Harald Bluetooth
Harald "Bluetooth" Gormsson (Old Norse: Haraldr Gormsson; Danish: Harald Blåtand Gormsen; c. 911 – 985/6) was a King of Denmark and Norway. During the 10th century, Harald became a reluctant ally of Styrbjörn the Strong against his uncle, King Eric of Sweden, even after the young warrior offered him the hand of his sister, Gyrid. He had in his possession, a dagger, which was the Devotion Prong of the Trident of Eden and was affiliated with the Templars.
Biography
In his early years, Harald converted to Christianity after being christened by Bishop Poppa. After the ceremony, Poppa gave Harald a sacred dagger, which was given to him as a gift by Holy Roman Emperor Otto I. Receiving the dagger, Harald soon learned that the dagger held special properties, which allowed its user to easily swayed others to their whims and demands.[1]
In 985, Harald and his family caught sight of Styrbjörn and his fleet coming to his kingdom's shores.[2] Within their initial meeting, Harald accepted Gyrid, Harald's sister, as his wife but still rejected his proposal to fight against his uncle, King Eric. Thus, Styrbjörn called his fleet to attack Eric's army despite their disadvantage in numbers. However, Harald underestimated Styrbjörn's own power and conviction as Styrbjörn managed to fight his way to Harald. Ultimately, Harald surrendered while Styrbjörn gained his army as his own.[3]
After the battle, Harald was forced to accompany Styrbjörn on his sails. However, he used the Devotion Prong on Styrbjörn to sway him under his advice but he noticed Styrbjörn was immune to its power. Forced by his wife and her brother, he joined the fleet towards Uppsala.[1] Sailing across Laka Mälaren, Harald remained mostly silent and still tried to use the prong on Styrbjörn but to no success. When Styrbjörn challenged him by tossing the dagger into the lake for his freedom, Harald rejected it. Harald explained the history behind it and how his and his men's freedom mean nothing in comparison.[4]
Upon further sailing, they were all stopped by a palisade, which blocked their longships from traveling to Uppsala. Harald and Palnatoke spoke to either sail with delay or retreat but Styrbjörn ordered to abandon their boats and to march through the forest. When Palnatoke headed to rest, Harald followed suit but was stopped by Styrbjörn, who accused him of leaving their fleet. Demanding the dagger, Harald rebuffed him. Styrbjörn responded by attacking and throwing him against a tree. Left with no choice, Harald threw the dagger on the floor and left to rest with his men. The next day, Harald and his men retreated,[4] yet his daughter Thyra Haraldsdottir stayed behind to fight for Styrbjörn.[5]
Legacy
Through his daughter, Thyra, who conceived a child with Styrbjörn during their wedding night,[6] Harald was an ancestor of Sean Molloy, a 21st century teenager.[7]
The modern-day wireless technology standard Bluetooth was named after and inspired by Harald's epithet.[8]
Appearances
- Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Tomb of the Khan (first appearance)
- Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Fate of the Gods
- Echoes of History (mentioned only)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Fate of the Gods – Chapter Seven
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Tomb of the Khan – Chapter Twenty-Nine
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Fate of the Gods – Chapter One
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Fate of the Gods – Chapter Thirteen
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Fate of the Gods – Chapter Sixteen
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Fate of the Gods – Chapter Nineteen
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Tomb of the Khan – Chapter Thirteen
- ↑ Discovery Tour: Viking Age – [citation needed]