Sveinn Hákonarson

After the Battle of Svolder, Sveinn ruled the area marked yellow on the map. The purple area was held by his half-brother, Eiríkr, while the red area was under direct control of the king of Denmark.
After the Battle of Svolder, Sveinn ruled the area marked yellow on the map. The purple area was held by his half-brother, Eiríkr, while the red area was under direct control of the king of Denmark.

Sveinn Hákonarson[1] (d. ca. 1016) was an earl of the house of Hlaðir and co-ruler of Norway from 1000 to ca. 1015. He was the son of earl Hákon Sigurðarson. He is first mentioned in connection with the battle of Hjörungavágr, where the Heimskringla says he commanded 60 ships. After the battle of Svolder in the year 1000, Sveinn became co-ruler of Norway with his half-brother, Eiríkr Hákonarson. After Eiríkr went to England in 1014, Sveinn was co-ruler with Hákon Eiríksson. In 1015,[2] Óláfr Haraldsson arrived in Norway and claimed the throne. He defeated Sveinn and his allies in the battle of Nesjar. Sveinn retreated to Sweden, intending to muster a force to retake Norway but he died of an illness before he could return.

Sveinn married Hólmfríðr, who was either the daughter or sister of king Óláfr of Sweden. They had the daughter Sigríðr, who was married to Áslákr, son of Erlingr Skjálgsson. Another daughter, Gunnhildr, was married to Sveinn Úlfsson.

Only one court-poet, Bersi Skáldtorfuson, is recorded as being in Sveinn's service and very little of his poetry has come down to us.

Notes

  1. ^ Anglicized and modern Scandinavian forms include Svein, Sweyn, Svend and Sven.
  2. ^ Or 1014 or 1016, the sources are hard to reconcile.

References

  • Finlay, Alison (editor and translator) (2004). Fagrskinna, a Catalogue of the Kings of Norway. Brill Academic Publishers. ISBN 9004131728
  • Hollander, Lee M (editor and translator). (1991). Heimskringla : History of the Kings of Norway. University of Texas Press. ISBN 0292730616


Preceded by:
Óláfr Tryggvason
Regent of Norway
with Eiríkr Hákonarson
and Hákon Eiríksson

1000–ca. 1015
Succeeded by:
Óláfr Haraldsson

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