Gorm the Old (c. 890-958) was a pivotal Viking king, considered the first historically recognized King of Denmark, who unified fragmented territories from his seat in Jelling, establishing the Jelling Dynasty, a pagan ruler known for consolidating power, battling Saxons, and being the father of Harald Bluetooth, with his legacy marked by monumental Jelling Stones and royal burial mounds. He was a formidable warrior and chieftain, known for his fierce paganism and role in transforming Denmark from petty kingdoms into a more unified realm.

Key Characteristics & Accomplishments:
Unification: He is credited with uniting disparate Danish territories into a single kingdom, ruling from Jelling in Jutland.
Founder: He established the powerful Jelling Dynasty, laying the foundation for the modern Danish monarchy.
Warrior & Chieftain: A successful Viking adventurer, he made raids into Germany and the Baltic, and was known for his strength and battles against the Saxons.
Pagan King: Gorm remained a staunch Norse pagan, in contrast to his Christian successor, Harald Bluetooth.
Legacy: His wife Thyra and he are commemorated by the famous Jelling Stones, erected by their son, honoring them as "Denmark's Adornment" and marking the birth of Denmark.
Appearance: While details are scarce, archaeological findings suggest he had a lump on his skull, and he was blind in his later years before his death around 958-964 AD.

Description as a Hero: Gorm embodies the transition from fierce Viking chieftains to a centralized kingdom, a strong, formidable, and wise ruler who protected his people, established a lasting royal line, and symbolized the resilience and might of early Denmark.