The Black Danes were a Danish confederation lead by three Viking kings from Denmark.
In Vikings[]
The Black Danes have amassed their armies in Reading, England. They were led by three kings: Hemming, Angantyr, and Frodo. They are known adversaries of the Anglo-Saxons. They first appeared in Season 5, in the episode Baldur.
Ubbe kills Frodo in single combat in What Happens in the Cave, with Kings Hemming and Angantyr as witnesses.
In History[]
The term "Black Danes" is derived from the Irish term "Dubgaill" (dark/black foreigners) which the Irish people used to refer to certain groups of Vikings. Various theories exists about the meaning of the phrase, from their hair color, the color of the shields, or the color of their sails. Today, the most popular theory is that the term means "the new foreigners." Later Norman settlers were also referred to as "Dubgaill."
Trivia[]
- All mention of the term "Black Dane" was deleted from the final episodes and was only used by the cast members in supplementary interviews.