Volume II: see https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/59657

Transcriber’s note:

Text that was in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_).

If a portion of the text was missing or illegible the note [**Illegible] is inserted to mark the location.

THE CABINET CYCLOPÆDIA.

London: Printed by A. Spottiswoode, New-Street-Square.

THE CABINET CYCLOPÆDIA.

Conducted by the Rev. Dionysius Lardner, Ll.D., F.R.S. L. & E. M.R.I.A. F.R.A.S. F.L.S. F.Z.S. Hon. F.C.P.S. &c. &c.

Assisted by Eminent Literary and Scientific Men.

History.

DENMARK, SWEDEN, AND NORWAY.

by the Author of The “History of Spain and Portugal.”

VOL. I.

London: Printed for Longman, Orme, Brown, Green, & Longmans, Paternoster-Row; and John Taylor, Upper Gower Street. 1839.

HISTORY OF DENMARK, SWEDEN, AND NORWAY.

by

S. A. DUNHAM,

Author of “The History of Spain & Portugal.”

VOL. I.

London: Printed for Longman, Orme, Brown, Green & Longmans, Paternoster-Row and [**Illegible] 1839

PREFACE.

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SCANDINAVIA prior to the tenth century is the region of romance,—of the wildest legends. These are admissible into the severe domain of history in so far only as they illustrate national opinions and manners,—the noblest part of the study. For this reason, chiefly, more have been retained in the present volume than are to be found in any preceding work on the subject. Indeed, were they rejected, nine tenths of northern history must be rejected with them.

Another reason for dwelling on the earlier and more obscure events has been the wish to deviate as much as possible from a recent popular work in the “Edinburgh Cabinet Cyclopedia.” Two publications on the same subject, and designed for the same class of readers, would scarcely be required, unless they were distinguished from each other in their manner of treating it.

If the present volume be one of entertainment chiefly, the next will be one of instruction. The religion and laws, the manners and opinions, of the Northmen, will receive their due notice.

TABLE,

ANALYTICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL,

TO THE FIRST VOLUME OF

THE HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA.

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INTRODUCTION.

UNCERTAINTY ATTENDING THE EARLY HISTORY OF ALL NATIONS.—MONSTROUS HYPOTHESES RESPECTING THAT OF NORTHERN EUROPE.—FABULOUS, OR AT LEAST DOUBTFUL, KINGS OF SWEDEN, NORWAY, AND DENMARK.—DISTINCTION OF RACES IN THE NORTH.—THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS, THE SWIONES, GOTTONES, DANKIONES, WERE PROBABLY THE SWEDES, GOTHS, AND DANES.—THE JUTES AND LAPPS AND FINNS DIFFERENT FROM THE NEW COMERS.—INFORMATION COLLECTED BY ALFRED RELATIVE TO THE NORTH.—NUMEROUS CHIEFS WITH THE REGAL TITLE.—KINGS OF DENMARK: DAN—HUMBLE—LOTHER—SKIOLD—GRAM, ETC.—WONDERFUL ADVENTURE OF HADDING AND OF THE GIANTESS HARDGRIPE.—FRODE I.—ODIN—HIS ORIGIN ACCORDING TO SAXO—ACCORDING TO THE YNGLINGA SAGA.—HIS SUPERNATURAL POWERS.—REASONS ASSIGNED FOR HIS EXISTENCE.—HODER AND BALDER.—THE FATAL SISTERS.—DEATH AND FUNERAL OF BALDER.—JOURNEY TO THE SHADES BELOW IN QUEST OF HIS SOUL.—HERMOD’S JOURNEY.—ODIN’S.—PROPHECY.—RINDA AND ODIN.—CHARACTER OF ODIN.—RURIC.—HAMLET PRINCE OF JUTLAND.—HIS REAL OR FABULOUS ADVENTURES.—FENGO.—DANISH KINGS AFTER RURIC.

Page

Futility of Inquiries into the Origin of Nations 1

That of the Swedes obscure and fabulous.—Pedigree of the 2 Swedish Kings from Noah, according to Joannes Magnus

Origin of Idolatry and War in the North.—Extension of the 3 Gothic Empire, and a new Empire founded by them, the seat of which was in Poland or Hungary.

The Empire of the Goths broken into numerous 4 Principalities.—The Danes aspire to throw off the Yoke of Sweden; but being assailed by the Saxons, submit, and receive DAN, a Swedish Prince, as their King. This Prince gave his Name to the Danish Kingdom, and his Brother _Angul_, the First King of the _English_, left _his_ name to that People.—Wars between Sweden and Denmark.—Swibdager, King of Norway, elected King of the Goths and Swedes.—Defeats and slays Gram, King of Denmark, and subjects his Kingdom to the Swedes. All this according to Joannes Magnus

NORWAY. According to Torfœus, the Giants, of whom he gives a 6 minute Account, were the most ancient Inhabitants of this Region

Soon after them came the Goths, about the Period of the Fall 7 of Troy; next came the _Asae_, or _Scythians_

To these he adds an indigenous Race, which is evidently a 8 Mythologic Creation

Thor, the Father of Nor, the common Ancestor of all the 9 Norwegian Princes, deemed by that People superior to Odin himself. The Danes and Swedes held Odin to be the Supreme God.—Amalgamation of the two Religions

DENMARK. Claims to great Antiquity.—List of Danish Kings 10 from Noah to Odin, “that King of the Turks whom the Romans forced towards the North;” and from the latter to Hardicanute and Harald Harfager

The Goths were in the North of Europe prior to the Times we 11 call Historic; but the Cimbri were there before them; and these were probably preceded by other Swarms, whose very names are lost

The Finns and the Lapps probably Descendants of the earliest 12 Inhabitants of the North.—The People of the North were split into numerous Tribes, of which the Swiones were the most conspicuous.—The Dankiones, probably the Danskir, or Danes.—The Swiones, Goths, and Teutones, all kindred Tribes.—The Finns

The Goths the last People that reached Western Europe.—Their 13 gradual Amalgamation with the former Inhabitants produced that Form of Society peculiar to the North

The Sons of Odin probably the first Gothic Monarchs of the 14 North.—The original Inhabitants different, in all respects, from the Goths.—The Finns and Lapps represented in the early Gothic Poetry as Magicians, and the Jutes as Giants and Magicians.—Antipathy between the Goths and the former Races, and the Causes of it

Tacitus’s meagre Account of the Northern Tribes that 15 constituted the _Anglo-Saxons_.—Alfred’s Account of what he learned of the North from Otter, a Norwegian Navigator

Curious Particulars of what constituted Riches in the 16 extreme North, in the Days of Otter.—The Finns tributary to the Goths.—Credibility of Otter’s Relation.—Acknowledged Distinction between the various Tribes of the North

The original Tribes gradually expelled, and driven North 17 towards the Arctic Circle by the Goths and Swiar.—Scandinavian domestic History, for centuries after the Arrival of Odin, little known.—Numerous Chieftains in the North under the regal Title

Contradictory Accounts of the Sovereigns and Transactions of 18 the northern Kingdoms; yet they cannot be rejected as wholly fabulous, as the Songs which form the entire History of the North supply us with the best Picture of national Manners

Summary of Saxo’s History of Denmark during the doubtful 19 Period

DAN, the first King of Denmark, gave his Name to that 19 Country.—On his Death his Son Humble _elected_ in his stead.—His Brother, Lother, revolts and usurps the Dignity.—Is slain by his Subjects, and his son, SKIOLD, the Hercules of the North, raised to the Throne

His Prowess.—Overthrows the Duke of the Alemanni, reduces 20 his People to the Condition of Tributaries, and marries his Daughter Awilda; his Wisdom equal to his Valour; his Benevolence, good Laws and Government; his love of Glory

GRAM, the Son and Successor of Skiold, equal to his Father 20 in Strength and Enterprise, and his Life more romantic.—Subdues Sweden, and carries away the princess Gro

His Inconstancy.—Is deprived of Empire and Life by 21 Swibdager, King of Norway.—Saxo’s curious Account of the different Species of Giants

SWIBDAGER places Guthrum, the Son of Gram, as a Vassal on 22 the Throne of Denmark.—HADDING, the Brother of Guthrum, the most celebrated of Danish Heroes.—His wonderful Adventure with the Giantess Hardgrip

His farther wonderful Adventures and Exploits.—He slays 24 Swibdager and his Son Asmund

The wonderful Story of the Hero continued 25

His Death.—He is succeeded by his eldest Son, FRODE I., also 27 a great Warrior, who carried his Depredations from Russia to the British Islands.—Frequent Intercourse between Denmark and Britain.—Frode fought and killed a Dragon, who brooded over immense Riches, in a Cave

Takes _London_ by a Stratagem.—Several Sovereigns succeeded, 28 of whom little is known until the Danish States _elected_ for their Monarch HODER, a Descendant of the famous Hadding

ODIN, King of the Hellespont, according to Saxo, laid Claim 29 to Divinity, and was worshipped by most of Europe.—His profound Knowledge of Magic.—A Golden Statue presented to him by the Kings of the North, and placed by him among the Gods.—Deceived by his Wife, Frigga.—Exiles himself for a Season, in consequence.—His Power and Divinity usurped during his Absence.—Returns, and compels the Usurpers to flee the Country

Mitothin, one of the Usurpers of Odin’s Authority, flees to 30 Fionia, and is killed by the Inhabitants.—A Plague ensues, which was stayed by his Body being exhumed, the Head cut off, and a stake driven through the Corpse.—Probably the first Vampire on Record.—Snorro’s Account in many Respects different from Saxo’s, as above.—The Cause of that Difference.—Odin’s Government theocratic.—His perpetual Wars.—Always successful.—Called the Father of Victory.—Peculiar Veneration attached to his Character.—War with the Vanir, his Neighbours

They cut off the Head of Mimir, one of Odin’s Hostages, and 31 send it to Asgard.—Odin, by his Magic, converts the Head to an Oracle.—He flees the Roman Arms with a Multitude of Followers, and advances to the West.—Reduces some States in Germany, over which he places his Sons.—Passes northward, and fixes his Seat at Odensey—Sends Gefio, one of his Prophetesses, to make Converts in the neighbouring Regions.—She is successful; marries Skiold, the Son of Odin, who reigned over the Danish Islands.—He compels the King of Sweden to cede him the eastern Part of that Kingdom.—He establishes his Seat at Sigtuna, erects Temples, and offers Sacrifices

His Worship diffused throughout Germany and Scandinavia.—His 32 extraordinary Qualities.—His wonderful Ship, Skidbladner

The oracular Head of Mimir, which acquainted him with all he 33 wished to know, and his two speaking Ravens, which brought him Intelligence of all that happened.—His miraculous Powers.—He and his Pontiffs worshipped as Gods.—His Laws, civil and religious

Proofs of his Existence from written as well as from 34 traditionary Testimony

_Rigs-mal_, one of the Eddaic Poems, resembling in its 38 Composition the Anglo-Saxon Poem of Bjówolf, throws much Light on the heroic Age in the North

Distinguishes the different Races by which the Country was 39 successively occupied.—The first Gothic Emigrants drive the Finnish Tribes to the Wilds of Norrland, Lapland, and Finland.—The Antipathy between the two Races illustrated by the Legend of Njördr

The Sviar and the Goths, by whom they had been preceded, 40 become one People through the religious Ascendancy of Odin

Religious Sects in the North.—Junction of the old and new 41 religions.—The temporal Government of Odin perpetuated through his Sons.—Odin the Progenitor of all the great Dynasties of the North.—The Mythic Nor, from whom Norway took its Name

Alleged Succession of the Danish Kings.—HODER beloved by 42 Nanna, daughter of the King of Norway.—Balder, the Son of Odin, is enamoured of the same Princess and plans Hoder’s Destruction.—Hoder’s Interview with the Fatal Sisters

He obtains the magic Bracelets and Sword kept by the Satyr 43 Mimring.—Defeats King Gelder.—He encounters Balder, who is assisted by the Gods, with Odin and Thor at their Head

He defeats them, and obtains the Hand of Nanna.—Is in turn 44 defeated and dethroned by Balder.—Balder offers human Sacrifices.—Hoder again defeated, and compelled to flee to Jutland

Hoder’s second Interview with the Fatal Sisters.—He is again 45 defeated by Balder.—Receives a magic Belt from Balder’s mysterious Purveyors.—Gives Balder a mortal Wound

Balder’s Death and Funeral.—Balder’s portentous Dream, 46 according to the latter Edda

The Descent of Hermod to the Shades, in quest of Balder’s 46 Soul, with the Story of the famous Horse, Sleipner

Poetical Description of Hermod’s Descent into the Regions of 49 Hela

The Journey to the Shades attributed to Odin himself, in the 51 poetical Edda of Saemund the Wise, while Balder was yet alive.—The Descent of Odin, and what he saw and heard in the Regions below

Hoder is killed by Bo, the Son of Odin, by the Princess 55 Rinda.—Death of Odin

His pompous Funeral.—His Character 56

RURIC succeeds his Father Hoder on the Throne of 57 Denmark.—The alleged Events on which the Tragedy of _Hamlet_ is founded, happened in the Reign of this Prince.—Hamlet’s Father, Horwendil, Governor of Jutland, and a famous Pirate, killed by his Uncle, who marries the Mother

Hamlet feigns Madness.—Is suspected and feared by his 59 Uncle.—Kills one of the Courtiers who had been hid in order to overhear his Conversation with his Mother.—He upbraids his Mother

Is sent to England with a View to his 60 Destruction.—Substitutes the Names of his two Companions for his own in the Mandate to the English King, by whom they are put to Death

Marries the English King’s Daughter.—Returns to 61 Jutland.—Assumes the Fool.—Burns his Uncle’s Courtiers with the Palace, and slays the Fratricide himself

He is declared his Uncle’s Successor.—His Death in 62 Battle.—SKIOLD, the Son of Odin, the first Monarch of Denmark

Various Kings in the North.—That Title given to all Chiefs, 63 Pirates, and others.—The extent of the Authority of any of them uncertain

Rational Conclusion drawn from the foregoing fabulous 65 Accounts