Hadding

Family: Danes · Role: son of Gram · First appears: Book One · Part 4

In Book One · Part 4, Gram’s son Hadding was sent with his brother Guthorm to Sweden by their foster-father Brage, who placed them in the care of Wagnhofde and Hafle. In Book One · Part 5, Hadding chose to avenge his father rather than accept a boon from Swipdag. Hardgrep, daughter of Wagnhofde and one of Hadding’s fosterers, won his embraces and followed him in man’s attire when he set out for his own land, sharing his hardships. In Book One · Part 6, after Hardgrep was torn apart by her kindred, Hadding made a solemn league with Lysir; they were defeated by Loker, who took Hadding. Hadding later captured Handwan at Duna and accepted gold for his ransom, then destroyed Swipdag’s fleet off Gottland and regained his kingdom.

In Book One · Part 7, Asmund fought Hadding to avenge his father, and Wagnhofde rode to Hadding’s side. In Book One · Part 8, Hadding killed Asmund, whose dying wound left him with an incurable limp. After returning from war in Sweden, Hadding hanged his treasury keeper Glumer when he found the treasury robbed; he later returned to Sweden for five years of warfare, was defeated, and fled to Helsingland. In Book One · Part 9, a storm destroyed his fleet at sea. He sacrificed dusky victims to Frey and made the sacrifice an annual feast. In Norway he overcame the giant who had taken Ragnhild in troth; she recognized him by the ring’s mark and became his wife.

In Book One · Part 10, Hadding slew Uffe after Uffe treacherously destroyed his escort, then appointed Hunding over the subdued realm. In Book One · Part 11, he defeated Toste and later slew him. In Book One · Part 12, Hadding thwarted a plot against him devised by his daughter Ulfhild and her husband. After Hunding accidentally fell into a jar of ale and died, Hadding hanged himself in sight of the people. In Book Two · Part 1, his son Frode succeeded him; Book Two · Part 3 also names his daughter Swanhwid.