Category Archives: Danish Royals

Olaf I, King of Denmark

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2025

1685 engraving depicting King Olaf I of Denmark; Credit – Wikipedia

Born circa 1050, Olaf I, King of Denmark, from 1086 to 1095, was the third of five illegitimate sons of Sweyn II Estridsson, King of Denmark to become King of Denmark. Olaf’s father Sweyn II married twice. His first marriage was childless. According to the chronicle “Jerusalem History”, Sweyn the Crusader, the legitimate son of a King of Denmark, took part in the First Crusade, dying in battle in 1097. Some researchers believe that he was the son of Sweyn II from his second marriage, but there is no documentary evidence of the existence of Sweyn the Crusader. Sweyn the Crusader would have been living when Sweyn II died in 1076. It would seem logical that a legitimate son of Sweyn II would have been considered a candidate to be his successor. However, only his illegitimate sons Harald III, Sweyn II’s successor, and Cnut IV, who succeeded Harald III, were considered.

Portrait of King Sweyn II that marks his place of burial in Roskilde Cathedral; Credit – Wikipedia

Sweyn II had many mistresses and fathered at least twenty children. The identity of the mothers of his illegitimate children is uncertain. Sweyn II’s illegitimate children listed below are either Olaf’s full siblings or half-siblings. “Brother” will be used when discussing Sweyn’s male siblings, but it is unknown whether they were full brothers or half-brothers.

Around 1067, Olaf married Ingegerd Haraldsdotter, the daughter of King Harald III Hardrada of Norway. The marriage was part of the peace treaty between Denmark and Norway to strengthen their alliance. There are no known children from this marriage.

When Olaf’s father, Sweyn II Estridsson, King of Denmark, died in 1076, there were two candidates for the Danish throne, Harald, Sweyn II’s eldest illegitimate son, and Cnut, Sweyn II’s second illegitimate son. An assembly of Danish nobles had to choose between the two candidates. Harald was seen as more peaceful, while Cnut wanted to reconquer England. To convince the nobles to vote for him, Harald took the vows called Harald’s Laws, declaring that he would uphold the existing rule of law. Cnut was sent into exile and did not return until his brother King Harald III of Denmark died in 1080, when Cnut succeeded his childless brother as King Cnut IV of Denmark.

As the great-grandson of Cnut the Great, King of England, Denmark, and Norway, King Cnut IV believed he was entitled to the English crown and saw William the Conqueror, now King William I of England, as a usurper. In 1085, Cnut planned an invasion of England with the support of his father-in-law Robert I, Count of Flanders and King Olaf III of Norway. However, the invasion never happened because Cnut feared an invasion of Denmark’s southern border by Heinrich IV, Holy Roman Emperor.

The Danish fleet with the Danish army aboard the ships remained in Danish ports. Supplies were running low, and the harvest was approaching. A council was held, and Olaf was sent to ask his brother King Cnut IV to begin the English campaign or send the army home. Cnut feared Olaf’s support among the nobles. Olaf had concerns about Cnut’s ambitions and saw Cnut’s young son Carl, born the previous year, as a future rival for power. Cnut blamed Olaf for stirring up trouble, and Olaf was imprisoned by their brother Eric, the future King Eric I of Denmark. Olaf was banished to Flanders, under the supervision of Robert I, Count of Flanders, Cnut’s father-in-law.

Cnut’s actions resulted in open rebellion. He had to flee from the royal estate in Børglum and continued to flee to Aggersborg and on to Viborg and Schleswig, finally ending up in Odense. On July 10, 1086, Cnut, his brother Benedikt, and seventeen of their followers took refuge in the wooden, Viking Age St. Alban’s Priory Church (link in Danish) at St. Alban’s Priory in Odense. The rebels stormed into the church and killed Cnut, his brother Benedikt, and their seventeen followers before the altar. The Benedictine monks of St. Alban’s Priory buried Cnut and his brother Benedikt in front of the main altar of the St. Alban’s Priory Church.

Olaf, still imprisoned in Flanders, was proclaimed King of Denmark. An arrangement was made to exchange Olaf for his younger brother Niels, a future King of Denmark. When Olaf returned to Denmark as King Olaf I, his brother Eric, who had imprisoned him, fled to Scania, now in Sweden.

During the reign of King Olaf I, Denmark suffered from crop failure, and Olaf was given the nickname “Hunger”. The crop failure was seen as divine retribution for Cnut’s murder. There were reports of miracles occurring at Cnut’s burial site, and his canonization was already being sought during King Olaf I’s reign. In 1101, persuaded by envoys from King Eric I of Denmark (reigned 1095 – 1103), brother of King Cnut IV and successor of their brother King Olaf I of Denmark, Pope Paschal II canonized King Cnut IV as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church.

King Olaf I of Denmark died on August 18, 1095, aged about 45, under uncertain circumstances. His burial site is unknown. The Danish historian, theologian and author Saxo Grammaticus (circa 1150 – circa 1220) in his Chronicle of Denmark says, he “willingly gave himself to lose the land of its bad luck and begged that all of the guilt would fall upon his head alone. So he offered his life for his countrymen.” Some historians speculate that Olaf killed himself over the guilt of the murder of his brother King Cnut IV and the famines in Denmark.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Bidragsydere til Wikimedia-projekter. (2003). Konge af Danmark (1050-1095). Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oluf_Hunger
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2025). Saint Cnut IV of Denmark. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/saint-cnut-iv-king-of-denmark/
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2025). Sweyn II Estridsson, King of Denmark. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/sweyn-ii-estridsson-king-of-denmark/
  • Olaf Hunger – heimskringla.no. (2025). Heimskringla.no. https://www.heimskringla.no/wiki/Olaf_Hunger
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). Olaf I of Denmark. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.

(Saint) Knud IV, King of Denmark

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2025

Statue of Saint Knud at St. Peter’s Church in Næstved, Denmark; Credit – Wikipedia By Orf3us – Own work 

Note: There are variations of the name: Knut (Norwegian and Swedish), Knud (Danish), Knútur (Icelandic), Canute (Anglicized)

Born circa 1042, King Knud IV of Denmark was the second of five illegitimate sons of Sweyn II Estridsson, King of Denmark to become King of Denmark. He reigned from 1080 until 1086, when rebels killed him.Knud was canonized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church.

Knud’s father, Sweyn II, married twice. His first marriage was childless. According to the chronicle “Jerusalem History”, Sweyn the Crusader, the legitimate son of a King of Denmark, took part in the First Crusade, dying in battle in 1097. Some researchers believe that he was the son of Sweyn II from his second marriage, but there is no documentary evidence of the existence of Sweyn the Crusader. Sweyn the Crusader would have been living when Sweyn II died in 1076. It would seem logical that a legitimate son of Sweyn II would have been considered a candidate to be his successor. However, only his illegitimate sons Harald III, Sweyn II’s successor, and Knud IV, who succeeded Harald III, were considered.

Sweyn II had many mistresses and fathered at least twenty children. The identity of the mothers of his illegitimate children is uncertain. Sweyn II’s illegitimate children listed below are either Knud’s full siblings or half-siblings. “Brother” will be used when discussing Knud’s male siblings but it is unknown whether they were full brothers or half-brothers.

In 1082, Knud married Adela of Flanders (circa 1064 – 1115), daughter of Robert I, Count of Flanders and Gertrude of Saxony. The marriage was part of an alliance between Flanders and Denmark against King William I of England (the Conqueror). Knud and Adela had three children, a son and twin daughters:

When Knud’s father Sweyn II Estridsson, King of Denmark, died in 1076, there were two candidates for the Danish throne, Harald, Sweyn II’s eldest illegitimate son, and Knud, Sweyn II’s second illegitimate son. An assembly of Danish nobles had to choose between the two candidates. Harald was seen as more peaceful, while Knud wanted to reconquer England. To convince the nobles to vote for him, Harald took the vows called Harald’s Laws, declaring that he would uphold the existing rule of law. Knud was sent into exile and did not return until his brother, King Harald III of Denmark, died in 1080, when Knud succeeded his childless brother as King Knud IV of Denmark.

The reign of King Knud IV of Denmark focused on three areas: his desire to strengthen the Danish monarchy, his deep religious devotion and strong support of the Roman Catholic Church, and his desire to be the King of England. Knud IV attempted to increase his royal power by stifling the nobles and their power. His policies and actions led to discontent among his subjects and are considered a direct cause of his eventual murder.

Knud issued edicts giving the king ownership of common lands, rights to the goods on shipwrecks, and the right to inherit the property of foreigners and those without descendants. During Knud’s reign, Denmark was still Roman Catholic and would remain so until the Protestant Reformation, when Lutheranism became Denmark’s official religion in 1536.Knud enhanced the Roman Catholic Church’s authority by establishing stricter penalties for offenses committed on church holidays and enforcing the collection of tithes, giving ten percent of one’s income to the church. Knud gave large sums of money to the churches in Dalby, Luns, Odense, Roskilde, and Viborg. Knud’s actions made the Roman Catholic Church in Denmark a powerful ally, and in turn, the church supported Knud’s position of power.

As the great-grandson of Cnut the Great, King of England, Denmark, and Norway, King Knud IV believed he was entitled to the English crown and saw William the Conqueror, now King William I of England, as a usurper. In 1085, Knud planned an invasion of England with the support of his father-in-law, Robert I, Count of Flanders and King Olaf III of Norway. However, the invasion never happened because Knud feared an invasion of Denmark’s southern border by Heinrich IV, Holy Roman Emperor.

The Danish fleet with the Danish army aboard the ships remained in Danish ports. Supplies were running low, and the harvest was approaching. A council was held, and Knud’s half-brother Olaf, the future King Olaf I of Denmark, was sent to ask him to begin the English campaign or send the army home. Knud feared Olaf’s support among the nobles. Olaf had concerns about Knud’s ambitions and saw his young son Carl, born the previous year, as a future rival for power. Knud blamed Olaf for stirring up trouble, and Olaf was imprisoned by their brother Eric, the future King Eric I of Denmark. Olaf was banished to Flanders, under the supervision of Robert I, Count of Flanders, Knud’s father-in-law.

Murder of King Knud IV in Saint Alban’s Church by Christian Albrecht von Benzon (1843); Credit – Wikipedia

However, Knud’s actions resulted in open rebellion. He had to flee from the royal estate in Børglum and continued to flee to Aggersborg,  Viborg, and Schleswig, finally ending up in Odense. On July 10, 1086, Knud, his brother Benedikt, and seventeen of their followers took refuge in the wooden, Viking Age St. Alban’s Priory Church (link in Danish) at St. Alban’s Priory in Odense. The rebels stormed into the church and killed Knud, his brother Benedikt, and their seventeen followers before the altar. The Benedictine monks of St. Alban’s Priory buried Knud and his brother Benedikt in front of the main altar of the St. Alban’s Priory Church.

Knud was considered a martyr, and calls for his canonization as a saint were quickly heard. During the reign of Knud’s brother and successor, King Olaf I of Denmark, Denmark suffered from crop failure. This was seen as divine retribution for Knud’s murder. There were reports of miracles occurring at his burial site, and his canonization was already being sought during King Olaf I of Denmark’s reign (1086 – 1095). In 1101, persuaded by King Eric I of Denmark (reigned 1095 – 1103), brother of King Knud IV and successor of their brother King Olaf I of Denmark, Pope Paschal II canonized King Knud IV as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church.

Soon after Knud’s murder, construction began on the first Saint Knud’s Cathedral, just southwest of St. Alban’s Priory Church in Odense, Denmark. In 1095, construction had progressed enough for Knud’s remains to be transferred from St. Alban’s Priory Church to the crypt at Saint Knud’s Cathedral. The new cathedral was completed in 1122 and consecrated in Knud’s name. In 1247, a fire devastated Odense, and the cathedral was badly damaged.

The second St. Knud’s Cathedral in Odense, Denmark; Credit – Wikipedia by Samuel Damon, Own work

In 1280, construction began in Odense, Denmark on the second and current Saint Knud’s Cathedral in the Brick Gothic style. By 1300, construction had progressed enough to allow the reburial of Knud IV, King of Denmark, and his brother Benedikt in the cathedral’s crypt. It took more than 200 years to complete the second cathedral, which was dedicated on April 30, 1499. Originally Roman Catholic, Saint Knud’s Cathedral has been Evangelical-Lutheran since the Danish Reformation. The remains of Knud and Benedikt were walled up by the monks in an alcove in the cathedral to protect the remains from destruction during the Danish Reformation.  During the 19th century, their long-forgotten coffins were discovered, and the remains of Knud and his brother Benedikt are now on display in the cathedral.

Tomb of Knud IV, King of Denmark at Saint Cnut’s Cathedral; Credit – Wikipedia by Hideko Bondesen – http://www.nordenskirker.dk/

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty

Works Cited

  • Bidragsydere til Wikimedia-projekter. (2003). Konge af Danmark 1043-1086. Katolsk helgen. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knud_den_Hellige
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2025). Harald III, King of Denmark. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/harald-iii-king-of-denmark/
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2025). Sweyn II Estridsson, King of Denmark. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/sweyn-ii-estridsson-king-of-denmark/
  • (n.d.). St. Canute IV. Catholic Online. https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=2589
  • St. Canute IV – Saint of the Day. (2022). Saint of the Day -. https://saintoftheday.com/st-canute-iv/
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). Adela of Flanders. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2025). Canute IV of Denmark. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). Olaf I of Denmark. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.

Harald III, King of Denmark

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2025

Harald III, King of Denmark depicted on his coins with a drawn sword, a show of power; Credit – Wikipedia

King Harald III of Denmark was born circa 1042 and reigned as King of Denmark from 1076 to 1080. He was the first of five illegitimate sons of Sweyn II Estridsson, King of Denmark to become King of Denmark. Harald was called Harald Hen, Runic Danish for Harald the Whetstone with whetstone meaning “the soft one”. Perhaps the nickname originated because Harald was gentle and peaceful by nature and did not always want to impose his own will.

Harald III's father Sweyn II Estridsen that marks his place of burial; Credit – Wikipedia

Portrait of Harald’s father King Sweyn II marking his burial place in Roskilde Cathedral in Roskilde, Denmark; Credit – Wikipedia

Harald’s father Sweyn II married twice. His first marriage was childless. According to the chronicle “Jerusalem History”, Sweyn the Crusader, the legitimate son of a King of Denmark, took part in the First Crusade, dying in battle in 1097. Some researchers believe that he was the son of Sweyn II from his second marriage, but there is no documentary evidence of the existence of Sweyn the Crusader. Sweyn the Crusader would have been living when Sweyn II died in 1076. It would seem logical that a legitimate son of Sweyn II would have been considered a candidate to be his successor. However, only his illegitimate sons Harald III, Sweyn II’s successor, and Cnut IV, who succeeded Harald III, were considered.

Sweyn II had many mistresses and fathered at least twenty children. The identity of the mothers of his illegitimate children is uncertain. Sweyn II’s illegitimate children listed below are either Harald III’s full siblings or his half-siblings. “Brother” will be used when discussing Harald’s male siblings but it is unknown whether they were full brothers or half-brothers.

Harald III married Margareta Asbjørnsdatter, the daughter of Jarl Asbjörn Ulfsen, a Danish nobleman (Jarl was a nobility title), and possibly Harald’s maternal uncle. Margareta’s birth and death dates are unknown, and there are no known children from the marriage.

In 1069, Harald participated in the last Viking invasion of England, attempting to exploit the English people’s dissatisfaction with King William I of England, who in 1066, as Duke of Normandy, invaded England and defeated the last king of the House of Wessex, Harold II Godwinson, at the Battle of Hastings. However, the Viking army was unsuccessful against the stronger Norman army and returned home with nothing accomplished.

When Harald’s father Sweyn II Estridsson, King of Denmark, died in 1076, there were two candidates for the Danish throne, Harald, Sweyn II’s eldest son, and Cnut, Sweyn II’s second son. An assembly of Danish nobles had to choose between the two candidates. Harald was seen as more peaceful, while Cnut wanted to try to reconquer England. To convince the nobles to vote for him, Harald took the vows called Harald’s Laws, declaring that he would uphold the existing rule of law.

Although Harald had conflicts with his brothers Cnut and Eric, his reign was relatively peaceful. He continued his father’s pro-church policies and had a good relationship with Pope Gregory VII. Harald often took the peasants’ side in conflicts between chieftains and peasants. He made the large forests owned by the crown accessible and usable to all, despite protests from the nobles who previously had sole rights.

Harald is particularly known for abolishing the old innocence tests, in which a person accused in a criminal case had to prove their innocence by some ordeal. When Harald came to the throne, the old pagan traditions, such as victory in a duel or trial by fire, were still used to prove innocence or guilt. Harald abolished them and decided that if the accused himself and a certain number of honorable men dared to swear that he was innocent, his innocence was proven.

Harald III, King of Denmark died on April 17, 1080, aged around 38, and was succeeded by his brother, King Cnut IV of Denmark. Harald was buried in Dalby Church, now in Dalby, Sweden. When the church was built, Dalby was part of Denmark. The church was commissioned by Harald’s father Sweyn II and was constructed during the second half of the 11th century.

Dalby Church; Credit – Wikipedia

In Dalby Church, the 13th-century apse ends in a Romanesque tombstone with an incised cross, known as Harald’s Stone. No one is buried under the stone, which probably comes from an earlier canon‘s grave. Harald is possibly buried in the southeast corner of the church by the niche in the sacristy.

The niche in Dalby Church where King Harald III may be buried; Credit – By Oleryhlolsson Own work

A 2015 study suggested that King Harald III may have died of Brugada syndrome, a genetic disorder in which the electrical activity in the heart is abnormal. It increases the risk of abnormal heart rhythms and sudden cardiac death. The study showed that perhaps up to fourteen Danish kings who suddenly died at a relatively young age without being ill possibly died of Brugada Syndrome.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Bidragsgivare till Wikimedia-projekten. (2005, April 14). Dalby Kyrka. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalby_kyrka
  • Bidragsydere til Wikimedia-projekter. (2003). Konge af Danmark (1041-1080). Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harald_Hen
  • Flantzer, S. (2025). Sweyn II Estridsson, King of Denmark [Review of Sweyn II Estridsson, King of Denmark]. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/sweyn-ii-estridsson-king-of-denmark/
  • Hadley, Dawn & Richards, Julian. (2022). The Viking Great Army and the Making of England. Thames & Hudson.
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). Harald Hen. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.

Sweyn II Estridsson, King of Denmark

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2025

Reconstruction of King Sweyn II Estridsson’s head based on the skull in Roskilde Cathedral, now in the National Museum in Copenhagen, Denmark; Credit – Wikipedia

Sweyn II Estridsson reigned as King of Denmark from 1047 to 1076. Born in England, circa 1019, Sweyn II was the son of Ulf Thorgilsson, a Danish nobleman with the title of Jarl, a Viking chieftain, governor and regent of Denmark under Cnut the Great, King of England, Denmark, and Norway. Sweyn II’s mother was Estrid Svendsdatter, the sister of Cnut the Great and the daughter of Sweyn Forkbeard, King of Denmark, Norway, and England and either Sigrid Storråda or Gunhilda of Wenden. The descendants of King Sweyn II of Denmark have reigned in Denmark ever since. One of his descendants, Margaret of Denmark, daughter of King Christian I of Denmark, married James III, King of Scots in 1469, introducing Sweyn II’s bloodline into the Scottish royal house. In 1603, James VI, King of Scots inherited the English throne upon the death of Queen Elizabeth I and reigned in England as King James I. Since that time, all English and British monarchs have been Sweyn II’s descendants. Sweyn had at least one sibling, a brother, Beorn Estridsson, Earl of Huntingdon (circa 1020 – 1049).

Sweyn II spent his childhood in England. At the time of his birth, circa 1019, the House of Denmark reigned in England. His maternal grandfather Sweyn Forkbeard, King of Denmark, Norway, and England, reigned in England from 1013 to 1014 and his maternal uncle Cnut the Great, King of England, Denmark, and Norway, reigned in England from 1016 to 1035.

Sweyn II married twice. Around 1047, he married Gyda Anundsdotter of Sweden, daughter of Anund Jacob, King of Sweden and Gunnhildr Sveinsdóttir. It was a short marriage as Gyda died in 1048, allegedly poisoned by Sweyn’s concubine Thora. Two years later, Sweyn married Gunnhildr Sveinsdóttir, the mother of his first wife Gyda.

Sweyn’s second marriage did not last long. The marriage was considered illegal by the Catholic Church because Sweyn and Gunnhildr were too closely related, either because they were cousins or because Sweyn had been married to Gunnhidr’s daughter, and they were threatened with excommunication.

According to the chronicle “Jerusalem History”, Sweyn the Crusader, the son of the King of Denmark, took part in the First Crusade dying in battle in 1097. Some researchers believe that he was the son of Sweyn II but there is no documentary evidence of the existence of Sweyn the Crusader. Sweyn the Crusader would have been born during Sweyn II’s second marriage and would have been living when Sweyn II died in 1076. It would seem logical that a legitimate son of Sweyn II would have been considered as his successor. However, only his illegitimate sons Harald III, Sweyn II’s successor, and Cnut IV, who succeeded Harald III, were considered.

Sweyn II had many mistresses and fathered at least 20 children. His son from his second marriage who died in the First Crusade was his only legitimate child. Five of his illegitimate sons were later kings.

Illegitimate children of Sweyn II with various concubines:

Sweyn’s uncle Cnut the Great died in 1035. Cnut decreed that any sons of his second marriage to Emma of Normandy should take precedence over the sons of his first marriage to Ælfgifu of Northampton. This meant that Cnut and Emma’s only son Harthacnut was the legitimate heir to England and Denmark. At the time of his father’s death, Harthacnut was in Denmark where he easily succeeded his father as King of Denmark. However, he was unable to come to England because Denmark was under threat of invasion by Norway and Sweden. Because of this, the English council elected Harold Harefoot, Cnut’s son from his first marriage, Regent of England as a temporary measure. He was later proclaimed King of the English.

Harold Harefoot’s rule in England, lasted only five years as he died in 1040, aged about twenty-four. Within months, his half-brother Harthacnut arrived in England with sixty-two warships and ascended the English throne unchallenged. He had Harald Harefoot’s body exhumed, decapitated, and thrown into a swamp but then it was retrieved and thrown in the River Thames. A fisherman pulled Harold Harefoot’s body from the River Thames. It was buried at St. Clement Danes Church in London, originally founded by Danes in the ninth century.

Harthacnut was unmarried and in 1041, he invited his half-brother Edward (the Confessor), the son of Æthelred II the Unready, King of the English and Emma of Normandy, home from his exile in Normandy and made him his heir in England. Sweyn was created a Jarl (earl) in Denmark by Harthacnut. When Harthacunt died in 1042, Sweyn asserted his claims to the Danish and English thrones. However, Edward the Confessor became King of England and Magnus I, King of Norway became King of Denmark. Sweyn entered Magnus’ service and swore an oath of allegiance to him. King Magnus was unmarried and only had one child, an illegitimate daughter. In 1047, the 24-year-old Magnus suddenly died in Denmark. On his deathbed, Magnus named Sweyn his heir in Denmark, and finally Sweyn reigned in Denmark as King Sweyn II.

Perhaps King Sweyn II’s greatest accomplishment was giving the Danish Church, Roman Catholic at that time, a firm and lasting organization by creating a framework for the bishops’ rule. Sweyn brought scholars to Denmark to teach him and his people Latin so they could converse with the rest of Europe on equal terms. The German chronicler Adam of Bremen traveled to Denmark to meet Sweyn and was impressed with his patience and wisdom. Sweyn encouraged the building of churches all over Denmark.

In 1066, William II, Duke of Normandy, known as William the Conqueror, conquered England in 1066, overthrowing Harold II Godwinson, King of England, and becoming King William I of England. King Sweyn II attempted to put England once more under Danish rule. He joined forces with Edgar Ætheling, the grandson of Edmund II Ironside, King of the English and the last remaining heir of the Anglo-Saxon royal house, and sent a force to attack England in 1069. However, after capturing the city of York, Sweyn accepted a payment from King William I of England to desert Edgar, who returned into exile in Scotland. Sweyn made another failed attempt to take over England in 1074 – 1075.

Burial site of Sweyn II Estridsen; Credit By Richard Mortel – Funerary monuments, Roskilde Cathedral CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=69758143

King Sweyn II probably died on April 28, 1076, at his estate in Søderup, Southern Jutland, Denmark. He was interred in the southeastern pier at Roskilde Cathedral in Roskilde, Denmark, the traditional burial site of Danish monarchs  A pier is similar to a column and is designed to support arches. In the photo above, a portrait of Sweyn II Ertridsen on the right marks the pier where he is buried.

Portrait of King Sweyn II that marks his place of burial in Roskilde Cathedral; Credit – Wikipedia

A 2015 study suggested that King Sweyn II may have died of Brugada syndrome, a genetic disorder in which the electrical activity in the heart is abnormal. It increases the risk of abnormal heart rhythms and sudden cardiac death. The study showed that perhaps up to fourteen Danish kings who suddenly died at a relatively young age without being ill possibly died of Brugada Syndrome.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Bidragsydere til Wikimedia-projekter. (2003). konge af Danmark (1020-1076). Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svend_Estridsen
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2019). Cnut the Great, King of England, Denmark, and Norway. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/cnut-the-great-king-of-england-denmark-and-norway/
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2021). Roskilde Cathedral in Roskilde, Denmark. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/roskilde-cathedral-in-roskilde-denmark/
  • Hadley, Dawn & Richards, Julian. (2022). The Viking Great Army and the Making of England. Thames & Hudson.
  • Retsmediciner: Svend Tveskæg gav dødelig sygdom videre til en række danske konger. (2020). Videnskab.dk. https://videnskab.dk/kultur-samfund/retsmediciner-svend-tveskaeg-gav-doedelig-sygdom-videre-til-en-raekke-danske-konger/
  • Wenande, Christian. (2015). Mystery of Danish king deaths fosters new theory – The Copenhagen Post. The Copenhagen Post. https://cphpost.dk/2015-10-16/general/mystery-of-danish-king-deaths-fosters-new-theory/
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2025). Sweyn II of Denmark. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.

Magnus the Good, King of Denmark and Norway

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2025

Magnus the Good; Credit – By Viggo Guttorm-Pedersen – CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=52039023

Magnus the Good reigned as King of Denmark from 1042 to 1047 and as King of Norway from 1035 to 1047. Born circa 1024 in Norway, Magnus was the illegitimate son of King Olaf II of Norway (later Saint Olaf) and his English concubine Alfhild, originally a slave of Olaf’s wife Queen Astrid Olofsdotter. Magnus was born prematurely and was not expected to survive. He was hastily baptized and as his father was not present at the birth, his Icelandic skald (poet) Sigvatr Þórðarson named the infant Magnus after King Olaf II’s role model, Karl Magnus (Charlemagne, King of the Franks, King of the Lombards and Emperor of the Carolingian Empire), Magnus did survive, and despite his illegitimacy, as Olaf’s only son, he was vitally important.

Magnus had one half-sister from his father’s marriage to Astrid Olofsdotter:

Cnut the Great, King of England, Denmark, and Norway; Credit – Wikipedia

In 1029, Cnut the Great, King of England and Denmark invaded Norway. King Olaf II and his son Magnus had been in exile since Cnut’s invasion. Eventually, they arrived in Novgorod in Kievan Rus, now in Russia, where King Olaf sought assistance from Grand Prince Yaroslav the Wise. Magnus was left to be fostered by Yaroslav and his wife Ingegerd Olofsdotter of Sweden while Olaf went to fight Cnut the Great. In 1030, King Olaf II of Norway was killed at the Battle of Stiklestad, and Cnut became King of Norway.

For the next few years, Magnus remained in Novgorod where he was educated and trained as a soldier. King Cnut sent his wife Ælfgifu of Northampton and their eldest son Sweyn Cnutsson to govern Norway. The Norwegians considered their rule oppressive and they were expelled in 1035. Eleven-year-old Magnus the Good then became King of Norway. Initially, Magnus sought revenge against his father’s enemies, but on Sigvatr Þórðarson‘s advice, he decided against it and became known as Magnus the Good.

The child kings Magnus (left) and Harthacnut meet at the Gøta River; Credit – Wikipedia

Another son of King Cnut, Harthacnut, King of Denmark and King of England (reigned 1040 – 1042), wanted Denmark to reunite with Norway, so in defense, Magnus initiated a campaign against Denmark around 1040. However, the noblemen of both countries brought the two kings together on the border between the kingdoms on the Gøta River in present-day Sweden. Magnus and Harthacnut made peace and agreed that the first to die would be succeeded by the other.

Sweyn Estridsson; fresco from the 16th century in Roskilde Cathedral in Roskilde, Denmark; Credit – Wikipedia

In 1042, Harthacnut died while in England, and Magnus became King of Denmark, despite a claim by Cnut’s nephew Sweyn Estridsson, whom Harthacnut had left in control of Denmark when he went to England. Sweyn Estridsson continued to oppose Magnus in Denmark, although they reached a settlement by which Sweyn Estridsson became Earl of Denmark under Magnus.

King Magnus wanted to reunite King Cnut’s North Sea empire by becoming King of England. When Harthacnut, King of Denmark and King of England died, his half-brother, the son of Harthacnut’s mother Emma of Normandy and her first husband Æthelred II, King of the English, now known as Saint Edward the Confessor, King of England (reigned 1042 – 1066), succeeded to the English throne. The English were mostly hostile to Magnus but Sweyn Estridsson was welcome in England.

Magnus’ uncle Harald Sigurdsson, the future King Harald III of Norway, also known as Harald Hardrada, returned to Norway and contested Magnus’ rule there. Sweyn Estridsson remained a threat in Denmark. Harald Sigurdsson allied himself with Sweyn Estridsson. King Magnus chose to appease his uncle Harald Sigurdsson and made him his co-king in Norway in 1046, and in the same year, Magnus drove Sweyn Estridsson out of Denmark.

Site of King Magnus’ grave in Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway; Credit – By Ole Ryhl Olsson Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=111711349

King Magnus was unmarried and only had one child, an illegitimate daughter. On October 25, 1047, the 24-year-old Magnus suddenly died in Denmark. The exact cause of his death is unknown but there were reports that Magnus fell overboard from a ship and drowned, that he fell off his horse, and that he fell ill while on board a ship. Magnus was buried with his father King Olaf II of Norway in Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway. On his deathbed, Magnus named Sweyn Estridsson (King Sweyn II Estridsson, reigned 1047 – 1076) his heir in Denmark, and his uncle and co-king in Norway, Harald Hardrada (King Harald III, reigned 1046 – 1066) his heir in Norway.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Bidragsytere til Wikimedia-prosjektene. (2004). Konge av Danmark og Norge. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnus_den_gode
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2019). Cnut the Great, King of England, Denmark, and Norway. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/cnut-the-great-king-of-england-denmark-and-norway/
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2019). Emma of Normandy, Queen of England, Denmark and Norway. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/emma-of-normandy-queen-of-england-denmark-and-norway/
  • Hadley, Dawn & Richards, Julian. (2022). The Viking Great Army and the Making of England. Thames & Hudson.
  • Magnus the Good. (2024). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnus_the_Good
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2019). Harald Hardrada. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harald_Hardrada
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2025). Saint Olaf. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2025). Sweyn II of Denmark. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.

Harald II, King of Denmark (reigned 1014 – 1018)

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2025

King Harald II as depicted in a copper engraving from 1646 by Albert Haelwegh; Credit – Wikipedia

Not much is known about Harald II, King of Denmark who reigned for only four years. Almost every primary source from Denmark, Iceland, and Norway omits Harald II’s brief reign. Most of the information about Harald comes from The Encomium Emmae Reginae, a text completed in 1042 on the orders of Harald’s sister-in-law, Emma of Normandy, Queen of England, Denmark and Norway, the widow of King Æthelred II of the English, the second wife of Harald’s brother Cnut the Great, King of England, Denmark, and Norway, and the mother of Saint Edward the Confessor, King of England via her first husband Æthelred.

In 1893, Danish historian Johannes Steenstrup summed up what was known about Harald. The synopsis uses Danish names. The English names are in parentheses. “Haraldr (Harald) was installed as regent by his father and refused to share power with Knútr (his brother Cnut), but helped with his preparation for conquering England. Son of Sveinn Haraldsson (Sweyn Haraldson, also known as Sweyn Forkbeard) and Gunnhildr (Gunhilda), Haraldr succeeded Sveinn Haraldson right after his death. Haraldr and his brother Knútr brought their mother Gunnhildr back to Denmark. Haraldr died in 1018, barely more than 20 years old.”

In his 2021 article, The Forgotten King of Denmark – Haraldr II, Deniz Cem Gülen theorizes that “the reticence around Haraldr and his reign might be his religious beliefs.” Although his paternal grandfather Harald I Bluetooth, King of Denmark and Norway converted from paganism to Christianity and decided that the Danish people should also convert to Christianity, King Harald II may have been a pagan. Early writers may have omitted King Harald II’s brief reign attempting to have him forgotten as a pagan king.

King Harald II was probably born circa 996 – 998. His father Sweyn Forkbeard, King of Denmark, Norway, and England had two wives: Sigrid Storråda and Gunhilda of Wenden. Both women are mentioned in the Norse sagas but there is very little information about them in the medieval chronicles. Sweyn Forkbeard had seven known children but which of the two women are their mothers is uncertain. Gunhilda of Wenden was probably the mother of Harald and his brother Cnut the Great, King of England, Denmark, and Norway. Sources say nothing about King Harald II of Denmark having been married.

Harald’s brother Cnut the Great, King of England, Denmark, and Norway; Credit – Wikipedia

Harald II had six known siblings:

Sweyn Forkbeard invading England; Credit – Wikipedia

Harald served as regent of Denmark and Norway while his father Sweyn Forkbeard, King of Denmark and Norway was fighting Æthelred II, King of the English in England. In 1002 Æthelred was told that the Danish men in England “would faithlessly take his life, and then all his councilors, and possess his kingdom afterward.” In response, Æthelred “ordered slain all the Danish men who were in England.” St. Brice’s Day Massacre occurred on November 13, 1002, the feast day of St. Brice, fifth-century Bishop of Tours. There was a significant loss of life including Gunhilde, Sweyn Forkbeard’s sister. In retaliation, Sweyn Forkbeard attacked England during 1003 – 1004, burning Norwich but a famine in 1005 caused him to retreat. The Danish invaders returned and within a few years, all of England came under Danish rule. On Christmas Day in 1013, Harald’s father Sweyn Forkbeard was formally proclaimed King of England.

Sweyn Forkbeard made his English base in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England, and began organizing his new kingdom. However, his reign was short-lived as he suddenly died in Gainsborough on February 3, 1014, at around the age of 54. Harald Bluetooth had named Roskilde the capital of Denmark in 960, and a small wooden church dedicated to the Holy Trinity was built on the site of the current Roskilde Cathedral, the traditional burial site of the Danish monarchs. Harald Bluetooth was buried at the Holy Trinity Church. Sweyn Forkbeard was first buried in England and his remains were later moved to Denmark where they were interred near his father at the Holy Trinity Church. However, their tombs have never been found.

Sweyn Forkbeard’s younger son succeeded him as Harald II, King of Denmark, and his elder son Cnut (the Great), was proclaimed King of England by the Danes in England. King Harald II of Denmark died in 1018, probably in his early 20s but his burial place is unknown. His brother Cnut succeeded Harald as King of Denmark.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Bidragsydere til Wikimedia-projekter. (2003). Harald II. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harald_2.
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2019). Cnut the Great, King of England, Denmark, and Norway. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/cnut-the-great-king-of-england-denmark-and-norway/
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2019). Emma of Normandy, Queen of England, Denmark and Norway. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/emma-of-normandy-queen-of-england-denmark-and-norway/
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2025). Harald I Bluetooth, King of Denmark and Norway. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/harald-i-bluetooth-king-of-denmark-and-norway/
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2019). Sweyn Forkbeard, King of Denmark, Norway, and England. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/sweyn-forkbeard-king-of-denmark-king-of-norway-king-of-england/
  • Hadley, Dawn & Richards, Julian. (2022). The Viking Great Army and the Making of England. Thames & Hudson.
  • View of The Forgotten King of Denmark – Haraldr II | Scandinavian-Canadian Studies. (2025). Scancan.net. https://scancan.net/index.php/scancan/article/view/203/40

Harald I Bluetooth, King of Denmark and Norway

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2025

Harald Bluetooth – 16th-century fresco  at Roskilde Cathedral, Harald’s burial place; Credit – Wikipedia

A Viking warrior, Harald I Bluetooth, King of Denmark, reigned circa 958 – 986, and King of Norway reigned circa 970 – 986, unified Denmark and Norway in the tenth century. His nickname Bluetooth first appears in the Roskilde Chronicle in 1140. Blár means “blue” in Old Norse but it also means “dark”. Possibly Harald had a conspicuous bad tooth that was dark.

Harald Bluetooth was the inspiration for the name of the wireless technology company Bluetooth. The name was based on an analogy that the technology would unite devices the way Harald Bluetooth united the tribes of Denmark into a single kingdom. The Bluetooth logo    is a bind rune merging the runes  Runic letter ior.svg (Hagall) (ᚼ) and Runic letter berkanan.svg (Bjarkan) (ᛒ), Harald’s initials.

Harald Bluetooth was born in Denmark, before 936, probably about 932. He was the son of Gorm the Old, King of Denmark and Thyra Dannebod. Gorm the Old is the earliest reliably verified Danish ruler. His father was supposedly Harthacnut who reigned in the early 10th century. A Norse saga says that Harthacnut was the son of legendary Danish king Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye, one of the sons of legendary Danish king Ragnar Lodbrok. The existence of Harald’s mother Thyra Dannebod is documented in Viking Age runestone inscriptions, but very little is known about her. Medieval historians and 12th and 13th-century Icelandic sagas disagree with her origin, describing her as the daughter of an English king, the daughter of an Earl of Jutland, or from the area of present-day Germany.

Harald had three siblings:

Harald’s first wife was Gunhild of Wenden, probably the mother of Sweyn Forkbeard, King of Denmark, Norway, and England. Besides Gunhild, Harald Bluetooth had two other wives, Tove of the Obotrites and Gyrid Olafsdottir of Sweden. Harald had three other children besides Sweyn but it is not certain which of his wives were their mothers.

Harald’s children:

Harald succeeded his father Gorm as King of Denmark. It is speculated that Gorm died in the winter of 958 – 959, based on dendrochronology, the scientific method of dating tree rings, showing that his tomb in a burial mound in Jelling, Denmark was made from wood felled in 958. Gorm was around sixty years old when he died, and because of his father’s old age, Harald had already played an important role in governing Denmark.

During Harald Bluetooth’s reign, Denmark was peaceful and Harald focused on foreign affairs. Richard I, Count of Normandy, the great-grandfather of William III, Duke of Normandy, better known as William the Conqueror, King William I of England, allied himself with Harald who then supported Richard I, a descendant of Vikings, against his opponents. Originally Normandy was a French fiefdom created as the County of Rouen in 911 by King Charles III “the Simple” of France for Rollo, a Viking leader whose original name may have been Hrólfr. After participating in many Viking raids along the Seine, culminating in the Siege of Paris in 886, Rollo was finally defeated by King Charles III. Rollo swore fealty to the French King and converted to Christianity. Charles then granted Rollo territories around Rouen, which came to be called Normandy after the Northmen/Norsemen, another name for Vikings. Rollo is the great-great-great-grandfather of William the Conqueror.

In 961, when King Haakon I of Norway was defeated and killed in battle, Harald Bluetooth went to Norway and proclaimed himself King of Norway and appointed the Norwegian regional kings as his vassals. Harald II Greycloak of Norway, the leader of the Norwegian vassal kings and also Harald Bluetooth’s nephew (the son of his sister Gunnhild), killed his most important opponents and became increasingly independent of his uncle Harald Bluetooth. In 970, Harald Greycloak was tricked into visiting Denmark and was killed by allies of his uncle Harald Bluetooth. Harald Bluetooth regained a strong position as King of Norway and appointed Harald Greycloak’s murderers as Jarls in Norway.

Poppo baptizing Harald Bluetooth; Credit – Wikipedia

Harald Bluetooth converted to Christianity. Allegedly, around 965, Poppo, a German priest who was Bishop of Schleswig in the 10th and early 11th centuries, convinced Harald that Jesus Christ was a far stronger deity than the Norse gods. Poppo baptized Harald who then decided that the Danish people should convert to Christianity.

The Great Jelling Stone showing Jesus Christ with outstretched arms but without a cross. Erected by Harald Bluetooth in the latter half of the 10th century; Credit – Af Casiopeia – fotografiert von Casiopeia, CC BY-SA 2.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=197286

Harald’s father Gorm was first buried in the North Mound in Jelling, Denmark. After his conversion to Christianity, Harald had his father’s body reburied in the wooden church he built next to the North Mound in Jelling. Harald erected the Jelling stones including the Great Jelling Stone for his father and mother with the inscription: “King Harald 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.”

The modern memorial to Harald Bluetooth in Wolin, Poland. The Danish and Polish inscription, in rune style, commemorates Harald’s death in Jómsborg; Credit – By Radosław Drożdżewski (Zwiadowca21) – Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4318187

In 986, Sweyn Forkbeard rebelled against his father and seized the throne. Wounded after a battle with his son, Harald Bluetooth was driven into exile and died in November 986 in Jomsborg, a Viking stronghold built by Harald Bluetooth on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea. Jomsborg is thought to be the present-day town of Wolin in Poland.

Roskilde Cathedral on the site of Holy Trinity Church built by Harald Bluetooth; Photo Credit © Susan Flantzer

Harald Bluetooth named Roskilde the capital of Denmark in 960. He had a small wooden church dedicated to the Holy Trinity built on the site of the current Roskilde Cathedral, the traditional burial site of the Danish monarchs. Harald Bluetooth was buried at the Holy Trinity Church. His son Sweyn Forkbeard was first buried in England and his remains were later moved to Denmark where they were interred near his father at the Holy Trinity Church. However, their tombs have never been found.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Bidragsydere til Wikimedia-projekter. (2003). Harald Blåtand. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harald_Bl%C3%A5tand
  • Bidragsydere til Wikimedia-projekter. (2021). Poppo. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poppo
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2025). Gorm the Old, King of Denmark. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/gorm-the-old-king-of-denmark-reigned-936-958/
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2021). Roskilde Cathedral in Roskilde, Denmark. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/roskilde-cathedral-in-roskilde-denmark/
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2019). Sweyn Forkbeard, King of Denmark, Norway, and England. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/sweyn-forkbeard-king-of-denmark-king-of-norway-king-of-england/
  • ‌Harald Bluetooth. (2021). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harald_Bluetooth

Gorm the Old, King of Denmark

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2025

1860 painting by Danish artist August Thomsen of Thyra Dannebod informing King Gorm the Old of the death of their son Knud Danaast; Credit – Wikipedia

Gorm the Old, King of Denmark reigned from 936 to 958. The exact date of the Kingdom of Denmark’s origin is unknown, but names of Danish kings began to appear in foreign sources in the 8th century. The current Kingdom of Denmark was founded by the Viking kings Gorm the Old and his son Harald Bluetooth in the 10th century. Gorm the Old is the earliest reliably verified Danish ruler. The kings who preceded Gorm the Old are called the Legendary Kings of Denmark. These kings may be partly historical, especially those close to Gorm the Old’s time, semi-legendary, or entirely mythological.

Gorm the Old’s father was supposedly Harthacnut who reigned in the early 10th century. A Norse saga says that Harthacnut was the son of legendary Danish king Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye, one of the sons of legendary Danish king Ragnar Lodbrok. In the History Channel’s TV series Vikings, Ragnar Lodbrok (played by Australian actor Travis Fimmel) was the main character.

Gorm was probably born around 900. The chronicler Adam of Bremen says that Gorm’s father Harthacnut came from Northmannia, the original name of Normandy, a region in northern France, to Denmark and seized power in the early 10th century by deposing King Sigtrygg Gnupasson, who reigned in western Denmark. When Harthacnut died, his son Gorm became king. It is speculated that Gorm only ruled in the Jutland area of present-day Denmark,  from Jelling, the royal seat of the first monarchs of the Kingdom of Denmark. Runestones state that Gorm’s son Harald Bluetooth “conquered all of Denmark and Norway and made the Danes Christian”, therefore there is speculation that Gorm was only King of Jutland

Gorm married Thyra Dannebod whose existence is documented in Viking Age runestone inscriptions, but very little is known about her. Medieval historians and 12th and 13th-century Icelandic sagas disagree with her origin, describing her as the daughter of an English king, the daughter of an Earl of Jutland, or from the area of present-day Germany.

Gorm and Thyra had four children:

The North Mound where Gorm was originally buried; Credit – By Hjart – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=71808578

Gorm was first buried in the North Mound in Jelling, Denmark. Today, Jelling is the site of a large stone ship, two large burial mounds, the Jelling stones (massive carved runestones from the 10th century), and the Jelling Church.

Gorm’s burial site in the Jelling Church; Credit – Wikipedia

Gorm’s son Harald Bluetooth became a Christian around 965, and after his conversion, Harald had his father’s body reburied in the wooden church he built next to the North Mound in Jelling. Harald Bluetooth erected Jelling stones for his father and mother with the inscription: “King Harald 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.” It is speculated that Gorm died in the winter of 958 – 959, based on dendrochronology, the scientific method of dating tree rings, showing that the tomb in the North Mound in Jelling was made from wood felled in 958.

The Jelling stone erected by Harald Bluetooth in memory of his father Gorm;  Credit – By Casiopeia – fotografiert von Casiopeia, CC BY-SA 2.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=197286

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Bidragsydere til Wikimedia-projekter. (2003, November 18). dansk dronning i 10. århundrede. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyra_Dannebod
  • Bidragsydere til Wikimedia-projekter. (2002). Konge af Danmark (0900-0964). Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorm_den_Gamle
  • Gorm the Old (899-958) – Find a Grave Memorial. (2024). Findagrave.com. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/84801088/gorm-the_old
  • ‌Gorm the Old. (2023). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorm_the_Old
  • Thyra. (2024). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyra
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). Harthacnut I of Denmark. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.

Danish Styles and Titles

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2025

Queen Mary and King Frederik X; Photo: © Hasse Nielsen

A unified Danish monarchy can be traced back to Gorm the Old who died in 958. In the 10th and 11th centuries, several Kings of Denmark were also Kings of England. Denmark, Sweden, and Norway were ruled together under one monarch from 1397 until 1523 when Sweden seceded and became its own kingdom. In 1814, after the Napoleonic Wars, Denmark lost Norway to Sweden. Eventually, in 1905, the union between Sweden and Norway was dissolved and Norway became its own kingdom. Norway’s first king, Haakon VII, was born Prince Carl of Denmark, a son of King Frederik VIII of Denmark. The House of Oldenburg reigned in Denmark from 1448 – 1863 when the crown passed to the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, a cadet branch of the same house, because there were no Oldenburg heirs.

The Danish Monarch

King Frederik X of Denmark

His Majesty King Frederik X is the current monarch of Denmark. In her New Year’s Speech on December 31, 2023, Frederik’s mother Queen Margrethe II announced that she would step down as Queen of Denmark on January 14, 2024, the 52nd anniversary of her accession.

The monarchs of Denmark have a long history of royal and noble titles. Historically Danish monarchs also used the titles King of the Wends and King of the Goths. In 1972, when Queen Margrethe II succeeded to the throne, she eliminated all titles except the style and title Her Majesty Queen of Denmark.

Only descendants of King Christian X and his wife Queen Alexandrine may inherit the Danish throne. The monarch must be a member of the Lutheran Evangelical Church and must have Parliament’s permission to marry. The succession law was changed in 1953 to allow female succession. The monarch at that time, King Frederik IX, had only three daughters. Before 1953, the Salic Law, which prohibits female succession, was in effect. As of 2008, the succession has been based on absolute primogeniture, meaning the eldest child is heir, regardless of gender. Since 1513, the regnal names of male Danish monarchs have traditionally alternated between Frederik and Christian.

The Danish Royal Consort

Queen Mary of Denmark; Credit – Wikipedia

The wives of Danish monarchs have been titled Queen of Denmark and styled Her Majesty. Her Majesty Queen Mary of Denmark, born Mary Donaldson in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, is the current royal consort.

There have been only two reigning Queens of Denmark: Margarethe I, Queen of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden (reigned in Denmark 1387 –1412, reigned in Norway 1388 – 1412, reigned in Sweden 1389 – 1412) and Margrethe II, Queen of Denmark (reigned 1972 – 2024, abdicated). Queen Margrethe I’s husband was also a monarch, Haakon VI, King of Norway and Sweden, so a royal Danish title was unnecessary.

In 1967, the future Queen Margrethe II of Denmark married a commoner, Henri de Laborde de Monpezat, born in Talence, France. After his marriage, Henri was known by Henrik, the Danish version of his name, and was created a Prince of Denmark with the style His Royal Highness. In 2005, Queen Margrethe II gave her husband the title The Prince Consort of Denmark. In her New Year’s speech on December 31, 2015, Queen Margrethe II announced that Prince Henrik would slow down and give up most of his official duties beginning January 1, 2016. On April 14, 2016, Prince Henrik renounced the title of Prince Consort and reverted to His Royal Highness Prince Henrik of Denmark.

The Heir to the Danish Throne – Crown Prince of Denmark or Crown Princess of Denmark

Crown Prince Christian of Denmark; Photo: © Dennis Stenild

The eldest child of the Danish monarch, regardless of gender, automatically becomes the Crown Prince of Denmark or the Crown Princess of Denmark when his/her father or mother succeeds to the Danish throne. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Christian of Denmark, the eldest of the four children of King Frederik X, is the current heir to the throne. He automatically became Crown Prince of Denmark after his grandmother’s abdication and his father’s subsequent ascension to the Danish throne on January 14, 2024.

Count of Monpezat

Although the right to use the title is disputed, members of the Laborde de Monpezat family, the family of the late Prince Henrik of Denmark, born Henri Laborde de Monpezat in Talence, France, the husband of Queen Margrethe II, have styled themselves as Comte de Laborde de Monpezat (English: Count of Laborde of Monpezat) since the late nineteenth century.

On April 30, 2008, Queen Margrethe II conferred the title of Count of Monpezat (Greve af Monpezat in Danish), as a Danish title of nobility, on her two sons Crown Prince Frederik (now King Frederik X) and Prince Joachim. Crown Princess Mary (now Queen Mary of Denmark) became Countess of Monpezat, and when Prince Joachim married Marie Cavallier on May 24, 2008, she became Princess Marie of Denmark and Countess of Monpezat. Descendants born in a legal marriage also bear the title, so the sons of King Frederik X and Prince Joachim are all Counts of Monpezat and their daughters are all Countesses of Monpezat.

The Danish Royal House’s announcement:

Her Majesty the Queen has decided that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Royal Highness Prince Joachim will be given the title of “Count of Monpezat”. Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary and His Royal Highness Prince Joachim’s future spouse Ms. Marie Cavallier will consequently bear the title of “Countess of Monpezat”. The title will also be borne by descendants born in lawful marriage, in accordance with the general rules applicable to this, which means that the title “Count of Monpezat” will be carried on by male descendants, while female descendants will bear the title “Countess of Monpezat”. This is a new, additional title that can be used in connection with the existing ones. The title does not affect the currently applicable predicates.

Prince and Princess of Denmark

King Frederik X and his family on the day of his accession to the Danish throne (Left to right: Princess Isabella, Crown Prince Christian, King Frederik X, Queen Mary, Princess Josephine, and Prince Vincent)

On September 28, 2022, the Danish Royal House announced changes for royal titles within the Danish Royal Family. Queen Margrethe II decided that, as of January 1, 2023, the children of her son His Royal Highness Prince Joachim would no longer hold the style and title of His/Her Highness Prince/Princess. Instead, they would only hold the title Count/Countess of Monpezat, with the style of His/Her Excellency. Prince Joachim had two sons with his first wife Alexandra Manley (divorced 2005), styled after her divorce, Her Excellency Countess Alexandra of Frederiksborg. He had one son and one daughter with his second wife Marie Cavallier, styled after her marriage, Her Royal Highness Princess Marie. It is unclear if this is a permanent change, and only the children of the monarch and the heir apparent will be Princes and Princesses of Denmark, or if it is a change just for the children of Prince Joachim, the second of Queen Margrethe II’s two sons.

As of January 1, 2023, Prince Joachim’s children are styled:

Here is the full statement issued by the Danish Royal House:

In April 2008, Her Majesty The Queen bestowed upon her sons, their spouses and their descendants the titles of count and countess of Monpezat. In May 2016, it was also announced that His Royal Highness Prince Christian, as the only one of The Queen’s grandchildren, is expected to receive an annuity from the state as an adult.

As a natural extension of this, Her Majesty has decided that, as of 1 January 2023, His Royal Highness Prince Joachim’s descendants can only use their titles as counts and countess of Monpezat, as the titles of prince and princess that they have held up until now will be discontinued. Prince Joachim’s descendants will thus have to be addressed as excellencies in the future. The Queen’s decision is in line with similar adjustments that other royal houses have made in various ways in recent years.

With her decision, Her Majesty The Queen wishes to create the framework for the four grandchildren to be able to shape their own lives to a much greater extent without being limited by the special considerations and duties that a formal affiliation with the Royal House of Denmark as an institution involves. All four grandchildren maintain their places in the order of succession.

Count of Rosenborg

Count Ingolf of Rosenborg, his wife Countess Sussie (center), and his sister Princess Elisabeth of Denmark; Photo: BilledBladet.dk

The title Count of Rosenborg is named after Rosenborg Castle, a renaissance castle in Copenhagen, Denmark. The title Count of Rosenborg has been granted to seven Danish princes, all of whom relinquished their position within the Danish Royal Family upon marrying without official consent from the Danish monarch. The first three, Aage, Erik, and Viggo, retained some of their royal status, however, the others lost all of their official connection to royalty, being delegated to the highest level of the Danish aristocracy.

  • 1914 – HRH Prince Aage of Denmark – eldest son of Prince Valdemar (son of King Christian IX) became His Highness Prince Aage, Count of Rosenborg
  • 1924 – HRH Prince Erik of Denmark – third son of Prince Valdemar (son of King Christian IX) became His Highness Prince Erik, Count of Rosenborg
  • 1924 – HRH Prince Viggo of Denmark – fourth son of Prince Valdemar (son of King Christian IX) became His Highness Prince Viggo, Count of Rosenborg
  • 1948 – HH Prince Oluf of Denmark– younger son of Prince Harald (son of King Frederik VIII) became His Excellency Count Oluf of Rosenborg
  • 1949 – HH Prince Flemming of Denmark – son of Prince Axel (son of Prince Valdemar – son of King Christian IX) became His Excellency Count Flemming of Rosenborg
  • 1968 – HH Prince Ingolf of Denmark – elder son of Prince Knud (son of King Christian X) became His Excellency Count Ingolf of Rosenborg
  • 1971 – HH Prince Christian of Denmark – younger son of Prince Knud (son of King Christian X) became His Excellency Count Christian of Rosenborg

The first three in the list above all gave up their status during the reign of King Christian X, their first cousin. He allowed them to retain the title of Prince (without the “of Denmark” designation), with the lesser style of His Highness. This was limited to them and their wives only and did not pass to their children. However, the Rosenborg title was granted to them with the provision that it would be passed down through male-line descendants. Sons continue to carry the title, while daughters retain it until they marry.

However, by 1948 when Prince Oluf relinquished his status, there was a new King on the throne, King Frederik IX. Privately, King Frederik IX was more accepting of unequal’ marriages, however, he feared that giving his consent would encourage previous royals who had lost their titles to re-claim their royal status and succession rights. So Princes Oluf, Flemming, Ingolf, and Christian gave up their royal status and became His Excellency Count <Name> of Rosenborg. They were no longer considered part of the Danish Royal House or Danish Royal Family and were relegated to the top level of the Danish aristocracy.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Bidragsydere til Wikimedia-projekter. (2015). Greve af Monpezat. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greve_af_Monpezat
  • Changes in titles and forms of address in the Royal Family. (2022). Kongehuset.dk. https://www.kongehuset.dk/en/news/changes-in-titles-and-forms-of-address-in-the-royal-family
  • Mehl, Scott. (2022). Change of Titles within the Danish Royal Family as of January 1, 2023. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/change-of-titles-within-the-danish-royal-family/
  • Mehl, Scott. (2014). King Frederik X of Denmark. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/crown-prince-frederik-of-denmark/
  • Mehl, Scott. (2014). The Danish Counts of Rosenborg. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/the-danish-counts-of-rosenborg/
  • Monarchy of Denmark. (2021). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Denmark
  • The Royal House. (2025). Kongehuset.dk. http://kongehuset.dk/en
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2025). Count of Monpezat. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.

Christopher III, King of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2025

Christopher III, King of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden; Credit – Wikipedia

Christopher III, King of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden was born Christopher of Bavaria on February 26, 1416, in Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz, then in Palatinate-Neumarkt, now in the administrative region of the Upper Palatinate in Bavaria, Germany. He was the only child of Johan, Count Palatine of Neumarkt and Catherine of Pomerania. Christopher’s paternal grandparents were Rupert, Elector Palatine and Elisabeth of Nuremberg. Wartislaw VII, Duke of Pomerania and Maria of Mecklenburg were his maternal grandparents.

Christopher’s uncle Eric of Pomerania, King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden; Credit – Wikipedia

Christopher’s maternal uncle, born Bogislaw of Pomerania, the future Eric of Pomerania, King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, was taken as a child to Denmark to be raised as the heir to his maternal great-aunt Margrethe I, Queen of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden who had no surviving children. Bogislaw’s name was changed to the more Nordic-sounding Eric. When Eric of Pomerania came of age, he was declared co-ruler in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, however, Margarethe I remained the effective ruler of all three kingdoms for the remainder of her life. Margrethe I devised the Kalmar Union, a personal union from 1397 to 1523, in which a single monarch ruled the three kingdoms of Denmark, Sweden (then including much of present-day Finland), and Norway, together with Norway’s overseas colonies (then including Iceland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and the Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland).

On October 28, 1412, 59-year-old Queen Margrethe I died and Eric succeeded his great-aunt as King of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. However, Eric’s marriage to Philippa of England was childless. Eric named his cousin Bogislaw IX, Duke of Pomerania the heir presumptive of his three kingdoms. However, the Danish nobility refused to ratify his choice. In response, Eric left Copenhagen and lived at Visborg Castle in Gotland, Sweden’s largest island. Between 1439 and 1441, the nobility of Eric’s three kingdoms deposed him.

After Eric left Copenhagen, the Danish Imperial Council offered Christopher the Kingdom of Denmark and the right to inherit Norway and Sweden. Christopher became Regent of Denmark in July 1439 and was elected King of Denmark in April 1440. The following year he put down a peasant revolt and then traveled to Uppsala, Sweden where he was crowned King of Sweden in September 1441. On January 1, 1443, Christopher was crowned King of Norway.

Christopher’s reign was marked by difficulties related to his election as king. To gain support, Christopher had to make promises that later were difficult to keep and roused anger among the nobility. Christopher had promised the Swedes to return to them the island of Gotland, where the exiled former king, Erik of Pomerania lived in Visborg Castle and supported himself with piracy. Christopher’s negotiations failed, and when complaints were made, he replied frivolously, “My uncle must live too.” In Sweden, Christopher was called the “Bark King” because the people had to mix bark into their bread during a crop failure. In Denmark, there were complaints that Christopher invited too many Bavarians to come to Denmark. Christopher introduced unpopular tithes, a compulsory government tax.

In 1443, Copenhagen was granted a new city charter that prohibited trade in foreign currency. The Hanseatic League cities were not happy about this. In 1445, Christopher was forced to reaffirm the existing rights of the Hanseatic League in Sweden and Norway via a treaty. The treaty also provided for Christopher’s marriage to Dorothea of Brandenburg, the youngest of the three daughters and the youngest of the four children of Johann IV, Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmburg.

Dorothea of Brandenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

On September 12, 1445, 15-year-old Dorothea of Brandenburg married 29-year-old Christopher III, King of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The marriage was childless and lasted less than three years. On January 5, 1448, 31-year-old Christopher suddenly died at Kärnan Fortress in Helsingborg, Sweden. He is buried at Roskilde Cathedral in Roskilde, Denmark. Christopher’s widow Dorothea was proclaimed the regent of Denmark until a new monarch could be elected.

Christopher’s death without an heir resulted in a succession crisis that temporarily broke up the Kalmar Union which had united the Kingdoms of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The Danish throne was first offered to Duke Adolphus of Schleswig, the most prominent feudal lord of the lands subject to Danish sovereignty. Adolphus declined because of his age and recommended his nephew Christian, Count of Oldenburg, the future King Christian I of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. In September 1448, Christian of Oldenburg was elected King of Denmark and in 1450, he was elected King of Norway and reigned as King Christian I. However, in Sweden, in June 1448, Karl Knutsson, Lord High Constable of Sweden, was elected King of Sweden and reigned as King Karl VIII during three periods: 1448–1457, 1464–1465, and 1467–1470.

In September 1448, Christian of Oldenburg was elected King of Denmark and reigned as King Christian I. The Danish Council of State made it a condition that Christian marry Dorothea of Brandenburg, Christopher’s widow. Christian I and Dorothea were married on October 26, 1449, and their coronation was held two days later. In 1450, Christian I was elected King of Norway. He also reigned in Sweden from 1457 to 1464. Sweden would not be reunited permanently with Denmark and Norway until Christian I’s son and successor King Hans conquered Sweden in 1497.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Autoren der Wikimedia-Projekte. (2005). König von Schweden, Dänemark und Norwegen. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christoph_III.
  • Christoffer af Bayern. (2025). Wikipedia.org. https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christoffer_af_Bayern
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2021). Dorothea of Brandenburg, Queen of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/dorothea-of-brandenburg-queen-of-denmark-norway-and-sweden/
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2025). Eric of Pomerania – Eric III, King of Norway, Eric VII, King of Denmark, Eric XIII, King of Sweden [Review of Eric of Pomerania – Eric III, King of Norway, Eric VII, King of Denmark, Eric XIII, King of Sweden]. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/eric-of-pomerania-eric-iii-king-of-norway-eric-vii-king-of-denmark-eric-xiii-king-of-sweden/
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2025). Margrethe I, Queen of Denmark, Queen of Norway, and Queen of Sweden. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/margrethe-i-queen-of-denmark-norway-and-sweden-2/
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2025). Christopher of Bavaria. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.