Harald Bluetooth

Harald Bluetooth is the eldest son of King Sweyn, who succeeded his father as the King of Denmark. He has short hair and a goatee, and wears a fur cape. Harald was poisoned and murdered by King Canute.

Quick Facts

Role: King of Denmark and Norway
Affiliation: Danish Royal Court
Relation: Father of Sweyn Forkbeard
Status: Deceased (Historical Context)

Lore & Background

According to these later traditions, he unified Norway into one kingdom, though modern historians debate his existence. The only contemporary support for a king named Harald comes from the Jelling stones regarding Harald Bluetooth (d. c. 985/986), who claimed rule over Denmark and Norway. Skaldic poems like Hrafnsmál mention a King Haraldr who won a battle at Hafrsfjord, but these do not confirm the epithet 'Bluetooth' nor link him to the Vinland Saga narrative. Harald Fairhair's legend may have been an origin myth created in the twelfth century.

Reader's Guide

Fans seeking information on Harald Bluetooth within Vinland Saga cannot find it in this source, which is strictly about Harald Fairhair of Norway (c. 850 – c. 932). This text clarifies that while Fairhair is a national icon of independence, his historicity is contested by scholars like Peter Sawyer and Hans Jacob Orning. The name 'Harald Bluetooth' appears in near-contemporary records as the ruler of Denmark who also claimed Norway.

Did You Know?

Harald Fairhair's biography is uncertain because extant accounts come from sagas written three centuries after his lifetime.
The epithet hárfagri translates to 'beautiful-haired' in Old Norse, not the English meaning of 'blond'.
Some historians argue that Harald Fairhair did not exist as a historical figure at all.
Skaldic poems like Hrafnsmál call the honorand Haraldr Hálfdanarson rather than Haraldr hárfagri.