Harald (Bluetooth) Gormsson of Denmark II

• General Notes
  • Harold Bluetooth (died about 985), king of Denmark (940?-985), who consolidated the Danish realm as a unitary kingdom. He was the son of Gorm the Old (d. about 940) and inherited his kingdom, centered on Jelling in Jutland. Although he temporarily (974-983) lost southern Jutland to Holy Roman Emperor Otto II, Harold secured all Denmark under his control and extended his rule to much of Norway. Baptized in 960 and thus introducing Christianity into Denmark, he had the famous Jelling rune stone erected in his parents' memory. Harold was fatally wounded during a rebellion by his son and successor, Sweyn I.
    
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    King Harald Bluetooth lived in Denmark between 910-940 AD, and was the son of Gorm.
    
    Contrary to popular opinion, Bluetooth or "Blåtand" as it was in old Viking language had nothing to do with a blue tooth.
    
    It means dark complexion - he had very dark hair, which was unusual for Vikings. Not only did Harald not fit the classic image physically, he was a rather unusual Viking.
    
    That is, if your understanding was that the life of a Viking was all battles and pillage. The good King Harald brought Christianity to Scandinavia and also "united" Denmark and Norway. And while we are destroying long-held beliefs, Vikings did not have horns on their helmets!
    
    Much of Harald's history was learnt from two runic stones erected to his memory in the town of Jelling in Denmark
    
    Sources:
    
       1. Abbrev: University of Hull Royal Database (England)
          Title: Brian Tompsett, Dept of Computer Science, University of Hull Royal Database (England) (copyright 1994, 1995, 1996)base (England)base (England). copyright 1994, 1995, 1996.
          Note:
          Call number:
    
          usually reliable but sometimes includes hypothetical lines, mythological figures, etc
    
          WWW, University of Hull, Hull, UK HU6 7RX bct@tardis.ed.ac.uk
          Text: s of Gorm the Old of Jutland King of Denmark & Thyri Klacksdottir
       2. Abbrev: Ancestry of Richard Plantagenet & Cecily de Nevill
          Title: Ernst-Friedrich Kraentzler, Ancestry of Richard Plantagenet & Cecily de Neville (published by author 1978)evilleeville. published by author 1978.
          Note:
          Call number:
    
          J.H. Garner
          Page: chart 1791
          Text: Confuses this Harald, who was s of Gorm the Old & m Elgiva of England, with his cousin/relative? Harald Parcus K of Denmark, also makes him s of Gorm & Sida.
       3. Abbrev: Europäische Stammtafeln (Isenburg edition)
          Title: Prince Wilhelm Karl von Isenburg, Europäische Stammtafeln (Isenburg edition) (Verlag von J.A. Stargardt, Marburg, pub. 1975, original 1953)tion)tion). Verlag von J.A. Stargardt, Marburg, pub. 1975, original 1953.
          Note:
          Call number:
    
          selected charts in possession of J.H. Garner
          Page: Band II table 70
       4. Abbrev: Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists Who
          Title: Frederick Lewis Weis, Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists Who Came to America bef 1760 (7th ed Genealogical Publishing, Baltimore 1992)ame to America bef 1760ame to America bef 1760. 7th ed Genealogical Publishing, Baltimore 1992.
          Note:
          Call number:
    
          Same ref source as earlier ed, "Ancestral Roots of 60 Colonists who Came to New England 1623-1650" ed 1-6
    
          good to very good
    
          J.H. Garner
          Page: line 1B p 6 footnote
       5. Abbrev: Pullen010502.FTW
          Title: Pullen010502.FTW
          Note:
          Call number:
          Text: Date of Import: Jan 5, 2002
       6. Abbrev: University of Hull Royal Database (England)
          Title: Brian Tompsett, Dept of Computer Science, University of Hull Royal Database (England) (copyright 1994, 1995, 1996)base (England)base (England). copyright 1994, 1995, 1996.
          Note:
          Call number:
    
          usually reliable but sometimes includes hypothetical lines, mythological figures, etc
    
          WWW, University of Hull, Hull, UK HU6 7RX bct@tardis.ed.ac.uk