Sweyn, "Forkbeard" 1013-1014

King of Denmark from 986, King of Norway from 995 and King of England (in all but name) in the latter months of 1013.

Sweyn was married twice, his first wife, Gunhilda, bore him five children: Gytha, Harald, Cnut, Thyra and Estrith. His second marriage, to Sigfrid, produced no children.

Sweyn instigated Danish raids on England in the year 1009. This led to Ethelred II offering, in 1012, what would in modern times be known as protection money. This payment was called Danegeld.

Upon receipt of this Danegeld Sweyn made plans for an all out invasion of England. In 1013, with Sweyn in personal command, his naval forces invaded England.

His forces soon overwhelmed the English, whose King had fled to Normandy. Sweyn reigned but briefly though as he died in 1014 at Gainsborough in Lincolnshire as a result of falling from his mount. It is romantically proposed that he fell as a result of an hallucination that he was in single combat with his most hated of enemies, Edward.