Halfdan the Mild (Old Norse: Hálfdan hinn mildi) was the son of king Eystein Halfdansson, of the House of Yngling and he succeeded his father as king, according to Heimskringla. He was king of Romerike and Vestfold.
He was said to be generous in gold but to starve his men with food. He was a great warrior who often pillaged and gathered great booty.
His wife was Liv, the daughter of king Dag of Vestmar. Halfdan the Mild died of illness in his bed.
He was succeeded by his son, Gudrød the Hunter.
According to the historian Halvdan Koht, Halfdan may have been the one to win independence for Vestfold during the turbulent years of 813-14. The Frankish annals state that the kings of Hedeby had to solve an uprising in Vestfold at this time. According to Ynglingatal, Halfdan´s people "gained victory" in this uprising, and Halfdan is thus the first independent ruler of Vestfold.
Famous quotes containing the word mild:
“The landscape was clothed in a mild and quiet light, in which the woods and fences checkered and partitioned it with new regularity, and rough and uneven fields stretched away with lawn-like smoothness to the horizon, and the clouds, finely distinct and picturesque, seemed a fit drapery to hang over fairyland. The world seemed decked for some holiday or prouder pageantry ... like a green lane into a country maze, at the season when fruit-trees are in blossom.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)