Starkad

Family: Danes · Role: champion · First appears: Book Six · Part 6

In Book Six · Part 6, Starkad escaped alone from a wreck and was received as a guest by Frode, who later gave him a vessel and charged him with guarding the sea as a rover. The account says Thor tore away four of Starkad’s hands, leaving him with two. Starkad slew Wikar, king of the Norwegians, and in Book Six · Part 7 Odin endowed him with bravery and skill in spells, as well as three spans of mortal life. After killing Wikar by treachery, Starkad took his ship and joined Bemon as a pirate; he later lived for seven years with the sons of Frey before entering the service of Hakon.

In Book Six · Part 8, Starkad killed Hugleik and defeated armies in the East. He challenged and slew Wisin, defeated Tanne at Byzantium, and conquered Wasce in a duel in Poland. In Book Six · Part 9 he killed Hame. In Book Six · Part 10, disgusted by Ingild’s excess, he left his friendship and sought the fellowship of Halfdan, later returning to Halfdan’s service. Starkad also aided Helge the Norwegian: at Roliung he faced attackers alone, slew nine, and was wounded in seventeen places. After Helge the Norwegian attacked him, Helga shielded him from the next blow, and Starkad spared Helge. After Halfdan’s death, Starkad set Siward as heir to his father’s sovereignty.

In Book Seven · Part 7, Starkad entered the service of Hakon. He later deserted Hakon with Hakon the Zealander, and in Book Seven · Part 21 Ole received him into his bodyguard. In Book Eight · Part 3, Starkad fought foremost in the battle, overthrowing Hun, Elli, Hort, and Burgha, cutting off Wisna’s right hand, and wounding Roa, Gnepie, and Gardar. He cast Hakon to the earth, but Hakon wounded him so severely that Starkad had to leave the war. In Book Eight · Part 5, Starkad killed Ole while he was bathing, then slew some of those who had urged him to do it. In Book Eight · Part 8, he offered Hather his throat and the gold he had received from Hlenne as recompense for killing Hather’s father. In Book Eight · Part 9, Hather beheaded Starkad and buried him in the field commonly called Rolung.