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King of [[Denmark]], possibly husband to the widow of [[King]] Erik of [[Sweden]] (and thereby claimant to its throne), and also claimant to rule over [[Norway]], '''Svein''' (known as "Forkbeard", referring to a pitchfork-shaped [[beard]] he wore) came first to [[England]]'s notice as a raider, or king of raiders, being blamed for the series of Viking attacks on England which followed the decision of [[Aethelred Unraed]] to have all Danes in England massacred in 1002CE. In 1013 Svein himself led the fleet and mounted a full-scale invasion. He began at Sandwich in [[Kent]], swept up the east coast to [[Northumbria]] to obtain the sumission of the [[earl]], Uhtred, also obtaining the sumission of other east-coast shires and hostages from each. He then switched to land, requiring the English to horse his army, attacked and obliged [[Oxford]] and [[Winchester]] to submit, and rode on [[London]]. The Londoners tore down the bridges and resisted, and Svein was obliged to fall back. Aethelred had, however, fled, to Normandy, and, alone and isolated, London submitted, Svein entered, and was crowned [[king]] on Christmas Day. He then moved to Gainsborough and was in the process of organising his fourth kingdom when, in February 1014, he died. <br> Svein had a son to take over [[Denmark]] for him, and the Danish army declared his younger son, [[Canute the Great|Canute]], king of England. However, he and they returned to Denmark, and Aethelred returned and was restored in England. [[category:monarchs (medieval)]]
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