# Ingeld

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Legendary warrior in Beowulf

For other people with the same name, see [Ingeldaz (disambiguation)](/source/Ingeldaz_(disambiguation)).

An 1898 illustration of King Ingeld ([Norwegian](/source/Norwegian_language): *Kong Ingel*) by [Louis Moe](/source/Louis_Moe)

**Ingeld** or **Ingjaldr** ([Old Norse](/source/Old_Norse): [\[ˈiŋɡjɑldz̠\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA); [Latin](/source/Latin_language): *Hinieldus*) was a legendary warrior who appears in early English and Norse legends. Ingeld was so well known that, in AD 797, [Alcuin](/source/Alcuin) wrote a letter to Bishop [Higbald of Lindisfarne](/source/Higbald_of_Lindisfarne) questioning the monks' interest in heroic legends with: "*Quid enim Hinieldus cum Christo?*" ('What has Ingeld to do with Christ?')[1]

The legends that survive tell of Ingeld as an enemy of [Hroðgar](/source/Hro%C3%B0gar), [Halga](/source/Halga) and [Hroðulf](/source/Hro%C3%B0ulf). The conflict between the [Scyldings](/source/Scylding) Hroðgar and Hroðulf on one side, and the [Heaðobards](/source/Hea%C3%B0obard) Froda and Ingeld on the other, appears both in *[Beowulf](/source/Beowulf)* and in *[Widsith](/source/Widsith)*. Scholars generally agree that these characters appear in both [Anglo-Saxon](/source/Anglo-Saxons) (*[Beowulf](/source/Beowulf)*) and Scandinavian tradition ([Norse sagas](/source/Norse_saga) and Danish chronicles).[2] However, in the Norse tradition the Heaðobards had apparently been forgotten and the conflict is instead rendered as a family feud,[3] or as a conflict with the [Saxons](/source/Saxons), where the Danes take the place of the Heaðobards.[4]

## Attestations

### *Beowulf*

In *[Beowulf](/source/Beowulf)*, Ingeld is the son of King [Froda](/source/Froda) of the [Heaðobards](/source/Hea%C3%B0obard), and they are involved in a war with the Danes. When Beowulf reports on his adventure in [Denmark](/source/Denmark) to his king [Hygelac](/source/Hygelac), he mentions that [Hroðgar](/source/Hro%C3%B0gar) had a daughter, [Freawaru](/source/Freawaru).[5] Since [Froda](/source/Froda) had been killed by the Danes, Hroðgar sent Freawaru to marry Ingeld, in an unsuccessful attempt to end the feud.[6] [An old warrior](/source/Starkad) urged the Heaðobards to revenge,[7] and Beowulf predicts to Hygelac that Ingeld will turn against his father-in-law Hroðgar.[8] In a version given in the Danish chronicle *[Gesta Danorum](/source/Gesta_Danorum)* (see below), the old warrior appears as [Starkad](/source/Starkad), and he succeeded in making Ingeld divorce his bride and in turning him against her family.[4] Earlier in the *Beowulf* poem, the poet tells us that the hall Heorot was eventually destroyed by fire[9] (Gummere's translation[10]):

Sele hlīfade hēah and horn-gēap: heaðo-wylma bād, lāðan līges; ne wæs hit lenge þā gēn þæt se ecg-hete āðum-swerian æfter wæl-nīðe wæcnan scolde. ....there towered the hall, high, gabled wide: it awaited the hot surge of furious flame. Nor far was that day when the war between father and son-in-law after cruel slaughter would awake again.

It is tempting to interpret the new war with Ingeld as leading to the burning of the hall of Heorot, but the poem separates the two events (by a *ne wæs hit lenge þā* meaning "nor far way was that day when", in Gummere's translation).

Family tree of the Scyldings (Kings of the Danes), Heathobards and Scylfings (Kings of the Swedes), according to Beowulf ♕ Heremod ♕ Scyld Scefing ♕ Beowulf ♕ Healfdene ♕ Ongentheow ♕ Heorogar ♕ Hrothgar Wealhtheow Halga A daughter ♕ Onela ♕ Ohthere Heoroweard Hrethric Hrothmund Hrothulf Froda Eanmund Eadgils Freawaru Ingeld

### *Widsith*

Whereas *Beowulf* never dwells on the outcome of the battle with Ingeld, the possibly older poem *[Widsith](/source/Widsith)* refers to Hroðgar and Hroðulf defeating Ingeld at [Heorot](/source/Heorot):

Hroþwulf ond Hroðgar heoldon lengest sibbe ætsomne suhtorfædran, siþþan hy forwræcon wicinga cynn ond Ingeldes ord forbigdan, forheowan æt Heorote Heaðobeardna þrym. Hroðulf and Hroðgar held the longest peace together, uncle and nephew, since they repulsed the race of Vikings and bent down Ingeld’s spear-point; they crushed at Heorot the Heaðobard force.

### *Skjöldunga saga* and *Bjarkarímur*

The *[Skjöldunga saga](/source/Skj%C3%B6ldunga_saga)*[3][11] and *[Bjarkarímur](/source/Bjarkar%C3%ADmur)*[3] reverse the relationship between Froda and Ingeld by making Ingeld (Ingjaldus) the father of Froda (Frodo). Moreover, Ingeld is here described as the half-brother of [Healfdene](/source/Healfdene) (Haldan).

Frodo defeated the Swedish king [Jorund](/source/Jorund), made him a tributary and took his daughter. The daughter gave birth to Haldan, but another woman became Frodo's legitimate wife and gave him Ingjaldus. Together with one of his [earls](/source/Earl), [Swerting](/source/Swerting), Jorund conspired against Frodo and killed him during the [blót](/source/Bl%C3%B3t).

Haldan has a queen named Sigrith with whom he has three children: the sons Roas (Hroðgar) and Helgo (Halga) and the daughter Signy. Ingjaldus is jealous with his half-brother and so he attacks and kills Haldan, whereupon he marries Sigrith. Ingjaldus and Sigrith have two sons named Rærecus and Frodo. Ingjaldus, who is worried that his nephews would want revenge, tries to find them and kill them, but Roas and Helgo survive by hiding on an island near [Skåne](/source/Sk%C3%A5ne). When they are old enough, they avenge their father by killing Ingjaldus.

In the *[Hrólfr Kraki's saga](/source/Hr%C3%B3lfr_Kraki's_saga)*, which tells very much the same story, it is Froda (Fróði) who is the half brother of Halfdan.

### *Gesta Danorum*

Starkad meets Ingellus with a mistress, from Olaus Magnus' *Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus* (1555).

The tradition of the feud with the [Heaðobards](/source/Hea%C3%B0obard) Ingeld and Froda appears twice in the *[Gesta Danorum](/source/Gesta_Danorum)*.[3] There is also a third time, based on the account of the old warrior who restarts the conflict.[4]

The first time it tells of the feud is book 2, where Ingeld (called *Ingild*) appears with the son Agnar. In this version, Ingeld's son is about to marry Hroðulf's sister Rute, but a fight starts and Agnar dies in a duel with [Böðvarr Bjarki](/source/B%C3%B6%C3%B0varr_Bjarki) (called *Biarco*).

The second version in *Gesta Danorum* (book 6), concerns the adventures of [Starkad](/source/Starkad), and which is based on the old warrior who restarted the conflict.[4] The Danish king [Frotho](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Frotho_IV&action=edit&redlink=1) (Froda) was killed through treachery by a Saxon named [Swerting](/source/Swerting) (Swertingus). Frotho's son Ingeld (*Ingellus*) lived a wanton life and married one of Swerting's daughters. This angered Starkad so much that he enlisted at the Swedish king [Halfdan](/source/Halfdan)'s (Haldanus) court instead. As Ingeld continued his sinful life and did not do his duty to avenge his father, Starkad appeared during a banquet that Ingeld had with the sons of Swerting, his father's slayer. Starkad strongly admonished Ingeld and humiliated his queen who tried to calm Starkad with kindness and her costly ribbon. Starkad succeeded in inciting Ingeld to kill Swerting's sons and to divorce his Saxon bride.

The third time, it tells of Froda and Ingeld is in book 7, but here Hroðgar is replaced by a *Harald* and Halga by a *Haldanus*.[3] It is the same Ingeld as in the previous paragraph, but here Froda reappears as Ingeld's son. It is a version of the feud that is similar to the one told in the *Skjöldunga saga*, *Bjarkarímur* and *[Hrólfr Kraki's saga](/source/Hr%C3%B3lfr_Kraki's_saga)*, where the Heaðobards had been forgotten and the feud with Froda and Ingeld has become a family feud. The main plot is that Ingeld has the sons Frodo (Froda) and Harald (corresponds to Healfdene). The relationship between Ingeld and Froda was thus reversed, a reversal also found in the *Skjöldunga saga* and in the *Bjarkarímur*. Froda kills his brother and tries to get rid of his nephews Harald (corresponds to Hroðgar) and Haldanus (corresponds to Halga). After some adventures, the two brothers burn their uncle to death inside his house and avenge their father.

The family tree of legendary Kings of the Danes, according to the Gesta Danorum (Books 1 to 7) Kings of the Danes are in bold and 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, aka 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) Siward† (6,7) sons of Suertingus ♂♂ (6) sister of the sons of Suertingus ♀ (6) ♕ Ingellus (6,7) Helga (6) Helge (6) Asa (6) Frode (6,7) Fridleif (6,7) Ingild (6,7) ♕ Olavus I (6,7) Karl, governor of Gothland (7) Ulfhild (7) ♕ Frotho V (7) Hather, a chief (7) ♕ Haraldus I (7) Signe (7) Erik† (7) Thorhild (7) ♕ Haldanus II Biargramm† (7) Harald (7) Asmund (7) Kings of Norway 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 Latin critical edition by Olrik and Raeder (1931). 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.

### Codex Runicus

Ingeld appears in the *Kongetal* (King's List) and *Runekrønike* (Runic Chronicle) sections of the [Codex Runicus](/source/Codex_Runicus). These are broadly consistent with the history presented in *Gesta Danorum*. In *Kongetal*, Ingæld (ᛁᚿᚵᛅᛚᛑ) is the son of Froþe the Hard and the father of Olaf (ᚮᛚᛆᚠ). Ingæld's queen (corresponding to the Saxon daughter of Swerting from *Gesta Danorum*) is named Swærtæ (ᛋᚡᛅᚱᛐᛅ). In *Runekrønike*, it is said that, during the reign of Inggiæld (ᛁᚿᚵᚵᛁᛅᛚᛑ), [Starkad](/source/Starkad) killed the seven sons of [Suærting](/source/Swerting) (ᛋᚢᛅᚱᛐᛁᚿᚵ).[12][13][14][15]

The family tree of legendary Kings of the Danes, according to the Kongetal section of Codex Runicus Kings are marked with a crown (♕). Uiþlef ᚢᛁᚦᛚᛅᚠ KEY ♕ Værmund ᚡᛅᚱᛘᚢᚿᛑ Marriage or coupling Parent and child ♕ Uffi hin Starke (the Strong) ᚢᚠᚠᛁ ♕ Dan ᛑᛆᚿ ♕ Huþlef or Hughlek ᚼᚢᚦᛚᛅᚠ or ᚼᚢᚵᚼᛚᛅᚴ ♕ Froþe hin Storlætne ᚠᚱᚮᚦᛅ ♕ Dan hin Dahfulli ᛑᛆᚿ ♕ Friþlef ᚠᚱᛁᚦᛚᛅᚠ Falka ᚠᛆᛚᚴᛆ ♕ Froþe hin Friþgoþe ᚠᚱᚮᚦᛅ Ulvild ᚢᛚᚡᛁᛚᛑ ♕ Friþlef ᚠᚱᛁᚦᛚᛅᚠ Eriþa ᛅᚱᛁᚦᛆ ♕ Froþe hin Harþe (the Hard) ᚠᚱᚮᚦᛅ ♕ Ingæld ᛁᚿᚵᛅᛚᛑ Swærtæ ᛋᚡᛅᚱᛐᛅ ♕ Olaf ᚮᛚᛆᚠ ♕ Froþe hin Frøkne ᚠᚱᚮᚦᛅ Allofþ ᛆᛚᛚᚮᚠᚦ Þorilda ᚦᚮᚱᛁᛚᛑᛆ ♕ Haldan ᚼᛆᛚᛑᛆᚿ ♕ Hiþing hin Høueske (the Proper) ᚼᛁᚦᛁᚿᚵ Hilda ᚼᛁᛚᛑᛆ Name spellings are derived from the edited version of the text into Latin letters by Marita Akhøj Nielsen (2015) and runes are from the digitised manuscript Am 28 8vo at the University of Copenhagen.

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Mitchell, Bruce, et al. Beowulf: An Edition with Relevant Shorter Texts. Oxford, UK: Malden Ma., 1998. p. 225

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Shippey, T. A.: Wicked Queens and Cousin Strategies in Beowulf and Elsewhere, Notes and Bibliography. In The Heroic Age Issue 5 Summer 2001.](https://www.mun.ca/mst/heroicage/issues/5/Shippey2.html#anchor349974) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140203170611/http://www.mun.ca/mst/heroicage/issues/5/Shippey2.html) 3 February 2014 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Olson_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Olson_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Olson_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Olson_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Olson_3-4) [*The Relation of the Hrolfs Saga Kraka and the Bjarkarimur to Beowulf* by Olson, 1916, at Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14878)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nordisk_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nordisk_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-nordisk_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-nordisk_4-3) [The article *Starkad* in *Nordisk familjebok* (1909).](https://runeberg.org/nfcf/0547.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Lines 2000–2069

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Lines 2027–2028

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Lines 2042–2067

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Lines 2067–2069

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Lines 80–85

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** *[Modern English translation](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/981)* by [Francis Barton Gummere](/source/Francis_Barton_Gummere)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Nerman (1925:150)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** [Text of *Kongetal* in Latin letters](https://tekstnet.dk/books/anon_kongetal/001/), edited by Marita Akhøj Nielsen (2015), at Tekstnet.dk

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** [Modern Danish translation of *Kongetal*](https://heimskringla.no/wiki/Konger%C3%A6kken) by Jesper Lauridsen (2017), at Heimskringla.no

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** [*Runekrønike* Modern Danish translation by Jesper Lauridsen (2017)](https://heimskringla.no/wiki/Runekr%C3%B8nike), at Heimskringla.no

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** [Digitised manuscript of the Codex Runicus](https://www.e-pages.dk/ku/579/) at the University of Copenhagen

## Sources

- [Nerman, Birger](/source/Birger_Nerman) (1925). "Det svenska rikets uppkomst".

- *Beowulf*:

- [Beowulf read aloud in Old English](https://web.archive.org/web/20061006174837/http://www.engl.virginia.edu/OE/Beowulf.Readings/Beowulf.Readings.html) - *[Modern English translation](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/981)* by [Francis Barton Gummere](/source/Francis_Barton_Gummere) - *[Modern English translation](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16328)* by [John Lesslie Hall](/source/John_Lesslie_Hall) - [Ringler, Dick. *Beowulf: A New Translation For Oral Delivery*](http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/Literature.RinglBeowulf), May 2005. Searchable text with full audio available, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries. - [Several different Modern English translations](http://alliteration.net/beoIndex.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110720173705/http://alliteration.net/beoIndex.htm) 20 July 2011 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

- *Widsith*: - [*Widsith*, A Verse Translation by Douglas B. Killings](http://www.georgetown.edu/faculty/ballc/oe/widsith-trans.html) - [*Widsith*, a translation by Bella Millett](http://www.soton.ac.uk/~enm/widsith.htm)

- *Chronicon Lethrense* and *Annales Lundense*: - [*Chronicon Lethrense* and *Annales Lundenses* in translation by Peter Tunstall](https://web.archive.org/web/20070310135852/http://www.oe.eclipse.co.uk/nom/lejre.html) - [The same translation at Northvegr](https://web.archive.org/web/20070107150447/http://www.northvegr.org/lore/oldheathen/048.php)

- *Gesta Danorum*: - [Book 2 of *Gesta Danorum* at the Online Medieval & Classical library](http://mcllibrary.org/DanishHistory/book2.html) - [Book 6 of *Gesta Danorum* at the Online Medieval & Classical library](http://mcllibrary.org/DanishHistory/book6.html) - [Book 7 of *Gesta Danorum* at the Online Medieval & Classical library](http://mcllibrary.org/DanishHistory/book7.html)

- [*The Relation of the Hrolfs Saga Kraka and the Bjarkarimur to Beowulf* by Olson, 1916, at Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14878)

- [Hrólf Kraki's saga in English translation at Northvegr](https://web.archive.org/web/20061108015703/http://www.northvegr.org/lore/oldheathen/034.php)

Legendary titles Preceded by Frotho IV King of Denmark Succeeded by Olavus I

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