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Harald Blåtand Gormsson regerede Danmark fra omkring 958 indtil sin død i 986 og Norge for en kort periode omkring 970.

Nogle historiske beretninger tyder på, at han blev afsat af sin søn Svend Tveskæg før sin død og at han døde i en kamp mod oprøret.

Hans far var kong Gorm Den Gamle, og hans mor var Thyra Dannebod.

Han er kendt for at have opført Jellingstenene til ære for sine forældre.

Runeindskrifterne på disse sten er nogle af de tidligste historiske optegnelser af vikingetiden i Danmark.

På indskrifterne stod der, at Harald vandt hele Danmark og Norge og konverterede danskere til kristendommen.

Men som med de fleste historier, der stammer fra denne tidsperiode, er mange af begivenhederne ændret en smule.

Haralds konvertering til kristendommen er en del af hans liv, hvor historierne er i modstrid.

En historie hævder, at en præst ved navn Poppa konverterede Harald, efter at have holdt en tung jernbar, som havde været opvarmet af ild, uden at få forbrændninger.

Harald havde bedt ham om at bevise, at han troede på Kristus.

En anden forfatter, der skrev 100 år efter han døde, sagde at Otto I med magt konverterede ham, efter at have besejrede ham i kamp.

En tredje forfatter, der skrev fire århundreder efter hans død, hævdede at Otto II konverterede Harald og Haakon.

I Haralds regeringstid beordrede han genopbygningen af Jellingstenene og andre offentlige værker, herunder konstruktionen af ringforter fem steder.

Han tvang nordmændene til midlertidig underkastelse efter deres konge blev myrdet.

Historiske kilder hævder også, at efter sejren over Norge, tabte han det til tyskerne på et tidspunkt i løbet af sin regeringstid.

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Harald Bluetooth Gormsson ruled Denmark from around 958 until his death around 986 and Norway for a short period around 970.

Some historical accounts suggest that he was deposed by his son Sweyn Forkbeard before his death and that he died in battle against the rebellion.

His father was King Gorm the Old, and his mother was Thyra Dannebod.

He is known for erecting the Jelling Stones in honor of his parents.

The runic inscriptions on those stones are some of the earliest historical records of the Viking Era in Denmark.

The inscriptions state Harald won all of Denmark and Norway and converted Danes to Christianity.

However, as with most accounts dating back to this time period, the views of those who recorded the events seem to twist them around a bit.

Harald’s conversion to Christianity is one part of his life where the stories conflict.

One account claims a cleric named Poppa converted Harald after he held a heavy iron bar which had been heated in a fire without suffering burns.

Harald had asked him to prove that he believed in Christ.

Another writer however, who wrote 100 years after he died, said Otto I forcibly converted him after defeating him in battle.

A third writer who wrote four centuries after his death claimed Otto II converted Harald and Haakon of Norway.

During Harald’s reign, he ordered the reconstruction of the Jelling Stones and other public works, including the building of ring forts in five places.

He forced the Norwegians into temporary subjugation after their king was assassinated.

Records also show that after conquering Norway, he lost it to the Germans at some point during his reign.

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