Haki: Difference between revisions

Hake, Haki or Haco, son of Haamund, was a famous Scandinavian sea-king. He had amassed a great force of warriors, and occasionally plundered together with his brother Hagbard (who himself was the hero of one of the most popular legends of ancient Scandinavia, see Hagbard and Signy).

Most legends surrounding Haki are probably lost. In the Völsunga saga, Gudrun and Brynhild have a discussion on the "greatest of men" referring to a legend now lost:

"Good talk," says Gudrun, "let us do even so; what kings deemest thou to have been the first of all men?"

Brynhild says, "The sons of Haki, and Hagbard withal; they brought to pass many a deed of fame in the warfare."

Gudrun answers, "Great men certes, and of noble fame! Yet Sigar took their one sister, and burned the other, house and all; and they may be called slow to revenge the deed; why didst thou not name my brethren who are held to be the first of men as at this time?"

Haki avenged his brother Hagbard's death by killing king Sigar, but he was later chased away by Sigar's son Sigvalde.

Haki considered that he had amassed enough wealth and followers to make himself the king of Sweden. He consequently went with his army against the Swedish royal seat at Uppsala. Haki was a brutal warrior and he had twelve champions among whom was the legendary warrior Starkad the Old.

The Swedish king Hugleik had also gathered a large army and was supported by the two champions Svipdag and Geigad.

On the Fyrisvellir (Fyris Wolds), south of Uppsala, there was a great battle in which the Swedish army was defeated. Haki and his men captured the Swedish champions Svipdag and Geigad and then they attacked the shield-circle around the Swedish king and slew him and his two sons.

Haki and his warriors subdued the Swedish provinces and Haki made himself the king of Sweden. Then he happily sat in peace for three years while his warriors travelled far and wide and amassed fortunes.

The previous king Hugleik had two cousins named Eric and Jorund who had become famous by killing Gudlög, the king of Hålogaland. When they learnt that king Haki's champions were gone plundering, they assembled a large force and steered towards Sweden. They were joined by many Swedes who wanted to reinstall the Scylfing dynasty on the Swedish throne.

The two brothers entered Mälaren, went towards Uppsala, and landed on the Fyrisvellir. There, they were met by king Haki who had a considerably smaller force. Haki was, however, a brutal enemy who killed many men and lastly Erik who held the banner of the two brothers. Jorund and his men fled to the ships, but Haki was mortally wounded.

Haki asked for a longship which was loaded with his dead warriors and their weapons. He had the sails hoisted and set fire to a piece of tar-wood, which he asked to be covered with a pile of wood. Haki was all but dead when he was laid on top of the pile. The wind was blowing towards the water and the ship departed in full flame between the small islands out into the sea. This was much talked about and it gave him great fame.

Saxo Grammaticus knows of this story but he describes Huglet(h)us as an Irish king who was killed by the Dane Haco (see Hugleik for a summary of Saxo's version).

Primary sources

• Ynglinga saga (part of the Heimskringla)
• Nafnaþulur
• Gesta Danorum

Secondary sources

Nerman, B. Det svenska rikets uppkomst. Stockholm, 1925.