Succession
Slays his father in battle & wins the throne
Role range: 0986-1014
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Sweyn I Forkbeard Biography and Timeline
Follow Sweyn I Forkbeard through 37 dated historical records for Denmark.
Sweyn I Forkbeard, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
37Distinct records
1 of 1Page
985–1014Years on this page
985
986
Succession
Succeeds as King of Denmark
Role range: 0986-1014
987
Invasion of England
Begins an invasion of England
Role range: 0986-1014
994
Siege of London
Olaf Tryggvason and Sweyn Forkbeard sail up the Thames with a large fleet and attack London before Ethelred buys peace.
Role range: 0986-1014
1000
Battle of Svolder
Sweyn I Forkbeard of Denmark defeats Olaf Tryggvason to become ruler of Norway. Outside Helsingborg & a final ambush at Svolder
Role range: 0986-1014
Rule of Norway
Sweyn defeats Olaf Tryggvason to become the de facto ruler of Norway
Role range: 0986-1014
1002
Massacre
Sweyns sister is killed during the Danish massacre in England. A massacre of Danish settlers in England on St Brices day
Role range: 0986-1014
Invasion of England
Invades England after a massacre of Danish settlers
Role range: 0986-1014
1003
Attack on Oxford
Danish attacks follow the massacre of Danes ordered by Ethelred, worsening the war in southern England.
Role range: 0986-1014
Invasion of England
Sweyn Forkbeard returns to England after the St Brice's Day massacre and renews Danish attacks.
Role range: 0986-1014
Raid on England
Sweyn's army ravages parts of southern England during the renewed campaign.
Role range: 0986-1014
Siege of Exeter
Exeter is attacked and destroyed during Sweyn Forkbeard's campaign.
Role range: 0986-1014
1004
Raid on East Anglia
Sweyn's forces campaign in East Anglia after the destruction of Exeter.
Role range: 0986-1014
Siege of Norwich
Sweyn Forkbeard's army burns Norwich during the campaign in East Anglia.
Role range: 0986-1014
Siege of Thetford
Sweyn Forkbeard's army attacks and burns Thetford after ravaging Norwich.
Role range: 0986-1014
1009
Battle of Nairn
Sweyn is linked in later tradition with conflict in Scotland, although the record is less secure than his English campaigns.
Role range: 0986-1014
1011
Capture of Alphege
Danish forces capture Archbishop Alphege of Canterbury and hold him for ransom.
Role range: 0986-1014
1012
Danegeld
The English pay GBP 48000 in Danegeld while Archbishop Alphege is killed by Danish captors.
Role range: 0986-1014
1013
Submission of London
London submits to Sweyn Forkbeard after most of England has accepted him as king.
Role range: 0986-1014
Submission of London
London submits to Sweyn Forkbeard near the end of his conquest of England.
Role range: 0986-1014
Acceptance as King
Sweyn Forkbeard is accepted as king by most of England after Ethelred's authority collapses.
Role range: 0986-1014
Advance to the Humber
Sweyn sails into the Humber and moves inland as northern resistance begins to collapse.
Role range: 0986-1014
Advance up the Trent
Sweyn advances up the River Trent toward Gainsborough during the northern phase of his invasion.
Role range: 0986-1014
Base at Gainsborough
Sweyn establishes himself at Gainsborough and receives submissions from northern and midland communities.
Role range: 0986-1014
Invasion of East Anglia
Sweyn moves quickly through East Anglia as his army advances toward the Humber.
Role range: 0986-1014
Invasion of England
Sweyn Forkbeard invades England after years of renewed Danish war against Ethelred II.
Role range: 0986-1014
Landing
Sweyn Forkbeard arrives at Sandwich with his fleet before beginning his full-scale invasion of England.
Role range: 0986-1014
Siege of London
Sweyn Forkbeard besieges London before the city finally submits.
Role range: 0986-1014
Submission of Lindsey
The people of Lindsey submit to Sweyn and provide support during his conquest of England.
Role range: 0986-1014
Submission of Northumbria
Uhtred and the people of Northumbria submit to Sweyn as his campaign gathers momentum.
Role range: 0986-1014
Submission of Oxford
Sweyn crosses Watling Street and Oxford submits to him, giving hostages to secure peace.
Role range: 0986-1014
Submission of Winchester
Winchester submits to Sweyn after Oxford, showing the collapse of Ethelred's authority in southern England.
Role range: 0986-1014
Submission of the Five Boroughs
The Five Boroughs submit to Sweyn and strengthen his control across Danish-influenced England.
Role range: 0986-1014
Succession
Sweyn Forkbeard is recognised as king in England shortly before his death.
Role range: 0986-1014
1014
Death of Sweyn I Forkbeard
Death of Death-Sweyn I Forkbeard
Role range: 0986-1014
Exile of Sweyn I Forkbeard
The English invite Ethelred to return from France after the death of Sweyn I
Role range: 0986-1014
Succession
The Danish army choose Canute as their leader after the death of Sweyn I
Role range: 0986-1014
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.