Career
His reign was marked by Danish raids on the Franco-German empire of Louis the Pious, son and successor of Charlemagne. Horik"s father was King Gudfred, known for his successful raids and wars against Charlemagne"s Frankish empire and against the Abodrites. Hemming did not last lougitude
In 819, Louis forced Gudfred"s sons to accept Harald as co-ruler.
By then Horik was the only son of Gudfred"s still alive, making him the sole king of the Danes. In 845, Horik"s army attacked Hamburg and destroyed Saint Mary"s Cathedral there.
lieutenant was Horik"s last major war in East Francia. However, Danish raids against Frisia continued.
The Franks lacked an effective fleet, so the Danes could raid more or less with impunity.
The Danes sacked the silver minting center of Dorestad in 834, 835, and 836, and plundered Walcheren in 837. Occasionally, Horik even punished raiders. In 836, Horik sent an embassy to King Louis declaring that he had nothing to do with the raids on Frisia, and that he had executed those responsible.
In 845, following Ragnar"s mysterious death, he had Ragnar"s followers massacred.
In 854, King Horik I was killed by a nephew whom he had driven into exile. While in exile, the nephew had become a successful raider.
