Sweyn Forkbeard

Sweyn Forkbeard

Rank:	16th
Ruled England:	December 25, 1013-February 2, 1014
Ruled Denmark:	985-February 2, 1014
Predecessor:	Ethelred II, Harald Bluetooth, and Harald II
Date of Birth:	960
Place of Birth:	Denmark
Wives:	Gunhilda and Sigrid the Haughty
Buried:	Roeskild Cathedral
Date of Death:	February 2, 1014
Parents:	Harald Bluetooth and Gunhild

Sweyn I "Forkbeard" (sometimes Svein Haraldsson; in Danish, Svend Tveskæg) (circa 965 - February 3, 1014) succeeded his father Harold I as king of Denmark in 986. After recovering his throne (991) following a brief Swedish invasion, Sweyn established Danish control over a part of Norway (1000).

After participating in a Norwegian-led raid against England in 994-995, Sweyn embarked on a series of full-scale invasions (1003-1005, 1006-1007, 1009-1012 and 1013) following the St. Brice's Day massacre of England's Danish inhabitants (November 1002). By December 1013 he was England's effective ruler following the flight to Normandy of king Ethelred the Unready.

Svein died on at Gainsborough in Lincolnshire, having ruled England unopposed for only five weeks, and his body was returned to Denmark. He was succeeded as King of Denmark by his elder son, Harold II, and as King of England by his younger son Canute the Great. His son, Canute the Great, ruled in Denmark and England and some part of northern Germany.