In the twelfth-century Danish history ''
Gesta Danorum'' (''The Deeds of the Danes''), Siward, (''Sywardus, Synardus''), was an ancient king in
Götaland
Götaland (; also '' Geatland'', '' Gothia'', ''Gothland'', ''Gothenland'' or ''Gautland'') is one of three lands of Sweden and comprises ten provinces. Geographically it is located in the south of Sweden, bounded to the north by Svealand, wi ...
, who had a daughter named
Alfhild, who became a legendary Viking pirate.
To protect his daughter from unworthy suitors, Siward had her chamber guarded by a lizard and a snake. He also said that if any man tried to enter it, and failed, his head was to be taken off and impaled on a stake.
When
Alf, a
Danish prince, managed to defeat the animal guards, Siward told him that he would only accept "that man for his daughter's husband, of whom she made a free and decided choice". At first, Alfhild said no and ran away from home, but, after some adventures with her Viking fleet, she met Alf in a sea combat, and, after losing the battle, decided to marry him.
Siward also had two sons, Wemund and Osten.
In popular culture
The name ''Synardus'' seems to be a medieval or modern invention.
In the original Latin text of ''Gesta Danorum'', it is rendered ''Siwardus'' and ''Sywardus''. In Danish, it is ''Sivard''.
See also
*
Alf and Alfhild
*
Yngwin
*
Awilda
References
{{reflist
External sources
Gesta Danorum, book 7.Another version of Gesta Danorum (in Danish)
Kings of the Geats
Mythological kings of Sweden