(Redirected from Palnatoke)'Palnatoke' was a legendary
Danish hero and chieftain of the island of
Fyn. He raised
Harald Bluetooth's son
Sweyn Forkbeard and was a staunch supporter of the old pagan faith. He consequently convinced Sweyn to wage war on his own father, and Palnatoke slew Harald. The antagonism may also be based on the fact that Palnatoke was the grand-son of the
Geatish earl
Jarl Ottar, who had been killed when Harald invaded
Götaland.
Palnatoke founded the laws of the
Jomsvikings.
Saxo relates how Palnatoke was in disagreement with the king and had to shoot an apple from his own son who skied downhill. This story appears among other Germanic nations, as the story of
Egil in the
Thidreks saga, and also in
England and
Holstein, and in the legend of
Wilhelm Tell in
Switzerland.