Harald III of Denmark
Encyclopedia
Harald III Hen was King of Denmark from 1074 to 1080. Harald III was an illegitimate son of Danish king Sweyn II Estridsson
, and contested the crown with some of his brothers. He was a peaceful ruler who initiated a number of reforms. Harald was married to his cousin Margareta Hasbjörnsdatter
, but did not leave any heirs, and was succeeded by his brother Canute IV the Saint
. Four of his half-brothers were in turn crowned Danish kings.
, Harald took part in Sweyn's 1069 raid of England
alongside his uncle Jarl Asbjørn and his brother Canute, the later king Canute IV the Saint
.
After the death of his father, King Sweyn, Harald was elected king in competition with his younger brother, Canute, at the Zealand Assembly at Isøre near Odsherred
. Accounts of the year include both 1074 and 1076, with the Monarchy of Denmark
officially setting the year as 1074, two years before the death of Sweyn. In order to get elected, he took the vows called Harald's laws, declaring his will to uphold the existing rule of law. During his rule, Harald met opposition from a number of his brothers, likely including Canute, who enlisted the support of Olaf III of Norway
. Pope Gregory VII
mediated, advising Olaf not to take sides, and for Harald to share power with his brothers.
Harald was dependent on the great nobles of Denmark for his election, and did little to oppose them. As a result, he fought no major wars and spent his energy improving the few things that lay in his purview. He is best known for improving and standardizing Danish coinage
, and established mints at Ribe
, Viborg
, Lund
, and Schleswig. He instituted public use of the Royal forrests. Harald also sought to change Danish legal customs. Harald deplored the ancient customs of trial by combat
and the jernbyrd trial by ordeal
of holding red-hot iron bars, and introduced a system used by the English of calling upon honorable men to swear oath
s on behalf of the parties in a trial. He allegedly continued Sweyn's politic of seeking a Danish Archbishopric with the Pope, but was not successful.
Harald died on April 17, 1080, and was interred at Dalby Church
in Scania
. He was succeeded as king by his brother Canute IV the Saint
.
scorned Harald as a weak and ineffective king yielding to the will of the common people, while Ælnoth called him a "by the people beloved lawmaker". He is also described as a man who let others control his actions, possessing a mild temper. Perhaps this gives the explanation for his nickname Harald the Whetstone
(Danish: Harald Hen or Hein), in other words, Harald the soft.
The legal reforms of Harald were not fully accepted until the reign of Valdemar II the Victorious
in the 13th century. The historicity of his coinage reform has also been called into question.
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...
, and contested the crown with some of his brothers. He was a peaceful ruler who initiated a number of reforms. Harald was married to his cousin Margareta Hasbjörnsdatter
Margareta Hasbjörnsdatter
Margareta Hasbjörnsdatter or Margareta Asbjørnsdatter was a Mediaeval Danish Queen consort, spouse of King Harald III of Denmark....
, but did not leave any heirs, and was succeeded by his brother Canute IV the Saint
Canute IV of Denmark
Canute IV, later known as Canute the Holy or Canute the Saint , was King of Denmark from 1080 until 1086. Canute was an ambitious king who sought to strengthen the Danish monarchy, devotedly supported the Roman Catholic Church, and had designs on the English throne. Slain by rebels in 1086, he was...
. Four of his half-brothers were in turn crowned Danish kings.
Biography
Harald was born around 1040. Son of king Sweyn II EstridssonSweyn 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...
, Harald took part in Sweyn's 1069 raid of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
alongside his uncle Jarl Asbjørn and his brother Canute, the later king Canute IV the Saint
Canute IV of Denmark
Canute IV, later known as Canute the Holy or Canute the Saint , was King of Denmark from 1080 until 1086. Canute was an ambitious king who sought to strengthen the Danish monarchy, devotedly supported the Roman Catholic Church, and had designs on the English throne. Slain by rebels in 1086, he was...
.
After the death of his father, King Sweyn, Harald was elected king in competition with his younger brother, Canute, at the Zealand Assembly at Isøre near Odsherred
Odsherred
Odsherred is a peninsula in the north-western part of the island Zealand in Denmark. Odsherred is stretching from the Sjællands Odde in the north-west to the now drained fjord Lammefjord in the south, covering an area with a wide range of the most typical Danish landscapes such as long sandy...
. Accounts of the year include both 1074 and 1076, with the Monarchy of Denmark
Monarchy of Denmark
The monarchy in Denmark is the constitutional monarchy of the Kingdom of Denmark, which includes Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.As a constitutional monarch, the Queen is limited to non-partisan, ceremonial functions...
officially setting the year as 1074, two years before the death of Sweyn. In order to get elected, he took the vows called Harald's laws, declaring his will to uphold the existing rule of law. During his rule, Harald met opposition from a number of his brothers, likely including Canute, who enlisted the support of Olaf III of Norway
Olaf III of Norway
Olaf Kyrre , or Olaf III Haraldsson, was King of Norway from 1067 to 1093. He was present at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in England in 1066 where his father, Harald Hardrada, saw defeat and was killed in action...
. Pope Gregory VII
Pope Gregory VII
Pope St. Gregory VII , born Hildebrand of Sovana , was Pope from April 22, 1073, until his death. One of the great reforming popes, he is perhaps best known for the part he played in the Investiture Controversy, his dispute with Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor affirming the primacy of the papal...
mediated, advising Olaf not to take sides, and for Harald to share power with his brothers.
Harald was dependent on the great nobles of Denmark for his election, and did little to oppose them. As a result, he fought no major wars and spent his energy improving the few things that lay in his purview. He is best known for improving and standardizing Danish coinage
Currency
In economics, currency refers to a generally accepted medium of exchange. These are usually the coins and banknotes of a particular government, which comprise the physical aspects of a nation's money supply...
, and established mints at Ribe
Ribe
Ribe , the oldest extant Danish town, is in southwest Jutland and has a population of 8,192 . Until 1 January 2007, it was the seat of both the surrounding municipality, and county...
, Viborg
Viborg, Denmark
Viborg , a town in central Jutland, Denmark, is the seat of both Viborg municipality and Region Midtjylland. Viborg is also the seat of the Western High Court, the High Court for the Jutland peninsula...
, Lund
Lund
-Main sights:During the 12th and 13th centuries, when the town was the seat of the archbishop, many churches and monasteries were built. At its peak, Lund had 27 churches, but most of them were demolished as result of the Reformation in 1536. Several medieval buildings remain, including Lund...
, and Schleswig. He instituted public use of the Royal forrests. Harald also sought to change Danish legal customs. Harald deplored the ancient customs of trial by combat
Trial by combat
Trial by combat was a method of Germanic law to settle accusations in the absence of witnesses or a confession, in which two parties in dispute fought in single combat; the winner of the fight was proclaimed to be right. In essence, it is a judicially sanctioned duel...
and the jernbyrd trial by ordeal
Trial by ordeal
Trial by ordeal is a judicial practice by which the guilt or innocence of the accused is determined by subjecting them to an unpleasant, usually dangerous experience...
of holding red-hot iron bars, and introduced a system used by the English of calling upon honorable men to swear oath
Oath
An oath is either a statement of fact or a promise calling upon something or someone that the oath maker considers sacred, usually God, as a witness to the binding nature of the promise or the truth of the statement of fact. To swear is to take an oath, to make a solemn vow...
s on behalf of the parties in a trial. He allegedly continued Sweyn's politic of seeking a Danish Archbishopric with the Pope, but was not successful.
Harald died on April 17, 1080, and was interred at Dalby Church
Holy Cross Priory, Dalby
Holy Cross Abbey is an important Augustinian monastery located in Skåne's old capital, Dalby, then Denmark, now southern Sweden.- History :The Holy Cross Abbey of Dalby began its story as a Viking Age royal manor...
in Scania
Scania
Scania is the southernmost of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden, constituting a peninsula on the southern tip of the Scandinavian peninsula, and some adjacent islands. The modern administrative subdivision Skåne County is almost, but not totally, congruent with the...
. He was succeeded as king by his brother Canute IV the Saint
Canute IV of Denmark
Canute IV, later known as Canute the Holy or Canute the Saint , was King of Denmark from 1080 until 1086. Canute was an ambitious king who sought to strengthen the Danish monarchy, devotedly supported the Roman Catholic Church, and had designs on the English throne. Slain by rebels in 1086, he was...
.
Legacy
Saxo GrammaticusSaxo Grammaticus
Saxo Grammaticus also known as Saxo cognomine Longus was a Danish historian, thought to have been a secular clerk or secretary to Absalon, Archbishop of Lund, foremost advisor to Valdemar I of Denmark. He is the author of the first full history of Denmark.- Life :The Jutland Chronicle gives...
scorned Harald as a weak and ineffective king yielding to the will of the common people, while Ælnoth called him a "by the people beloved lawmaker". He is also described as a man who let others control his actions, possessing a mild temper. Perhaps this gives the explanation for his nickname Harald the Whetstone
Sharpening stone
Sharpening stones, water stones or whetstones are used to grind and hone the edges of steel tools and implements. Examples of items that may be sharpened with a sharpening stone include scissors, scythes, knives, razors and tools such as chisels, hand scrapers and plane blades...
(Danish: Harald Hen or Hein), in other words, Harald the soft.
The legal reforms of Harald were not fully accepted until the reign of Valdemar II the Victorious
Valdemar II of Denmark
Valdemar II , called Valdemar the Victorious or Valdemar the Conqueror , was the King of Denmark from 1202 until his death in 1241. The nickname Sejr is a later invention and was not used during the King's own lifetime...
in the 13th century. The historicity of his coinage reform has also been called into question.