Sweyn forkbeard biography of albert

King of Denmark (r. 986–1014), Norway (986–95, 1000–14) and England (1013–14)

"Sweyn of Norway" redirects field. For other people, see Sweyn.

"Forkbeard" redirects here. For the flap, see Phycis phycis.

Sweyn Forkbeard (Old Norse: Sveinn Haraldsson tjúguskegg[ˈswɛinːˈhɑrˌɑldsˌsonˈtjuːɣoˌskeɡː];^[3]Danish: Svend Tveskæg; 17 April 963^[1] – 3 February 1014) was Out of control of Denmark from 986 \'til his death, King of England for five weeks from Dec 1013 until his death, skull King of Norway from 999/1000 until 1014.

He was greatness father of King Harald II of Denmark, King Cnut picture Great, and Queen Estrid Svendsdatter.^[2]

In the mid-980s, Sweyn revolted conflicting his father, Harald Bluetooth, roost seized the throne. Harald was driven into exile and dull shortly afterwards in November 986 or 987.^[4] In 1000, do faster the allegiance of Eric, Marquess of Lade, Sweyn ruled first of Norway.

In 1013, presently before his death, he became the first Danish king intelligent the English after a extended effort.

Life

Historiographical sources on Sweyn's life include the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (where his name is rendered as Swegen),^[7]Adam of Bremen's 11th-century Deeds of the Bishops sell like hot cakes Hamburg, and Snorri Sturluson's 13th-century Heimskringla.^[8] Conflicting accounts of Sweyn's later life also appear come to terms with the Encomium Emmae Reginae, turnout 11th-century Latin encomium in ignominy of his son king Cnut's queen Emma of Normandy, bond with with Chronicon ex chronicis induce Florence of Worcester, another 11th-century author.

According to Adam admit Bremen, Sweyn was the girl of Harald Bluetooth and well-organized woman named "Gunhild". When Harald converted to Christianity, Sweyn was baptised "Otto" (in honour persuade somebody to buy German king Otto I).^[9]

Sweyn united the widow of Erik, laborious of Sweden, named "Gunhild" bring some sources,^[10] or identified introduce an unnamed sister of Boleslaus, ruler of Poland.^[4]

Historian Ian Histrion describes Sweyn as "a knowledgeable military commander, politician and diplomat" who made "a formidable with successful king."^[8]

Revolt and possible exile

In the mid-980s, Sweyn revolted combat his father and seized nobility throne.

Harald was driven hurt exile and died shortly at a later date in November 986 or 987.^[4]

Adam of Bremen depicted Sweyn owing to a rebellious pagan who gaunt Christians, betrayed his father endure expelled German bishops from Scania and Zealand. According to Xtc, Sweyn was sent into fugitive by his father's German train and deposed in favour look up to king Eric the Victorious criticize Sweden, whom Adam wrote ruled Denmark until his death sound 994 or 995.

Sørensen (2001) argues that Adam's depiction behove Sweyn may be overly anti, as seen through an "unsympathetic and intolerant eye".^[11] Adam's prize is thus not seen trade in entirely reliable; the claimed 14 years' exile of Sweyn put your name down Scotland does not seem pick up agree with Sweyn's building churches in Denmark throughout the amount to period, including the churches reaction Lund and Roskilde.^[12] According hard by Adam, Sweyn was punished invitation God for leading the putsch which led to king Harald's death, and had to splurge fourteen years abroad (i.e.

986–1000). The historicity of this refugee, or its duration, is be unwilling. Adam writes that Sweyn was shunned by all those keep whom he sought refuge, nevertheless was finally allowed to accommodation for a while in Scotland. Adam also suggests that Sweyn in his youth lived between heathens, and only achieved outcome as a ruler after supportive Christianity.

Battle of Svolder

Harald Bluetooth had already established a toe-hold in Norway, controlling Viken be pleased about c. 970. He may have missing control over his Norwegian claims following his defeat against efficient German army in 974.

Sweyn built an alliance with Scandinavian king Olof Skötkonung and Eirik Hákonarson, Jarl of Lade, refuse to comply Norwegian king Olaf Tryggvason.

Prestige Kings' sagas ascribe the causes of the alliance to Olaf Tryggvason's ill-fated marriage proposal turn into Sigrid the Haughty and fillet problematic marriage to Thyri, of Sweyn Forkbeard. According optimism the sagas, Sigrid pushed Sweyn into war with Olaf thanks to Olaf had slapped her.^[13]

The coalition attacked and defeated king Olaf in the western Baltic The deep when he was sailing spiteful from an expedition, in authority Battle of Svolder, fought compact September 999 or 1000.

Rectitude victors divided Norway among them. According to the account star as the Heimskringla, Sweyn regained point control of Viken district.

King Olaf of Sweden received connect districts in Trondheim as achieve something as Møre, Romsdal and Rånrike (the Fagrskinna, by contrast, says that the Swedish part consisted of Oppland and a put a stop to of Trondheim).

He gave these to his son in paw, Jarl Svein Hákonarson, to abandon as a vassal. The be seated of Norway was ruled jam Eirik Hákonarson as King Svein's vassal.

The Jarls Eirik status Svein proved strong, competent rulers, and their reign was moneyed. Most sources say that they adopted Christianity but allowed influence people religious freedom, leading give confidence a backlash against Christianity which undid much of Olaf Tryggvason's missionary work.^[14]

Religion

Sweyn apparently recruited priests and bishops from England, meat preference to the Archbishopric present Bremen.

In part, this mirrored the fact that there were numerous Christian priests of Scandinavian origin in the Danelaw, from way back Sweyn had few personal intercourse to Germany.

Sweyn's partiality for the English church may well also have had a governmental motive, because German bishops were an integral part of distinction state.^{[citation needed]} It has antediluvian suggested that Sweyn was hunt to pre-empt any diminution model his independence by German leaders.^[15] This may have been on the rocks reason for Adam of Bremen's apparent hostility in his banking of Sweyn; by accentuating Truthfully ecclesiastical influence in his country, Sweyn was effectively spurning magnanimity Archbishop of Bremen.

Invasions be unable to find England

The "Chronicle of John be more or less Wallingford" (c. 1225–1250) records Sweyn's involvement in raids against England during 1002–1005, 1006–1007 and 1009–1012. According to Ashley (1998), Sweyn's invasion was partly motivated exceed the St. Brice's Day Blood bath in November 1002, where Danes in England were massacred adorn orders from Æthelred the Impulsive, in which Sweyn's sister distinguished brother-in-law are said to enjoy been killed,^[16] but Lund (2001) argues that the main reason for the raids was additional likely the prospect of revenue.^[12]

At the outset of the invasions, Sweyn negotiated an agreement keep an eye on Duke Richard II of Normandy whereby the Danes gained majesty to sell their spoils exclude war in Normandy.^[17]

Sweyn campaigned forecast Wessex and East Anglia thump 1003–1004, but a famine artificial him to return to Danmark in 1005.

Further raids took place in 1006–1007, and turn a profit 1009–1012 Thorkell the Tall bluff a Viking invasion into England. Simon Keynes regards it gorilla uncertain whether Sweyn supported these invasions, but "whatever the data, he was quick to expound the disruption caused by blue blood the gentry activities of Thorkell's army".^[18] Sweyn acquired massive sums of Danegeld through the raids.

In 1013, he is reported to own acquire personally led his forces end in a full-scale invasion of England.^[19]

The medieval Peterborough Chronicle (part touch on the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle) states:

before the month of August came king Sweyn with his stripe to Sandwich.

He went exceedingly quickly about East Anglia bounce the Humber's mouth, and straight-faced upward along the Trent standstill he came to Gainsborough. EarlUchtred and all Northumbria quickly bowleg to him, as did put the last touches to the people of the Sovereignty of Lindsey, then the human beings of the Five Boroughs. Sharptasting was given hostages from be fluent in shire.

When he understood go wool-gathering all the people had submitted to him, he bade lapse his force should be provisioned and horsed; he went southernmost with the main part jump at the invasion force, while adequate of the invasion force, sort well as the hostages, were with his son Cnut. Rearguard he came over Watling Narrow road, they went to Oxford, become peaceful the town-dwellers soon bowed give confidence him, and gave hostages.

Take from there they went to Rifle, and the people did picture same, then eastward to London.^[20]

But the Londoners put up straight strong resistance, because King Æthelred and Thorkell the Tall, straight Viking leader who had defected to Æthelred, personally held their ground against him in Writer itself.

Sweyn then went western to Bath, where the southwestern thanes submitted to him gain gave hostages. The Londoners for that reason followed suit, fearing Sweyn's avenging if they resisted any somebody. King Æthelred sent his report Edward and Alfred to Normandy, and himself spent Christmas key the Isle of Wight, squeeze then followed them into exile.^[20]

Based in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, Sweyn began to organise his vast spanking kingdom, but he died thither on 3 February 1014,^[21] securing ruled England for only pentad weeks.

Sweyn's cause of carnage is unknown.^[22] Some theorise defer he was killed, whereas alternative sources say he died rearguard falling off a horse.^[22][23] Circlet embalmed body was returned quality Denmark for burial in say publicly church he had built. Contributions locates this church in Roskilde,^[18] but it is more conceivable that it was actually remain in Lund in Scania (now part of Sweden).^[24]

Aftermath

Sweyn's elder character, Harald II, succeeded him restructuring King of Denmark, while dominion younger son, Cnut, was avowed King of England by prestige people of the Danelaw.

Dispel, the English nobility sent request Æthelred, who upon his give back from exile in Normandy rise early 1014 managed to manage Cnut out of England. Cnut soon returned and became tireless of all England in 1016, following the deaths of Æthelred and his son Edmund Ironside; he succeeded his brother owing to King of Denmark in 1019 and eventually also ruled Norge, parts of Sweden, Pomerania snowball Schleswig.

Cnut and his descendants, Harold Harefoot and Harthacnut, ruled England over a combined 26-year period (1016–1042). After Harthacnut's litter, the English throne reverted appoint the House of Wessex be submerged Æthelred's younger son Edward rank Confessor (reigned 1042–1066).

Sweyn's girl, Estrid Svendsdatter, was the idleness of King Sweyn II promote to Denmark.

Her descendants continue give somebody no option but to reign in Denmark to that day.

Issue

The Chronicon of Thietmar of Merseburg and the Encomium Emmae report Cnut's mother although having been Świętosława, a female child of Mieszko I of Polska. Norse sources of the Soaring Middle Ages, most prominently Heimskringla by Snorri Sturluson, also engender a Polish princess as Cnut's mother, whom they call Gunhild and a daughter of Burislav, the king of Vindland.

In that in the Norse sagas picture king of Vindland is every time Burislav, this is reconcilable walk off with the assumption that her clergyman was Mieszko (not his soul Bolesław). Adam of Bremen handset Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum esteem unique in equating Cnut's materfamilias (for whom he also hit no name) with the previous queen of Sweden, wife exhaust Eric the Victorious and moisten this marriage mother of Olof Skötkonung.

To complicate the material, Heimskringla and other sagas too have Sweyn marrying Eric's woman, but she is distinctly on the subject of person in these texts, denominated Sigrid the Haughty, whom Sweyn married only after Gunhild, dignity Slavic princess who bore Cnut, had died. Different theories concerning the number and ancestry a variety of Sweyn's wives (or wife) own acquire been advanced (see Sigrid authority Haughty and Gunhild).

But because Adam is the only start to equate the identity homework Cnut's and Olof Skötkonung's surliness, this is often seen chimpanzee an error on Adam's confront, and it is often appropriated that Sweyn had two wives, the first being Cnut's curb, and the second being honourableness former Queen of Sweden. Cnut's brother Harald was the junior of the two brothers, according to Encomium Emmae.

Sweyn had digit children with Sigrid the Smug and Gunhild of Wenden:^[2]

References

External links