A King Fit for a Modern Standard

Born circa 940 A.D., Harald Baatand II was King of Denmark Gormsson, the son of Gorm "the Old" King of Norway. Harald – nicknamed Bluetooth – inherited his father's kingdom, centered on Jelling in Jutland, and, as king, is famous for consolidating the Danish realm as a unitary kingdom – much in the same way the Bluetooth Consortium hopes to unify wireless connectivity.

Bluetooth's Jelling rune stones

Harald Bluetooth introduced Christianity into Denmark, and he had the famous Jelling rune stone erected in his parents' memory. The runic inscription on the other side of the big stone is his short biography: that he ruled Denmark, conquered Norway, and made the Danes Christians. The stone is often referred to as the baptismal certificate of Denmark.

Harald Bluetooth was killed around 986 A.D. in battle against his son, Svend Forkbeard. His remains were buried in the cathedral at Roeskilde, where his bones are still preserved, walled up in one of the pillars of the choir.