Saxo Grammaticus

The last half of Gesta Danorum 's first book is dedicated to the hero Hadingus. Much ink has been devoted to interpreting to this story. Proposed scholarly interpretations range from an otherwise unknown *Haddingja saga , pure fabrication, dioscuric relic, and finally the frankly ludicrous idea that it's an euhemerized biography of Njǫrdr. Let's spend some time on the most promising interpretation, Axel Olrik's idea of a *Haddingja saga , which has more recently been picked up by Annette Lassen. As with many things Saxo, we immediately descend into a Lovecraftian realm of mad reconstructions, ancient puzzles, weeping and frustrated gnashing of the teeth. If it ever existed, *Haddingja saga has not been transmitted in the existent textual corpus, which is why the title should rightly be marked with an asterisk. True to form, Saxo does not refer to any source, and Olrik's speculations about what Saxo did or did not "get" must be considered pure conjecture.  ...

After the fall of Lethra recounted in Saxo's version of Bjarkamál , Hiarthwarus sits triumphant at the victory feast. Reflecting on the loyalty of Roluo's warriors who all chose to die for their lord, he remarks that it is a shame that none of Roluo's retainers remained whose allegiance could be directed to Hiarthwarus. He is overjoyed when Wiggo, one of Roluo's retainers, presents himself to him. This Wiggo had earlier vowed to exact vengeance on the murderers if Roluo should ever be slain. Chekhov's Gun fires, and Wiggo slays Hiarthwarus, turning the banquet into a funeral, before being immediately cut down by Hiarthwarus' men. Thus, Saxo concludes, Fortune takes revenge savagely like this for cunning, underhand achievements. It is a dramatic and well crafted story, widely regarded as a high point of Gesta Danorum . However, some feel that the ending ruins the story and shows Saxo to be a naive and uncritical admirer of the royalty:         "In this way S...