Svend II Estridsson of Denmark ^{1 2 3}

  General Notes:

Danish Svend Estridsen, Norwegian SVEIN ESTRIDSSON, king of Denmark (1047-74) who ended a short period of Norwegian domination (1042-47).

The son of Ulf, a Danish earl, and Estrid, a sister of Canute I the Great, Sweyn fled to Sweden after his father was murdered in 1027 on orders of Canute. After the death of Canute (1035), when Hardecanute was ruling in Denmark and Magnus in Norway, the young kings agreed that whoever lived longer would rule both countries. Under this agreement Magnus became king also of Denmark in 1042 and appointed Sweyn viceroy. While Magnus was fighting the Wends (Slavs) in 1043, Sweyn, who was favoured by the Danish nobles, was acclaimed king, provoking a war over the Danish throne with Magnus and then with his successor, Harald III Hardraade (reigned 1045-66).

Although Sweyn's forces were continually defeated, Harald's troops were mainly interested in plunder and failed to conquer Denmark. The two rulers recognized each other as sovereign in their respective countries in 1064 while Harald was preparing to attack England. Strengthened by Harald's death in 1066, Sweyn sponsored a successful Danish attack on England in 1069, aiding Anglo-Saxon rebels against William I the Conqueror. Although the Danish forces achieved a favourable position, Sweyn, by an agreement with William I in 1070, withdrew his troops.

On returning to Denmark, Sweyn worked to free the Danish Christian church from control by the archbishop of Bremen and by the English church, and he cooperated with Pope Gregory VII. Knowledgeable in history and geography, Sweyn was Adam of Bremen's main source on Scandinavian affairs in the latter's valuable Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum (c. 1070-75; "History of the Archbishops of Hamburg-Bremen"). Five of Sweyn's sons succeeded to the throne, and his dynasty (the Valdemars) reigned for 300 years.

From Snorre Sturlasson: Magnus the Good's Saga:

"23. OF SVEIN ULFSON.
There was a man, by name Svein, a son of Earl Ulf, and grandson of Thorgils Sprakaleg. Svein's mother was Astrid, a daughter of King Svein Forkbeard. She was a sister of Canute the Great by the father's side, and of the Swedish King Olaf Eirikson by the mother's side; for her mother was Queen Sigrid the Haughty, a daughter of Skoglar Toste. Svein Ulfson had been a long time living with his relation the Swedish king, ever since King Canute had ordered his father Ulf to be killed, as is related in the saga of old King Canute, that he had his brother-in-law, Earl Ulf, murdered in Roskilde; and on which account Svein had not since been in Denmark. Svein Ulfson was one of the handsomest men that could be seen; he was very stout and strong, and very expert in all exercises, and a well-spoken man withal. Every one who knew him said he had every quality which became a good chief. Svein Ulfson waited upon King Magnus while he lay in the Gaut river, as before mentioned, and the king received him kindly, as he was by many advised to do; for Svein was a particularly popular man. He could also speak for himself to the king well and cleverly; so that it came at lasf to Svein's entering into King Magnus's service, and becoming his man. They often talked together afterwards in private concerning many affairs."

  Noted events in his life were:

• Acceded: 1047. King of Denmark.

Svend had children with.

Svend next married Gunhild Sveinsdatter, daughter of Svein Håkonson Jarl and Holmfrid. The marriage ended in divorce circa 1054. (Gunhild Sveinsdatter was born before 1016.)

Svend had children with Rannveig Tordsdatter d. y. fra Aurland, daughter of Tord på Aurland and Unknown.