Chapters 44-95 - Germanic Mythology

Baldur, was sent by an opponent to the realm of immortality in the lower world, then Falr
and Baldur must be identical. 8
Their identity is furthermore confirmed by the fact that Baldur in early Christian
times was made a historical king of Westphalia. The statement concerning this, taken
from Anglo-Saxon or German sources, has entered into the foreword to Gylfaginning. 9
Nearly all lands and peoples have, according to the belief of that time, received their
names from ancient chiefs. The Franks were said to be named after one Francio, the East
Goth after Ostrogotha, the Angles after Angul, Denmark after Dan, etc. The name Phalia,
Westphalia, was explained in the same manner, and as Baldur's name was Phol, Fal, this
name of his gave rise to the name of the country in question. For the same reason the
German poem Biterolf makes Baldur (Paltram) into king ze Pülle. (Compare the local
name Pölde, which, according to J. Grimm, is found in old manuscripts written Polidi and
Pholidi.) In the one source Baldur is made a king in Pholidi, since Phol is a name of
Baldur, and in the other source he is for the same reason made a king in Westphalia, since
Phal is a variation of Phol, and likewise designated Baldur. "Biterolf" has preserved the
record of the fact that Baldur was not only the stateliest hero to be found, but also the
most pure in morals, and a man much praised. Along with Baldur, Gylfaginning speaks of
another son of Odin, Siggi, who is said to have become a king in Frankland. The same
reason for which Fal-Baldur was made a king in Westphalia also made the apocryphal
Siggi in question the progenitor of Frankian kings. The Frankian branch to which the
Merovingian kings belonged bore the name Sigambrians, and to explain this name the
son Siggi was given to Odin, and he was made the progenitor and eponym of the
Sigambrians.
After this investigation, which is to be continued more elaborately in another
volume, I now return to the Second Merseburg Charm:
"Falr and Odin
Went to the wood,
Then was sprained the foot
Of Baldur's foal."
With what here is said about Baldur's steed, we must compare what Saxo relates
about Baldur himself: Adeo in adversam corporis valetudinem incidit, ut ni pedibus
quidem, incedere posset (Book 3). 10
8 Because of the faulty nature of the translations of these skaldic verses, this connection cannot be made
firmly. In the North, Falr is generally accepted as the name of a dwarf, although the examples from the
Second Merseburg Charm and the study of place-names, indicate that at least in Germany, the name Falr
was associated with Baldur. Evidence of this identity is well documented in Grimm's Deutsche Mythologie,
Vol. I, ch. 11, which Rydberg has clearly read, although Grimm concludes "Not only are we assured of a
divine Baldur in Germany, but there emerges a long-forgotten mythus, and with it a new name unknown
even to the North." (Stallybrass tr.)
9 "Odin's second son was named Beldeg, whom we call Baldur; he possesed the country now called
Westphalia (Vestfál)"
10 "Balder was continually harassed by phantoms feigning the likeness of Nanna, and fell into such ill
health that he could not so much as walk." Elton, tr.