Fridlevus II

Fridleif is a legendary king of the Danes. According to Ynglinga saga, he was a son of Fróði of the Skjöldung (Scylding) lineage. In that work he was the brother of Halfdan and the father of Áli the Strong.

Fridleif is also mentioned in Book VI of Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus. In this, he was also a son of Frode and was being reared in Russia at the time of Frode's death. The Danes believed that Fridleif had also perished, and therefore gave the crown instead to a poet named Hiarn. Fridleif was called to the aid of his kinsman Halfdan, governor of Sweden after his father Erik, to help defeat 12 Norwegian brothers who were attacking his country. Fridleif killed 11 of the brothers, but subsequently recruited the strongest of the brothers, Biorn. During this adventure, he learned of his father's passing and then returned to Denmark, revealing to the people that he had not died as previously believed. Hiarn refused to yield the throne, leading to civil war. Hiarn disguised himself to infiltrate Fridleif's court and kill him, but was discovered. Fridleif defeated Hiarn in single combat and became king of Denmark.