| “ | Let this be your first lesson. Never let traitors go unpunished. | ” |
–Sweyn Forkbeard to his grandsons | ||
King Sweyn Forkbeard (Old Norse: Sveinn Haraldsson tjúguskegg) is King Canute's father.
Biography
Early Life
King Forkbeard overthrew his father, Harald Bluetooth, and Norway's King Olaf Triggvason, laying the foundation for the North Sea Empire his son King Canute dreams of creating.
Season 1
Sweyn Forkbeard arrives in London to rule in his son's place while Canute returns to Denmark to fight off the Wends who have attacked.
Forkbeard holds his first assembly with the nobles. Earl Sigeferth approaches Forkbeard in an attempt to get out of paying his taxes. He begins by saying that Wessex is the oldest of the Saxon bloodlines. He then shows Forkbeard a document that contains a binding promise from King Æthelred II to Earl Sigeferth's father. Already knowing the answer, Forkbeard asks what his father did to gain such a generous promise. Earl Sigeferth replies that his father saved the king in battle at York. Forkbeard asks against who did his father save the king. Realizing the conversation is not going to plan, Sigeferth reluctantly replies that it was against Forkbeard. Forkbeard denies Sigeferth his promise and says that he will pay his taxes just like everyone else.
With Earl Sigeferth's death, Forkbeard grants Godwin the Earldom of Wessex.
Upon discovering and retrieving the Danish fleet, Sweyn sails to Kattegat with his two grandsons.
Season 2
Coming soon...
Personality
King Sweyn is not diplomatic and won't hesitate to punish traitors who threaten his family or their hold on power. He is a skilled manipulator. Despite his age, Sweyn remains a warrior king at heart and still leads his men from the front lines. While not as active as he once was, he is still incredibly formidable as a politician. He keeps his grandsons with him to teach them how to be Viking warriors. Sweyn appears to respect people that prove themselves to him. He cynically seems to have low expectations of everyone and everything. People are afraid of him, even just the mention of his name frightens people. He cares little for the feelings of everyone, even people he likes. Forkbeard is driven by the desire to reduce the continuous infighting. He doesn’t believe in supporting Christians or Pagans. He wants to keep the power at Kattegat because it is a strategic port town.
In History
King Sweyn Forkbeard is based on the historical figure, Sweyn Forkbeard, who was King of Denmark from 986 to 1014 CE, and also at times King of the English and King of Norway. He was the father of King Harald II of Denmark, King Cnut the Great, and Queen Estrid Svendsdatter. In real life, Norway came under the rule of the Danish when Sweyn Forkbeard defeated and killed the Norwegian king Olaf Tryggvason, the great grandson of Harald Finehair.
Trivia
- It is unclear what Forkbeard's official position is since both he and his son are addressed as "King." He could have abdicated in favor of Canute. Another possibility is that they could be co-rulers as Norse law forbids kings from ruling alone if they're above eighty years old.
- It appears Forkbeard's other son, Harald II, has been adapted out from the series.
Gallery
Appearances
| The Greenlanders | Viking | The Marshes | The Bridge |
| Miracle | The Last Daughter of Uppsala | Choices | The End of the Beginning |
| The Web of Fate | Towers of Faith | Pieces of the Gods | The Thaw |
| Birth and Rebirth | Leap of Faith | Pecheneg | The Reckoning |