# Harald Bluetooth baptised (c. 965)

URL: https://christianity-history.com/timeline/965-harald-bluetooth-baptised
Location: Jelling, Denmark
Themes: Mission

The Danish king Harald Bluetooth accepts baptism, traditionally after the priest Poppo carried hot iron unharmed. On the great Jelling stone he proclaimed that he had made the Danes Christian. At this point in the timeline (c. 965), the Bishop of Rome was Pope John XIII (1 October 965 – 6 September 972).

## Why it matters
Denmark became the first Scandinavian kingdom to adopt Christianity officially.

Pope at the time: [Pope John XIII](https://christianity-history.com/popes/pope-john-xiii)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Harald Bluetooth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harald_Bluetooth)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Harald Bluetooth baptised](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Harald+Bluetooth+baptised)
- [Wikipedia — Medieval Church (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Catholic_Church#Middle_Ages)