Harald Blåtand (Gormsson) Gormsen VIII (bef. 925 - bef. 988)

Born before 0925 in Scandinavia, (Denmark)

Ancestors

Descendants

Died before 0988 at about age 63 in Jomsborg, Vindland

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Harald (Gormsson) Gormsen VIII was part of early Scandinavian history. Join: Early Scandinavia Project Discuss: EARLY_SCANDINAVIA

Biography

Research notes

This biography is an attempt to tie together information from historians, archeology and sagas/legends. Andersson-4409

There is actual evidence that Harald existed, that he is not just one of the mythological persons in Scandinavian lore and sagas. His birth and death years are estimated and not certain, as is his ruling period as king of Denmark (and Norway).

It is, however, thought that he was ruler over Jutland, Zealand, and the Danish Isles abt 958, and extended his power over parts of Norway, probably in the period between 965 and 974. He conquered Scania presumably in the decade around 980 and he died 986-987. He might also have been a co-ruler with his father for 15 years. That piece of information is mentioned in Chronicon_Roskildense.

There have been some excavations at Jelling that would suggest that Jelling might be one of the trelleborgs, a Viking ring fortress, that was built during Harald's lifetime and that it actually might have been a Kings’s court. ^[1] Other historians say his political headquarters seem to have been located in Roskilde, where he built the Trinity Church and where he is said to have been buried. It might be that the location of power moved from Jelling to Roskilde during his lifetime.

Jelling, nevertheless, is a monumental royal manifestation of some kind for sure and the area has been an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994. With the gigantic palisade, the largest ship-setting ever discovered, the two mounds and the famous runic stones, the site has been visible in the landscape for more than 1000 years . Between the two mounds is the church, and legend tells that Harald is supposed to have built the first church in the place. Perhaps the most interesting find in the church area is the grave chamber in which the bones of a 35-50 year old man have been found. Some suggest this to be Harald’s father, Gorm, whose body would have to have been moved from the mound to have been reinterred under the church in Jelling. Others suggest that this might be the bones of Harald himself.

There is a possibilty that Christianity already had gained some foothold in some places in Denmark. Archeologists claim that they have found Christian burials predating Harald’s baptism. There was also a crucifix found in Aunslev, Denmark that predates Harald's baptism. ^{[2] [3]}

Biography

Harald Gormsson was a member of the aristocracy in Denmark.

Harald (Gormsson) Gormsen VIII is a member of the House of Gorm.

Name(s)

Harald is his given name. He is son the of Gorm (his patronymic name should be Gormsen or Gormsøn in modern day Danish, not Gormsson, which is Swedish). This is a fact and one of the ways we know this is thanks to the quite recent find (2014), of the Curmsun Disc, a piece of actual, physical evidence from the time he lived. (The Curmsun disc is estimated to have been made between 980-995. ^[4] )

He is also known as:

• Haraldr Blátönn (Old norse)
• Harald Blåtand, Harald den Gode (Danish)
• Harald Blåtann (Norwegian)
• Harald Blåtand (Swedish)
• Harold Bluetooth (English)

Blåtand (Bluetooth) should not be considered a nickname or a middle name; it is a byname.

The first time the name Blåtand/Bluetooth is mentioned is in Chronicon_Roskildense, which is said to have been finished about 1140. It is possible that he was never actually called Bluetooth during his lifetime. It is also not known what the explanation of the name Bluetooth was, although many theories have been presented. That Bluetooth was actually the name of his sword has been suggested by some historian researchers.

Parents and Family

Harald was son of Gorm den gamle (Gorm the old), ruler of Jelling, and his wife Thyra Dannebod.

This is also a fact, thanks to the runestones known as Jelling Stones. The larger of the two stones was raised by Harald in memory of his parents, but also celebrating his conquest of Denmark and Norway, and mentioned his conversion of the Danes to Christianity. The text reads approximately: "King Haraldr ordered this monument made in memory of Gormr, his father, and in memory of Thyrvé, his mother; that Haraldr who won for himself all of Denmark and Norway and made the Danes Christian." This is actually the first time that “Denmark” is mentioned within Denmark and the stone is sometimes called “The Birth Certificate of Denmark.” This runestone has been estimated to have been made between 960-985. Its height is 2.43 meters, and it weighs about 10 tons. It is carved on all three sides, and is the largest rune stone known in Scandinavia. The inscription was written in horizontal lines which might be considered as a sign of an upcoming Latin-based literacy in the Nordic countries.

The smaller stone is older, raised by Harald's father Gorm in memory of his wife Thyrvé, estimated to have been raised about 955.

Wive(s) and Children

• Gunhild. Mentioned by Adam of Bremen as a wife of Harald.

• Tove (Tova, Tofa or Thora). We know for a fact that she was the spouse of Harald because she raised a runestone in memory of her mother, called Sønder Vissing runestone. The text says something like; Tófa, Mistivir's daughter, wife of Haraldr the good, Gormr's son, had the monument made in memory of her mother. Tove is thought to be the daughter of Mstivoj, a king of the Obodrites.

• Gyrid/Gyritha "of Sweden". A sister of Styrbjörn "den Starke/the Strong", a king in Sweden. This marriage seems only to be referred to by Saxo Grammaticus], who says that Styrbjörn had sought help from King Harald after being deposed as king in Sweden by his cousin and granted Harald his sister in marriage.^[5]

Children:

• Svend Tveskaeg/Sweyn Forkbeard. Born about 960. Usually given as the son of Harald and Gunhild (by Adam of Bremen for instance), though it is said in some of the older sagas that he was an illegitimate son.
• Håkon/Haakon who is said to have ruled Samland Sambia Peninsula.
• Hiring Adam of Bremen records that King Harald sent "Hiring filium" with an army to England and the death of Hiring in Northumbria, the paragraph being undated but following that recording the succession of Emperor Otto III in 983.
• Tyra Haraldsdatter said to be married to Styrbjörn Starke.

Alleged children whose parentage have not yet been identified:

• Gunhild Haraldsdatter. Said to have married Pallig, Jarl and Ealdorman of Devonshire. It is thought that they both died in the St. Brice's Day massacre in November 1002.
• Mo Haraldsdatter.
• Thorgny Haraldsdatter, married to Thrugot, mother of Thorgunna Thrugotsdatter.

He also took Harald Gråfeld/Harald Greycloak, son of Eirik Bloodaxe as a foster child to raise. Some say that Eirik Bloodaxe was married to a sister of Harald named Gunhild and that would make Harald Greycloak his nephew.

Christening

No-one knows for sure how Harald became christened but one popular story is this: Poppa, the stranger, who was a cleric in the church is said to have made himself noticed when propagating the new faith. Harold Bluetooth asked him a very tough question,” Will you carry hot iron for your faith?” Poppa consented and carried hot iron in his bare hands and thus passed the test as his hands were unscathed. Harold was convinced of Poppa’s faith and immediately wanted to be christened (around 965).^[6] The same story with Poppa has been told in older history books with King Erik in Uppsala in Harald's place.

In "Heimskringla" by Snorre, there are also suggestions that Harald opposed Christianity. In King Olav Trygvason's "Saga Part I," also by Snorre, it says; Emperor Otto invaded Jutland and defeated King Harald, who took refuge at Limafjord on the island of Marsey where he was converted to Christianity by Bishop Poppo after agreeing to a truce with the emperor.

Yet another story is this: Defeated in battle by Otto the Great, (king of Germany 936-73, emperor since 962), Harald paid homage to Otto and took baptism together with his wife Gunhild and his son Sven, who was given the name Sven Otto. In Jutland three dioceses were created and submitted to Hamburg.

Documents in the church of Bremen actually show that Otto's power in Denmark was such that he appointed the bishops, and papal letters show that Agapitus granted Adaldag, archbishop 937-88. But was there really a battle? Some historians say that "conversion meant in the first instance political submission and the obligation to pay tithe; it cannot easily be distinguished from conquest".

What we can be quite certain of is that Harald actually was christened. One of the three sides of the large Jelling stone actually has a depiction of Christ. On the other hand, there is also no way of knowing how sincere Harald was about his new faith. It could have been a political choice as foreign kings, who converted to Christianity, enjoyed greater prestige at the German court than those who remained pagan.

Episcopal residences in Aarhus, Ribe, and Slesvig seem to have been built in the time period when Harald was king. It is possible that the ones in Odense and Lund also were started in Harald's lifetime.

We know that so-called “cross coins” dominated the local coinage in Denmark during the late reign of Harold Bluetooth from c. 975 – 90. It is suggested that “It is also likely that Harold used his coins as symbolically charged payments to the aristocracy and his retinue signalling his Christian conversion and baptism in AD 963.“ ^[7]

Death and Burial

Harald is believed to have died either 986 or 987, wounded by an arrow in battle with his own son, Sven (who would be known as Sweyn Forkbeard). He later died of his wounds. Where he actually died is a subject of debate.

His burial is also uncertain. Some say he was buried in Roskilde, in the Trinity church that he had built there. (The successor of this church is Roskilde Cathedral where the members of the Royal Danish Family have been buried for centuries.) Adam of Breman is the only one to tell of Harald’s final days. The credibility of his account has long been argued about among historians. The section about Harald’s body being transported to Roskilde for burial has been such a topic for discussion. Another, earlier source than Adam of Bremen, The Encomium Emmae Regina just tells us that Harald died among the Wends, nothing of where he was buried.

Sources

1. ↑ The King's Court in jelling?
2. ↑ Ribe Excavations
3. ↑ Denmarks oldest crucifix
4. ↑ The Curmsun Disc, Harald Bluetooth's Golden Seal, article by By Pontus Weman Tell
5. ↑ Saxo Grammaticus (Christiansen), 10, II, p. 5.
6. ↑ Fortidens Jelling
7. ↑ King Harold Bluetooths cross coinage

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harald_Bluetooth
• The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
• http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/people/harold-bluetooth.html#ixzz2XRgMCQPF
• https://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/DENMARK.htm#Gormdiedbefore950
• http://www.danmarkskonger.dk/king2.htm

See also:

• A saint very nearly made by Adam of Bremen.
• Listen to the Stones, The Jelling Monument
• The Jelling Monuments, a national icon between legend and fact
• Cross coins found in viking silver hoard discovered at Rugen in Germany
• This article relates how Bluetooth wireless technology got its name. The irony is, the alleged union of Denmark and Norway by Harald seems somewhat questionable.