Björn Wodanerson

Hero-King Björn Aldermen Wodanerson
1st-century BC portrayal of Björn on the Lijdewijkersteen in front of the Lijdewijkerkerk
King of Hellona
Reign	around the 1st century BC
Predecessor	Magnuve
Successor	Lukas Bjornson
Born	c. 55 Owidal, Hellona
Died	55 BC Rejken
Burial	Sacred Hill of Althmen
Spouse	Sigfrida of Elland
Issue	Gæraldin Bjornson Lukas Njornson
Full name Björn Magnuve Wodanerson
House	Royal House of Hellona
Father	Magnuve
Mother	Åsta Gidadottr
Religion	Asatru

The Hero-King Björn Magnuve Wodanerson (Old Hellian: Hjeldkuningen Björn Magnuve Whodanersun, Modern Hellonian: Heldenkoning Björn Magnus Wodanerzoon) was a legendary king of Hellona who lived sometime in the 1th century BC, mostly thought as 55 BC. Björn Wodanerson is said to have been the founding member of the Royal House of Hellona. He conquered the city state of Bichendom and got Hellona into a union with Elland by marrying Sigfrida of Elland.

History

As a lot of his tales has been lost, they've been romanticized into the Hellonian founding myth. What is known he was crowned king on the age of 16, in which he inherited the kingdom of Andus. Which was around the same size as the modern-day province of Andus. He lead a successful campaign against Melre, where he annexed most of its land. After Melre was completely wiped of the map in the Second Ando-Melran War, he set his eyes on Alland and the other states east. These campaigns would later be known as the Andus Wars of Conquest.

The King of Elland, Harald IV, asked for peaceful negotiations, but Björn's army was already standing outside the city walls. When Harald came outside the city walls and asked for a joint kingdom, by getting his elder daughter, Viktoria, marry to him and create the Kingdom of Hellona. He accepted, but still ordered for most of the rich city to be ransacked. After he married to Sigfrida at the age of 30, he wanted to expand east and north-ward. He ventured through the Ellandic highlands, before seeing the mighty Centraburg mountain ranges. After a failed venture through the mountains, he returned to Owidal.

Fellsiegr exhibited at the Hellonian Rijksmuseum in 1905.

Because of his many great deeds to the Kingdom, he was given the legendary Sword Fellsiegr, which is now being displayed in the Hellonian Rijksmuseum

Björn also popularized the colonial territories in Eburon, Svalland and the Menako Islands. He plead many to go to the colonies and create a new civilization. He went out on many expeditions in the colonies to put his empire on map, but only made a loose and sketchy map.

He died during a pillaging in Rejken, around 10 BC, where he was killed by sword.

Effects on Hellona

Besides the great deeds he did for Hellona by expanding its territory to be twice as big, he left a cultural mark on the country too. He is still called the Hero-King and the only person to be called this. He is also seen as the father of the fatherland (vader des vaderland).

The legendary sword of Fellsiegr is still an inspiration to many fictional swords and is still popular and can be found in books, films and video-games.

Even in the former-colonies he is celebrated as a hero and the man who brought greatness to those lands.

In fiction

File:Bjorn2.png

Björn Wodanerson, as portrayed by Frejr Bondervijn

He is featured as a main character in the series Althmen (1904-905), where his life and that of his son, Lukas, are being portrayed in a drama setting. Played as a young man by the famous actor Frejr Bondervijn and as an older man by Lodewijk Bondervijn, the older brother of Frejr.

Other films include:

• Legend of Wodanerson
• Of myths and legends
• Vikingen

References

• Lagerhuis, (1899) A history of the Hellonian monarch
• Pietrhuys (1879) Wodanerson, the tales and the truths.