So how did Amleth become Hamlet? During the Renaissance, the Gesta Danorum was translated and circulated among European intellectuals. A French version of the Amleth story by François de Belleforest appeared in Histoires Tragiques in the 1570s, adding new psychological dimensions to the tale. Belleforest’s Amleth hesitates, speaks in soliloquies, and contemplates death—features later magnified in Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

William Shakespeare, writing around 1600, took these elements and transformed the tale into his most famous tragedy. He relocated the action to Elsinore (Helsingør in Denmark), retained key plot points—murdered father, usurping uncle, feigned madness—but imbued the narrative with rich philosophical depth. Hamlet’s musings on life, death, and the nature of action have made the play a timeless masterpiece, but its skeleton remains Norse.

The Northman: A Modern Ode to Amleth

Robert Eggers’ The Northman brings Amleth full circle. Based directly on Saxo’s version, the film uses the ancient legend as its backbone. Prince Amleth (played by Alexander Skarsgård) repeats the vow that echoes through time: “I will avenge you, Father. I will save you, Mother. I will kill you, Fjölnir!” The name Fjölnir is a cinematic adaptation of the original Feng, and the story’s grim tone, dream-like mysticism, and intense violence reflect the harsh reality of the Viking age.

Eggers’ portrayal of Amleth is raw and mythic. The film blends historical realism with Norse mythology—Odinic visions, Valkyries, and fate-threads of the Norns. Unlike Shakespeare’s Hamlet, who ponders his role in the universe, Amleth accepts his fate without hesitation. He is a warrior shaped by prophecy, duty, and the eternal cycle of bloodshed.

Amleth’s Legacy

Amleth’s story, preserved in medieval manuscripts and reimagined across centuries, is a striking example of how ancient oral traditions can evolve into canonical literature. From the longhouses of Jutland to the Globe Theatre, and now to modern cinema, the Viking prince’s legacy endures.

While Shakespeare’s Hamlet may be the more famous version, the roots of the story lie deep in the sagas of the North—a testament to the enduring power of Viking storytelling. Through Amleth, we glimpse a world where cunning was as valuable as strength, where vengeance was sacred, and where even madness could be a weapon.

In reclaiming Amleth for modern audiences, The Northman reintroduces us to a hero who walked the line between myth and history, rage and reason. And in doing so, it reminds us that long before the melancholy prince of Denmark ever held a skull, a Viking warrior had already played his part on the stage of legend. shutdown123