Awilda (legend)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Illustration by Awilda in The Pirates Own Book , 1837

Alfhild , also Awilda , Alwilda , was the daughter of the legendary Gautical King Siward or Synardus from the 5th century. It is mentioned in the Gesta Danorum of the Saxo Grammaticus .

legend

Gesta Danorum

The jealous King Synardus had his daughter's apartment guarded by two snakes and announced that any suitor who failed to get to Awilda would be executed and his head impaled to deter other applicants. Only Alf, the Crown Prince of Denmark , managed to kill the two snakes. When he wanted to marry Awilda, she and Synardus were not averse, but Awilda's mother, who wanted to prevent the marriage, influenced Awilda in such a way that she disguised herself as a warrior and left the court. Together with some friends, she joined a troop of wandering warriors who had lost their leader and was elected captain by them. Alf had not given up hope of marrying Awilda, however, and looked for her on land and on the Baltic Sea . He had to fight an enemy fleet that got in his way. When he wanted to dock with his ships in a Finnish bay in the Baltic Sea, he found Awilda's ships occupied. A fight ensued because each other was mistaken for enemies. Alf managed to Awildas ship board . It was only when Awilda's helmet was knocked off the head by Alf's follower Borgar in the fight that they recognized each other, and the wedding could still take place. The daughter Gurid emerged from the marriage.

Historical evaluation

The first books of the history work Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus, which was written around the 13th century, contain sagas and legends from the early days of Scandinavia, which were probably based only on oral traditions even then. Saxo describes in his book V ff. Events that were already 700 years ago at this point in time. Probably the southern Swedish people of Gauts could not be reliably identified so far, it is only in other legends such as Beowulf - heroic poem mentioned. The people and their customs are already clearly shaped by Christian-medieval values ​​that would not be expected in Scandinavia in the 5th century. The events surrounding Alf's dangerous courtship, such as the guarding of the bride by snakes or monsters and the impaling of the heads of unsuccessful applicants, show typical elements of early and medieval legends ( Heimdall and Sol ). It is therefore doubtful whether King Synardus and his daughter ever existed. The Pirate's Own Book , which can be assigned to trivial literature , gives the story with reference to Saxo, already considerably abridged and alienated. The accompanying illustration shows a person in clothing and with weapons that came into use at least 1000 years after the events described.

reception

The legendary figure was taken up by various authors and poets and incorporated into some clearly alienated actions. In Torquato Tasso's tragedy Il Re Torrismondo of 1587 she served as a model for Alvida , daughter of the Goth king Torrismondo. The tragedy ends with Alvida's death. Charles Ellms told the fabulous story in The Pirate's Own Book 1837, but he portrayed Awilda as a pirate who was so successful that a fleet led by the Danish Prince Alf was sent out to fight and defeat her. After Alf had removed the helmet from the supposed pirate captain, he recognized Awilda, who had previously spurned him, but was now so impressed by him that she agreed to the marriage. The French comic artist Jean-Yves Mitton made Awilda the heroine of his comic series "Alwilda", which, however, only loosely adheres to traditional events. She can also be found in the manga One Piece as the pirate captain Alvida with the iron club .

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Book V ff. In: THE DANISH HISTORY, BOOKS I-IX, by Saxo Grammaticus. Retrieved December 28, 2016 .