Yrsa, Yrse, Yrs or Urse (6th century[note 1]) was a tragic heroine of early Scandinavian literature.
She appears in several versions relating to her husband, the Swedish king Eadgils, and/or to her father and rapist/lover/husband Halga (the younger brother of king Hroðgar who received Beowulf) and their son Hroðulf. The consensus view is that the people surrounding Yrsa are the same people as those found in Beowulf,[1] and the common claim in Beowulf studies that Hroðulf probably was the son of Halga is taken from the Yrsa tradition. Several translators (e.g. Burton Raffel) and scholars have emended her name from a corrupt line (62) in the manuscript of Beowulf, although this is guesswork.
Ynglingasaga
According to the legend Yrsa was daughter of Helge and Alof. She was kidnapped by Adils Ottarsson and became his wife. Later Helge came in arms to Sweden, Adils fled and Yrsa was taken prisoner. Yrsa was not one of the slave girls, and it was soon observed that she was intelligent, spoke well, and in all respects was well behaved. All people thought well of her, and particularly the king; and at last it came to so far that the king celebrated his wedding with her and she bore him a son, Rolf Krake. Three years later Alof appeared and told Yrsa who she was. Yrsa then returned to Adils. [1]
Gesta Danorum
The story is recounted somewhat differently by Saxo Grammaticus. In this version her mother is called Thora, raped by Helge, who later sets her daughter, Urse, up to be likewise treated. The resulting child was Rolf, son of Urse. [2]
Notes
Removing Helgi Halfdansson as father to facilitate the merge with her duplicate. It will all come together when Helgi's merge is completed. C 19 August 2018
Sources
↑ Snorri Sturluson: Sagas of the Norse Kings. Translated by Samuel Laing, revised by Peter Foote MA. Everyman's Library Dutton New York SBN 460 00847 1 Page 29
Helgasdottir-4 and Helgesdotter-38 appear to represent the same person because: There is only one Yrsa in the Saga so these profile need merging. Helgesdotter has been chosen s LNAB since Helga is a female name.
Helgasdotter-1 and Helgesdotter-38 appear to represent the same person because: Only one Yrsa in Ynglinga Saga. Please ignore discrepancies in date and place and complete this merge.
Yrsa's listed father, Helge, was born in 631, more than 100 years after she was. According to the bio, she was a slave girl. If so, it seems unlikely we would know the name of her father, and that his lineage would go back many generations.
Her father's DOB is also questionable, however, since his father was born before 407. So if Helge was actually born c450, the dates are at least plausible.
Helgasdottir-6 and Helgasdottir-4 appear to represent the same person because: Yrsa Helgasdottir is the daughter of Helgi, king of Lejre, and Alof the Great, queen of Saxony. She first married Eadgils, king of Svitjod (Sweden) and then her father (not knowing it was him) and they had the son Rolf Kraki. This is all according to several legendary stories such as Beowulf and Ynglingatal.
Unknown-227821 and Helgasdottir-6 appear to represent the same person because: The story Ynglingasaga only mentions one wife names Yrsa and as now she is her own sister.
Her father's DOB is also questionable, however, since his father was born before 407. So if Helge was actually born c450, the dates are at least plausible.