Synardus
Encyclopedia
In Gesta Danorum
, Siward, (Sywardus, Synardus), was an ancient king in Götaland, who had a daughter named Alfhild, who became a legendary Viking pirate.
To protect his daughter from unworthy suitors, Siward had her chamber guarded by a lizard and a snake. He also said that if any man tried to enter it, and failed, his head was to be taken off and impaled on a stake.
When Alf, a Danish prince, managed to defeat the animal guards, Siward told him that he would only accept "that man for his daughter's husband, of whom she made a free and decided choice". At first Alfhild said no and ran away from home, but after some adventures with her Viking fleet, she met Alf in a sea combat, and after losing the battle, decided to marry him.
Siward also had two sons, Wemund and Osten.
Gesta Danorum
Gesta Danorum is a patriotic work of Danish history, by the 12th century author Saxo Grammaticus . It is the most ambitious literary undertaking of medieval Denmark and is an essential source for the nation's early history...
, Siward, (Sywardus, Synardus), was an ancient king in Götaland, who had a daughter named Alfhild, who became a legendary Viking pirate.
To protect his daughter from unworthy suitors, Siward had her chamber guarded by a lizard and a snake. He also said that if any man tried to enter it, and failed, his head was to be taken off and impaled on a stake.
When Alf, a Danish prince, managed to defeat the animal guards, Siward told him that he would only accept "that man for his daughter's husband, of whom she made a free and decided choice". At first Alfhild said no and ran away from home, but after some adventures with her Viking fleet, she met Alf in a sea combat, and after losing the battle, decided to marry him.
Siward also had two sons, Wemund and Osten.