Who was Thyra according to Saxo Grammaticus?
Saxo Grammaticus described Thyra as the daughter of King Aethelred the Unready of England. This account claimed Harold Bluetooth plundered England and won the English king's admiration.
Questions about Thyra
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What is the origin story for Thyra provided by Sven Aggesen?
Sven Aggesen stated that Thyra was of German origin and her marriage to Gorm was arranged by the German emperor. These medieval sources broadly disagree with one another regarding her origins.
How many runestones mention Thyra in Viking Age Denmark?
Five other runestones exist across Viking Age Denmark bearing her name alongside the Jelling 1 stone. Analysis suggests a single carver named Ravnunge-Tue wrote inscriptions on both the Læborg and Jelling 2 stones if correct.
When did construction begin on the Danevirke fortification system?
Tree-ring analysis shows wooden artifacts in the fortification felled in 737 CE. This date proves the first phase of construction predates Thyra's reign by centuries.
What year marks the latest possible time for Thyra's death based on grave evidence?
Wooden artifacts from the site have been dated by tree-ring analysis to 959-960 CE. This date would put the latest possible time for her death if the grave belongs to her.