Sweyn's Reign, and Religion

The conflict between Sweyn II of Denmark and Harald Hardrada was called off in 1064, with Sweyn agreeing to recognize Harald as King of Norway. With no more conflict against Denmark, Harald sailed to England to conquer that land, where he died in 1066 at the Battle of Stamford Bridge.

The war with Norway had been devastating economically for Denmark, and recovery was slow. Sweyn's reputation for kindness and generosity went a long way toward keeping the loyalty of his people during difficult times, however. He also created close ties to the Church, reaching out to popes for support and friendship. He tried to get his great-grandfather, the first Christian King of Denmark Harold Bluetooth, canonized as a saint.

He divided Denmark into eight dioceses with papal support, and brought Anglo-Dane clerics from England to prevent the expansion of German influence on Danish churches. Bishop Adalbert of Hamburg (with jurisdiction over Denmark's Christian population) was trying to extend more influence of the German-based Holy Roman Empire to the Scandinavian countries. Sweyn requested of Pope Leo IX to have an archbishop for Denmark to stave off Adalbert. The request was not fulfilled before Leo died in 1054.

Churches were built throughout Denmark with the king's support. The German chronicler Adam of Bremen visited Denmark and wrote about how impressed he was with Sweyn's wisdom and how astounded he was at the hundreds of churches he saw. Originally wooden, hundreds of churches were re-built with stone in the 12th century.

Adam of Bremen interviewed Sweyn, who told him much about his family and life. Much of what we know about Denmark in the 9th and 10th centuries comes from Adam's work, Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum ("Deeds of Bishops of the Hamburg Church").

Sweyn tried his own hand at taking over England, the land of his birth, after William of Normandy had conquered it. He allied with Edgar Ætheling to challenge William, but after managing only to conquer York, William bribed him to desert Edgar.

Sweyn had two wives, and numerous mistresses. He fathered at least 20 children, many of whom went on to make names for themselves. Perhaps tomorrow we'll visit a selection of his children and their accomplishments.

Sweyn II of Denmark

Also known as Sweyn Estridsson or Estridsen, because his mother was Estrid, daughter of Sweyn Forkbeard, Sweyn II was King of Denmark from 1047 to 1078. He was also sometimes known as Sweyn Ulfsson because his father was Ulf Thorgilsson.

Born c.1019, he was raised in England where his parents lived under the reign of his uncle, King Cnut. He was raised as a warrior and eventual king, but he also knew how to read and write. Pope Gregory VII, who became a personal friend of Sweyn, described him as an exceptionally educated monarch.

What we know of him (and much of this era in Denmark) we learned from Adam of Bremen and his chronicle Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum ("Deeds of Bishops of the Hamburg Church"). As king of Denmark, Sweyn invited scholars from all over to make sure Danes were educated in Latin so they could communicate with the rest of the world. We also know that he was of above average height, based on examination of his skeleton (entombed in Roskilde Cathedral).

King of Denmark Harthacnut, Sweyn's cousin, made him a jarl, and for Harthacnut he started an unsuccessful war against king of Norway Magnus I. Magnus claimed the throne of Denmark at Harthacnut's death in 1042, and Sweyn fought on Magnus' behalf, where he had some success and was proclaimed king by the Danish nobles. He could not formally take the reign from Magnus, however, and fled to Sweden for a time.

Harald Hardrada, Magnus' uncle, had been exiled. He returned and joined Sweyn to challenge Magnus. Magnus chose to share Norway with Harald. Magnus died in 1047, declaring that Harald would rule Norway and Sweyn II could be king in Denmark.

Harald, accustomed to sharing Denmark with Magnus, did not want to give it up to Sweyn. The two sides fought for years. In one notable skirmish, Harald attacked and plundered the coast of Jutland, taking goods and prisoners. Sweyn's ships approached, whereupon Harald had his men throw the plunder overboard to delay his pursuers.

Sweyn ordered his people to ignore the floating wares and keep sailing after Harald's ship. Then Harald had the captives thrown overboard. Sweyn ordered the captives to be rescued, knowing that Harald would escape.

At another encounter at sea, Sweyn almost lost his life. I'll tell you that story tomorrow.

Sweyn Forkbeard

European history classrooms in America often talk about the Danish King Cnut (Canute) and his conquest of England. The modern world also hears about Cnut's grandfather, Harald Bluetooth, from whom the wireless protocol Bluetooth™ gets its name.

Whom we don't hear enough about is the generation sandwiched between these two familiar names, Harald's son and Cnut's father, Sweyn Forkbeard, who managed to be King of Denmark, King of Norway, and King of England (although in England only for a little over a month). He also fathered two kings and a queen.

His birthdate is unknown, but in the mid-980s he was old enough to rebel against his father, Harald, driving Harald into an exile in which he died in either 985 or 986. Despite this treasonous act, the Encomium Emmæ Reginæ ("Encomium for Queen Emma"), written for Emma of Normandy (widow of Æthelred the Unready and later Cnut's wife), claims Sweyn was universally loved:

Sveinn, king of the Danes, was, I declare, as I have ascertained from truthful report, practically the most fortune of all kings of his time, ... The Divine Power granted him such great favor that even as a boy he was held by all in close affection, and was hated only by his own father. No fault of the boy deserved this: it was due only to envy. When he grew to be a young man, he increased daily in the love of the people, and accordingly, his father's envy increased more and more, so that he wished not in secret, but openly, to cast him out, affirming by oath that he should not rule after him.

Some reports say that it was Sweyn embracing Christianity that ultimately turned his father so against him that Sweyn had to depose Harald and take the throne. One German historian, Adam of Bremen, claimed Sweyn was a rebellious pagan, upset that his father embraced Christianity. We also read in some chronicles that Harald was baptized by a cleric named Poppo, who performed a miracle that convinced Harald that Christianity was true. (Other versions claim Poppo performed for Sweyn instead.)

We know about Sweyn's invasion of England in 1003. Now, Danes were frequently invading England, and had established an enormous foothold, an occupied area known as the Danelaw, an agreed-upon compromise between the Danes and Alfred the Great. Was there a reason why Sweyn felt he had to start ravaging other parts outside of the Danelaw?

He might have had a very good reason, we could even say a legitimate reason, because of an incident in November of 1002. Tomorrow we'll learn about the St. Brice's Day Massacre.