Frode (son of Fridleif the Swift)

Also known as: Frode · Family: Danes · Role: king · First appears: Book Five · Part 1

After Fridleif the Swift died, Frode was elected king at seven. Westmar and Koll were appointed to bring him up, while Isulf, Agg and eight other men were entrusted with his guardianship and the administration of the realm. Frode gave command of the sea to Odd. When his people urged him to marry, he sent Gotwar, Westmar and Koll to seek the King of the Huns’s daughter, Hanund. Though Hanund at first disdained Frode, Gotwar changed her anger to love, and Hanund’s father brought her to Denmark, where she married Frode. They spent three years in peace before Frode put her away and she married Roller.

After Frode condemned Koll to death for losing a gift, he rewarded Erik Shrewd-spoken with a bracelet for winning a contest. Frode later threw a dagger at Erik but missed; after Erik and Roller rescued him from the sea, Frode gave Erik his sister Gunwar in marriage and command over a hundred men. Frode then married Alfhild, and gave Roller a realm stretching over seven provinces. He fought Strunik, and at Rennes-Isle defeated and killed Gotar. In campaigns against the eastern kingdoms, Frode’s Danes defeated Olmar’s forces and, after a seven-day battle, King Hun fell. Frode assigned conquered lands to his followers and made Erik king of subdued nations. When Ygg deserted the Huns and revealed their preparations, Frode sought Erik’s counsel and followed his advice to return home and let the enemy’s numbers work against them. Hedin joined Frode with a fleet and was received into his closest friendship.

Frode’s forces later suffered heavy losses in Norway, but he passed seven years of peace, fathering Alf and Eyfura. He eventually agreed to take Arngrim as his son-in-law. With Erik, he sailed to Britain, where his forces destroyed the British king’s host and Frode routed Kerwil. After Kerwil’s brother surrendered his country, Frode distributed the booty among his soldiers; he and his forces returned to Denmark, and warfare paused for thirty years. At last, Frode was killed when a matron in the shape of a sea-cow pierced his side. His body was buried with a royal funeral in a barrow near Waere.