Svipdag

One of Hrolf's champions. Svipdag played a prominent role in Hrolfs saga Kraki, and there is a whole episode of his adventures in the saga.

Svipdag was a son of a farmer, Svip. He was a brother of Hvitserk and Beygad. They all lived on a farm near one of the mountains in Sweden, and Svipdag wasn't satisfied with being a farmer. He decided to take up the service of a king, as a warrior, despite his father trying to dissuade him. At first, he decided to offer service to his own king - Adils. Svip warned his son that Adils was not a good king; he was a cruel, ungracious and ungenerous king, and worst of all, treacherous.

But on the first day, when he arrived at Adils' court, he was challenged into a fight with the leader of Adils' berserkers. Svipdag killed the leader and 3 other berserkers. Adils was angered by Svipdag's prowess and wanted him killed instead of making Svipdag as his champion. Only Yrsa liked Svipdag, and she welcomed him.

Adils made Svipdag commander of his army, and banished his berserkers after the death of another berserker. The berserkers raided Adils' land, so the king sent Svipdag to drive them off, but at the same time, Adils was hoping for the young hero's death.

In the last battle, Adils promised aid to Svipdag, but the treacherous king did not turn up with reinforcements. At this time, Svipdag's two brothers had joined him, and Svipdag was wounded, losing one eye.

When Svipdag's health and strength returned, he decided to not serve the ungracious and treacherous king, so he returned home with his brothers. Svip could still keep his son home. So upon his father's advice, Svipdag with his two brothers went to seek service with Hrolf Kraki, Yrsa's son.

The three brothers received a better reception with Hrolf, and they served him loyally. Snorri mentioned all three brothers in the Prose Edda, as he listed a half-dozen of Hrolf's champions. They joined Hrolf when they went to Adils' court; Hrolf sought to recover his father's treasure, which Adils had stolen at Helgi's death, at Adils own machination.

Svipdag also fought the last battle. Skuld, sister of Hrolf, and her husband Hjorvard, invaded Denmark. Although Hrolf and his champions fought valiantly, they were outnumbered, and they were all killed with Hrolf.

Bodvar's brothers and Vogg avenged their death by retaking the kingdom and killing Skuld.

Because Svipdag had lost his eye, he was compared with the Norse god, Odin. In the Hrolf saga, he appeared second only to Bodvar Bjarki.

In the Prose Edda, he was one of the 12 champions mentioned. Most of what we know of Svipdag is found in the Hrolfs saga Kraki.