Swein Forkbeard

Swein Forkbeard (died 1014), son of Harald Bluetooth, seized the Danish throne from his father in 986. In 994 he joined Olaf Tryggvason raiding England until the English paid sixteen thousand pounds in tribute, and around 1000 defeated and killed Olaf at the Battle of Svold, making himself overlord of Norway.

In 1013 he invaded England to conquer it; by December the English accepted him as king and Æthelred fled to Normandy. He ruled only weeks, dying on 3 February 1014 and leaving the claim to his son Cnut.