Gogest is presented in Hålogøytal as king of Omd. In Snorri’s writings, he appears as a friend of the Swedish king Adils, who gives him a black stallion named Hrafn (Raven). Gogest was the son of Gyllaug.
The stallion was said to be rather fierce and, according to legend, ran all the way from Sweden to Andøya, or Omd, as Snorri calls the area. One day, while riding this horse, Gogest was unable to stop it, fell off, and died. According to the sagas, this happened at Ramså.
His name is written in many forms: Godgest, Gogest, Gogæst, and others. Since little information about him exists beyond what is written here, it is natural to consider whether the name itself may suggest something about him.
The Meaning of the Name
The first part of the name varies between Go and God. In both cases, old tradition would suggest a divine being. In the period in which he lived (around 550–600), the concept of the divine did not have a single definition. It could have many levels and forms, ranging from gods as we know them today down to the human level; possessing great authority could itself grant a divine status. It is not unthinkable that this is the idea behind the name.
The second part varies mainly between gest and gæst. Both may be translated into the Norwegian word gjest (“guest”). However, the meaning has changed over time. In the 5-600’s, it was considerably more difficult to travel as a guest in Northern Norway than it would be today. A guest therefore carried a heavier meaning, often representing an outsider or foreign element within the local community.
What Can We Learn from Names?
Gogest was not alone among the kings in having this ending. His great-grandfather, King Hemgest, was also a “guest.” This may suggest that the kings were not permanently settled in one place, but rather moved between centres of power. This is supported by archaeological structures, discoveries, and the later tradition followed by Norwegian kings — a nomadic monarchy.