On this day the Viking warrior, Sweyn Forkbeard, was declared King of England by the English nobles. Having deposed his father Harald in 986, Sweyn led a campaign of fear and destruction in England. Ethelred the Unready, King of England at the time, paid Sweyn to return to Denmark, a tax known as ‘Danegeld’. The plan failed and Ethelred ordered a general massacre of all Danes in England: a massacre in which Sweyn’s sister Gunhilde was also killed. Sweyn swore revenge and started to lay waste to the entire country. Fearful for their lives, the English nobles reluctantly declared Sweyn King of England on Christmas Day 1013, while Ethelred fled into exile. Sweyn died on 3rd February 1014 having reigned for only five weeks.
Puoi trovare altre brevi notizie storiche QUI
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