Helge the Norwegian

Also known as: Helge · Family: Norwegians · First appears: Book Six · Part 12

In Book Six · Part 12, Ingild (son of Frode) promised Helge the Norwegian Helga’s hand if he first proved his reputation in battle. Their future marriage was formally pledged, though Anganty, a rival suitor, challenged Helge to fight.

In Book Six · Part 13, Starkad agreed to help Helge and told him to return to Denmark. When Starkad arrived at Ingild (son of Frode)’s palace, Helge was there too. In Book Six · Part 15, after Helga warned her husband that Starkad would punish him for missing the appointed fight, Helge leapt from bed and struck Starkad with his sword. Starkad spared him, saying, “a man whose ready and assured courage so surely betokened manliness, ought to be spared”.

Relationship record

Life events

• Ingild promised Helge Helga’s hand if he first proved his reputation in battle.(Book Six · Part 12)
  • With: Ingild (son of Frode)
  • “When he arrived Ingild promised to grant him his wish if, to test his reputation publicly, he would first venture to meet in battle the champions pitted against him.”
• Helge and Helga’s future marriage was formally pledged.(Book Six · Part 12)
  • With: Helga
  • “And so the troth-plight of the future marriage was most ceremoniously solemnized.”
• Starkad agreed to aid Helge in the battle and told him to return to Denmark.(Book Six · Part 13 · 📍 Upsala)
  • With: Starkad
  • “Starkad, when he had heard the time and place of the combat, not only received the suppliant well, but also encouraged him with the offer of aid, and told him to go back to Denmark with his companions”
• Starkad arrived at the palace of Ingild to aid Helge.(Book Six · Part 13 · 📍 the palace of Ingild)
  • With: Starkad
  • “so that both parties, by a chance meeting, reached their journey's end, the palace of Ingild, at the very same time.”
• Helge attacked Starkad with his sword.(Book Six · Part 15)
  • With: Starkad
  • “Then Helge leapt from his bed, and, as he had been taught by the counsel of his wife, plunged his blade full at Starkad's forehead.”
• Starkad spared Helge after seeing his courage.(Book Six · Part 15)
  • With: Starkad
  • “Starkad was induced by this to let Helge go scot-free; saying that a man whose ready and assured courage so surely betokened manliness, ought to be spared”

Book Six · Part 12

• engaged with Helga “And so the troth-plight of the future marriage was most ceremoniously solemnized.”
• rivals with Anganty “This last was a rival suitor for the same maiden; and when he saw that the match which he had been denied was promised to Helge, he challenged him to a struggle, wishing to fight away his vexation.”
• admired: Helga “Then Helge the Norwegian was moved with desire to ask for Helga for his wife, and embarked.”

Book Six · Part 13

• friends with Starkad “Starkad, when he had heard the time and place of the combat, not only received the suppliant well, but also encouraged him with the offer of aid, and told him to go back to Denmark with his companions, telling him that he would find his way to him by a short and secret path.”

Book Six · Part 15

• married with Helga “Meantime Helga, in language betokening the greatest wariness, began to instruct her husband, saying that she knew that Starkad, as soon as he came back from conquering the champions, would punish him for his absence, thinking that he had inclined more to sloth and lust than to his promise to fight as appointed.”
• enemies with Starkad “Then Helge leapt from his bed, and, as he had been taught by the counsel of his wife, plunged his blade full at Starkad's forehead.”
• benefactor: Starkad “Starkad was induced by this to let Helge go scot-free;”

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Extracted from the original text of The Danish History, Books I–IX. Made with Rho MD.