SWEYN FORKBEARD THE KING WHO CONQUERED ENGLAND

Tells the story of the Danish king who transformed generations of Viking raids into the conquest of a kingdom. For decades, Danish armies had attacked England. Tribute was paid. Armies were raised. Treaties were broken. But Sweyn Forkbeard wanted more than silver. He wanted England. By the beginning of the 11th century, Sweyn had become one of the most powerful rulers in Scandinavia. His campaigns against England continued until, in 1013, the English kingdom finally collapsed before the Danish invasion. King Æthelred II fled England. The English nobles accepted Sweyn as king. The Viking conqueror had achieved what generations of raiders had failed to accomplish: *a Viking king sat upon the English throne.* Sweyn established his royal base at Gainsborough, but his reign was extraordinarily brief. In early 1014, only months after becoming king, Sweyn died suddenly. His conquest did not die with him. His son, **Cnut the Great**, would return to England and eventually create one of the most powerful North Sea kingdoms of the medieval world. Sweyn's reign was short. His legacy was not. This is the story of *Sweyn Forkbeard — the Viking king who conquered England.* A heartfelt thank you to Ylva Vølv for giving her voice to every Viking ballad in this series. Her performance became an essential part of bringing these ancient stories back to life. Visit her official website to discover more of her work. Nordic Ritual Music | Your Spell Is Here    / @ylvavølv   #Vikings #VikingHistory #MedievalHistory