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Born

Born At

Died

3 Feb 1014

Buried At

Roskilde Cathedral, Denmark

Royal House

Denmark

Titles Include: King of Denmark

Swein Fork-Beard was the King of Denmark and King of England for a short period of time. Swein was also the father of Canute who also became King of England. In 988 Swein overthrew this father Harold Blue-Tooth Gormsson the King of Denmark. Swein led a large number of raids along the east and south coasts of England. England was a rich country and the Danes were able to attack villages and religious communities without too much resistance. Much of the time the English paid the Danes money to leave. This money is known as Danegeld. In 994, with a huge fleet of 94 ships, Swein sailed into the Thames estuary along with another Dane called Olaf Trygvasson by his side to plunder England. London put up a good defence and drove the Vikings back so Fork-Beard moved his forces south to attack the south-east coast and to plunder whatever he could find. Swein's attacks on England continued for ten years until 1013 when he invaded England with his son Canute and took control of the country. Aethelred along with his wife and sons were forced to flee to Normandy for their own safety. Swein was King of England for only a few months before he died in February of 1014. After Swein's death Canute left England and Aethelred returned from Normandy to reclaim the English throne.

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Episode: Viking Invasions

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Danegeld

Preceded by
AETHELRED (II The Unready, King of the English 978-1013, 1014-1016)

Succeeded by
AETHELRED (II The Unready, King of the English 978-1013, 1014-1016)

Family Tree Details

Swein (Fork-Beard) ( - d.1014)
         +Gunnhilda
                  =CANUTE (King of England 1016-1035) (b.995 - d.1035)
                           +Aelfgifu (of Northampton)
                           |        =Swein
                           |        =HAROLD (Harefoot, King of England 1037-1040) (b.1015 - d.1040)
                           +Emma (of Normandy, Wife of Aethelred) (b.982 - d.1052)
                                    =HARTHACNUT (King of England 1040-1042) (b.1018 - d.1042)
                                    =Gunhildr

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Mini Timeline (Ages are approximate)

988		Swein becomes King of Denmark
		Swein Fork-Beard overthrew this father King Harold Blue-Tooth Gormsson, King of Denmark.
994		Swein Fork-Beard invades Britain
		Swein Fork-Beard had overthrone this father King Harold Blue-Tooth Gormsson, King of Denmark in 988. With a huge fleet of 94 ships he arrived in the Thames estuary with Olaf Trygvasson by his side. London put up a good defence and drove the Vikings back so Fork-Beard moved his forces again to attack the south-east coast to plunder what he could find.¹
1003		Wilton and its abbey attacked
		Swein attacked the town of Wilton and possibly its abbey.²
1004		Swein attacks Norfolk
		A Viking raiding fleet landed in Norfolk. The Ealdorman in the area was Ulfcetel who ordered some men to reach and burn the Viking ships to strand Swein. The plan failed and Ulfcetel's small army was defeated by the Vikings.
1006		Destruction of Walingford
		The Danes, led by Swein, attacked and destroyed the river crossing at Wallingford.³
1009		Danes repeatedly attack England
		Swein Fork-Beard and Olaf Trygvasson repeatedly attacked England over several years destroying the land.
1012		Danegeld paid
		The Danes were paid a large sum of money, known as the Danegeld, to leave England.
1013		Swein Fork-Beard and Canute attack England
		Swein Fork-Beard and his son Canute sailed from Denmark to attack England. Again London defended itself and the Vikings moved elsewhere, taking Wessex, Mercia and Northumbria.
	Nov	London surrenders to Swein
		London was the last part of the country to accept Swein as the new king of England. Swein and his Viking army had already taken control of the Danelaw and the rest of the country accepted him as their new ruler. Swein's rule of the country would only last a few months.
1014		Aethelred goes into exile
		Aethelred had to abandon his country to Swein and went to Normandy to join his wife Emma and his sons.
	Feb 3	Swein dies
		Swein Fork-Beard died. Canute left England not sure of his ability to hold the country but returned a year later. Aethelred sent ambassadors to England, including his own son Edward (later the Confessor) to negotiate a possible return.⁴