Aun

For other uses, see Aun (disambiguation).
Illustration by Erik Werenskiold, from the first edition of Gustav Storm's Norwegian translation of Heimskringla (published 1899).
East royal tumulus at Old Upsala, suggested grave of King Edwin the Old

Aun the Old (Old Norse Aunn inn gamli, Latinized Auchun, Proto-Norse *Audawiniʀ: English: "Edwin the Old") is a mythical Swedish king of the House of Yngling in the Heimskringla. Aun was the son of Jorund, and had ten sons, nine of which he was said to have sacrificed in order to prolong his own life. Based on the internal chronology of the House of Yngling, Aun would have died late in the fifth century.[1] He was succeeded by his son Egil Vendelcrow (Íslendingabók: Egill Vendilkráka)[2] identified with Ongentheow of the Beowulf narrative and placed in the early sixth century.

  1. ^ based on the story of his supernaturally long life (close to 200 years), he would have lived during most of the fourth and fifth centuries; a tumulus identified as that of Ottar, a son of Aun who fell in battle, has been excavated and found to contain a coin of the fifth century. Barry Cunliffe, The Oxford Illustrated History of Prehistoric Europe (2001), p. 475.
  2. ^ the Íslendingabók gives Aun as the successor of Jörundr and the predecessor of Egil Vendelcrow: xv Jörundr. xvi Aun inn gamli. xvii Egill Vendilkráka.Guðni Jónsson's edition of Íslendingabók