Skáldskaparmál - 01.01.1997, Side 144

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The Valkyries in the Heroic Literature
and Hrómundr’s beloved. Her name is typical of a valkyrie, and although she has
no supernatural traits and therefore need not be called a witch, she behaves like
the other valkyries. For example, she gives Hrómundr a shield to protect himself
with in battle. The story ends with their marriage.
4. Regnerus and Svanhvita (Saxo II, pp. 39—42, F/ED, pp. 43—45). This story
bears some likeness to the Helgi stories and has often been compared to it. Its
hero, Regnerus, son of Hundingus, former king of Sweden, has been cruelly
treated by his stepmother Thorilda after his father’s death. She sets him to work
as a simple shepherd. Svanhvita, daughter of the Danish king Hadingus (a
favourite of Óðinn) comes to him through the air. She recognizes his true nobility
through his sharp and gleaming eyes, and gives him a sword. During the night
the two of them have to fight with several supernatural monsters. The next
morning they find Regnerus’ stepmother among the corpses.
Svanhvita has supernatural proprieties, she is connected with fighting, and
through her father there is a linkwith Óðinn. She therefore qualifies as a valkyrie.
The two marry and Regnerus becomes king of Sweden. This is against the will
of the Danish king Frotho, Svanhvita’s brother, but after her reminder that she
was allowed to choose her husband for herself, he grudgingly gives his consent.
Also this story seems to have a connection with kingship, but there is a
difference with the Helgi stories: Sigrún, and probably also Sváva, urged their
lovers to become kings of the countries they brought to them in marriage, and
in thecaseofSigrún, tosupplant herown relatives there. Svanhvita urges Regnerus
to succeed his own father as a king, and helps him to put the woman who had
dethroned him out of the way. That the Danish king is concerned with the
marriage is a possible indication of the fact that Sweden was dependent on
Denmark in that tinte, as it probably also was in the time ofHadingus. Afterwards
Regnerus is killed in battle, and like Sigrún Svanhvita dies of sorrow.
5. Hildr. (Bragi Broddason: Ragnarsdrápa (NIS B I, pp. 3-6), Saxo (V, pp.
131-34, F/ED pp. 147-49), Snorri Sturluson: Edda (pp. 118-19), Sörla þáttr
(FSN I, pp. 165-82). There are also short references in Háttalykill and the
Göngu-Hrólfs saga, but as they give us no information about the story, they will
not be discussed).
The Hildr story must have been extremely popular throughout Europe. Apart
from the Nordic texts and a short reference in the Old English poem DeoE' (not
to be discussed here, either), there is the great Middle German epic Kudrunf to
tesdfy to its popularity. This epic consists of two episodes, each of them relating
the fate of an abducted woman; the woman of the second episode, Gudrun, is
the daughter of the first, Hilde. Scholars disagree on the question of whether or
Deor( 1949).
52 Kudrun( 1965).