Biography of Sweyn "Forkbeard" King of Denmark, Norway and England 960-1014

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1013. The year after that Archbishop Elfeah was martyred, the king (age 47) appointed Lifing to the archiepiscopal see of Canterbury. And in the same year, before the month August, came King Sweyne (age 53) with his fleet to Sandwich, Kent [Map]; and very soon went about East-Anglia into the Humber-mouth, and so upward along the Trent, until he came to Gainsborough [Map]. Then soon submitted to him Earl Utred, and all the Northumbrians, and all the people of Lindsey, and afterwards the people of the Five Boroughs, and soon after all the army to the north of Watling-street; and hostages were given him from each shire. When he understood that all the people were subject to him, then ordered he that his army should have provision and horses; and he then went southward with his main army, committing his ships and the hostages to his son [his son] Knute (age 18). And after he came over Watling-street, they wrought the greatest mischief that any army could do. Then he went to Oxford, Oxfordshire [Map]; and the population soon submitted, and gave hostages; thence to Winchester, where they did the same. Thence went they eastward to London; and many of the party sunk in the Thames, because they kept not to any bridge. When he came to the city, the population would not submit; but held their ground in full fight against him, because therein was King Ethelred, and Thurkill with him. Then went King Sweyne thence to Wallingford; and so over Thames westward to Bath, where he abode with his army. Thither came Alderman Ethelmar, and all the western thanes with him, and all submitted to Sweyne, and gave hostages. When he had thus settled all, then went he northward to his ships; and all the population fully received him, and considered him full king. The population of London also after this submitted to him, and gave hostages; because they dreaded that he would undo them. Then bade Sweyne full tribute and forage for his army during the winter; and Thurkill bade the same for the army that lay at Greenwich, Kent [Map]: besides this, they plundered as oft as they would. And when this nation could neither resist in the south nor in the north, King Ethelred abode some while with the fleet that lay in the Thames; and the [his future daughter-in-law] lady (age 28)⁵⁷ went afterwards over sea to her brother Richard (age 49), accompanied by Elfsy, Abbot of Peterborough. The king sent Bishop Elfun with the ethelings, Edward (age 10) and Alfred (age 8), over sea; that he might instruct them. Then went the king from the fleet, about midwinter, to the Isle of Wight [Map]; and there abode for the season; after which he went over sea to Richard, with whom he abode till the time when Sweyne died. Whilst the lady was with her brother beyond sea, Elfsy, Abbot of Peterborough, who was there with her, went to the abbey called Boneval, where St. Florentine's body lay; and there found a miserable place, a miserable abbot, and miserable monks: because they had been plundered. There he bought of the abbot, and of the monks, the body of St. Florentine, all but the head, for 500 pounds; which, on his return home, he offered to Christ and St. Peter.

Note 57. This was a title bestowed on the queen.

Economium Emmae Reginae. The Translation of the Body of Sweyn (deceased) into Denmark. Meanwhile, one of the noble women of England had a ship made ready for herself; and taking with her the body of King Sweyn, which had been buried in that land, she had it embalmed with spices and wrapped in rich cloths, and set out upon the sea. With a favorable voyage she reached the harbours of the Danes, and sent messengers to both brothers, announcing that the body of their father was come, and bidding them hasten to receive it and place it in the tomb he had prepared for himself. They came joyfully, received the body with honour, and with even greater honour laid it in the monastery built by the same king in honour of the Holy Trinity, in the sepulchre which he had made ready for his own burial. When this was accomplished, and now with the summer sun drawing near, Cnut, having restored his army, made haste to return and avenge the wrongs done to him. As he was walking along the shore, suddenly he saw a few sails appearing in the midst of the sea. For Thorkell, mindful of what he had done for Sweyn, and that he had then remained in that land without the leave of his lord, Cnut, came with nine ships and their crews to seek out his lord, to make it plain to him that he had stayed behind not to his hurt. When Thorkell arrived, he did not presume to land without permission; but, having cast anchor and sent messengers ahead, he asked leave to come into the harbour. When leave was granted, he came ashore and sought the mercy of his lord; and, having been reconciled with great effort, he gave an oath of fealty, that he would thenceforth serve him faithfully. With him Cnut remained more than a full month, and Thorkell urged him to return to England, saying that he could easily overcome those people, whose lands were known far and wide to them both. He added, moreover, that he had left thirty ships in the land of the English, with a most loyal force, who would receive him with honour when he came, and lead him through all the borders of the country.

Translatio corporis Sueini in Danomarchiam. Interea quaedam matronarum Anglicarum navim sibi fecit parari, et assumpto corpore Sueini regis sua in patria sepulti, illoque aromatibus condito palliisque velato, mare adiit, et prospero cursu appulsa ad portus Danorum pervenit. Mittens ergo utrisque fratribus nuntium, mandat corpus adesse paternum, ut hoc maturent suscipere, tumuloque quod sibi paraverat locare. Illi hilares adsunt, honorifice corpus suscipiunt, honorificentiusque illud in monasterio in honore sanctae Trinitatis ab eodem rege constructo, in sepulchro quod sibi paraverat, recondunt. Quo perfecto iamque appropiante sole aestivo, accelerat Cnuto redintegrato exercitu redire suasque iniurias vindicare. At illi circa litora deambulanti subito apparescunt carbasa non multa in medio mari. Nam Thurkil memor quod Sueino fecerat, et quod tunc in terra absque licentia domini sui Cnutonis inconsulte remanserat, cum novem navibus earumque exercitu dominum suum requisivit, ut ei patefaceret, quia non contra eius salutem se recedente remanserit. Qui veniens, non presumpsit litora iniussus subire, sed eiectis anchoris premissisque nunciis, poscit se portus subintrare licere. Quod ubi concessum est, ascendit misericordiamque domini sui quesivit, et illi multo labore conciliatus, dat fidei sacramentum, se illi deinceps fideliter serviturum. Cum quo mense plus integro moratur, et ut ad Anglos redeat hortatur, dicens eum leviter illos posse superare, quorum fines longe lateque notificarentur utrisque. Presertim, aiebat, se triginta naves in Anglorum patria cum exercitu fidissimo reliquisse, qui venientes sussciperent honorifice, ducerentque per fines totius patriae.