Val-Toke Gormsøn (Jelling) (912-985)
912--985 (man)
Född i Jelling, Syddanmark, Danmark
Död i Fyrisvallen, Uppsala. Dog i slaget vid Fyrisvallarna.
The source for Toke is the Hällestad Stone in Skåne, which is in memory of a certain Toke, son of Gorm, stating that he did not flee at Uppsala, presumably referring to a battle at which he distinguished
himself [See Erik Moltke, "Runes and their origin - Denmark and Elsewhere" (Copenhagen, 1985)]. The problem is that "Gorm" is not a rare name, so the case depends on the assumption that the Gorm who was
father of Toke was the famous Gorm, and not another of the same name.
This is a classic case of the "names-the-same" problem. In the absence of clear evidence that Toke's father Gorm and the famous Gorm should be identified, Toke should not be included in the list of children of Gorm of Denamrk.
Toke Gormsen is mentioned as a son of Gorm the Old and thus a brother or halfbrother of Harald Bluetooth. He is said to have been king or earl in Skåne. He was born ab. 912? ( this is more likely to be 921 considering his age at the Battle of Uppsala) There is historical evidence that he was killed in the Battle of Uppsala = the Battle of Fyrisvalla. According to inscriptions on three runestones in the walls of Hällestad Kirke in Skåne Toke Gormsen was killed in 985 in the Battle by Uppsala, (up salum).
He died in front of a Danish relief army, which came to the rescue of chief Styrbjørn Olofsen the Strong in a battle against Styrbjørn's father's brother, the Swedish king Erik Bjørnsson Sejersæl). Styrbjørn was a son of Olof Bjørnsson and Thyra Haraldsdatter and was claiming his father's right to the Swedish throne. King Erik won the Battle of Fyrisvalla (norrønt: Fýrisvellir), which went on for three days. Both Styrbjørn and Toke Gormsen and his son Asbjørn were killed that day. After this victory Erik achieved the name Sejersæl = Victorious. (norrønt: eiríkr inn sigrsæli).
One runestone in Hällestad Kirke says: ' Eskil satte denne sten efter Toke Gormsen, hans hulde herre. Han flygtede ikke ved Uppsala. Satte kæmper efter sin bror sten på bjerget. Står fast med runer. De Gorms Toke gik nærmest'. ( 'Eskil put this stone after Toke Gormsen, his good squire. He did not take flight by Uppsala. Giants put stones after brother on mountain. Runes stands forever. They were closest to Gorm's Toke.' )
The second stone also mentions the battle and tells about Åsgaut, who 'raised this stone after his brother Erra, who was Toke's hirdman'. The third stone has the inscription that 'Asbjørn, Toke's hirdman raised this stone after his brother Toke'.
Toke Gormsen had hirdmen; he is mentioned as a king or earl in Skåne, and he is named upon those three runestones after an important battle. He was a significant and powerful man; and he is probably identical with Gorm's son Toke and a good candidate as the ancestor of the Hvide-family. The large properties and great wealth of this family probably origined from the royal family and from the riches they brought back from England.
Toke's wife is unknown, maybe she was a Sigrid of Halland, but she might have been the daughter of a Swedish king or earl. Toke Gormsen was said to be a good friend of Thorgils Sprakaleg (Sprackling). No wonder. They were closely related. Thorgil's father Styrbjørn was married to Thyra, a daughter of Harald Bluetooth, Toke's brother. Erik Sejersæl's queen, the legendary Sigrid Storråde, went to Denmark and married Sven Tveskæg, Toke Gormsen's nephew.
Toke Gormsen had two known sons:
Asbjørn Tokesen, who was killed in the Battle of Fyrisvalla 985 together with his father.
Pallig Tokesen, born 975 , died 13. november 1002, married to Gunhild, a daughter of Harald Bluetooth, born ab. 965, died 13. november 1002. (Danemordet) | |
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