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Death of Sweyn Forkbeard
On 3 February 1014 Danish King Sweyn Forkbeard died suddenly at Gainsborough in Lincolnshire, England, and his conquest of England, only weeks old, c…
Timeline
- 1014Gainsborough · LincolnshireDanish King Sweyn Forkbeard died suddenly at Gainsborough in Lincolnshire. He had conquered England the previous year and been recognized as king, and was at this time based there consolidating control over the Danish-occupied areas. The cause of death is not detailed in the sources, possibly illness contracted on campaign.
- 1014England · EnglandAfter Sweyn's death, the Danish army in England proclaimed his son Cnut king, attempting to continue Danish rule over England. However Cnut was still young and his forces insufficient to counter the gathering English resistance.
- 1014London · LondonThe English witan sent envoys to Normandy, recalling the exiled Æthelred the Unready and promising to unite against the Danes under his leadership. After Cnut was defeated near Winchester by Æthelred's son Edmund Ironside, he withdrew with his remaining forces back to Denmark, temporarily abandoning his claim to the English throne.
Sources
- Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (MS A, s.a. 1014) https://asc.jebbo.uk/a/a-L.html
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: Swein Forkbeard — Frank Stenton (rev.) (2004) https://www.oxforddnb.com/
- The Cambridge History of Scandinavia, Volume 1 — Knut Helle (ed.) (2003)