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.
Name spellings are derived from Oliver Elton's 1905 translation, The First Nine Books of the Danish History of Saxo Grammaticus, via Wikisource.
Chronicon Lethrense
In the Chronicon Lethrense, Fritleff came from the northern regions during the reign of Aki, married the daughter of Rolf Kraki, and had a son by her named Frothi. He then killed King Aki and became king in his place. When he died, he was succeeded by Frothi, who was nicknamed Largus (possibly meaning "the Generous" or "the Tall").[2]
