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24 Facts About Harald Klak

1.

Harald Klak had at least three brothers: Anulo, Ragnfrid and Hemming Halfdansson.

2.

Harald Klak's reign occurring between 798 and 804 are placed prior to that of Sigifrid.

3.

The Europaische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europaischen Staaten by Detlev Schwennicke assumes Sigifrid and the senior Harald Klak to be brothers, both kings of Hedeby.

4.

The elder Harald Klak is assumed to have succeeded his brother as King of Hedeby in 798.

5.

The theory has gained some acceptance since the 1990s as it would explain why Harald Klak gets a mostly positive assessment in the Frankish chronicles while Rorik's brother is depicted as a raider and enemy of the Franks.

6.

The Royal Annals then mention the continuation of the conflict among the Danes and that Harald Klak sought refuge in the court of Louis.

7.

Simon Coupland, a modern historian, has noted that Harald Klak was a pagan exile, seeking refuge and military assistance in the court of a Christian ruler.

8.

Harald Klak was among the returning troops, the Danish throne eluding him.

9.

Harald Klak came to his serene majesty the emperor Ludovic and asked that he might be thought worthy to receive his help so that he might be able to regain his kingdom.

10.

Harald Klak bade them to go with Harald and commanded them to devote the utmost care to his profession of faith and by their godly exhortations to confirm in the faith both Harald and his companions who had been baptized together with him, for fear lest at the instigation of the devil they should return to their former errors, and at the same time by their preaching to urge others to accept the Christian religion.

11.

Harald Klak had compassion upon their needs and presented them with a good boat in which they might place their possessions and in which there were two cabins which had been suitably prepared for them.

12.

When Harald Klak saw the boat he decided to remain with them in it, so that he and they could each have a cabin.

13.

Harald Klak broke the peace that had agreed upon and confirmed by hostages, and burned and pillaged some small villages of the Norsemen.

14.

The Vita Hludovici blames the impatience of Harald Klak in breaking the negotiations.

15.

Harald Klak had certainly failed to regain his throne but probably kept on living among the Franks.

16.

Harald Klak's brother Hemming seems to have died in 837 defending Walcheren from unidentified Viking raiders.

17.

Harald Klak was baptized and received into the Christian faith, and held in honour among the Franks for many years.

18.

Coupland notes that this Harald Klak was killed "on nothing more substantial than the suspicion of potential disloyalty".

19.

Harald Klak died two years before his rival King Horik the elder.

20.

Harald Klak has been identified as a son of Harald Klak.

21.

Harald Klak is mentioned by Adam of Bremen as father of Harthacnut of Denmark.

22.

Harald Klak married Thyri, who was called Denmark's Saviour, daughter of Klakk-Harald, who was king in Jutland.

23.

Harald Klak resembled his mother's kin and his mother loved him no less than Knut.

24.

Harald Klak surpassed other women in seriousness and shrewdness, and laid the condition on her suitor that she would not marry him till she had received Denmark as a dowry.