Skiold (Scyld)

The legendary founder of the royal dynasty in Denmark, known as the Skioldungs.

There are several variant spellings. Skiold could be spelt Skjold, Skjöld or Skjöldr in the Old Norse. In Latin, it's Skioldus, which is found in Saxo Grammaticus' Gesta Danorum and in the Skjöldunga Saga. In Old English, Skiold is spelt Scyld, where Scyld Scefing, Scefing probably mean son of Scef.

According to the Prose Edda, Snorri Sturluson wrote that Skiold was a son of Odin, the Aesir god. And in his other work, Ynglinga Saga (part of the larger Heimskringla), Skiold married the goddess Gefjon. Gefjon was the one who turned four giants from Jotunheim (Giantland) into four oxen, which she yoked to a gigantic plough. With this plough, she carved the kingdom of King Gylve in the north into several kingdoms. Skiold dwelt in Leidre with the goddess. The land they settled in was Sealand, or Zealand, the large Danish island. However, Gefjon was not mentioned as Skiold's wife in Snorri's Edda. Skiold was the father of Fridleif.

Skiold was also the grandfather of Frodi. From Skiold to Frodi, each was King of Denmark. According to the Hrolfs saga Kraka however, Frodi was a different king, a cruel tyrant who murdered his brother, Halfdan. Frodi was burned to death in his fortress by Helgi's two sons, Helgi and Hroar. It is not known how Frodi and Halfdan were linked to Skiold in this saga.

However, the Icelandic sources on Skiold and Skioldungs are different from the Danish sources.

In Gesta Danorum, Saxo Grammaticus gave a different lineage for Skiold, and a different son. Skiold,or Skioldus as he was called in Latin (Saxo wrote his work in Latin), was a son of Lother; Skioldus was a grandson of Dan. He wooed Alfhild, daughter of the King of the Saxons, and they had a son named Gram.

Skioldus (Skiold) was a great hunter and warrior who killed Attal and Skat. Skat was governor of Allemannia, and a rival suitor. Later he became a great king who was known for his good rule and law, unlike his father Lother who was a tyrant. Eventually, when he died, Gram succeeded him.