konungrs

Konungr is an Old Norse word meaning king. It is cognate with the Gothic word *kuningaz* and the Old English word *cyning*. The term was used to refer to the rulers of various Scandinavian kingdoms and chiefdoms during the Viking Age and the preceding Germanic Iron Age. The office of konungr was often hereditary, though election and conquest also played a role in succession. A konungr typically held significant military, judicial, and religious authority within their domain. Their power and influence could vary greatly depending on the size and wealth of their kingdom. Evidence for the use and status of the konungr comes from runestones, sagas, historical accounts, and archaeological findings. The term gradually evolved into the modern Scandinavian words for king, such as Norwegian *konge*, Danish *konge*, and Swedish *kung*. The concept of the konungr was central to the social and political structures of Norse societies, representing the apex of power and leadership.