda ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Otharus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Syritha ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

♕ Sygarus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

queen of Sygarus ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Hamundus, a petty king ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Wemundus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Ostenus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

♕Sywaldus II ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Algerus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Helwin ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Hamundus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Regnaldus, King of the Northmen ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Alvilda ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Alf ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Sygne ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Hagbarthus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Hako ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Gro ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Borcarus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Drota ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Gunnarus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Hano, ruler of Funen ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Ostmarus, ruler of Scania ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Hundingus, ruler of Zealand ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Roricus, co-ruler of Jutland ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Hatherus, co-ruler of Jutland ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Haraldus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Hildigerus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Røtho, a Ruthenian pirate ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Wesetus ♂

♕Haldanus III ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Guritha ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Alverus† ♂ ^(7,8)

♕ Haraldus III Hyldetan ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Olavus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Ingo ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

Ingeldus† ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

sister of Haraldus ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Ubbo ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

sister of Haraldus ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Sywardus ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

sister of Haraldus ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

Olavus, king of the Werms ♂ ⁽⁷⁾

♕ Ringo I† ♂ ^(7,8)

♕ Hetha ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Olo the Vigorous ♂ ^(7,8)

Esa ♀ ⁽⁷⁾

son of the king ♂ ^(7,8)

Atylo the Scanian ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

Ringo, ruler of Norway ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

Tola ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

Omothus, or Homothus ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

daughter of Ringo ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

Esa ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Omundus ♂ ^(7,8)

Sibbo ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

sister of Gøtarus ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

Gøtarus† ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

daughter of Omundus ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Sywardus I ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Buthlus ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

daughter of Omundus ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

Ebbo ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

early wife of Iarmericus ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

♕Iarmericus † ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

Suanilda ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

the Hellepontines, 4 brothers ♂♂ ⁽⁸⁾

Iarmericus' sister, sold to Norwegians ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

Iarmericus' sister, sold to Germans ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Broderus ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

nephews of Iarmericus ♂♂ ⁽⁸⁾

King of the Goths ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Sywaldus III ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

King of Sweden† ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

daughter of the King of the Goths ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Snio ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Biorn ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Haraldus III ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

a queen from Sweden ♀ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Gormo I ♂ ⁽⁸⁾

♕ Gotricus, or Godefridus ♂ ^(8,9)

♕ Olavus III ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

daughter of Gotricus ♀ ⁽⁹⁾

Sywardus, King of Norway ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

unknown

♕Hemmingus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕Siwardus II Ring ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Ringo II ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Herothus† ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Hesbernus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

ruler in Norway ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Lathgertha ♀ ⁽⁹⁾

♕Regnerus Lothbrog ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Thora ♀ ⁽⁹⁾

Suanlogha ♀ ⁽⁹⁾

a woman ♀ ⁽⁹⁾

2 daughters ♀♀ ⁽⁹⁾

Fridlevus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Haraldus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Siwardus & Ericus ♂♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Rathbarthus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Dunwatus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Ubbo ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Regnaldus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Withsercus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Ericus Wind-hat ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Guthormus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Ericus I ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Sywardus Snake-Eye ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Biornus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Agnerus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Ivarus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

daughter of Guthormus ♀ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Ericus II ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Kanutus I ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Frotho VI ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Gormo II the English ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Haraldus V ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Hedelradus, King of England ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

♕ Gormo III ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Thira ♀ ⁽⁹⁾

Kanutus ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Haraldus VI ♂ ⁽⁹⁾

Genealogical information is derived from Oliver Elton's 1905 translation, The First Nine Books of the Danish History of Saxo Grammaticus (via Wikisource). Name spellings are from the 1931 Latin critical edition by Olrik and Ræder (via Wikisource). Regnal numbers, which do not appear in the original text, are included for clarity and taken from the engraving Veræ effigies regum omnium by Erico Olai Tormio.

01Context

According to the details in the saga, this would have taken place in the 5th century.

The account in Saxo Grammaticus' Gesta Danorum is the original story of Alf and Alfhild, based on one of the old folktales or songs he gathered for his work.

02In popular culture

There are some variations to the story in later popular culture. (Other spellings: Alwilda, Alvilda, Alvild, Alvilde, Alfhilda, Avilda, Alvida, Altilda, Ælfhild).

During the 1800s, Alfhild/Alwilda was a popular subject for scrimshaw carved by members of whaling crews.

In 1686, Carlo Pallavicino wrote the story L'Amazzone Corsara, ovvero L'Alvilda, regina de Goti.

In 1731, Antonio Vivaldi composed the opera Alvilda regina de' Goti.

Italian poet Torquato Tasso writes his most famous tragedy on her story, called Il re Torrismondo, where Alvida is promised in marriage to the king of Sweden, Germondo, but falls in love with Torrismondo, so she decides to commit suicide in order not to choose between love and honor.

Under the name of Alvida, she's figuring in the Dutch musical Alvida de schone piraat.

The manga One Piece includes as one of the antagonists the female pirate Alvida, named after her. Said character also appears in its anime and live-action adaptations.

The anime series Fena: Pirate Princess includes as one of the antagonists a female pirate named Alvida after her.

In the mobile game Persona 5: The Phantom X she appears as a Motoha Arai's initial persona under the name Awilda, following a trend of adding Scandinavian figures.

03External sources

Gesta Danorum in Latin
Another version of Gesta Danorum (in Danish)
The Pirates Own Book: Authentic Narratives of the Most Celebrated Sea Robbers, by Charles Ellms, Marine Research Society

Watch videos about Alf and AlfhildExplainers and documentaries on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Alf and Alfhild”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

Images, from Wikimedia Commons:

On Viking Expeditions of Highborn Maids Olaus Magnus.jpg by Leos Friend, Public domain
On Alf the Defender of Chastity Olaus Magnus.jpg by Leos Friend, Public domain

Fathomly is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Wikimedia Foundation. Spotted a problem? Tell us.

Alf and Alfhild

01Context

02In popular culture

03External sources

Sources and credits

Related topics

Yngwin