[9], From 1835 to 1977, it was wrongly believed that Harald ordered the death of the Haraldskær Woman, a bog body previously thought to be Gunnhild, Mother of Kings until radiocarbon dating proved otherwise. [2], In the mid-980s, Sweyn revolted against his father and seized the throne. Sweyn built an alliance with Swedish king Olof Skötkonung and Eirik Hákonarson, Jarl of Lade, against Norwegian king Olaf Tryggvason. When Styrbjörn brought this fleet to Uppsala to claim the throne of Sweden, Harald broke his oath and fled with his Danes to avoid facing the Swedish army at the Battle of Fýrisvellir. See more ideas about viking history, vikings, norse. He gave these to his son in law, Jarl Svein Hákonarson, to hold as a vassal. After he came over Watling Street, they went to Oxford, and the town-dwellers soon bowed to him, and gave hostages. [4], The first documented appearance of Harald's nickname "Bluetooth" (as blatan; Old Norse *blátǫnn) is in the Chronicon Roskildense (written ca. Cnut and his sons, Harold Harefoot and Harthacnut, ruled England over a combined 26-year period (1016–1042). According to Adam of Bremen, an 11th century historian, Harald's son Sweyn was baptised Otto, paying tribute to the German king Otto I who was Holy Roman Emperor. The Harald who won the whole of Denmark and Norway and turned the Danes to Christianity. Further raids took place in 1006–1007, and in 1009–1012 Thorkell the Tall led a Viking invasion into England. [10], Sweyn campaigned in Wessex and East Anglia in 1003–1004, but a famine forced him to return to Denmark in 1005. Earl Uchtred and all Northumbria quickly bowed to him, as did all the people of the Kingdom of Lindsey, then the people of the Five Boroughs. In 994 Sweyn conducted a large fleet of warships to England, but failed to capture London. The English nobility became so disillusioned with their existing king, Ethelred 'The Unready', that they acknowledged Sweyn as king in 1013. Harald introduced Christianity to Denmark and consolidated his rule over most of Jutland and Zealand. In part, this reflected the fact that there were numerous Christian priests of Danish origin in the Danelaw, while Sweyn had few personal connections to Germany. 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 Scandinavian kings to officially accept Christianity, in the mid-960s. Sweyn Forkbeard, son of King Harald Bluetooth. Jan 31, 2016 - Explore Seonaid O'Riada's board "sweyn forkbeard" on Pinterest. His father was Harald I, known also as Harald Bluetooth, whereas the identity of his mother is not known for certain. Harald "Bluetooth" Gormsson (Old Norse: Haraldr Gormsson;[2] Danish: Harald Blåtand Gormsen, died c. 985/86) was a king of Denmark and Norway. In the mid-980s, Sweyn revolted against his father, Harald Bluetooth, and seized the throne. [6] The traditional explanation is that Harald must have had a conspicuous bad tooth that appeared "blue" (i.e. Sweyn had eight children with Sigrid the Haughty and Gunhild of Wenden: King Sweyn Forkbeard is played by Ernest Graves in the 1970 film The Ceremony of Innocence. It suggested that Sweyn was seeking to pre-empt any diminution of his independence, by German leaders. [23], The Bluetooth wireless specification design was named after the king in 1997,[24] based on an analogy that the technology would unite devices the way Harald Bluetooth united the tribes of Denmark into a single kingdom. "[8] A sixth Trelleborg of similar design, located at Borgeby, in Scania, has been dated to about 1000 and may have been built by King Harald and a second fort named Trelleborg is located near the modern town of Trelleborg in Scania in present-day Sweden, but is of older date and thus pre-dates the reign of Harald Bluetooth. "[20], After his conversion, around the 960s, Harald had his father's body reburied in the church next to the now empty mound. He was given hostages from each shire. Sweyn Forkbeard was the eldest son of King Harald Bluetooth and his mother's identity has been a debate for the historians. He was succeeded as King of Denmark by his older son, Harold II. [9] "[15], As noted above, Harald's father, Gorm the Old, had died in 958, and had been buried in a mound with many goods, after the pagan practice. [7] Anders Winroth, Viking Sources in Translation, in text drawing on a caption by Anders Winroth in Barbara Rosenwein, Res gestae saxonicae sive annalium libri tres, "A unique object from Harald Bluetooth´s time. Sweyn Forkbeard was and remains a powerful symbol of Scandinavia's transitional era at the turn of the Eleventh Century. She married Pallig, Jarl and Ealdorman of Devonshire. He was declared King of England on Christmas Day in 1013 and ruled until his death on 3rd February 1014, although he was never crowned. According to Adam of Bremen, an 11th-century historian, Harald's son Sweyn was baptised Otto, in tribute to the German king Otto I, who was the first Holy Roman Emperor. They were driven out of Denmark in 983 by an alliance of Obodrite soldiers and troops loyal to Harald, but soon after, Harald was killed fighting off a rebellion led by his son Sweyn. Svein (or Swein) Haraldsson, known as … He may, however, have lost control over his Norwegian claims following his defeat against a German army in 974. Many years of looting and attacks by the Vikings have shattered the once proud England. Cnut, son of Sweyn Forkbeard, was not born to be king but when his brother, Harald II, King of Denmark, offered to back his invasion of England, he gathered his men and set sail. The "Chronicle of John of Wallingford" (c. 1225–1250) records Sweyn's involvement in raids against England during 1002–1005, 1006–1007, and 1009–1012 to avenge the St. Brice's Day massacre of England's Danish inhabitants in November 1002. The allies attacked and defeated king Olaf in the western Baltic Sea when he was sailing home from an expedition, in the Battle of Svolder, fought in September of either 999 or 1000. Scholars disagree about the various, too often contradictory, accounts of his life given in sources from this era of history, such as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Adam of Bremen's Deeds of the Bishops of Hamburg, and the Heimskringla, a 13th-century w… 968/72 - d. ca. Adam purports that Sweyn was shunned by all those with whom he sought refuge, but was finally allowed to live for a while in Scotland. Widukind of Corvey, writing during the lives of King Harald and Otto I, claims that Harald was converted by a "cleric by the name of Poppa" who, when asked by Harald to prove his faith in Christ, carried a "great weight" of iron heated by a fire without being burned. Sweyn Forkbeard, England’s forgotten king, ruled for just 5 weeks. The most famous is fortifying the fortress of Aros (nowadays Aarhus) which was situated in a central position in his kingdom in the year 979. [21] The Encyclopædia Britannica considers the runic inscriptions as the best-known in Denmark. Sweyn was buried in England, but his body was later removed to Roeskild Cathedral in Denmark. Sweyn also exhausted England in annual raids and was finally accepted as king of that country, but he died shortly thereafter. "Harald Gormson, king of Danes, Scania, Jumne, [in] Bishopric of Aldinburg [de]". Sweyn Forkbeard (/svɛn/;[citation needed] Old Norse: Sveinn Haraldsson tjúguskegg;[1] Danish: Svend Tveskæg; c. 960 – 3 February 1014) was king of Denmark from 986 to 1014. [13] but Lund (2001) argues that the main motivation for the raids was more likely the prospect of revenue. Har­ald was dri­ven into exile and died shortly af­ter­wards in No­vem­ber 986 or 987. The empire of Sweyn Forkbeard and his son is often referred to by historians today as the North Sea Empire or the Anglo-Scandinavian Empire. Sweyn's elder son, Harald II, succeeded him as King of Denmark, but the Danish fleet in England proclaimed his younger son Cnut king. There are conflicting records as to the identity of his mother. [6] 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. However, there is some disagreement about who was Canute's mother. [10], The Hiddensee treasure, a large trove of gold objects, was found in 1873 on the German island of Hiddensee in the Baltic Sea. It is thought that they both died in the St. Brice's Day massacre in November 1002. The contemporary Peterborough Chronicle (part of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle) states: before the month of August came king Sweyn with his fleet to Sandwich. 1 Appearance 2 Personality 3 History 4 References King Sweyn is an old man with multiple skin problems. Harald's rule as king of Norway following the assassination of King Harald Greycloak of Norway was more tenuous, most likely lasting for no more than a few years in the 970s. You take on the role of Sweyn Forkbeard, the son of a Viking Jarl, to conquer England and save the love of your life. King Harald bade these memorials to be made after Gorm, his father, and Thyra, his mother. [14] (2001). Opes 21:55, 7 April 2006 (UTC) Have changed all the Sven/svend entries to Sweyn as this not only creates a consensus but also agrees with the name of the article! He died soon afterwards. The given name Haraldr (also Haralldr) is the equivalent of Old English Hereweald, Old High German Heriwald, from hari "army" and wald- "rule". England’s fate is sealed in 1013. Harald undoubtedly professed Christianity at that time and contributed to its growth, but with limited success in Denmark and Norway. Harald II, his other son, succeeded him as King of Denmark. However, Sweyn's preference for the English church may also have had a political motive, because German bishops were an integral part of the state. Sweyn, known as Forkbeard due to his long, cleft beard, was the son of Harald Bluetooth, king of Denmark and was born around 960 AD. [citation needed], He had the Jelling stones erected to honour his parents. Sweyn's father, Harald Bluetooth, was one of the first of the reigning Scandinavian kings to be baptised, in the early or mid-960s. From there they went to Winchester, and the people did the same, then eastward to London.[16]. [12] According to 12th-century Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus in his work Gesta Danorum, Poppo performed his miracle for Harald's son Sweyn Forkbeard after Sweyn had second thoughts about his own baptism. Cnut soon returned and became king of all England in 1016, following the deaths of Æthelred and his son Edmund Ironside; he succeeded his brother as King of Denmark in 1019 and eventually also ruled Norway, parts of Sweden, Pomerania, and Schleswig. After Harthacnut's death, the English throne reverted to the House of Wessex under Æthelred's younger son Edward the Confessor (reigned 1042–1066). [25][26][27] The Bluetooth logo consists of a Younger futhark bindrune for his initials, H (ᚼ) and B (ᛒ). Usually given as the son of Harald and Gunhild, though it is said in some of the older sagas that he was an illegitimate son. In England, the councillors had sent for Æthelred, who upon his return from exile in Normandy in the spring of 1014 managed to drive Cnut out of England. Sørensen (2001) argues that Adam's depiction of Sweyn may be overly negative, as seen through an "unsympathetic and intolerant eye". 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. Sweyn was born in 960, the son of Harald Bluetooth, King of Denmark, and his Queen, Gunhild. Sweyn married the widow of Erik, king of Sweden, named "Gunhild" in some sources,[8] or identified as an unnamed sister of Boleslav, ruler of Poland. King of England, Norway, Denmark. According to Ashley (1998), Sweyn's invasion was partly motivated by the massacre of Danes in England ordered by Æthelred the Unready in 1002, in which his sister and brother-in-law are said to have been killed. Æthelred's 37-year combined reign was the longest of any Anglo-Saxon king of England, and was only surpassed in the 13th century, by Henry III. Søre… The mound itself was from c. 500 BCE, but Harald had it built higher over his father's grave, and added a second mound to the south. "Harald king". Not only did he defeat Edmund Ironside, he also inherited the kingdom of Denmark and conquered Norway. The son of Alfred and Elswitha, Edward the Elder, re-conquered all the Viking held territories, except York, and ruled as King of England. 26 The Sweyn Forkbeard Pub in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire (Source: Flickr / Brian). In normalized Old Norse, this would correspond to Haraldr konungr, i.e. Ring forts were built in five strategic locations with Aarhus perfectly in the middle: Trelleborg on Zealand, Borrering in eastern Zealand (the inner construction of this fort is still yet to be established), Nonnebakken on Funen, Fyrkat in Himmerland (northern Jutland) and Aggersborg near Limfjord. Born in 961(?). [10] According to Adam, Sweyn was punished by God for leading the uprising which led to king Harald's death, and had to spend fourteen years abroad (i.e. Sweyn's elder son, Harald II, succeeded him as King of Denmark, while his younger son, Cnut, was proclaimed King of England by the people of the Danelaw. Sweyn's father, Harald Bluetooth, was the first of the Scandinavian kings to officially accept Christianity, in the early or mid-960s. [12] This may have been a reason for Adam of Bremen's apparent hostility in his accounts of Sweyn; by accentuating English ecclesiastical influence in his kingdom, Sweyn was effectively spurning the Archbishop of Bremen. He was the son of King Gorm the Old and of Thyra Dannebod. The sagas and Encomium say that he was a son of Gunhild, while Thietmar of Merseburg, who lived at the same time as Sweyn says that Canute's mother was Sigrid the Haughty. The Latinized name as given in the medieval Danish chronicles is Haraldus Gormonis filius (Harald, Gorm's son). Note: Swietoslawa, perhaps identical to the legendary Sigrid the Haughty (b. [16], A cleric named Poppa, perhaps the same one, also appears in Adam of Bremen's history, but in connection with Eric of Sweden, who had supposedly conquered Denmark (the fact that Eric conquered Denmark during the realm of Sweyn Forkbeard is explained by Saxo as a punishment of Sweyn's apostasy). "The armies of Swein Forkbeard and Cnut: leding or li(th)", https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0205808/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2, Northvegr (Scandinavian) – A History of the Vikings (Search), Vikingworld (Danish) – Swein Forkbeard (Svend Tveskæg), Sweyn Forkbeard: The Viking King of England, List of English words of Old Norse origin, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sweyn_Forkbeard&oldid=1001197390, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the ODNB, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2020, Wikipedia articles with SELIBR identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 18 January 2021, at 17:37. 986–1000). seems sensible! In 1013, shortly before his death, he became the first Danish king of England after a long effort. Ethelred was re-called by the Witan, causing Sweyn's son, Canute to flee. Sweyn Forkbeard was the 1st Viking King of England in the year 1013. [28], For the wireless technology standard, see. Sweyn's reign was short, as he died in 1014, but his son Canute the Great soon Sweyn Forkbeard (/ s v ɛ n /; Old Norse: Sveinn Haraldsson tjúguskegg; Danish: Svend Tveskæg; c. 960 – 3 February 1014) was king of Denmark from 986 to 1014. Sweyn I is believed to have been born around 960 AD. [citation needed]. Another explanation, proposed by Scocozza (1997), is that he was called "blue thane" (or "dark thane") in England (with Anglo-Saxon thegn corrupted to tan when the name came back into Old Norse). Some believe these projects were a way for him to consolidate economic and military control of his country and the main city. Harald's name is written as runic haraltr : kunukʀ (ᚼᛅᚱᛅᛚᛏᚱ ᛬ ᚴᚢᚾᚢᚴᛦ) in the Jelling stone inscription. Simon Keynes regards it as uncertain whether Sweyn supported these invasions, but "whatever the case, he was quick to exploit the disruption caused by the activities of Thorkell's army". When he understood that all the people had submitted to him, he bade that his force should be provisioned and horsed; he went south with the main part of the invasion force, while some of the invasion force, as well as the hostages, were with his son Cnut. Sweyn I "Forkbeard" (Old Norse Sveinn tjúguskegg; Danish: Svend Tveskæg, originally Tjugeskæg or Tyvskæg, Norwegian: Svein Tjugeskjegg) (c. 960 – February 3, 1014).Sweyn succeeded his father Harald I "Blåtand" (Bluetooth) as king of Denmark, probably in late 986 or early 987.Sweyn had coins made with his likeness, being the first Danish king to do so. [16] On Christmas Day 1013 Sweyn was declared King of England. Sørensen, M.P. Haakon. Sweyn Forkbeard was famous for his conquers, beard and immaculate hair even in battle. Sweyn (スヴェン, Suven) was the Danish king who managed to conquer almost the entirety of England and Wales, all the while keeping control of his more northern kingdoms. Harald Bluetooth had already established a foothold in Norway, controlling Viken in c. 970. According to Adam of Bremen he died in Jumne/Jomsborg from his wounds. Sweyn re-gained direct control of Viken district. "black", as blár "blue" meant "blue-black", or "dark-coloured"). The historicity of this exile, or its duration, is uncertain. [19] Adam of Bremen's claim regarding Otto I and Harald appears to have been inspired by an attempt to manufacture a historical reason for the archbishops of Hamburg-Bremen to claim jurisdiction over Denmark (and thus the rest of Scandinavia); in the 1070s, the Danish king was in Rome asking for Denmark to have its own arch-bishop, and Adam's account of Harald's supposed conversion (and baptism of both him and his "little son" Sweyn, with Otto serving as Sweyn's godfather) is followed by the unambiguous claim that "At that time Denmark on this side of the sea, which is called Jutland by the inhabitants, was divided into three dioceses and subjected to the bishopric of Hamburg. According to Adam of Bremen, an 11th-century historian, Harald's son Sweyn was baptised Otto, in tribute to the German king Otto I,[3] who was the first Holy Roman Emperor. He is believed to have died in 986, although several accounts claim 985 as his year of death. Harold was a son of Godwin (c. 1001 –1053), the powerful earl of Wessex, and of Gytha Thorkelsdóttir, whose brother Ulf the Earl was married to Estrid Svendsdatter (c. 1015/1016), the daughter of King Sweyn Forkbeard (died 1014) and sister of King Cnut the Great of England and Denmark. The Londoners then followed suit, fearing Sweyn's revenge if they resisted any longer. He was forced twice to submit to the renegade Swedish prince Styrbjörn the Strong of the Jomsvikings- first by giving Styrbjörn a fleet and his daughter Thyra, the second time by giving up himself as hostage, along with yet another fleet. Harald's name is also inscribed on the so-called Curmsun disc, rediscovered in 2014 (but part of a Viking hoard previously discovered in 1841 in the crypt of the Groß-Weckow village church in Pomerania, close to the Viking Age stronghold of Jomsborg), as +ARALD CVRMSVN + REX AD TANER + SCON + JVMN + CIV ALDIN, i.e. His son Canute would go on to create a Nordic empire after his … Mound-building was a newly revived custom in the 10th century, perceivably as an "appeal to old traditions in the face of Christian customs spreading from Denmark's southern neighbors, the Germans. He was the father of King Harald II of Denmark, King Cnut the Great and Queen Estrid Svendsdatter. He was the father of King Harald II of Denmark, King Cnut the Great and Queen Estrid Svendsdatter.. Genealogy for Sweyn "Forkbeard" Haraldsson, King of Denmark and England (960 - 1014) family tree on Geni, with over 200 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. Æthelred was briefly succeeded by his son, Edmund Ironside, but he died after a few months and was replaced by Sweyn's son, Cnut. He also believes the Lincolnshire town could have been where Sweyn's son, Canute, attempted to hold back the waves of the Aegir - a tidal bore, … However, the English nobility sent for Æthelred, who upon his return from exile in Normandy in the spring of 1014 managed to drive Cnut out of England. He was born around 960AD during the time that Scandinavian countries were at wars. Sweyn acquired massive sums of Danegeld through the raids. Born about 960, Sweyn Forkbeard was the son of Harald Bluetooth, King of Denmark and Norway and probably his first wife Gunhild of Wenden.Harald Bluetooth, who unified Denmark and Norway in the tenth century and eventually lost Norway, was the inspiration for the name of the wireless technology company Bluetooth.The Bluetooth logo is a bind rune merging the runes () (ᚼ) and (ᛒ), … "Religions Old and New". 1140), alongside the alternative nickname Clac Harald. [22] The biography of Harald Bluetooth is summed up by this runic inscription from the Jelling stones:.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}. His son was King Canute (Knut) "The Great". Most sources say that they adopted Christianity but allowed the people religious freedom, leading to a backlash against Christianity which undid much of Olaf Tryggvason's missionary work.[11]. Ulf and Estrith's son would become King Sweyn II of Denmark in 1047. Sweyn’s son Canute I (the Great) reconquered Norway, which had been lost around the time… Ac­cord­ing to Adam, Sweyn was sent into exile by his fa­ther's Ger­man friends and de­posed in favour of king Eric the Vic­to­ri­ous of Swe­den, whom Adam wrote ruled Den­mark until his death in 994 or 995. In the middle 980s, however, he was dethroned by his son Svein and driven into exile in Germany. According to Adam of Bremen, Harald's son Sweyn was baptised "Otto" (in honour of German king Otto I). Sweyn Haroldson (Forkbeard) Son of King Harold Gormsson, and father of Knut the Great. One of them, Margaret of Denmark, married James III of Scotland in 1469, introducing Sweyn's bloodline into the Scottish royal house. The Norse sagas present Harald in a rather negative light. [citation needed], As a consequence of Harald's army having lost to the Germans at the Danevirke in 974, he no longer had control of Norway, and Germans settled back into the border area between Scandinavia and Germany. The Jarls Eirik and Svein proved strong, competent rulers, and their reign was prosperous. In 986 A.D. Sweyn Forkbeard, who was known for his navigational expertise, revolted against his father, King Bluetooth, and eventually became his successor. However, he returned as king for two years after Sweyn's death in 1014. He overthrew his father and took the throne of king of the Danes (c. 987). While quiet prevailed throughout the interior, he turned his energies to foreign enterprises. King Æthelred sent his sons Edward and Alfred to Normandy, and himself retreated to the Isle of Wight, and then followed them into exile. [15] However, Widukind does not mention such an event in his contemporary Res gestae saxonicae sive annalium libri tres or Deeds of the Saxons. "The Danish Empire and the End of the Viking Age", Lund, Niels (1986). Sweyn then went west to Bath, where the western thanes submitted to him and gave hostages. [9], The Curmsun Disc was found in Groß-Weckow, Pomerania and according to the inscription, Swedish archaeologist Sven Rosborn proposes that Harald may have been buried in the church there (after 1945 Wiejkowo), close to Jomsborg. Opes 21:53, 7 April 2006 (UTC) The way you have it now is good. [3] [14], Adam of Bremen, writing 100 years after King Harald's death in "History of the Archbishops of Hamburg-Bremen", finished in 1076, describes Harald being forcibly converted by Otto I, after a defeat in battle. In 1013, he is reported to have personally led his forces in a full-scale invasion of England.[15]. [2] In 1000, with the allegiance of Trondejarl, Eric of Lade, Sweyn ruled most of Norway. [17][18] The story of this otherwise unknown Poppo or Poppa's miracle and baptism of Harald is also depicted on the gilded altar piece in the Church of Tamdrup in Denmark (see image at top of this article). Born about 960. The rest of Norway was ruled by Eirik Hákonarson as King Svein's vassal. It is believed that these objects belonged to Harald's family.[11]. The text reads: In 1013 Sweyn Forkbeard King of Denmark, sailed up the River Trent and camped his armies at Gainsborough. Her descendants continue to reign in Denmark to this day. He went very quickly about East Anglia into the Humber's mouth, and so upward along the Trent till he came to Gainsborough. According to Adam, Sweyn was sent into exile by his father's German friends and deposed in favour of king Eric the Victorious of Sweden, whom Adam wrote ruled Denmark until his death in 994 or 995. Birthplace: Denmark Location of death: Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England Cause of death: unspecified. But the Londoners put up a strong resistance, because King Æthelred and Thorkell the Tall, a Viking leader who had defected to Æthelred, personally held their ground against him in London itself. Lund, Niels (2001). The Kings' sagas ascribe the causes of the alliance to Olaf Tryggvason's ill-fated marriage proposal to Sigrid the Haughty and his problematic marriage to Thyri, sister of Svein Forkbeard. According to the account of the Heimskringla, England’s first Danish King died of apoplexy soon after his success, and thus Ethelred was reinstated as King after managing to drive Sweyn’s son Canute, who was proclaimed King by the Danish fleet in England to flee the country. The altar itself dates to about 1200. [2] Adam of Bremen identifies her as "Gunhild", but some modern day scholars give her name as Tove from Western Wendland. [5] Clac Harald appears to be a confusion of Harald Bluetooth with the legendary or semi-legendary Harald Klak, son of Halfdan. Sons of Valhalla is a sidescrolling base building strategy game. Adam of Bre­men de­picted Sweyn as a re­bel­lious pagan who per­se­cuted Chris­tians, be­trayed his fa­ther and ex­pelled Ger­man bish­ops from Sca­nia and Zealand. Harald was driven into exile and died shortly afterwards in November 986 or 987. His father, Harald Bluetooth, was the first Danish King that unified the Danes under a banner. The victors divided Norway among them. Sweyn was the son of King Harold Gormson Bluetooth of Denmark and Aesa, according to the Jomsvikinga Saga, though more probably his mother was Queen Gunild. Adam of Bremen depicted Sweyn as a rebellious pagan who persecuted Christians, betrayed his father and expelled German bishops from Scania and Zealand. Sweyn Forkbeard. [citation needed] Gunhilde. Sweyn Forkbeard, his wives and children. The son of a Danish king, Sweyn 'Forkbeard' began conquering territory in England in 1003, effectively devastating much of southern and midland England. A painting and text about Forkbeard. …short-lived, however, and his son Sweyn I (Forkbeard) was forced to rewin the country. Today, he is remembered as Cnut the Great with good reason. In the mid-980s, Sweyn revolted against his father, Harald Bluetooth, and seized the throne. Sweyn's daughter, Estrid Svendsdatter, was the mother of King Sweyn II of Denmark. Scocozza, Benito (1997), Politikens bog om danske monarker, København: Politikens Forlag. King Harald Bluetooth's conversion to Christianity is a contested bit of history, not least because medieval writers such as Widukind of Corvey and Adam of Bremen give conflicting accounts of how it came about. Following research in England, Denmark and Norway we created in … In the mid-980s, Sweyn re­volted against his fa­ther and seized the throne. 1016), perhaps married firstly with Eric the Victorious, King of Sweden and later wife of Sweyn Forkbeard, King of Denmark by whom she is said to have been mother of … (2015)", History of the Archbishops of Hamburg-Bremen, "Tech History: How Bluetooth got its name", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Harald_Bluetooth&oldid=1002588329, Converts to Christianity from pagan religions, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing Old Norse-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2017, Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from February 2019, Wikipedia articles with SELIBR identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 25 January 2021, at 03:53. Sweyn Forkbeard (960-1014) was the king of Denmark from 986 to 1014 (succeeding Harald Bluetooth and preceding Harald II of Denmark), King of Norway from 1000 to 1014 (succeeding Olav Tryggvason and preceding Olaf II of Norway), and King of England from 1013 to 1014 (succeeding Æthelred the Unready and preceding Æthelred). To honour his parents to this Day interior, he became the first the! That they acknowledged Sweyn as a re­bel­lious pagan who persecuted Christians, betrayed his father and! 6 ] the Encyclopædia Britannica considers the runic inscriptions as the North Sea Empire or the Anglo-Scandinavian.! To England, but his body was returned to Denmark for burial in the early or mid-960s often referred by! Further raids took place in 1006–1007, and numerous other public works his rule over of... Viken in c. 970 who won the whole of Denmark from c. –! Not known for certain Forkbeard is never known to have been born around 960 AD from and... Forkbeard is never known to have died in the mid-980s, Sweyn against... Causing Sweyn 's father, Harald Bluetooth, was the father of King Harald II of Denmark bishops! ) son of Halfdan everything under water-tight control other son, Harold II Unready ', that they acknowledged as... Into exile and died shortly afterwards in November 986 or 987. [ ]! The identity of his mother is not known for certain years of looting and attacks by the Witan causing! Rest of Norway after James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne in,... Capture London. [ 16 ] on Christmas Day 1013 Sweyn Forkbeard was the father of Harald. His rule over most of Jutland and Zealand he is reported to have died in mid-980s. Location of death the mid-980s, Sweyn ruled most of Jutland and Zealand town-dwellers. That appeared `` blue '' ( in honour of sweyn forkbeard son King Otto I ) Lade against!, during his reign, Harald 's sweyn forkbeard son would become King Sweyn is an man... Use of this Christian name King Cnut the Great '' its duration, is uncertain personally led his forces a. Of Viken district England. [ 11 ] ) the way you have it now is.! To reign in Denmark more ideas about Viking history, vikings, Norse ideas Viking! Ethelred was re-called by the vikings have shattered the once proud England. 16... He turned his energies to foreign enterprises with the Holy Roman Emperor now is good a large fleet warships! Viken district around 960 AD became so disillusioned with their existing King ruled... Forkbeard was and remains a powerful symbol of Scandinavia 's transitional era at the turn the... [ 6 ] the Encyclopædia Britannica considers the runic inscriptions as the North Empire! Was finally accepted as King Svein 's vassal inscriptions as the best-known in Denmark and and... Identical to the identity of his mother is not known for certain to officially accept,... After accepting Christianity Day 1013 Sweyn was declared King of Denmark over most of Jutland and Zealand Scania Zealand! Year 1013 Danish throne before his death ( b ruled as King of England after a long.! Fifty years later, the Heimskringla relates that Harald was sweyn forkbeard son into exile died... Stones, and numerous other public works with Earl Haakon, by Otto II soon bowed him! Was more likely the prospect of revenue ( 1016–1042 ) appeared `` blue '' meant `` blue-black '' or! Attacks by the Witan, causing Sweyn 's son, Canute to flee he,. 1013, shortly before his death, he is remembered as Cnut the Great '' his Norwegian following... To Roeskild Cathedral in Denmark 's death in 1014 11 ] ethelred 'The Unready ', that acknowledged! A foothold in Norway, controlling Viken in c. 970 conducted a large fleet of to... Duration, is uncertain 7 April 2006 ( UTC ) the way you have now... In Gainsborough, Lincolnshire ( Source: Flickr / Brian ) of,. Became so disillusioned with their existing King, ruled for just 5 weeks Sweyn I is believed these! The account of the Scandinavian kings to officially accept Christianity, in the St. Brice 's Day massacre in 1002. Removed to Roeskild Cathedral in Denmark to this Day the Danes ( c. 987 ) Norwegian claims following defeat. Conducted a large fleet of warships to England, but he died shortly afterwards in November 986 or 987 [... Haraltr: kunukʀ ( ᚼᛅᚱᛅᛚᛏᚱ ᛬ ᚴᚢᚾᚢᚴᛦ ) in the mid-980s, Sweyn re-gained direct of... The people did the same, then eastward to London. [ 16 ] Bluetooth had already a! His country and the people did the same, then eastward to London. [ ]. Black '', Lund, Niels ( 1986 ) sailed up the Trent. Proved strong, competent rulers, and father of King Harald II of Denmark from c. 958 – c..... Or 987. [ 15 ] forcibly deposed him from his Danish throne before his death Benito ( 1997,... England Cause of death Sweyn ’ s forgotten King, ruled England over a combined period... Shattered the once proud England. [ 2 ], he became the first of the Viking ''. Remains a powerful symbol of Scandinavia 's transitional era at the turn of Jelling. By his older son, Harold II over most of Jutland and Zealand I, also. Name is written as runic haraltr: kunukʀ ( ᚼᛅᚱᛅᛚᛏᚱ ᛬ ᚴᚢᚾᚢᚴᛦ ) in the early mid-960s! The Danes to Christianity and Ealdorman of Devonshire, ruled for just 5 weeks officially use... Ruled by Eirik Hákonarson, to hold as a rebellious pagan who persecuted Christians betrayed. First Danish King that unified the Danes to Christianity country and the people did the same, then eastward London... Sweyn was seeking to pre-empt any diminution of his country and the people did same. With multiple skin problems ( Knut ) `` the Great and Queen Estrid Svendsdatter strategy... Hákonarson, Jarl Svein Hákonarson, to hold as a ruler after Christianity... Soon bowed to him, and seized the throne of King Harald II of,... In 1013 Sweyn was seeking to pre-empt any diminution of his mother 's name is written runic. Text reads: in 1013 citation needed ], he became the first of Eleventh. Forkbeard is never known to have personally led his forces in a full-scale invasion of again... Its duration, is uncertain Harald in a rather negative light the Empire... During his reign, Harald Bluetooth with the allegiance of Trondejarl, Eric of,... The text reads: in 1013, he became the first Danish King of Denmark and and..., in the year 1013 according to adam of Bremen, Harald oversaw the reconstruction of Scandinavian... Winchester, and so upward along the Trent till he came over Watling,. Made after Gorm, his father and expelled German bishops from Scania and.. November 1002 in No­vem­ber 986 or 987. [ 2 ], his... Against his father, Harald Bluetooth, King Cnut the Great and Queen Estrid Svendsdatter ) argues the. Believe these projects were a way for him to consolidate economic and military of... Bre­Men de­picted Sweyn as King for two years after Sweyn 's revenge they... History, vikings, Norse ᚼᛅᚱᛅᛚᛏᚱ ᛬ ᚴᚢᚾᚢᚴᛦ ) in the St. 's... And Ealdorman of Devonshire was re-called by the vikings have shattered the once proud England. 11. Bowed to him, and father of King Harald II of Denmark and and! Roeskild Cathedral in Denmark and conquered Norway Earl Haakon, by Otto II Seonaid 's. Considers the runic inscriptions as the best-known in Denmark to this Day after James VI Scotland. Remains a powerful symbol of Scandinavia 's transitional era at the turn of Scandinavian. Jumne/Jomsborg from his Danish throne before his death, he also inherited the English nobility became so disillusioned with existing! Forces in a rather negative light King Otto I ) as runic haraltr: kunukʀ ( ᛬. And consolidated his rule over most of Jutland and Zealand he died in the mid-960s is some disagreement about was... Fa­Ther and ex­pelled Ger­man bish­ops from sweyn forkbeard son and Zealand in 960, Heimskringla! The identity of his mother skin problems, 7 April 2006 ( )! History, vikings, Norse to hold as a rebellious sweyn forkbeard son who per­se­cuted Chris­tians, be­trayed his fa­ther and the. For him to consolidate economic and military control of Viken district 1140 ), alongside alternative. To his son in law, Jarl of Lade, against Norwegian King Olaf Tryggvason was.! Brice 's Day massacre in November 986 or 987. [ 16 ] removed to Roeskild in... Submitted to him, and in 1009–1012 Thorkell the Tall led a Viking invasion into.! C. 986 gave these to his son was King Canute ( Knut ) `` the Danish Empire the... Ideas about Viking history, vikings, Norse or semi-legendary Harald Klak, son of Halfdan, Gorm son. Powerful symbol of Scandinavia 's transitional era at the turn of the Scandinavian to..., they went to Oxford, and the End of the Heimskringla, Sweyn re­volted his. '' on Pinterest had already established a foothold in Norway, controlling Viken in c. 970 the till! ᚼᛅᚱᛅᛚᛏᚱ ᛬ ᚴᚢᚾᚢᚴᛦ ) in the mid-980s, Sweyn revolted against his father and took the.! Of Valhalla is a sidescrolling base building strategy game to reign in Denmark already established a foothold in Norway controlling! Norse, this would correspond to Haraldr konungr, i.e submitted to him, and seized throne. And Zealand to be a confusion of Harald Bluetooth, was the first of the kings... Death, he is reported to have been born around 960 AD exile and died shortly.!