Harthacnut of Denmark
Encyclopedia
Harthacnut or Cnut I (born c. 890) was a legendary King of Denmark. He is alternatively given as the son of an otherwise unknown "Sweyn," or, as presented by Ragnarssona þáttr
, of the semi-mythic viking
chieftain Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye, himself one of the sons of the legendary Ragnar Lodbrok
. Historians have suggested that Harthacnut was a grandson of Sigurd rather than a son; both claims are impossible to verify.
who came from Germany to record the history of the Archbishops of Bremen, king Helghe was deposed and Denmark was conquered by Swedes
led by Olof the Brash
. He, along with two of his sons, Gyrd and Gnupa
took the realm "by force of arms," and ruled it together, thus founding the House of Olaf
in Denmark. Adam reports that they were followed by a Sigtrygg. That he was son of Gnupa by a Danish noblewoman Asfrid, is shown by on two runestones near Schleswig, Schleswig-Holstein erected by his mother after his death.
, or Normandy
, which had recently been colonized by Danish Vikings. Harthacnut immediately deposed the young king Sigtrygg, and then ruled unopposed for approximately thirty years. However, the Saxon chronicles of Widukind of Corvey
report the defeat and forced baptism of the Danish king Chnuba in 934 at the hands of German king Henry
. Likewise, Olav Tryggvasson's Saga
tells of Gnupa's defeat by Gorm the Old
. Some historians (e.g. Storm) have taken these as indications that Sigtrygg's father Gnupa still ruled at least part of Denmark much later than credited by Adam of Bremen.
1,52 reads: king Sveins son, Hardegon in the oldest manuscript which was later changed to king Sveins son, Harthacnut but also changed to king Sveins son, Athelstan.
1,55 says Hardecnudth Vurm, a double name not uncommon in that era, later changed to Hardecnudths son, Vurm but also changed to Athelstan Vurm. Historians generally agree that Vurm (English: worm or serpent) is a German rendering of the Danish name Gorm
, which allows for an interpretation that Harthacnut and Gorm were originally the same person. 1,56 says as Vurm been attacked of King Heinrich I (916-936). That attack was in 934 and Widukind 1.40 say the danish kings name was Chnuba
.
Even though Adam names king Sweyn Estridsson
as his source, this does not preclude the possibility of errors on his part. Adam's history contains other statements that are rejected or deemed unlikely by historians.
Ragnarssona þáttr
Ragnarssona þáttr, Þáttr af Ragnars sonum or the Tale of Ragnar's sons is a short story on Ragnar Lodbrok and his sons.-Ragnar Lodbrok:When Sigurd Ring dies, Ragnar succeeds him as the king of Sweden and Denmark...
, of the semi-mythic viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
chieftain Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye, himself one of the sons of the legendary Ragnar Lodbrok
Ragnar Lodbrok
Ragnar Lodbrok was a Norse legendary hero from the Viking Age who was thoroughly reshaped in Old Norse poetry and legendary sagas.-Life as recorded in the sagas:...
. Historians have suggested that Harthacnut was a grandson of Sigurd rather than a son; both claims are impossible to verify.
Predecessors
In the 890s, according to clergyman Adam of BremenAdam of Bremen
Adam of Bremen was a German medieval chronicler. He lived and worked in the second half of the eleventh century. He is most famous for his chronicle Gesta Hammaburgensis Ecclesiae Pontificum .-Background:Little is known of his life other than hints from his own chronicles...
who came from Germany to record the history of the Archbishops of Bremen, king Helghe was deposed and Denmark was conquered by Swedes
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
led by Olof the Brash
Olof the Brash
Olaf, according to the Danish king Sweyn Estridson and Adam of Bremen, was a Swedish chieftain who conquered Denmark in the late 9th century or early 10th century and founded the House of Olaf....
. He, along with two of his sons, Gyrd and Gnupa
Gyrd and Gnupa
Gyrd and Gnupa were kings of Denmark in the 10th century according to Sweyn II of Denmark and Adam of Bremen. They were the sons of the Swedish chieftain Olof the Brash who had conquered Denmark and they ruled together according to Swedish tradition.Gnupa is mentioned on the two Sigtrygg...
took the realm "by force of arms," and ruled it together, thus founding the House of Olaf
House of Olaf
The House of Olaf was a dynasty which ruled Denmark in the late 9th century and early 10th century.*Olof the Brash*Gyrd and Gnupa*Sigtrygg GnupassonThe existence of Gnupa and Sigtrygg is confirmed by the two Sigtrygg Runestones....
in Denmark. Adam reports that they were followed by a Sigtrygg. That he was son of Gnupa by a Danish noblewoman Asfrid, is shown by on two runestones near Schleswig, Schleswig-Holstein erected by his mother after his death.
Rise to power
Adam tells that after Sygtrigg reigned a short time, during the tenure of Archbishop Hoger of Bremen (909-915/917), Harthacnut (Danish: Hardeknud) came from "Northmannia," the "land of the Northmen," by which he may have meant NorwayNorway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, or Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, which had recently been colonized by Danish Vikings. Harthacnut immediately deposed the young king Sigtrygg, and then ruled unopposed for approximately thirty years. However, the Saxon chronicles of Widukind of Corvey
Widukind of Corvey
Widukind of Corvey was a Saxon historical chronicler, named after the Saxon duke and national hero Widukind who had battled Charlemagne. Widukind the chronicler was born in 925 and died after 973 at the Benedictine abbey of Corvey in East Westphalia...
report the defeat and forced baptism of the Danish king Chnuba in 934 at the hands of German king Henry
Henry I of Germany
Henry I the Fowler was the Duke of Saxony from 912 and German king from 919 until his death. First of the Ottonian Dynasty of German kings and emperors, he is generally considered to be the founder and first king of the medieval German state, known until then as East Francia...
. Likewise, Olav Tryggvasson's Saga
Heimskringla
Heimskringla is the best known of the Old Norse kings' sagas. It was written in Old Norse in Iceland by the poet and historian Snorri Sturluson ca. 1230...
tells of Gnupa's defeat by Gorm the Old
Gorm the Old
Gorm the Old , also called Gorm the Sleepy , was the first historically recognized King of Denmark, reigning from to his death . He ruled from Jelling, and made the oldest of the Jelling Stones in honour of his wife Thyra. Gorm was born before 900 and died .-Ancestry and reign:Gorm is the reported...
. Some historians (e.g. Storm) have taken these as indications that Sigtrygg's father Gnupa still ruled at least part of Denmark much later than credited by Adam of Bremen.
Adam of Bremen as sole primary source
The only primary source about Harthacnut of Denmark are two clauses from Adam of Bremen (1,52 and 1,55).1,52 reads: king Sveins son, Hardegon in the oldest manuscript which was later changed to king Sveins son, Harthacnut but also changed to king Sveins son, Athelstan.
1,55 says Hardecnudth Vurm, a double name not uncommon in that era, later changed to Hardecnudths son, Vurm but also changed to Athelstan Vurm. Historians generally agree that Vurm (English: worm or serpent) is a German rendering of the Danish name Gorm
Gorm the Old
Gorm the Old , also called Gorm the Sleepy , was the first historically recognized King of Denmark, reigning from to his death . He ruled from Jelling, and made the oldest of the Jelling Stones in honour of his wife Thyra. Gorm was born before 900 and died .-Ancestry and reign:Gorm is the reported...
, which allows for an interpretation that Harthacnut and Gorm were originally the same person. 1,56 says as Vurm been attacked of King Heinrich I (916-936). That attack was in 934 and Widukind 1.40 say the danish kings name was Chnuba
Gyrd and Gnupa
Gyrd and Gnupa were kings of Denmark in the 10th century according to Sweyn II of Denmark and Adam of Bremen. They were the sons of the Swedish chieftain Olof the Brash who had conquered Denmark and they ruled together according to Swedish tradition.Gnupa is mentioned on the two Sigtrygg...
.
Even though Adam names king Sweyn Estridsson
Sweyn II of Denmark
Sweyn II Estridsson Ulfsson was the King of Denmark from 1047 to 1074. He was the son of Ulf Jarl and Estrid Svendsdatter. He was married three times, and fathered 20 children or more, including the five future kings Harald III Hen, Canute IV the Saint, Oluf I Hunger, Eric I Evergood and Niels...
as his source, this does not preclude the possibility of errors on his part. Adam's history contains other statements that are rejected or deemed unlikely by historians.