Helgi Haddingjaskati facts for kids
Helgi Haddingjaskati was a famous hero from old Norse legends. His name means "Helgi, the lord of the Haddingjar". We only have small pieces of his story left today.
According to an old poem called Helgakviða Hundingsbana II, Helgi Haddingjaskati was believed to be a reborn version of another hero, Helgi Hundingsbane. His love, Kára, a powerful valkyrie, was also reborn from Helgi Hundingsbane's lover, Sigrún. Helgi and Kára were the main characters in a lost poem called Káruljóð.
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Helgi's Adventures and Kára's Magic
Even though the poem Káruljóð is lost, some of Helgi and Kára's adventures are thought to be found in another old story, the Hrómundar saga Gripssonar. In this tale, Helgi Haddingjaskati was a great champion for two Swedish kings named Haldingr.
The Battle with Hrómundr
Helgi fought against the story's main character, a warrior named Hrómundr. During this battle, Helgi had a secret helper: his lover Kára. She used her magic to protect him. Kára would often turn into a swan to help Helgi in battle.
A Tragic Mistake
However, a sad mistake happened during one fight. Helgi accidentally hurt the swan (Kára) with his own sword. When Kára was injured, her magic protection disappeared. Without her help, Helgi was no longer safe. Hrómundr then managed to defeat and kill Helgi.
Mentions in Other Old Texts
Helgi Haddingjaskati is also briefly mentioned in another old Norse text. A short part of a poem called Kálfsvísa, found in Snorri Sturluson's Skáldskaparmál, talks about different riders and their horses.
Here is a small part of that poem, translated into English:
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The "Ruler of Haddings" here is thought to be Helgi Haddingjaskati. This shows that he was a known figure in these ancient stories.
See also
In Spanish: Helgi Haddingjaskati para niños