Skuld

Sorceress in the saga of Hrolf Kraki.

Skuld was a daughter of Helgi and an unnamed fairy woman. She was a half-sister of Hrolf Kraki, king of Denmark. Skuld married a powerful king named Hiorvard (Hjorvard).

A comparison can be made between Skuld and the Arthurian Morgan la Fay. Like Morgan being the half-sister of King Arthur, Skuld was a half-sister to Hrolf. Like Morgan, she was powerful in magic and sorcery. And like Morgan, Skuld betrayed her brother. Skuld, with her husband, waged a war that was responsible for her half-brother’s death, and that of Hrolf’s champions.

Skuld encouraged her husband to wage war against her half-brother. She used sorcery to aid her army. Despite Hrolf and his champions’ heroic defence against their enemies, they all fell in battle. Hjorvard also fell in battle.

So Skuld ruled Denmark, until Bodvar’s brothers, Elk-Frodi and Thorir raised an army with other allies, including Vogg commanding a contingent from Sweden. They sailed to Denmark, capturing the city by surprise. Skuld was captured, and Bodvar’s brothers tortured her to death.

From the Latin Gestuam Danorum, her name was spelt, Skulde, and her husband was Hiartuar (Hjorvard).