it seems, of Norway which was then a patchwork of petty kingdoms. Historical origins The historicity of Harald Wartooth and the Battle of Bråvalla has been much debated over the time. Once seen as an essentially historical event taking place in about 740 or 750, the battle has undergone a number of reinterpretations. Paul Herrmann (1922) saw Harald as an "Odin hero" in an (originally) epically cohesive tale, without denying the possibility of a historical kernel. The saga scholar Axel Olrik (1914) regarded Harald as a historical Danish king who attacked an East Geatic King Hring. Though victorious, the East Geats were weakened and subsequently dominated by the Swedes. The archaeologist Birger Nerman (1925), on the other hand, argued that Harald was indeed the overlord over a comprehensive Danish-Swedish realm, while Hring was a sub-king with authority over Sweden, Västergötland and Gotland. By defeating Harald in the mid 8th century, the Swedes were supposedly able to subordinate Östergötland. Later, Stig Wikander (1960) hypothesized that the battle was an eschatological myth with parallels to Indian mythology, an idea that has been endorsed by some modern scholars. The Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde (1999) suggests that the battle has "perhaps certainly" a legendary and fictitious basis, and that the location to Östergötland is likely a later literary addition. Most modern Scandinavian historians decline to discuss the background of Harald and the battle due to the late sources. Frankish sources name three Danish kings of the 8th century, namely Angantyr (early 8th century), Sigfred (fl. 777-798) and Harald (years unknown, but older kinsman of a set of brothers who flourished after 812). An annal entry of 813 shows that the rivals of this Harald's nephews sought support in the struggle for Danish kingship among the Swedes, successfully ousting Harald's kin. Whether vague memories of this dynastic contest are reflected in Harald Wartooth's story is a moot point. See also List of legendary kings of Denmark List of legendary kings of Sweden Primary sources Chronicon Lethrense Gesta Danorum Hervarar saga Landnámabók Lay of Hyndla Njal's Saga Sögubrot Upplendinga Konungum Ynglinga saga Secondary sources Andersson, Ingvar (1947). Skånes historia: till Saxo och Skånelagen. Stockholm: Norstedts. Baldwin, Stewart (1996) "Danish kings in the 8th and 9th centuries", Medieval genealogy: Selected texts Harrison, Dick (2002) Sveriges historia: medeltiden. Stockholm: Liber. Herrmann, Paul (1922) Die Heldensagen des Saxo Grammaticus. Leipzig: Engelmann. Hultgård, Anders (2017) Midgård brinner. Ragnarök i religionshistorisk