Raum (king)

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Raum (Old Norse: Raumr konungr) is the name of several legendary Norwegian kings found in Norse sagas. In Hversu Noregr byggðist there are two kings named Raum: the elder Raum, sometimes called Raumr inn gamli, and his grandson Raum. In Thorsteins saga Víkingssonar, Raum is the ruler of Raumaríki, the eastern part of Norway around what is now Romerike.

In Hversu Noregr byggðist the elder Raum is the son of Nór, Norway’s legendary founder, and he takes over his father’s lands, including Álfheim. Raum’s realm later connects to Raumelfr, the Raum river, which is sometimes identified with Rauma or with the Glomma. The younger Raum is the son of Jötunbjörn the Old and is the father of a line that later includes Hrossbjarn and Ketil Raum, among others. Raum the Old is said to marry Hild, daughter of Guðröð the Old, and their descendants include Guðrøðr, Haukr, Haddingr and Hringr. From Guðrøðr comes Eysteinn Illráði, the Ill-ruler, who is tied to a famous tale about a dog named Saurr ruling part of Trondheim.

Raum’s lands and people are also described in other parts of the saga tradition. Raum’s descendants rule various regions, such as Ringerike and Valdres, and the stories link Raum to other legendary figures. In Thorsteins saga Víkingssonar, Raum is described as large and not very beautiful, a detail used to explain why the name raumr came to be associated with ugliness in some tales. He is also named as the father of Bryngerð, who is said to have married Álf the Old of Álfheim.