Died 1000 AD | Spouse Styrbjörn the Strong | |
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Parents Harald Bluetooth, Gyrid of Sweden Grandparents Thyra, Gorm the Old, Olof Björnsson, Ingeborg Thrandsdotter Uncles Knud Danaast, Strut-Harald, Toke Cousins Harald Greycloak, Sigvaldi Strut‑Haraldsson, Thorkell the Tall, Ragnhild Eriksdotter, Gamle Eirikssen Similar Harald Bluetooth, Gunnhild - Mother of Kings, Thyra, Olaf Tryggvason, Gorm the Old | ||
Tyra of Denmark (Tyri Haraldsdatter, Thyri and Thyra) was a 10th-century Danish princess. She was the spouse of both King Olav I of Norway and of Styrbjörn Starke, crown prince of Sweden.
Tyra was born to King Harald Bluetooth and his Swedish-born Queen Gyrid Olafsdottir. She was a sister of King Svein Forkbeard. She was first married to the Swedish prince and throne claimant Styrbjörn Starke (Styrbjörn the Strong), son of King Olof Björnsson. As such, she was a titular crown princess of Sweden. However Styrbjörn Starke died in the Battle of Fýrisvellir (c. 985) near Uppsala fighting with his uncle King Eric the Victorious for the throne of Sweden.
According to Snorri Sturluson, she was next betrothed to the Wendish king Burislav, as part of a Danish-Wendic peace agreement negotiated by King Svein Forkbeard. As part of the agreement, Svein married Gunhild of Wenden who was the sister of Burislav. However, after her hunger strike, Burislav sent her back to Denmark.
She subsequently arranged to have herself married to Olaf Tryggvason to the displeasure of her brother Svein. When Olaf married her, Svein refused to pay her promised dowry. Olaf subsequently set out for Wendland to seek allies for a war on Denmark. On the way Olaf was ambushed by Svein and an alliance which included Olof Skötkonung, King of Sweden, and Eirik Hákonarson, Jarl of Lade. The resulting Battle of Svolder ended in the death of the Norwegian king (c. 1000). According to legend, Queen Tyra subsequently committed suicide by starvation after receiving news of her husband's death at the battle.