Ull

The gods gathered in council and declared that Odin had stained his divine honour. They judged that he should lose his royal dignity and be removed from their company. His opponents accused him of offences for which, they argued, Odin alone should suffer the consequences. The other gods should not be made responsible for the crime of one member. The council therefore banished him, and another clan of gods held power during his absence.

Ollerus took Odin’s place as ruler. Saxo describes Ollerus as a powerful sorcerer who crossed the sea by magic. He reached the northern lands where Odin’s authority had been set aside and ruled there for a time. Odin withdrew with his followers to Manheimum, a place of refuge secured during the exile of the gods.

Saxo places this exile before the youthful adventures of Hadding. Odin’s return to power occurs at the same time as Hadding’s great victory over his enemies. While Odin was absent, the sword-slain chosen for him could not enter Valhal, since he was not then its ruler. They were given dwelling places and fields for warfare in the lower world.

The reigning gods later consented to Odin’s recall. He reclaimed the throne and thereafter ruled with great splendour. One of his first acts was to banish Ollerus. Ollerus fled to Sweden, where he was eventually killed.

Saxo presents Odin as a human ruler with exceptional magical powers. He places Odin’s residence in Byzantium, while Icelandic tradition places his rule in Asgard. Both traditions describe his magic as the reason northern peoples honoured him as a god.