# Hugleik

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{{Short description|Legendary Swedish king}}
{{original research|date=February 2024}}{{more citations needed|date=February 2024}}
According to the ''[Ynglinga saga](/source/Ynglinga_saga)'', '''Hugleik''' or '''Ochilaik''' was a [Swedish](/source/Sweden) king of the [House of Yngling](/source/House_of_Yngling).{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} He was the son of [Alf](/source/Yngvi_and_Alf) and [Bera](/source/Yngvi_and_Alf). 

Some commentators have identified Hugleik with the [Geatish king](/source/Geatish_king) [Hygelac](/source/Hygelac). However, although both kings were killed in battle, Chlochilaicus/Hygelac was reportedly killed near the coast of [France](/source/Frankish_Empire)/[Frisia](/source/Frisia), while Hugleik was allegedly killed at [Fyrisvellir](/source/Fyrisvellir) in Sweden.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

When Hugleik's father and uncle had killed each other, Hugleik inherited the Swedish throne. Like his father, he was not a warrior, but preferred to stay at home. He was reputed to be as greedy as he was rich and, he preferred to be in the company of [jester](/source/jester)s, [seidmen](/source/seidmen) and [völva](/source/v%C3%B6lva)s who entertained him.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

[Haki](/source/Haki) and [Hagbard](/source/Hagbard) (the hero of the legend of [Hagbard and Signy](/source/Hagbard_and_Signy)) were two famous [sea-king](/source/sea-king)s who had amassed a great force of warriors, and they occasionally plundered together. Haki arrived in Sweden with his troops to assault [Uppsala](/source/Gamla_Uppsala). Haki was a murderous fighter and around himself he had his twelve hirdmen of whom one was the legendary old warrior [Starkad](/source/Starkad) (who had been in the service of Hugleik's grandfather [Erik](/source/Erik_and_Alrik) and great-uncle [Alrik](/source/Erik_and_Alrik)).{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

Hugleik had also mustered a large army and he was aided by two famous warriors named [Svipdag](/source/Svipdag) and [Geigad](/source/Geigad).{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

The two armies met on the [Fyrisvellir](/source/Fyrisvellir) (Fyris Wolds) and a great battle ensued. The Swedish army was defeated, but the two champions Svipdag and Geigad pushed onwards even though Haki's champions were six times as many. They were both captured by Haki, and then Haki attacked the ''shield-circle'' around Hugleik and killed him together with both his sons.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

[Saxo Grammaticus](/source/Saxo_Grammaticus) knows of this story but he renders ''Huglet(h)us'' as an Irish king who was killed by the Dane ''Haco'' (given as ''Hakon'' in the following translation [https://web.archive.org/web/20041222130440/http://www.northvegr.org/lore/saxo/006_04.php]). The motivation behind describing Hugleik as an Irish king was probably identical to what Saxo described as the motivation behind the attack: ''even the farthest kingdoms of the world might not be untouched by the Danish arms.''{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

Saxo writes that Starkad and Haki brought their fleet to Ireland where lived the rich and greedy king Hugleik. Hugleik was never generous to an honourable man, but spent all his riches on [mime](/source/mime_artist)s and [juggler](/source/juggler)s. In spite of his avarice, Hugleik had the great champions Geigad and Svipdag.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

When the battle began, the jugglers and mimes panicked and fled, and only Geigad and Svipdag remained to defend Hugleik, but they fought like an entire army. Geigad dealt Starkad a wound on the head, which was so severe that Starkad would later sing songs about it.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

Starkad killed Hugleik and made the Irish flee. He then had the jugglers and mimes whipped and beaten, in order to humiliate them. Then the Danes brought Hugleik's riches out to Dublin to be publicly looted, and there was so much of it that none cared for its strict division.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

==Secondary sources==
* Nerman, B. ''Det svenska rikets uppkomst''. Stockholm, 1925.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{start box}}
{{s-hou|[House of Yngling](/source/Yngling)|||||}}
{{succession box|title=[Mythological king of Sweden](/source/Mythological_king_of_Sweden)|years=|before=[Yngvi and Alf](/source/Yngvi_and_Alf)|after=[Haki](/source/Haki)}}
{{end box}}

{{Norse mythology}}

Category:Semi-legendary kings of Sweden
Category:House of Yngling

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hugleik](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugleik) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugleik?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.