Sweyn Forkbeard

"King Sweyn" and "Sweyn of Norway" redirect here. For other people, see Sweyn.
"Forkbeard" redirects here. For the hake, see Phycis phycis.

Sweyn Forkbeard
Sweyn (Suanus rex) invading England in 1013 (detail of a 13th-century miniature) – Cambridge University Library
King of Denmark
Reign986–1014
PredecessorHarald Bluetooth
SuccessorHarald II
King of Norway
Reign999/1000–1013/14
PredecessorOlaf I
SuccessorOlaf II
King of the English
Reign1013–1014
PredecessorÆthelred the Unready
SuccessorÆthelred the Unready
Born17 April 963[1]
Denmark
Died3 February 1014 (aged 50)
Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England
Burial
Roskilde Cathedral or Lund Cathedral
SpousesŚwiętosława / Sigrid / Gunhild
Issue
among others...
HouseKnýtlinga
FatherKnut Danaást or Harald Bluetooth[2]
MotherTove or Gunhild[2]

Sweyn Forkbeard (Old Norse: Sveinn Haraldsson tjúguskegg [ˈswɛinː ˈhɑrˌɑldsˌson ˈtjuːɣoˌskeɡː];[3] Danish: Svend Tveskæg; 17 April 963[1] – 3 February 1014) was King of Denmark from 986 until his death, King of England for five weeks from December 1013 until his death, and King of Norway from 999/1000 until 1013/14. He was the father of King Harald II of Denmark, King Cnut the Great, and Queen Estrid Svendsdatter.[2]

In the mid-980s, Sweyn revolted against his father, Harald Bluetooth, and seized the throne. Harald was driven into exile and died shortly afterwards in November 986 or 987.[4] In 1000, with the allegiance of Eric, Earl of Lade, Sweyn ruled most of Norway. In 1013, shortly before his death, he became the first Danish king of the English after a long effort.

  1. ^ a b Rosborn, Sven (2021). The Viking King's Golden Treasure. About the Curmsun Disc, the discovery of a lost manuscript, Harald Bluetooth´s grave and the location of the fortress of Jomsborg. Rivengate AB. p. 335. ISBN 978-9198678017. Archived from the original on 2 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Weir, Alison (1989). Britain's Royal Families. Vintage. p. 25. ISBN 978-0099539735.
  3. ^ Svæinn Harallz sunr; Latinized forms of the name Sveinn are Suanus, Suenus, or Sveinus (Haraldi filius). The nickname tjúguskegg is a compound of tjúga "fork" and skegg "beard". Sweyn is so named in Fagrskinna chapters 27 and 41 (ed. Finnur Jónsson 1902–08, pp. 161, 206), in both cases in references to Astriðr dottor Svæins tiuguskægs.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Sawyer2004 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).