Harald III of Denmark

Harald III Hen (1041 – April 17, 1080) was king of Denmark from 1076 to 1080. Harald III was the bastard son of Sweyn II of Denmark.

He was appointed after a regular election at the coast of Northern Zealand. As a whole he seems to have been a peaceful and able ruler who sought to better the Danish coins. Some Medieval chroniclers (especially Saxo Grammaticus) scorn him as a weak and ineffective king yielding to the will of the common people. Later historians regard him as a "democratic" monarch for the same reasons.

His nickname means "a soft whet-stone".

 

Preceded by: Sweyn II

King of Denmark 1076–1080

Succeeded by: Canute IV (The Saint)