Arngrim

Arngrim was a berserker, who figures in Gesta Danorum, a number of Faroese ballads, Orvar-Odd's saga, and in the cycle of the magic sword Tyrfing in Norse mythology.

Hervarar saga

Arngrim went pillaging to Gardariki and met its king Svafrlami, who was in possession of Tyrfing at the moment. Tyrfing cut through Arngrim's shield and down into the soil, whereupon Arngrim cut off Svafrlami's hand, grabbed the sword and slew him with his own weapon.

Then Arngrim captured Svafrlami's daughter Eyfura and married her on Bolmsö. They had twelve sons who all followed in their father's footsteps and became beserkers. Those who were known by name were Angantyr, Hjörvard, Hervard, Hrani and two Haddings.

For the continued adventures of the sword Tyrfing, see Angantyr and Hjalmar.

Gesta Danorum

According to Saxo Grammaticus, Arngrim was a Swedish champion who had killed Skalk the Scanian. This made him very proud of himself and he consequently ventured to ask for the hand of Eyfura, the daughter of Frodi, a Danish king.

However, when Frodi denied his request, Arngrim turned to Erik, the King of Sweden, and asked him for advice. Erik told Arngrim to earn Frodi's respect by killing Egther, the king of Bjarmaland and Thengil, the king of Finnmark. Arngrim first attacked Thengil and crushed the Saamis. As the Saamis fled they threw three pebbles behind them that they enchanted so that the pebbles looked like three mountains. As Arngrim was tricked he called back his men. The next day, they again started to chase the Saamis, but the Saamis threw snow on the ground and made it look like a river, and this made the Swedes stop the pursuit. The third day, the battle recommenced and this time the Saamis had no more magic to resort to, and they were defeated. The Saamis agreed to the peace terms, and every third year every Saami was forced to pay a full carriage of reindeer hides.

Then Arngrim took on Egther of Bjarmaland and slew him in single combat. He then forced the Bjarmians to pay him one hide each. Arngrim returned to Erik, who accompanied Arngrim to Frodi. Erik convinced Frodi that Arngrim was the best possible match for Frodi's daughter Eyfura. Frodi agreed to the marriage and by Eyfura Arngrim had twelve sons.

Saxo Grammaticus agrees with Hervarar saga by giving not only the same names: Angantyr, Hjörvard, Hervard, Hrani and two Haddings, he also gives the names of the remaining sons: Brand, Biarbe, Brodd, Hiarrande, Tand and Tyrfing.

Sources

Henrikson, Alf. (1998). Den stora mytologiska uppslagsboken.

• The Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus on Arngrim