Harald "Bluetooth" Gormsson (920-1 November 986) was King of Denmark from 958 to 986, succeeding Gorm the Old and preceding Sweyn Forkbeard; he was also King of Norway from 970 to 986, succeeding Harald Greycloak and preceding Sweyn.
Biography[]
Harald Bluetooth was born in 920 CE, the son of King Gorm the Old of Denmark and Thyra. Harald succeeded his father as king in 958, and he campaigned against the Holy Roman Empire to the south and against other Norse nations in Scandinavia. Harald converted to Christianity due to pressure from Otto II of Germany and after witnessing a priest carrying a large weight of iron without being burned, and he was the first viking king to convert to Christianity. In 945 and 963, he aided Richard I of Normandy against West Francia, and he subjugated Norway after the assassination of Harald Greycloak. Harald was not always victorious, however, losing several times to other vikings (including the Battle of Hjorungavagr), as well as to the Germans. He was killed while fighting off a rebellion led by his own son Sweyn Forkbeard in 986.
| King of Denmark | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Gorm the Old |
958 - 986 | Succeeded by: Sweyn Forkbeard |
| King of Norway | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Harald Greycloak |
970 - 986 | Succeeded by: Olaf Tryggvason |