Harald Hyldetand

Also known as: Harald / Hyldetand · Family: Danes · Role: son of Halfdan and Gurid · First appears: Book Seven · Part 16

In Book Seven · Part 16, Gurid carried her son Harald to a neighbouring wood as the enemy pursued, but an arrow wounded him. Odin granted him such favour that steel could not injure him. In Book Seven · Part 17 he slew Wesete and took Skaane, killed Hather (slain by Harald) in Jutland, then overthrew Hunding (overthrown by Harald) and Rorik (overthrown by Harald), seized Leire, and reunited Denmark. He defeated Asmund (king of the Wikars)’s sister and restored Asmund to his kingdom; in Sweden, he killed Ing and Olaf (son of Alver) as they prepared to fight. After granting Ingild (son of Alver) a truce, Harald later waged a long, indecisive war against him after Ingild ravished Harald’s sister, then made him an ally.

In Book Seven · Part 18, Harald overthrew Stikla and Rusila (foe of Olaf), rejected Olaf (King of the Thronds)’s offered prize of victory, and subdued Ubbe the Frisian, whom he married to his sister and took into his service. He had Duk and Dal captured in Sclavonia and then served him; in Britain he defeated the King of the Humbrians and enrolled Orm among his warriors. When Ingild died, Harald appointed guardians for his young son Ring (son of Ingild) and placed him over his father’s kingdom.

In Book Seven · Part 21, Odin, disguised as Brun, sowed strife between Harald and Ring. They declared their feuds, and seven years passed as they gathered for war; in Book Eight · Part 1 Harald sent word to Ring declaring hostilities and ending the mediating peace. Their forces fought in Book Eight · Part 3. In Book Eight · Part 4, Harald recognized Brun as Odin, who killed him with his own weapon. Ring ordered the fighting to cease, then had Harald’s ashes taken to Leire for a royal funeral with his horse and armour.