Harald II, King of Denmark (reigned 1014 – 1018)

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2025

King Harald II as depicted in a copper engraving from 1646 by Albert Haelwegh; Credit – Wikipedia

Not much is known about Harald II, King of Denmark who reigned for only four years. Almost every primary source from Denmark, Iceland, and Norway omits Harald II’s brief reign. Most of the information about Harald comes from The Encomium Emmae Reginae, a text completed in 1042 on the orders of Harald’s sister-in-law, Emma of Normandy, Queen of England, Denmark and Norway, the widow of King Æthelred II of the English, the second wife of Harald’s brother Cnut the Great, King of England, Denmark, and Norway, and the mother of Saint Edward the Confessor, King of England via her first husband Æthelred.

In 1893, Danish historian Johannes Steenstrup summed up what was known about Harald. The synopsis uses Danish names. The English names are in parentheses. “Haraldr (Harald) was installed as regent by his father and refused to share power with Knútr (his brother Cnut), but helped with his preparation for conquering England. Son of Sveinn Haraldsson (Sweyn Haraldson, also known as Sweyn Forkbeard) and Gunnhildr (Gunhilda), Haraldr succeeded Sveinn Haraldson right after his death. Haraldr and his brother Knútr brought their mother Gunnhildr back to Denmark. Haraldr died in 1018, barely more than 20 years old.”

In his 2021 article, The Forgotten King of Denmark – Haraldr II, Deniz Cem Gülen theorizes that “the reticence around Haraldr and his reign might be his religious beliefs.” Although his paternal grandfather Harald I Bluetooth, King of Denmark and Norway converted from paganism to Christianity and decided that the Danish people should also convert to Christianity, King Harald II may have been a pagan. Early writers may have omitted King Harald II’s brief reign attempting to have him forgotten as a pagan king.

King Harald II was probably born circa 996 – 998. His father Sweyn Forkbeard, King of Denmark, Norway, and England had two wives: Sigrid Storråda and Gunhilda of Wenden. Both women are mentioned in the Norse sagas but there is very little information about them in the medieval chronicles. Sweyn Forkbeard had seven known children but which of the two women are their mothers is uncertain. Gunhilda of Wenden was probably the mother of Harald and his brother Cnut the Great, King of England, Denmark, and Norway. Sources say nothing about King Harald II of Denmark having been married.

Harald’s brother Cnut the Great, King of England, Denmark, and Norway; Credit – Wikipedia

Harald II had six known siblings:

Sweyn Forkbeard invading England; Credit – Wikipedia

Harald served as regent of Denmark and Norway while his father Sweyn Forkbeard, King of Denmark and Norway was fighting Æthelred II, King of the English in England. In 1002 Æthelred was told that the Danish men in England “would faithlessly take his life, and then all his councilors, and possess his kingdom afterward.” In response, Æthelred “ordered slain all the Danish men who were in England.” St. Brice’s Day Massacre occurred on November 13, 1002, the feast day of St. Brice, fifth-century Bishop of Tours. There was a significant loss of life including Gunhilde, Sweyn Forkbeard’s sister. In retaliation, Sweyn Forkbeard attacked England during 1003 – 1004, burning Norwich but a famine in 1005 caused him to retreat. The Danish invaders returned and within a few years, all of England came under Danish rule. On Christmas Day in 1013, Harald’s father Sweyn Forkbeard was formally proclaimed King of England.

Sweyn Forkbeard made his English base in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England, and began organizing his new kingdom. However, his reign was short-lived as he suddenly died in Gainsborough on February 3, 1014, at around the age of 54. Harald Bluetooth had named Roskilde the capital of Denmark in 960, and a small wooden church dedicated to the Holy Trinity was built on the site of the current Roskilde Cathedral, the traditional burial site of the Danish monarchs. Harald Bluetooth was buried at the Holy Trinity Church. Sweyn Forkbeard was first buried in England and his remains were later moved to Denmark where they were interred near his father at the Holy Trinity Church. However, their tombs have never been found.

Sweyn Forkbeard’s younger son succeeded him as Harald II, King of Denmark, and his elder son Cnut (the Great), was proclaimed King of England by the Danes in England. King Harald II of Denmark died in 1018, probably in his early 20s but his burial place is unknown. His brother Cnut succeeded Harald as King of Denmark.

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Works Cited

  • Bidragsydere til Wikimedia-projekter. (2003). Harald II. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harald_2.
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2019). Cnut the Great, King of England, Denmark, and Norway. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/cnut-the-great-king-of-england-denmark-and-norway/
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2019). Emma of Normandy, Queen of England, Denmark and Norway. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/emma-of-normandy-queen-of-england-denmark-and-norway/
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2025). Harald I Bluetooth, King of Denmark and Norway. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/harald-i-bluetooth-king-of-denmark-and-norway/
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2019). Sweyn Forkbeard, King of Denmark, Norway, and England. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/sweyn-forkbeard-king-of-denmark-king-of-norway-king-of-england/
  • Hadley, Dawn & Richards, Julian. (2022). The Viking Great Army and the Making of England. Thames & Hudson.
  • View of The Forgotten King of Denmark – Haraldr II | Scandinavian-Canadian Studies. (2025). Scancan.net. https://scancan.net/index.php/scancan/article/view/203/40