Svein Forkbeard
| Sweyn Forkbeard | |
|---|---|
Sweyn (Suanus rex) invading England in 1013 (detail of a 13th-century miniature).
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| King of Denmark | |
| Reign | 986–1014 |
| Predecessor | Harald Bluetooth |
| Successor | Harald II |
| King of Norway | |
| Reign |
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| Predecessor | |
| Successor | Olaf II |
| King of England | |
| Reign | 1013–1014 |
| Predecessor | Æthelred |
| Successor | Æthelred |
| Born | c. 960 Denmark |
| Died | 3 February 1014 Gainsborough, Lincolnshire |
| Burial | Roskilde Cathedral or St. Trinity in Lund |
| Spouse | Świętosława / Sigrid/ Gunhild (detail) |
| Issue among others... |
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| House | House of Denmark |
| Father | Harald Bluetooth |
| Mother | Gunhild or Tove |
| Religion | Chalcedonian Christianity |
Sweyn Forkbeard (Old Norse: Sveinn Haraldsson tjúguskegg;Danish: Svend Tveskæg; 960 – 3 February 1014) was king of Denmark during 986–1014.
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. In 1000, with the allegiance of Trondejarl, Eric of Lade, Sweyn ruled most of Norway. In 1013, shortly before his death, he became the first Danish king of England after a long effort.
Historiographical sources on Sweyn's life include the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (where his name is rendered as Swegen),Adam of Bremen's 12th-century Deeds of the Bishops of Hamburg, and Snorri Sturluson's 13th-century Heimskringla. Conflicting accounts of Sweyn's later life also appear in the Encomium Emmae Reginae, an 11th-century Latin encomium in honour of his son king Cnut's queen Emma of Normandy, along with Chronicon ex chronicis by Florence of Worcester, another 11th-century author.
Sweyn's father, Harald Bluetooth, was the first of the reigning Scandinavian kings to be baptised, in the early or mid-960s. According to Adam of Bremen, Harald's son Sweyn was baptised Otto (in honour of German king Otto I). There are conflicting records as to the identity of his mother.Adam of Bremen identifies her as Gunhild, but some modern day scolars give her name as Tove from Western Wendland. Sweyn married the widow of Erik, king of Sweden, named Gunhild in some sources, or identifed as an unnamed sister of Boleslav, ruler of Poland.
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