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Gorm the Old

890 – 964

King of Denmark

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About Gorm the Old

Lived 890 – 964 (aged 73–74). Gorm the Old was a Danish monarch.

Gorm the Old (; ; 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 perhaps around 958

Ancestry and reign Gorm is the reported son of semi-legendary Danish king Harthacnut. Chronicler Adam of Bremen says that Harthacnut came from "Northmannia" to Denmark and seized power in the early 10th century.

Danevirke was a wall between Denmark's southern border and its unfriendly Saxons neighbours to the south. The Danevirke ran between the Schlei and the Treene river, across what is now Schleswig. However, Danish historian :da:Adam Wagner believes that it is probably a bit too early to completely conclude that Queen Thyra could not have had an influence on the expansion of one or more parts of the Dannevirke.

Death, burial and reburial One theory is that Gorm died in the winter of 958–959;

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Important facts

Born
890
Birth century
Died
964, unknown
Occupation
Nationality
Positions held
Monarch of Denmark
Also known as
Gorm den Gamle, Gorm the Languid

Family & relationships

Spouse
Thyra
Child
Gunnhild, Mother of Kings
Child
Harald Bluetooth
Child
Knut Danaást
Child
Strut-Harald
Child
Toke Gormsson
Parent
Harthacnut I of Denmark

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Gorm the Old's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Gorm the Old?

King of Denmark

When was Gorm the Old born?

Gorm the Old was born in 890.

When did Gorm the Old die?

Gorm the Old died in 964 in unknown.

What was Gorm the Old's occupation?

Gorm the Old was a monarch.

What nationality was Gorm the Old?

Gorm the Old was Danish.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Gorm the Old

· Wikidata: Q314490

· DBpedia: Gorm the Old

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Gorm the Old. https://biography.guide/gorm-the-old/

MLA: "Gorm the Old." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/gorm-the-old/.

Chicago: "Gorm the Old." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/gorm-the-old/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-21 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

Page generated 2026-09-27 04:59 UTC