7. Sweyn Forkbeard was the first Danish King of England, but only lived to enjoy his momentous accomplishment for a few weeks
Sweyn I of England, also known as Sweyn Forkbeard, was the King of Denmark (r. 986-1014 CE), King of Norway (r. 986-995; 1000-1014), and served as the shortest reigning King of England (r. 1013-1014). Sweyn was also father to King Harald II of Denmark, Queen Estrid Svendsdatter, and King Cnut the Great. The son of legendary Danish King Harald Bluetooth, the first Scandinavian king to be baptized, in the mid-980s Sweyn rebelled against his father’s religious beliefs, seizing the throne and driving his father into exile.
After the incursion and subsequent defection of Thorkell the Tall, who joined Æthelred after successfully sacking Canterbury, Sweyn, enriched beyond measure by the raids, led an army in a full-scale invasion of England in 1013. Sailing his armies along the Trent River, the Kingdoms of Northumbria and Lindsey swiftly yielded along with the Five Boroughs. After capturing the historic capital of Winchester and the city of Bath, Sweyn finally marched against the resisting London. Fearing Sweyn’s retribution should they continue to support Æthelred, the city surrendered. Understanding all was lost, Æthelred sent his sons, including the future Edward the Confessor, into exile, retreating to the Isle of Wight before later joining them in Normandy. On December 25, 1013, Sweyn was declared the first of his name and King of England. Organizing his new realm out of Gainsborough, Sweyn died just five weeks later for reasons unknown. He was succeeded by Cnut, who was briefly driven out of England by Æthelred but regained control in 1016 and became King of Denmark in 1019.