General Notes

Gorm, the Old, so called from the length of his reign. He married the beautiful Thyra Dannebod (Ornament of Denmark), daughter of Harold Klak. They had twin sons, Knud and Harold, rivals in glory. Knud was the favorite of his father, and had been absent sometime, and the King fearing his death had vowed to kill the one that brought the news of his death. Finally the notice of his death was given and the Queen, not risking to tell it to the King, made all the courtiers observe an unusual silence at the table and had the apartment covered with black. Guessing the reason, Gorm cried out: "Surely Knud, my dear son, is dead as all Denmark is mourning." "Thou sayest so, not I." answered the Queen; upon which the King sickened with grief and died in a good old age, in 941.