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. He overthrew his father and took the throne of king of the Danes (c. 987). In 994 Sweyn conducted a large fleet of warships to England, but failed to capture London. In his absence, Denmark was temporarily occupied by the Swedish king, Erik Segersäll, on whose death (c. 994) Sweyn regained his throne. Following a massacre of Danes in England in 1002, Sweyn conducted a further series of raids and forced King Æthelred Unræd to flee the country in the second half of 1013. He was acknowledged as 'full king' throughout the country, but died suddenly on 3 Feb 1014. Biography sources: [1][2][3] |
