Sweyn I Forkbeard Biography

Slays his father in battle & wins the throne

Succeeds as King of Denmark

Begins an invasion of England

Olaf Tryggvason and Sweyn Forkbeard sail up the Thames with a large fleet and attack London before Ethelred buys peace.

Sweyn I Forkbeard of Denmark defeats Olaf Tryggvason to become ruler of Norway. Outside Helsingborg & a final ambush at Svolder

Sweyn defeats Olaf Tryggvason to become the de facto ruler of Norway

Invades England after a massacre of Danish settlers

Sweyns sister is killed during the Danish massacre in England. A massacre of Danish settlers in England on St Brices day

Danish attacks follow the massacre of Danes ordered by Ethelred, worsening the war in southern England.

Sweyn Forkbeard returns to England after the St Brice's Day massacre and renews Danish attacks.

Sweyn's army ravages parts of southern England during the renewed campaign.

Exeter is attacked and destroyed during Sweyn Forkbeard's campaign.

Sweyn's forces campaign in East Anglia after the destruction of Exeter.

Sweyn Forkbeard's army burns Norwich during the campaign in East Anglia.

Sweyn Forkbeard's army attacks and burns Thetford after ravaging Norwich.

Sweyn is linked in later tradition with conflict in Scotland, although the record is less secure than his English campaigns.

Danish forces capture Archbishop Alphege of Canterbury and hold him for ransom.

The English pay GBP 48000 in Danegeld while Archbishop Alphege is killed by Danish captors.

Sweyn Forkbeard is accepted as king by most of England after Ethelred's authority collapses.

Sweyn sails into the Humber and moves inland as northern resistance begins to collapse.

Sweyn advances up the River Trent toward Gainsborough during the northern phase of his invasion.

Sweyn establishes himself at Gainsborough and receives submissions from northern and midland communities.

Sweyn moves quickly through East Anglia as his army advances toward the Humber.

Sweyn Forkbeard invades England after years of renewed Danish war against Ethelred II.

Sweyn Forkbeard arrives at Sandwich with his fleet before beginning his full-scale invasion of England.

Sweyn Forkbeard besieges London before the city finally submits.

The people of Lindsey submit to Sweyn and provide support during his conquest of England.

Uhtred and the people of Northumbria submit to Sweyn as his campaign gathers momentum.

Sweyn crosses Watling Street and Oxford submits to him, giving hostages to secure peace.

The Five Boroughs submit to Sweyn and strengthen his control across Danish-influenced England.

Winchester submits to Sweyn after Oxford, showing the collapse of Ethelred's authority in southern England.

Sweyn Forkbeard is recognised as king in England shortly before his death.

London submits to Sweyn Forkbeard after most of England has accepted him as king.

London submits to Sweyn Forkbeard near the end of his conquest of England.

Death of Death-Sweyn I Forkbeard

The English invite Ethelred to return from France after the death of Sweyn I

The Danish army choose Canute as their leader after the death of Sweyn I