Halfdan (floruit 782–807)
Encyclopedia
Halfdan was a leading person among the Danes
and the first known Scandinavian to enter Frankish service. Onomastics
links him to the Danish royal family since the name "Halfdan" was commonly employed by them, both in actuality (as attested by the Annales Fuldenses
under the year 873) and in their own legendary lineages
.
Halfdan was the envoy sent by King Sigfred
to the court of the Frankish emperor Charlemagne
in 782, as recorded in the Frankish chronicle Annales regni Francorum. An anonymous Saxon poet
praising Charlemagne in Latin
epic verse mentions Halfdan's commendation to the emperor in the year 807:
Although the Saxon poet wrote much later in the century, his poem is generally based on trustworthy sources like the Annales regni Francorum and this section is probably derived from a now lost earlier source. There is no record of Halfdan after 807 and he probably died not long thereafter, possibly already old at the time. A conversion to Christianity
on Halfdan's part is not recorded, nor is a gift of land or a fief, but his son Hemming
did convert and was probably ruling Frisia
in 837. It is possible that this Frisian fief had been inherited form his father. If the identification of Hemming as a son of Halfdan is correct, then Halfdan was also the father of Anulo, Harald Klak
and Reginfrid
, all of whom were, for brief periods, co-rulers of Denmark.
Danes
Danish people or Danes are the nation and ethnic group that is native to Denmark, and who speak Danish.The first mention of Danes within the Danish territory is on the Jelling Rune Stone which mentions how Harald Bluetooth converted the Danes to Christianity in the 10th century...
and the first known Scandinavian to enter Frankish service. Onomastics
Onomastics
Onomastics or onomatology is the study of proper names of all kinds and the origins of names. The words are from the Greek: "ὀνομαστικός" , "of or belonging to naming" and "ὀνοματολογία" , from "ὄνομα" "name". Toponymy or toponomastics, the study of place names, is one of the principal branches of...
links him to the Danish royal family since the name "Halfdan" was commonly employed by them, both in actuality (as attested by the Annales Fuldenses
Annales Fuldenses
The Annales Fuldenses or Annals of Fulda are East Frankish chronicles that cover independently the period from the last years of Louis the Pious to shortly after the end of effective Carolingian rule in East Francia with the accession of the child-king, Louis III, in 900...
under the year 873) and in their own legendary lineages
Legendary Danish kings
The legendary kings of Denmark are the predecessors of Gorm the Old, half history and half legend. The accounts of the Danish kings are confusing and contradictory, and so this presentation tries to separate the various sources from each other...
.
Halfdan was the envoy sent by King Sigfred
Sigfred
Sigfred was possibly the second official king of Denmark whose reign started no later than the 770s and ended around 800. The precise dates remains unknown....
to the court of the Frankish emperor Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
in 782, as recorded in the Frankish chronicle Annales regni Francorum. An anonymous Saxon poet
Poeta Saxo
The anonymous Saxon poet known as Poeta Saxo, who composed the medieval Latin Annales de gestis Caroli magni imperatoris libri quinque was probably a monk of Sankt Gallen or possibly Corvey...
praising Charlemagne in Latin
Medieval Latin
Medieval Latin was the form of Latin used in the Middle Ages, primarily as a medium of scholarly exchange and as the liturgical language of the medieval Roman Catholic Church, but also as a language of science, literature, law, and administration. Despite the clerical origin of many of its authors,...
epic verse mentions Halfdan's commendation to the emperor in the year 807:
|
|
Although the Saxon poet wrote much later in the century, his poem is generally based on trustworthy sources like the Annales regni Francorum and this section is probably derived from a now lost earlier source. There is no record of Halfdan after 807 and he probably died not long thereafter, possibly already old at the time. A conversion to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
on Halfdan's part is not recorded, nor is a gift of land or a fief, but his son Hemming
Hemming Halfdansson
Hemming Halfdansson was "of the Danish race, a most Christian leader". He was probably a son of Halfdan, a leading Dane who became a vassal of Charlemagne in 807. He was probably related to the Danish royal family, as "Hemming" was one of their favoured names...
did convert and was probably ruling Frisia
Frisia
Frisia is a coastal region along the southeastern corner of the North Sea, i.e. the German Bight. Frisia is the traditional homeland of the Frisians, a Germanic people who speak Frisian, a language group closely related to the English language...
in 837. It is possible that this Frisian fief had been inherited form his father. If the identification of Hemming as a son of Halfdan is correct, then Halfdan was also the father of Anulo, Harald Klak
Harald Klak
Harald 'Klak' Halfdansson was a king in Jutland around 812–814 and again from 819–827.-Family:...
and Reginfrid
Reginfrid
Reginfrid was a co-King of Denmark from 812, when Hemming I died, to 813, when he and his brothers were ousted by the sons of the previous king, Gudfred. He was probably a son of Halfdan, a Danish leader who became a vassal of Charlemagne in 807, and brother of Anulo , Hemming , and Harald Klak...
, all of whom were, for brief periods, co-rulers of Denmark.