Gudfred

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King Godfrid (ruled 804 - 810), was a Danish or Viking king, the younger son of King Sigfred. It is believed that his elder brother Halphdan became Earl of some rich market towns south of the river Eider (i.e. in what is modern Germany).

Refusing to pay tax to Godfrid, Halphdan swore his faith to Charlemagne in 807 to get his support. Godfrid mobilized an army and occupied the defensive line across the Jutland peninsula known as the Danevirke. Then in 808 he occupied one of the market towns (Reric), burnt it down, killed Drożko of the Obotrites and told the merchants to resettle at Sliestorp (or Hedeby), a new town integrated into the Danevirke defensive line. In 810 Godfrid let a sea-borne army go plundering to the Frisian coast, but the same summer he was killed by one of his Housecarls. According to Notker of St Gall, the murdering bodyguard was also one of his sons.

There are numerous spellings for the king's name, including: Godfred, Gudfred, Göttrick (German), Gøtrik (Danish), Gudrød (Danish), Godofredus (Latin).