Person

Halfdan the Black

9th century · 9th century · Also known as Halfdan Svarte

Halfdan the Black was a king of Vestfold in south-eastern Norway, known only from later sagas, above all Snorri Sturluson's Heimskringla. The son of Gudrød the Hunter and Åsa of Agder, he is said to have extended his rule over Hadeland, Raumarike, Hedmark and other inland districts before drowning when his sleigh broke through ice. He was the father of Harald Fairhair, traditionally the first king of all Norway.

Halfdan the Black
Image: Gerhard Munthe · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Mentioned in 6 state histories

VestfoldVingulmarkAgderHadelandRaumarikeHedmark

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Halfdan the Black. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/halfdan-the-black
MLA
“Halfdan the Black.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/halfdan-the-black. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Halfdan the Black.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/halfdan-the-black.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Halfdan the Black’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/halfdan-the-black (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻