This illustration, by the Swedish artist Ernst Josephson (1851 – 1906), alludes to the legendary sibling-kings, Alf and Yngve, from ancient and early-medieval Swedish and Norwegian folklore. According to legend, the two rulers hailed from the ancient Yngling Dynasty, which traced its origins back through folklore, legend and myth all the way to the Norse gods. A narrative about this interesting dynasty was included in the Heimskringla (History of the Kings of Norway) by Snorri Sturluson (1179-1241). In the lengthy text, which starts with the Ynglinga Saga (Saga of the Ynglings), Snorri Sturluson wrote that Odin and the Norse gods migrated from a location near the Black Sea and eventually traveled across eastern Europe to ultimately settle in Sweden, where Odin founded a kingdom. The kingdom was eventually handed over to Njord, and then to Njord’s son, Frey, who ruled the kingdom under the alias of Yngvi. It is from the Yngvi name that the Yngling Dynasty allegedly received its name. After these Norse god-kings relinquished control of their earthly kingdom to increasingly human successors, the realm fell out of its golden age and the dynasty members became prone to bizarre, violent, and unnatural deaths. Alf and Yngvi (also spelled Yngve), approximately the 14th and 15th kings from the Yngling Dynasty in Snorri Sturluson’s estimation, were no exception to the Yngling curse.
Alf and Yngvi, according to Snorri, were sons of a certain King Alrek. This Alrek ruled as co-king to his brother, Eirík, and the siblings enjoyed competing in all sorts of sports and activities. Spurned on by their competitive spirits, Alrek and Eirík were said to have decided to compete in a fist-fighting competition and continued their brawl until both lay dead from their exchanged blows. Alrek’s sons, Yngvi and Álf, did not learn from their father’s mistakes. Whereas Alrek and Eirík competed in sports, Yngvi and Álf instead competed for a woman.
King Alf, the story goes, was married to a beautiful woman named Bera. As was not uncommon in ancient and medieval royal circles, their marriage was likely arranged, driven by politics and power instead of love. Consequently, Alf and Bera had marriage troubles. The strained relationship between the married couple was contrasted by Bera’s close friendship with her husband’s brother, Yngvi. Alf became angry and jealous that Bera would stay up late chatting into the night with Yngvi whenever he sailed into town. Alf eventually confronted his wife about this and, during the heat of their argument, Bera admitted that she thought Yngvi would make a better husband than Alf. On this tale, Snorri Sturluson wrote:
“She answered that it was better for a woman to marry Yngvi than Alf, and as she often said that, he grew most furious. One evening Álf came into the hall when Yngvi and Bera sat together on the high-seat, talking. Yngvi had a sword on his knees. His men were very drunk and had not noticed the king come in. King Álf went up to the high-seat, drew his sword from under his cloak, and ran his brother Yngvi through with it. Yngvi leapt up, drew his sword and gave Álf his death blow; and both fell dead on the floor” (Snorri Sturluson, Heimskringla, Ynglinga saga, chapter 21).
Ernst Josephson’s illustration brings this tale to life. He shows Yngvi and Bera flirtatiously sitting on the high-seat, including the detail of the sword resting across Yngvi’s legs. Just to the side of them, the viewer can see stealthy King Alf drawing his sword from behind his cloak, ready to strike down his brother. Just like their father, who died fighting his brother, so too did these two siblings bring about each other’s deaths with their swords. Ironically, the brothers were reportedly buried together in a single burial mound on the Fýri Plains.
Written by C. Keith Hansley
Sources:
- Heimskringla, by Snorri Sturluson and translated by Lee Hollander. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1964, 2018.
- https://collection.nationalmuseum.se/en/collection/item/51149/
