Rikiwulf ("The rich and powerful wolf" or "The Ruler of the wolves") was probably a member of the legendary Scandinavian Wulfing dynasty. In the ninth century, he sailed with his Viking warriors down the river Lys in Flanders, and settled inter alia Rikiwulfinga-haim near Tielt,[1] Rekkem near Menin, and Richebourg, Reclinghem, Racquinghem and Erquinghem-Lys in present Artois, France.

He was possibly related to the Norwegian Viking Hrolf of Heidmark, who was also a wulfing who had settled in Normandy.[2] The wulfings were the ruling clan of the ancient Scandinavian Östergötland area.[3] The Ynglinga Saga traces their origin back to Odin.

The epithet Rikiwulf was also used for Sigurd Eysteinsson of Orkney (846-92), who was nicknamed Riki Ylfing.

It is said that the famous Viking warrior Beowulf may likely have been from what was the Östergötland region (Sweden).[4] Dr. Sam Newton, and Historians Boydell & Brewer proposed that the “Beowulf Saga” itself was composed in ancient Scandinavian Ostergland, inside the Wulfing Court.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Tielt, Belgium". Discover World. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
  2. ^ Timothy Reuter (1992). The Annals of Fulda: Ninth-century Histories. Manchester University Press. ISBN 978-0-7190-3458-9.
  3. ^ Sam Newton (April 2004). The Origins of Beowulf: And the Pre-Viking Kingdom of East Anglia. DS Brewer. ISBN 978-0-85991-472-7.
  4. ^ Nerman, Birger (1925). Det svenska rikets uppkomst. Stockholm: Generalstabens litografiska anstalt.
  5. ^ Hattie Wilson Shinn (1898). Tribute to Our Ancestors: Biographical & Genealogical. Fort Scott: Monitor Book & Printing Co. ISBN 978-1-333-46386-1.
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