General Notes

A. Early legendary kings of Denmark.

Skyold - ruled Denmark at an uncertain date.

According to the "Ynglinga Saga", Odin had a son named Skjold (meaning "shield").  Skjold led his followers to the Danish island of Sjaelland and became the father of the earliest Danish royal dynasty.  Later Skane, the Jutland penninsula, and the island of Fyn also submitted to Skjold. Thus the roughly-shaped borders of medieval Denmark were defined early on.

The Danish historian Saxo places Skjold's reign much later, making him the grandson of a ruler named Dan.  And even "Beowulf" mentions Skjold, telling us that he mysteriously arrived in Denmark as a helpless but treasure-laden child.  There he won many victories and established Denmark's royal line.  What all these stories have in common is that a ruler name Skjold came to Sjaelland, added Fyn and Skane to his domains, and became the progenitor of a Danish monarchy.  [Royal Families of Medieval Scandinavia, Flanders, and Kiev]