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'King Godfred' (ruled 804 - 810), was a Danish or Viking king, the younger son of King Sigfred. There are numerous spellings for the king's name, including Godfred, Gudfred, Göttrick (German), Gøtrik (Danish), Gudrød (Danish), and Godofredus (Latin).

Contents

History

Legend

History

It is believed that his elder brother Halfdan became earl of some rich market towns south of the river Eider (i.e. in what is modern Germany). Refusing to pay tax to Godfrid, Halfdan swore his faith to Charlemagne in 807 to get his support.
Godfrid mobilized an army and occupied the defensive line across the Jutland peninsula known as the Danevirke. Then in 808 he occupied one of the market towns (Reric), burnt it down, killed Drożko of the Obotrites and told the merchants to resettle at Sliestorp (or Hedeby), a new town integrated into the Danevirke defensive line.
In 810 Godfrid let a sea-borne army go plundering to the Frisian coast, but the same summer he was killed by one of his Housecarls. According to Notker of St Gall, the murdering bodyguard was also one of his sons.

Legend

Godfrid appears in the Old French romances as Geoffrey, king of Denmark and father of Ogier the Dane (Holger Danske).