244:, the farthest part of their realm. After their return to Denmark in 813, they were attacked by Gudfred's sons and their noble retainers, who had returned from Sweden. The five brothers found support from all over the Danish realm, defeated Harald and Ragnfred with relative ease, and expelled them from Denmark. In that way the brothers were elevated as Danish co-rulers. Whether they split the realm into parts or ruled collectively is not known. In the next year, Harald and Ragnfred gathered a force and attacked their rivals. A battle was fought where Ragnfred and the oldest son of Gudfred were both slain. However, the remaining four brothers gained victory. Harald acknowledged defeat and fled to the new Frankish Emperor
288:
was obviously Horik, asked Harald Klak to share power with them. This may have been an expedient way to gain peace with the Franks, now that the Danish interests in the Slavic lands had been weakened. On the emperor's order, the
Obodrites took Harald on board their ships and brought him home. The route taken suggests that the center of the Danish kingdom was situated on the islands, perhaps Funen. The
275:
support Harald's cause. Next, the
Obodrite ruler Slavomir, a vassal of Louis, defected since the emperor forced him to share power with another prince, Keadrag. Instead, Slavomir sent a message to Gudfred's sons and suggested an alliance. In fact, a Danish Viking fleet sailed up the Elbe and laid waste to the
385:
in 837. King Horik seems to have disapproved of these raids, for successful raiders constituted possible rivals. Occasionally, Horik even punished raiders. In 836, Horik sent an emissary to
Emperor Louis declaring that he had nothing to do with the raids on Frisia, and two years later he assured that
287:
Two years after these events, in 819, the Danish ally
Slavomir was arrested by the Franks and deprived of power. Meanwhile, there was a rift among Gudfred's sons. Two of them expelled the other two, supposedly through treason. In a dramatic twist of alliances the remaining king-brothers, one of which
431:
was forced to flee, eventually paying Ragnar a sum of 7,000 pounds of silver as ransom. A considerable booty was brought back to
Denmark, though many Vikings including Ragnar were later claimed by Frankish sources to have perished in a violent illness. Perhaps the same fleet attacked Hamburg on its
294:
says that Harald ruled over "part of the land of the Danes", implying that the kingdom was shared up. The new constellation was successful for a few years. However, the sons of
Gudfred irritated the emperor by allying with the Obodrite prince Keadrag in a "faithless" way, causing Louis to reinstate
328:
and attacked the imperial troops in the neighbourhood. The Franks were badly defeated and fled from their encampment. Afterwards the kings sent envoys to Louis in order to avert
Frankish retribution. In fact, Horik was not disturbed by direct Frankish intervention during the remainder of his long
298:
In 823 the alliance began to break down, as
Gudfred's sons threatened to expel Harald from the kingdom. Harald fled to Louis and asked for his assistance. Two imperial envoys visited Denmark and collected detailed information about the situation. On their return, they brought with them Archbishop
457:
It has been argued that the Viking raids in West Europe weakened rather than strengthened Horik's authority, as he was increasingly unable to control the warrior chiefs. In 850, Horik I and two unnamed nephews (called "nepotes") partitioned the kingdom into thirds, ending the unified kingship.
274:
Ex-king Harald did not give up and repeatedly raided the realm of
Gudfred's sons from his base in the Frankish Empire. In 817 the sons asked Emperor Louis to make peace in order to halt the attacks. However, the Frankish court considered this mere hypocrisy. On the contrary, Louis continued to
271:). The four brother kings had gathered a fleet of 200 ships and were posted on the island, refusing to offer the imperial troops battle. The imperial envoy Baldrich let his troops ravage the districts in the neighbourhood, took 40 hostages, and returned without having achieved much.
311:. As he could not safely enter his kingdom, the emperor provided him with a fief on the other side of Elbe. Gudfred's sons sent envoys to the imperial court in 825 and 826 to renew the peace. Horik, who is now mentioned by name for the first time, promised to appear before Louis at
323:
Still in the next year, there were diplomatic negotiations between the Franks and
Gudfred's sons. However, the exiled Harald lost patience and unexpectedly attacked Denmark and plundered and burned several villages. Exasperated, Horik and his brother gathered an army, crossed the
401:
secured assistance from the Danes in the 840s in order to regain his kingdom, presumably with Horik's approval. The expedition did not achieve much and was soon redirected to the Slavic lands on the southern coast of the Baltic. Another Danish expedition went to
29:
458:
Horik's brother's son Guttorm, who had been driven into exile by Horik, appeared in 854 and claimed the kingdom. A huge battle was fought which lasted for three days. King Horik I "and the other kings" were killed, as were Guttorm and a great many chiefs.
365:. The king (or his partisans) had found refuge in Sweden in his youth and may have entertained good relations with part of the Swedish elite. In the end, he nevertheless refused to convert to Christianity, perhaps since it was his enemies' religion.
414:
After the break-up of the Frankish Empire in 843, Horik temporarily broke off his old conciliatory stance and began open hostilities towards the West and East Franks. In 845 a fleet under one of Horik's chiefs, Ragnar, sailed up the Seine and
368:
In spite of his flirtation with the Christian mission towards the end of his life, his reign was filled with Viking activities directed against the Frankish kingdoms, often but not always approved by himself. Danish raids against
212:
succeeded him. Gudfred had at least five sons. It is unknown why kingship descended on a side-branch of the dynasty, though Hemming was possibly older than his cousins. The new king made peace with Charlemagne in 811.
329:
reign. Though Harald survived as a Frankish protégé until the 840s he was not able to seriously disturb Horik. It is not known exactly when Horik's brother and co-ruler died, but he is not mentioned after 828. The
444:
that he had once again killed some of the most notorious Viking raiders. Still, Frisia was ravaged once again in 846, and in the following year the three Frankish monarchs and brothers, Charles, Louis and
356:
the king trusted Ansgar to the degree that the latter was allowed to follow the meetings with his privy council. Ansgar made efforts to convert Horik to Christianity and persuaded him to build a church in
465:
and was related to his older namesake. The young man was now appointed king. Nothing is known about any sons of Horik I, but since a child was usually not named after his father, it has been guessed that
361:. When Ansgar planned a missionary expedition to the Swedes in about 852, Horik helped prepare the trip, providing the archbishop with his personal envoy and a message to the Swedish King
279:
area. The Danish border chief Glum attacked the Frankish fortress Esesfeld with a force of Danes and Obodrites, but had to withdraw in the face of spirited Frankish resistance.
303:, who had spent time proselytizing in Denmark with some success. The whereabouts of Harald in the next few years are not recorded, but in 826 he was baptized in
995:
267:
and reached Sinlendi (in South Jutland). Then they marched for seven days until they reached a shore, three miles from a certain island (possibly
486:
The exploits of Horik I were not remembered by later Norse tradition. He is not included in the lists of Danish kings compiled by high medieval
307:, where the emperor in person acted as his godfather. After the ceremony, Harald was sent back towards Denmark in the company of the missionary
1000:
449:, agreed to intimidate Horik in order to gain peace. But the disturbances only stopped around 850 when Horik was beset by internal problems.
474:
dynasty, as Denmark seems to have lost its political cohesion in the late 9th century. It was only in the 10th century that the dynasty of
224:, gained power during the conflict. The party of the five sons of Gudfred, of whom only Horik is known by name, sought refuge with the
832:
216:
Hemming's reign as king was short-lived and he died in 812. After his demise, a violent civil war broke out. Another dynastic branch,
433:
406:
in about 850 in order to extract tribute. However, it failed badly, and the defeat encouraged Swedish expansion in that direction.
390:
and Obodrites, which Louis found highly offensive. Here it seems that Horik reiterated the old pretensions of his father Gudfred.
500:
speaks of Horik as "Eric" and makes him the brother of Harald Klak, while Horik II (Eric the Child) is depicted as the son of
377:
lacked an effective fleet, so the Danes could raid more or less with impunity. The Danes sacked the silver minting center of
204:
can be trusted, his mother may have been disowned by Gudfred in the early 9th century. In 810, Gudfred was assassinated by a
902:
470:
was a grandson of Horik I. Horik II disappeared some time between 864 and 873 and was the last known ruler of the
516:
959:
824:
Monarchs and Hydrarchs: The Conceptual Development of Viking Activity Across the Frankish Realm (c. 750–940)
501:
315:
in 827 but broke his promise. Instead, he and his brother expelled Harald from Denmark, this time for good.
225:
42:
907:
168:
from c. 828 until his violent death in 854. His long and eventful reign was marked by Danish raids on the
161:
345:
572:
416:
338:
208:, or, in Notker's version, by one of his sons as revenge for the treatment of his mother. His nephew
201:
990:
891:
985:
362:
209:
193:
169:
90:
828:
568:
107:
588:
580:
497:
441:
428:
766:
595:, 1976) believed that still another brother was Kettil, sometimes said to be the father of
386:
he had executed those responsible. In return he asked the emperor to cede the lands of the
596:
252:
and await the right occasion when the Franks would be able to help him regain his throne.
245:
173:
711:
687:
663:
652:
641:
630:
619:
608:
552:
509:
505:
424:
263:
to prepare for the invasion of Denmark. In May 815 the troops moved northward over the
145:
979:
492:
398:
325:
300:
523:. In the series, he is killed by Ragnar Lothbrok rather than by his nephew Guttorm.
228:
during the unrest. Harald and Ragnfred entertained good relations with Charlemagne.
475:
461:
Only one eligible candidate for the kingship remained, a child who was also called
437:
420:
290:
28:
822:
948:
520:
217:
177:
60:
903:"'Vikings': Donal Logue Previews 'Traumatic' Season 2 Finale (Exclusive Video)"
563:
There has been some speculation about the names of his brothers. P.A. Munch (
952:
446:
403:
382:
260:
248:
who had just succeeded his father Charlemagne. Louis ordered him to stay in
221:
205:
197:
64:
587:
1895) assumed that another one was Ragnar, indicated as the grandfather of
967:
576:
467:
462:
387:
378:
312:
237:
112:
74:
508:. These are, however, arbitrary combinations based on the chronicle of
487:
471:
276:
189:
135:
125:
120:
344:
By the mid 9th century Horik developed a friendly relation to Ansgar,
394:
374:
370:
358:
349:
334:
308:
256:
249:
241:
393:
Danish Viking activity also went in the other direction, to Central
304:
268:
423:. Ragnar has sometimes been identified with the legendary Viking
264:
192:, known for his successful raids and wars against Charlemagne's
165:
427:
although this cannot be proven. Paris was sacked and King
599:. None of this has found acceptance by later scholarship.
888:
The nine books of the Danish history of Saxo Grammaticus
767:
https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/anskar.asp
781:. Stockholm: Bonniers, p. 306-7; P.A. Munch (1852),
726:. Stockholm: Proprius, p. 48, 52 (Chapters 24, 26).
141:
131:
119:
106:
96:
84:
80:
70:
56:
48:
41:
21:
539:Notker Balbulus, "'Die Täten Karls der Grossen",
236:Harald and Ragnfred were busy fighting rebels in
571:was a son of Gudfred, whom he identified with
933:The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings
8:
794:Vilhelm la Cour (1936), "Haarik den Gamle",
478:began to assemble the Danish kingdom again.
860:Vilhelm la Cour (1936), "Haarik den Unge",
937:
664:Einhards Jahrbücher, Anno 819, p. 137, 139
333:states that Horik was the sole ruler when
27:
18:
864:. Vol. VIII. Copenhagen: Schultz, p. 544.
798:. Vol. VIII. Copenhagen: Schultz, p. 543.
702:. Stockholm: Proprius, p. 22 (Chapter 7).
678:. Stockholm: Proprius, p. 22 (Chapter 7).
763:Life of Anskar, the Apostle of the North
642:Einhards Jahrbücher, Anno 815, p. 129-30
541:Geschichtschreiber der deutschen Vorzeit
519:, seasons 1-2 (2013-2014), portrayed by
436:there. It was Horik's last major war in
688:Einhards Jahrbücher, Anno 821, p. 144-5
653:Einhards Jahrbücher, Anno 817, p. 133-5
609:Einhards Jahrbücher, Anno 813, p. 125-6
593:Det danske rige i den aeldre Vikingetid
553:Einhards Jahrbücher, Anno 811, p. 121-2
532:
821:Cooijmans, Christian (13 March 2020).
807:Kim Hjardar & Vegard Vike (2012),
777:Kim Hjardar & Vegard Vike (2012),
735:Kim Hjardar & Vegard Vike (2012),
490:authors. In his partly fantastic work
935:. New York: Oxford University Press.
712:Einhards Jahrbücher, Anno 827, p. 160
631:Einhards Jahrbücher, Anno 814, p. 129
620:Einhards Jahrbücher, Anno 813, p. 126
255:During the winter, Louis ordered the
164:. He was co-ruler from 813, and sole
7:
381:in 834, 835, and 836, and plundered
785:. Christiania: Tonsbergs, p. 395-6.
14:
877:. Christiania: Tonsbergs, p. 396.
851:. Christiania: Tonsbergs, p. 396.
752:. Christiania: Tønsbergs, p. 395.
591:in Irish genealogy. Erik Kroman (
515:Horik I appears in the TV series
811:. Stockholm: Bonniers, p. 306-7.
996:9th-century monarchs of Denmark
739:. Stockholm: Bonniers, p. 303.
567:, Vol. I, 1852) believed that
283:Sharing power with Harald Klak
1:
1001:9th-century murdered monarchs
160:(died 854) was a king of the
397:. The expelled Swedish King
931:Peter Sawyer (ed.) (1997),
1017:
440:. Soon after he told King
410:Raids on Paris and Hamburg
373:were a major problem. The
964:
957:
945:
940:
875:Det norske Folks Historie
862:Dansk biografisk leksikon
849:Det norske Folks Historie
796:Dansk biografisk leksikon
783:Det norske Folks Historie
750:Det norske Folks Historie
565:Det norske Folks Historie
26:
188:Horik's father was King
36:- 17th century engraving
502:Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye
432:way home and destroyed
295:Slavomir in his stead.
176:, son and successor of
908:The Hollywood Reporter
200:. If the later author
421:West Frankish Kingdom
346:Archbishop of Hamburg
434:St. Mary's Cathedral
339:Archbishop of Bremen
202:Notker of Saint Gall
873:P.A. Munch (1852),
847:P.A. Munch (1852),
748:P.A. Munch (1852),
585:Historisk tidskrift
543:26. Leipzig, p. 70.
482:Cultural references
352:. According to the
886:Saxo Grammaticus,
170:Carolingian Empire
974:
973:
965:Succeeded by
765:, Chapter 19, 30
573:Gudrød the Hunter
569:Olaf Geirstad-Alf
151:
150:
43:King of the Danes
16:King of the Danes
1008:
946:Preceded by
938:
920:
919:
917:
916:
899:
893:
884:
878:
871:
865:
858:
852:
845:
839:
838:
818:
812:
805:
799:
792:
786:
775:
769:
759:
753:
746:
740:
733:
727:
722:Rimbert (1986),
720:
714:
709:
703:
698:Rimbert (1986),
696:
690:
685:
679:
674:Rimbert (1986),
672:
666:
661:
655:
650:
644:
639:
633:
628:
622:
617:
611:
606:
600:
561:
555:
550:
544:
537:
504:and grandson of
498:Saxo Grammaticus
442:Louis the German
429:Charles the Bald
196:and against the
88:Late 8th century
31:
19:
1016:
1015:
1011:
1010:
1009:
1007:
1006:
1005:
976:
975:
970:
960:King of Denmark
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929:
927:Further reading
924:
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896:
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872:
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855:
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842:
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809:Vikingar i krig
806:
802:
793:
789:
779:Vikingar i krig
776:
772:
760:
756:
747:
743:
737:Vikingar i krig
734:
730:
724:Boken om Ansgar
721:
717:
710:
706:
700:Boken om Ansgar
697:
693:
686:
682:
676:Boken om Ansgar
673:
669:
662:
658:
651:
647:
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636:
629:
625:
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614:
607:
603:
597:Rolf the Ganger
562:
558:
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547:
538:
534:
529:
484:
455:
412:
321:
285:
246:Louis the Pious
234:
194:Frankish empire
186:
174:Louis the Pious
101:
89:
37:
17:
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11:
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941:Regnal titles
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834:978-0367202149
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510:Adam of Bremen
506:Ragnar Lodbrok
483:
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454:
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425:Ragnar Lodbrok
417:attacked Paris
411:
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320:
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185:
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149:
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146:Norse paganism
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827:. Routledge.
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589:Amlaíb Conung
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581:Henrik Schück
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232:Becoming king
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913:. Retrieved
911:. 2014-05-01
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476:Gorm the Old
460:
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438:East Francia
413:
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367:
354:Vita Ansgari
353:
343:
331:Vita Ansgari
330:
322:
319:Later career
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291:Vita Ansgari
289:
286:
273:
254:
235:
215:
187:
157:
153:
152:
33:
949:Harald Klak
521:Donal Logue
512:(c. 1075).
496:(c. 1200),
218:Harald Klak
178:Charlemagne
61:Harald Klak
57:Predecessor
991:854 deaths
980:Categories
915:2020-04-25
527:References
472:Sigfredian
184:Background
126:Sigfredian
986:Scyldings
890:, p. 567
761:Rimbert,
488:Icelandic
447:Lothair I
404:Curlandia
383:Walcheren
261:Obodrites
206:housecarl
198:Obodrites
71:Successor
52:813 – 854
968:Horik II
953:Ragnfred
577:Vestfold
468:Horik II
453:Downfall
388:Frisians
379:Dorestad
313:Nijmegen
238:Vestfold
222:Ragnfred
142:Religion
113:Horik II
75:Horik II
65:Ragnfred
517:Vikings
419:in the
341:(849).
337:became
210:Hemming
190:Gudfred
154:Horik I
136:Gudfred
121:Dynasty
102:Denmark
91:Denmark
34:Horik I
22:Horik I
831:
395:Sweden
375:Franks
371:Frisia
359:Hedeby
350:Bremen
335:Ansgar
309:Ansgar
257:Saxons
250:Saxony
242:Norway
226:Swedes
132:Father
463:Horik
399:Anund
326:Eider
305:Mainz
269:Funen
162:Danes
158:Hårik
108:Issue
49:Reign
951:and
829:ISBN
583:(in
363:Olof
348:and
277:Stör
265:Elbe
259:and
220:and
166:king
97:Died
85:Born
63:and
575:of
240:in
172:of
156:or
100:854
982::
905:.
579:.
180:.
918:.
837:.
115:?
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