Denmarks Royal Legacy: Viking Kings Early Middle Ages

The graphic novel provides an overview of the early medieval Danish kings from around 936 to 1086 CE. It highlights the following rulers: Gorm the Old (r. c. 936 - c. 958): Considered the first verifiable king of a unified Denmark. He consolidated power and helped establish Christianity in the region. Harald Bluetooth (r. c. 958 - c. 985): The son of Gorm the Old, he continued the Christianization of Denmark and expanded Danish influence into Norway and parts of modern-day Germany. Sweyn Forkbeard (r. c. 985 - 1014): A formidable Viking king who conquered England in 1013, briefly becoming the King of England before his death in 1014. Canute the Great (r. 1018- 1035): Sweyn Forkbeard's son, he successfully ruled over an expansive North Sea empire that included Denmark, Norway, and England. Magnus the Good (r. 1042 - 1047): After Canute the Great's death, he became the King of Denmark and Norway, maintaining the union between the two kingdoms. Sweyn II Estridsson (r. 1047 - 1076): A descendant of Gorm the Old, he faced challenges from Norway and the Holy Roman Empire during his long reign as King of Denmark. The document emphasizes that these Danish kings played a crucial role in the political and cultural development of Scandinavia during the Early Middle Ages, as they expanded Danish power, solidified Christianity, and engaged in complex power struggles with their neighbors and the Holy Roman Empire.