Fróði's Peace (Old Norse:Fróðafrið) is a semi-legendary period of peace throughoutNorthern Europe that is referenced inNordic mythology,skaldic poetry and historical accounts.
InSnorri Sturluson's euhemeristic account ofYnglinga Saga, the godFreyr is portrayed as a king of Sweden and the progenitor of theYngling dynasty. After building theTemple at Uppsala and the establishment ofUppsala auðr, Fróði's Peace began and the Swedes experiencedgood seasons and peace which brought them wealth. They attributed this to Freyr and they worshipped him above all other gods. After the death of the euhemerised Freyr, the peace and good seasons continued and he was buried in a howe. The saga tells that the Swedes believed Fróði's Peace and the good seasons would be maintained as long as Freyr remained in Sweden, refusing to have his body burned and instead continuing to performblót to him so the good period would continue.[1][2]
Regarding this,Rudolf Simek states that "it has been realized for a long time that Fróði and Freyr are identical and even Freyr's affinity to Sweden mentioned by Snorri is beyond doubt, as the cult place names (as much as anything) prove."[3]
Snorri Sturluson's prose prologue toGrottasöngr describes that at the time of the birth ofJesus and thePax Romana, the most powerful king at the time in Northern Europe was theSkjöldungFróði and the peace was attributed to him.[4]
In contrast to this, Snorri then describes how Frodi in fact was using thejötnar,Fenja and Menja, who he bought from theYngling, KingFjölnir of Sweden to grind peace, gold and happiness from an enchanted millstone. Following this, feuding ceased. Theft would also not occur and aring left onJelling heath would lie for a long time.[4]
After being overworked, Fenja and Menja use the mill to summon an army to free them and kill the king, ending Fróði's Peace.[4]
InGesta Danorum Book 5, chapter 12,Saxo Grammaticus describes a Danish king namedFrode. After establishing rule ofScandinavia, theBritish Isles, theHuns and theSlavs he enacts strict penalties for theft and orders for golden rings to be hung up on highways inJutland, the centre of his realm, as a test of his subjects' honesty. Following this, peace is maintained for thirty years.[5]
In accordance with Snorri,Saxo Grammaticus estimates the time of Fróði's Peace to around the birth ofJesus, to which he also attributes a period of world peace.[5]
In thedrápaVellekla, the skaldEinarr Helgason skálaglamm praises the rulerHaakon Jarl:
Engi varð á jǫrðu
ættum góðr nema Fróði
gæti-Njǫrðr, sás gerði,
geirbríkar, frið slíkan.
No well-descended guarding-Njǫrðr of the spear-board [warrior]
lived on earth who made such peace, except Fróði.[6]
In the poemHelgakviða Hundingsbana I, Fróði's Peace is used as aheiti for calm before a battle.
Fara hildingar hjörstefnu til,
þeirar er lögðu at Logafjöllum;
sleit Fróða frið fjánda á milli;
fara Viðris grey valgjörn of ey.
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