The legendary Danish prince who inspired Shakespeare's Hamlet
In short: Long before Shakespeare penned his famous tragedy, a medieval Scandinavian legend told of a prince who feigned madness to survive a murderous uncle. This is the story of Amleth, a figure of cunning and vengeance whose complex survival tactics set the stage for one of literature's greatest masterpieces.
The primary authority on the legend of Amleth is Saxo Grammaticus, who recorded the tale in his work Gesta Danorum at the beginning of the 13th century. In this version, Prince Amleth is the son of King Horvendill of the Jutes. After his father is murdered by his jealous brother Feng, Amleth adopts a persona of simulated madness to evade detection and survive.
Amleth's survival strategy involved extreme cunning. When sent to Britain with a message intended to ensure his death, he surreptitiously altered the text on the attendants' wooden tablets to command the king to kill the messengers instead and marry Amleth to his daughter. He later returned to Denmark, where he executed his vengeance by setting fire to the palace during a feast, killing Feng with his own sword.
Scholars have long debated the origins of the legend. While it was frequently assumed that the story derived from a 10th-century Old Icelandic poem, no such poem has been found. Instead, Saxo's 12th-century Latin account remains the oldest source. Interestingly, the name Amleth (or Amlóði in Old Icelandic) is sometimes used to denote a fool or simpleton, reflecting the character's feigned imbecility.
The parallels between Amleth and Shakespeare's Hamlet are striking, particularly regarding the feigned madness and the roles of characters who served as prototypes for Ophelia and Polonius. However, other elements, such as Amleth's specific adventure in England and certain character archetypes, do not appear in the classical stories Saxo may have been inspired by, such as the tale of Brutus.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Amleth
- Also: Amleth | work by Saxo Grammaticus | Britannica
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/culture-amleth.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in UK & Irish culture · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics
