In sources such as Heimskringla and Ynglinga saga there appear early Swedish kings who belong in the domain of mythology, but it is often suggested that they have a historical basis. This was one of the last of Thor Heyerdahl's archeo-anthropological theories. See The search for Odin. It is, however, safe to assume that there were real kings of Sweden during this time, considering the fact that the concept of king was of Proto-Germanic origins (*kuningaz, a form borrowed by the Finns as kuningas) and that both the Swedes and their kings were mentioned as early as 98 A.D. by Tacitus (the Suiones).
Later these kings were gradually succeeded by Swedish semi-legendary kings, who are more likely to have been historical kings.
Kings
