Encyclopedia

Fridlevus II

Wikipedia contributorsAdapted for Fathomly · View authors

8 min read
Source updated May 27, 2025

Fridleif, Fridlevus or Fritleff is a legendary king of the Danes.

01Ynglinga saga

According to Ynglinga saga, he was a son of Fróði of the Skjöldung (Scylding) lineage. In that work he was the brother of Halfdan and the father of Áli the Strong.

02Gesta Danorum

Fridleif is also mentioned in Book VI of Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus. In this, he was also a son of Frode and was being reared in Russia at the time of Frode's death. The Danes believed that Fridleif had also perished, and therefore gave the crown instead to a poet named Hiarn. Fridleif was called to the aid of his kinsman Halfdan, governor of Sweden after his father Erik, to help defeat 12 Norwegian brothers who were attacking his country. Fridleif killed 11 of the brothers, but subsequently recruited the strongest of the brothers, Biorn. During this adventure, he learned of his father's passing and then returned to Denmark, revealing to the people that he had not died as previously believed. Hiarn refused to yield the throne, leading to civil war. Hiarn disguised himself to infiltrate Fridleif's court and kill him, but was discovered. Fridleif defeated Hiarn in single combat and became 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.

03Chronicon Lethrense

In the Chronicon Lethrense, Fritleff came from the northern regions during the reign of Aki, married the daughter of Rolf Kraki, and had a son by her named Frothi. He then killed King Aki and became king in his place. When he died, he was succeeded by Frothi, who was nicknamed Largus (possibly meaning "the Generous" or "the Tall").

The family tree of legendary Kings of the Danes, according to Chronicon Lethrense

Kings of the Danes are marked with a crown (♕).

Ypper, King of Uppsala ♂

KEY

Nori ♂

Østen ♂

♕ Dan ♂

Dannia ♀

Marriage or coupling

Parent and child

Rolfcarl, aka Rolf, a baron ♂

♕ Ro ♂

Ro's wife ♀

Succession by other means

Thora ♀

♕ Helgi ♂

♕ Haldan ♂

Athisl, King of Swethia ♂

Ursula ♀

♕ Raka, a dog ♂

Siward Albus ♂

♕ Snyo ♂

♕ Hiarwart ♂

Sculd ♀

♕ Rolf Kraki ♂

Hamund ♂

♕ Aki ♂

Haghbard ♂

daughter of Rolf Kraki ♀

♕ Fritleff ♂

♕ Frothi Largus ♂

♕ Ingyald ♂

♕ Olav ♂

♕ Asa ♀

♕ Harald Hildetan (war-tooth) ♂

♕ Hethae ♀

The source used for the genealogical information and name spellings is the English translation provided by Mischa Hooker of Augustana College.

Watch videos about Fridlevus IIExplainers and documentaries on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Fridlevus II”, 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.

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