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Bödvar Bjarki was the greatest champion of Hrolf Kraki, the legendary king of Denmark. In the last battle a huge bear fought for the king while Bödvar sat as if asleep, until a friend woke him and the bear vanished.
Who was Bödvar Bjarki?
Bödvar Bjarki was the greatest of the champions of Hrolf Kraki, the legendary king of Denmark. His father had been cursed to live as a bear, and something of the bear passed to the son. In Hrólfs saga kraka, when the king's enemies attack at night and his hall is burning, a huge bear fights at the head of Hrolf's men, and no weapon can bite it — while Bödvar himself sits in his chamber as if asleep. His companion Hjalti thinks him a coward and goes to rouse him. Bödvar wakes, and the bear vanishes from the field. 'You have not helped the king as much as you think', he says, and goes out to fight with his own strength; but without the bear the battle is lost, and Hrolf and all his champions fall together.
Read about the berserkers and the fylgja, the spirit that follows a person.
Questions
Was Bödvar Bjarki a shapeshifter?
The saga says a bear fought for the king while Bödvar sat still, and vanished when he was woken.
Who was Bödvar's king?
Hrolf Kraki of Denmark.