HARALD I 'Bluetooth' GORMSSON

King of Denmark and Sweden

BIRTH: Abt 910 in Denmark, (Blauzahn, Germany)
DEATH: 1 Nov 986 in Jomsborg, Vejle, Denmark
BURIED:
FATHER: Gorm 'The Old' KNUDSSON - Abt 840 in Vejle, Denmark
MOTHER: Thyra KLACKSDOTTIR - Abt 844 in Vejle, Denmark
MARRIAGE: Abt 940 - Gyrithe (Gyrid) OLAFSDOTTER probably in Vejle, Denmark
CHILDREN:
1. Hakon HARALDSSON - Abt 940 in Denmark
2. Svend I Tveskaeg 'Forkbeard' HARALDSSON - Abt 941 in Denmark
DEATH: Feb 1014 in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England
3. Gunhild HARALDSDATTER - Abt 949 in Denmark
DEATH: 13 Nov 1002
4. Thyra HARALDSDATTER - Abt 960 in Denmark
DEATH: 18 Sep 1000 in Norway

5. Erik Hring HARALDSSON - Abt 967 in Denmark

"Harold, king, bade these memorials to be made after Gorm, his father, and Thyra, his mother. The Harald who won the whole of Denmark and Norway and turned the Danes to Christianity." (In Old Norse: Haraltr kunukr bath kaurua kubl thausi aft kurm fathur sin auk aft thaurui muthur sina sa haraltr ias sar uan tanmaurk ala auk nuruiak auk tani karthi kristna.)
Runensteine von Gorm und Blauzahn
Runenstein von Blauzahn, Schriftseite
Runensteine von Blauzahn und Gorm, Rückseite
Harold Bluetooth Gormson was sometimes called Harold II. He succeeded his father Gorm 'the Old' as king of Denmark in 958 or 959.
Harald Bluetooth embraced Christianity around 960. His son Svend 'Forkbeard' was baptized along with the rest of his royal family. Svend was given the name 'Otto' after the Holy Roman Emperor, Otto the Great.
Harald was wounded in a battle against the forces of his sun Svend. He died 1 Nov 986 at Jomsborg, Denmark.

The origin of his nickname 'Bluetooth' may have been from a physical trait. However, it is not known for sure is this nickname was used during his lifetime or if it was given to him later.

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