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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 estutary 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. Athelred 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 Athelred returned from Normandy to reclaim the English throne.

Event Map 

(Author's Note: This map is experimental and subject to change)



Previous monarch: Aethelred 'the Unready'Next monarch: Aethelred 'the Unready'

Selection of references used:

  1. Magnus Magnusson,Vikings!,
  2. John Timbs & Alexander Gunn,Abbeys, Castles and Ancient Halls of England & Wales (North),1872
  3. Timbs & Gunn,Abbeys, Castles & Ancient Halls of England & Wales,
  4. Frank Barlow,Edward the Confessor,
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See Also

  Episode: Viking Invasions
  CANUTE (King of England 1016-1035)
  Trygvasson, Olaf
  Danegeld
Time Linked People
  EDMUND (II Ironside, King of the English 1016) b. 981 d. 1016
  Fulk (Nerra, the Black, count of Anjou) d. 1040
  CANUTE (King of England 1016-1035) b. 995 d. 1035
  Streona, Eadric d. 1017


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Mini Timeline

994Swein Fork-Beard becomes King of Denmark
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 estutary 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
1003Wilton and its abbey attacked
Swein attacked the town of Wilton and possibly its abbey.2
1004Swein 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.
1006Destruction of Walingford
The Danes, led by Swein, attacked and destroyed the river crossing at Wallingford.3
1009Danes repeatedly attack England
Swein Fork-Beard and Olaf Trygvasson repeatedly attacked England over several years destroying the land.
1012Danegeld paid
The Danes were paid a large sum of money, known as the Danegeld, to leave England.
1013Swein 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.
NovLondon 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.
1014Athelred goes into exile
Athelred had to abandon his country to Swein and went to Normandy to join his wife Emma and his sons.
Feb 3Swein dies
Swein Fork-Beard died. Canute left England not sure of his ability to hold the country but returned a year later. Athelred sent ambassadors to England, including his own son Edward (later the Confessor) to negotiate a possible return.4

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