The Tree of the Folkungs

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The Tree of the Folkungs (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)

At a glance:

Characters Discussed

Folke Filbyter, a peasant freebooter, founder of the Folkung family and builder of the hall called Folketuna. He has three sons by the daughter of Dwarf Jorgrimme, a Finnish sorcerer.

Ingemund and

Hallsten, Folke’s two sons who become sea-rovers and, later, members of King Inge’s guard.

Ingevald, Folke’s other son, who stays at home with his father.

Holmdis, Ingevald’s wife, carried off by force from the house of her father, Ulf Ulfsson.

Folke Ingevaldsson, Ingevald’s son and old Folke’s heir. He becomes a Christian and an adherent to Blot Sven, the king of Sweden.

Old Jakob, a begging friar who brings Christianity. He becomes the foster father of Folke Ingevaldsson.

Earl Birger, a descendant of Folke Filbyter. He is the real ruler of Sweden, though his son wears the crown.

Valdemar, a weak king of Sweden, the son of Earl Birger. He loves pleasure and women, and he is no warrior. After his father’s death, he allows confusion to spread over Sweden. He is finally overthrown by his brother Magnus.

Sophia, Valdemar’s queen, a jealous woman who has Yrsa-Lill thrown into a cage filled with snakes. Sophia is a princess of Denmark.

Lady Jutta, Sophia’s sister. She has a son by Valdemar.

Yrsa-Lill, a goat-girl in whom Valdemar takes an active interest.

Junker Magnus, Valdemar’s knightly brother. He becomes king and restores order to Sweden after defeating his brother.

Gistre Härjanson, a minstrel. He rescues Yrsa-Lill from a cage of snakes.

Sir Svantepolk, a Swedish knight. He becomes a henchman of Junker Magnus.

Archbishop Fulco, the prelate of Uppsala. He becomes foster father to the child of Valdemar and Lady Jutta.

Lady Luitgard, Valdemar’s last friend and his mistress.

Bibliography:

Gustafson, Alrik. Six Scandinavian Novelists. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1940. A chapter on Heidenstam provides biographical information, including the origins of Heidenstam’s ideas about depicting the beginnings of his nation.

Zuck, Virpi, ed. Dictionary of Scandinavian Literature. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1990. Entry on Heidenstam places the poet and writer in his historical and literary contexts. Discusses Heidenstam’s nationalistic enthusiasms.

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