The legendary kings of Denmark were, according to legend, the monarchs of Denmark, the Danes, or specific lands of Denmark (Zealand, Jutland or Scania) who preceded Gorm the Old, a king who reigned to and is the earliest reliably attested Danish ruler. Gorm's son, Harald Bluetooth, oversaw the widespread Christianization of Denmark, meaning that the legendary kings listed here are those from before Christianization and are predominantly (but not entirely) pagan. Kings preceding Gorm may be partly historical (especially those near to Gorm's time), but even these are at least semi-legendary; many earlier kings are entirely mythological. Some are based on earlier euhemerised stories (that is, figures from mythological folktales were depicted as historical kings by medieval writers such as Saxo Grammaticus).

There are many medieval accounts of the Danish kings of the Dark Ages, and these accounts can be confusing and contradictory (although there is overlap and different sources can include the same kings). This article presents the legendary kings from each source separately.

Danish sources

Runestones Runestones are raised stones, marked with a runic inscription. In the Viking Age, and especially later in the Viking Age, runestones were often raised in memorial of dead people, including kings. Many were raised by contemporaries of the deceased, making runestones important archeological and historical evidence. Although they contain very little detail about the people they mention, they are vital corroborating evidence for individuals (especially kings) that are known of through other sources (see below).

Surviving runestones that were found in lands that were part of Denmark during the Viking Age and refer to early and legendary kings of Denmark include: The Jelling stones (Rundata DR 41 and DR 42), which refers to King Gorm, his wife Thyra, and their son King Harald. The Hedeby stones, of which two (Rundata DR 1 and DR 3) refer to King Suin, and the other two (the Sigtrygg Runestones, DR 2 and DR 4) were raised by Ásfrið, daughter of Odinkar, to memorialise King Sigtrygg, Ásfrið's son with Gnupa. The first Sønder Vissing Runestone (DR 55), which was raised by Tofa, wife of Harald the Good (Gorm's son) and daughter of Misitiwi, in honour of her mother. The Hällestad Runestones and Aars stone, which refer to Gorm's son Toke or Valtoke, who is not known from other sources and apparently died at the Battle of Fýrisvellir.

In summary, the legendary Danish kings preceding Gorm the Old who are recorded on Viking Age runestones are: Gnupa Sigtrygg, Gnupa's son Gorm

Adam of Bremen Adam of Bremen was an 11th century German chronicler. Although not Danish himself, he spent time in the court of the Danish king Svend Estridson. Adam claims to derive much of the information on Danish history from his Latin chronicle Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum ("Deeds of the Bishops of Hamburg") from conversations with Svend (whom he quotes verbatim in several places) and from information provided by Danish bishops. He also references the historians of the Franks (see, for example, the section on the Royal Frankish Annals, below) and hagiographies such as Vita Ansgarii.

Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum names several 10th century kings preceding Gorm the Old. Kings whose histories are derived from information provided by Svend Estridson include:Sven Estridsen (in Adam of Bremen), by Mischa Hooker of Augustana College, with text and translationGorm of Denmark and his immediate predecessors based on the earliest authorities, compiled by Stewart BaldwinLatin text of Adam of Bremen's Gesta Hammburgensis ecclesiae pontificum from B. Schmeidler, 3rd ed., MGH SRG 2 (1917) Helge ("Heiligonem" in accusative, nominative "*Heiligo"), who ruled Norway after the defeat of the Norsemen and was renowned for his justice and sanctity (1.XLVIII) Olaf ("Olaph"), a Swedish prince who conquered Denmark, succeeded Helge, and had many sons (1.XLVIII, 1.LII) Chnuba and Gyrd ("Chnob et Gurd"), Olaf's sons who possessed the realm after his death (1.XLVIII) Sigeric ("Sigerich"), who succeeded after Olaf and his sons (1.LII) Harthacnut ("Hardegon", "Hardecnudth"), the son of "Svein"; Harthacnut came from "Nortmannia" and deprived Sigeric of the kingdom (1.LII, 1.LV)

Mentioned kings preceding Gorm the Old, whose histories are derived from other sources, include:History of the Archbishops of Hamburg-Bremen, English translation with an introduction and notes by Francis J. Tschan. Columbia University Press. New York (1959). Gotafrid (1.xiv, 1.xxxix) Hemming, Gotafrid's cousin who succeeded him (1.xiv) Sigefrid and Anulo, Gotafrid's nephews who went to war with each other over Hemming's succession. Both kings were killed, but Anulo's faction won and placed Reginfrid and Harald on the throne. (1.xv, 1.xxxix) Reginfrid, who was forced out of Denmark by his brother Harald and resorted to piracy (1.xv) Harald (i.e. Harald Klak), who was forced out by the sons of Gotafrid and fled to the court of Louis the Pious, where he (with his wife and brother Horuch) were converted to Christianity and baptised (1.xv) Horic, who was friendly to Christians, and who was killed in a war against his nephew Gudorm (1.xxv, 1.xxvi, 1.xxviii) Horic the younger, the only royal survivor of the war between Horic the elder and Gudorm. On his ascension to the throne, he immediately expelled all Christian priests and closed the churches, but was later converted to Christianity by Ansgar. (1.xxviii, 1.xxix) Sigefrid and his brother Halfdan (1.xxxvii) Horic (1.xxxvii) Orwig (1.xxxvii) Gotafrid (1.xxxvii) Rudolf (1.xxxvii) Ingvar, son of Lodbrok (possibly a conflation of Ivar the Boneless, one of Ragnar Lodbrok's sons who is not traditionally credited with ruling Denmark, with Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye, who is) (1.xxxvii) Wrm (i.e. Gorm the Old, rendered in various manuscripts as "Vurm", "Wrm", "Worm", "Gorm", or "Gwyrm"), son of Harthacnut; described by Adam of Bremen as a "wyrm" who tried to eradicate Christianity in Denmark, but was succeeded by his son Harold who converted the country to that religion (1.LV, 1.LVII, 1.LVIIII, 1.LIX)

Chronicon Roskildense

The earliest known history of Denmark to be written in Denmark was Chronicon Roskildense ("The Chronicle of Roskilde"), which was composed in Latin by an unknown author (likely connected with Roskilde Cathedral) in the mid-12th century. Many early sections rely on the work of Adam of Bremen (see above).

It begins in the year 826, with the introduction of Christianity to Denmark and conversion of Harald Klak. The original chronicle ends with the appointment of Eskil of Lund as Archbishop of Lund in 1137 or 1138 (and was likely written about this time), and this is followed by a continuation by a different author up to the ascension of Valdemar I of Denmark in 1157. As such, most of the chronicle takes place after the Christianisation of Denmark, but the early sections do list several semi-legendary kings preceding Gorm the Old. These are:Chronicon Roskildense, with translation and commentary by Mischa Hooker of Augustana CollegeMichael H Gelting, Roskildekrøniken (Danish), Lex (Danmarks Nationalleksikon) Harald Klak ("Haraldus") Horik I ("Hericus"), who is referred to here as Harald Klak's brother. Horik II ("Hericus Puer", or Heric the Child), of whom the chronicle says there was significant doubt that he was Horik I's son. He temporarily ejected the Christians and priests from Denmark. Frothi Gorm Harald Bluetooth ("Haraldus" with the surname "Blatan"), who is incorrectly identified also as "Clac Harald". He ruled with his father Gorm for 15 years, then after his father's death for a further 50 years. Halfdan ("Haldanus"), of whom it is said it is doubtful that he was the son of Clac Harald, and that he said slain along with all his sons. Gorm, brother of Hartha Knut (who ruled the Angles)

The Chronicon Roskildense refers to two separate kings named Gorm (historically only one, Gorm the Old, is known of), both of whom had sons named Harald (based on Harald Bluetooth). Furthermore there are two individuals named Sven (based on Sveyn Forkbeard), one the father of the second Gorm and the other his grandson. Both Svens invaded Anglia and overthrew a king (Aldradus or Adeldrad, both based on Æthelred the Unready). The second Gorm is succeeded by his son Harald, who is succeeded by the second Sven, who is temporarily replaced by Olaf Cracaben. After the second Sven dies, he is succeeded by Cnut the Great ("Kanutus"), and thereafter the chronicle begins to align more with accepted history. (Later, Saxo Grammaticus would not only retain these two kings named Gorm, but add a third; see below.)

Ivar the Boneless ("Ywar"), son of Ragnar Lodbrok ("Lothpardus"), isn't called a king of the Danes in Chronicon Roskildense, but he is a king of the Norsemen ("rex Normannorum") during the reign of Horik II and leads several kings of the Danes (the chronicle explains that, at the time, there were as many as five kings in Denmark: two in Jutland, a third in Fyn, a fourth in Sjælland, and a fifth in Scania) to destroy the kingdom of the Franks. He then leads a fleet to invade Britain (the Great Heathen Army). The Chronicon mentions several of his brothers (Ingvar, Ubbi, Byorn, and Ulf) as rulers of northern nations; Ingvar may be so named in reference to Adam of Bremen, who used the name Ingvar as a son of Lodbrok who ruled as King of the Danes.

Chronicon Lethrense

The earliest known treatment of Danish legendary history to be written in Denmark was Chronicon Lethrense ("The Chronicle of Lejre"), which was composed in Latin by an unknown author, likely from Roskilde and transmitted as part of the Annales Lundenses (although it was likely originally a separate work). Chronicon Lethrense was written in the mid- to late-12th century, possibly alongside or as a sort of prequel to Chronicon Roskildense (see above), which depicts historical kings after the introduction of Christianity to Denmark.

Chronicon Lethrense was hugely influential, and many subsequent chronicles were at least partly based on it. Almost all monarchs mentioned appear in subsequent chronicles, with the notable exception of the queen regnant, Asa. (Another queen regnant, Hethae, appears in Gesta Danorum as a ruler of Zealand only, but is swiftly deposed and made a tributary ruler in Jutland.) It states that the first king of the Danes was a certain Dan (after whom the tribe was named), who was the son of a Swedish king named Ypper. This is said to be both when Augustus invaded Denmark and during the time of the Biblical King David, referring to two rulers who lived about a thousand years apart.

Chronicon Lethrense also explicitly conflates the kingdoms of Denmark with Dacia, a conceit that appears in the earlier works of Dudo of Saint-Quentin, and in subsequent works such as Historia Regum Britanniae (see below).

Monarchs in the Chronicon Lethrense are:Chronicon Lethrense, with translation and commentary by Mischa Hooker of Augustana College Dan, son of Ypper (a primeval king of Sweden) Ro, who takes the place of Haldan in other chronicles (that is, Ro and Haldan have reversed roles in the Chronicon Lethrense compared to other chronicles; usually Haldan is the father of Ro, here Ro is the father of Haldan) Haldan, who takes the place of Ro in other chronicles Helgi, who rules as a sea-king while his brother rules in Lejre A dog king Raka (or Racha or Rachi), placed to rule over Denmark on the order of the Swedish king Athisl Snyo Rolf Kraki Hiarwart Aki, brother of Haghbardus and son of Hamundus Fritleff Frotha Largus (the Generous) Ingyald Olav Asa, queen, unrelated to but possibly inspired by the contemporaneous Queen Åsa of Agder Harald Hyldetan, defeated by King Ring of Swethia in battle at Brawel Hethae, queen who founded Hethaeby in Jutland

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