THE SCENE: Much like Julius Ceasar, the Legendary Danish King Skiold made such an impression on history that his very name became synonmous with kingship. This will to rule was apparent from a very young age.
THE TEXT: As a youth [Skiold] won repute among his father’s huntsmen by defeating a huge beast, a remarkable incident which foretold the quality of his bravery in the future. He had asked the guardians who were bringing him up conscientiously for permission to go and see the hunting when he encountered a bear of unusual size. Although weaponless he managed to bind it with the belt he used to wear and then gave it to his companions to kill. During the same period he is reputed to have overcome individually many champions of tested courage, among whom Attal and Skat had wide renown. Already at fifteen he had grown to see such a stature that he presented perfect specimen of manhood, and so fierce were the proofs of his talent that the other Danish kings assumed from him the common title of Skioldungs. Skiold’s boldness, then, outstripped the full development of his strength and he fought contests which someone of his tender years would scarcely have been allowed to watch.
– Gesta Danorum, Saxo Grammaticus, 12th Century AD
