Rikiwulf ("The rich and powerful wolf" or "The Ruler of the wolves") was probably a member of the legendary Scandinavian Wulfing dynasty. In the ninth century, he sailed with his Viking warriors down the river Lys in Flanders, and settled inter alia Rikiwulfinga-haim near Tielt,[1] Rekkem near Menin, and Richebourg, Reclinghem, Racquinghem and Erquinghem-Lys in present Artois, France.
He was possibly related to the Norwegian Viking Hrolf of Heidmark, who was also a wulfing who had settled in Normandy.[2] The wulfings were the ruling clan of the ancient Scandinavian Östergötland area.[3] The Ynglinga Saga traces their origin back to Odin.
The epithet Rikiwulf was also used for Sigurd Eysteinsson of Orkney (846-92), who was nicknamed Riki Ylfing. It is said that the famous Viking warrior Beowulf may likely have been from what was the Östergötland region (Sweden).[4] Dr. Sam Newton, and Historians Boydell & Brewer proposed that the “Beowulf Saga” itself was composed in ancient Scandinavian Ostergland, inside the Wulfing Court.[5]
Bilingual Edition (OE text & translation)]
. heorot.dk. Benjamin Slade. 2017-12-10.