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Sweyn Forkbeard

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Christian List (talk | contribs) at 13:32, 13 June 2002 (sometimes Svein Haraldsson). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Sweyn I "Forkbeard" (sometimes Svein Haraldsson; in Danish, Svend Tveskæg) (c.965-1014) succeeded his father Harold I as king of Denmark in 986. After recovering his throne (991) following a brief Swedish invasion, Sweyn established Danish control over a part of Norway (1000).

After participating in a Norwegian-led raid against England in 994-995, Sweyn embarked on a series of full-scale invasions (1003-1005, 1006-1007, 1009-1012 and 1013) following the St. Brice's Day massacre of England's Danish inhabitants (November 1002). By December 1013 he was England's effective ruler following the flight to Normandy of king [[Ethelred the Unready.

Svein died on February 3, 1014, at Gainsborough in Lincolnshire, having ruled England unopposed for only five weeks, and his body was returned to Denmark. He was succeeded as King of Denmark by his elder son, Harold II, and as King of England by Ethelred II. His son, Canute the Great, later ruled in Denmark and England.

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