Gorm the Old is the first historically recognized King of Denmark. He ruled from approximately 936 until his death in 958 or 959. He ruled from Jelling in the Jutland peninsula. Gorm is considered the founder of the Danish monarchy, though it is unclear if he governed all of what is now Denmark.
Gorm was supposedly the son of the Danish King Harthacnut, who is considered “semi-legendary.” There is not a lot of evidence for the existence of Harthacnut, and much of what exists is contradictory.
Gorm married Thyra, whose history before her marriage to Gorm is not well established. Thyra is credited with completing the “Dannevirke” defensive line that runs across what is now Schleswig. This was to provide some protection against the Saxon tribes to the south of the kingdom.
Gorm and Thyra had three sons: Toke, Knut and Harald. All three of the sons were Vikings. Knut was killed while attacking Dublin. Harald is better known as Harald I Bluetooth and he became king after Gorm died.
Besides founding the current monarchy, Gorm is perhaps best remembered for the rune stones that he and Harald erected at Jelling. In addition, there are burial mounds at Jelling which are associated with Gorm.