Bjørn

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Bjørn

Also Known As: "Styrbjörn"
Birthdate:
Death:
Immediate Family:

Father of Thorgils Sprakalägg

Managed by: Jason Scott Wills
Last Updated:
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Immediate Family

About Bjørn

  • In the 11th century, English historian John of Worcester provided a pedigree for earl Beorn Estrithson that made his grandfather 'Spraclingus' a son of 'Ursius' (i.e. urso, Latin for bear or Bjørn in Danish, Björn in Swedish).
  • Two 13th-century writers relate folklore that derives Thorgil from the mating of a bear with a noblewoman. Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus recorded that the son born to such a union was 'named after his father' (i.e. called 'bear' - Ursius/Björn) and in turn became father of 'Thrugillus, called Sprageleg'. The Gesta Antecessorum Comitis Waldevi copies John of Worcester's pedigree but makes the Ursius, father of 'Spratlingus', an actual white bear.
  • In the 18th century, Danish historian Jakob Langebek suggested this bear story was allegorical, and that the brutish 'Wild' Björn, father of Thorgil, was a reference to Jomsviking brigand leader Styrbjörn the Strong (Styrbjörn Starke), depicted by sagas as the son of Olaf Björnsson, king of Sweden. Styrbjörn's wife in the sagas is stated to have been Tyra of Denmark, the daughter of Harold Bluetooth, king of Denmark and Norway.

Eigi vildu Jótar
reiða gjald til skeiða,
áðr Styrbjarnar stœði
Strandar dýr á landi ;
nú's Danmarkar dróttinn
í drengja lið genginn ;
landa vanr ok lýða
lifir ánauðr hann auðar

2
Farið til Fýrisvallar,
folka tungls, hverr's hungrar,
vörðr, at virkis garði
vestr kveldriðu hesta ;
þar hefr hreggdrauga höggvit
(hóllaust es þat) sólar
elfar skíðs fyr ulfa
Eiríkr í dyn geira

Ilt varð ölna fjalla
örkveðjöndum beðjar
til Svíþjóðar síðan
sveim víkinga heiman ;
þat eitt lifir þeira,
þeir höfðu lið fleira,
(gótt vas) hers (at henda)
hundmargs, es rann undan.

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Styrbj%C3%B6rn_the_Strong
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Styrbjarnar_%C3%BE%C3%A1ttr_Sv%C3%ADa...
  3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorgil_Sprakling
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Bjørn's Timeline

970
970
Uppsala, Uppsala County, Sweden
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