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| Svein Knutsson | |
|---|---|
| King of Norway | |
| Reign | 1030–1035 |
| Predecessor | Cnut I |
| Successor | Magnus I |
| Co-ruler | Cnut I |
| Regent | Ælfgifu of Northampton |
| Born | c. 1016 |
| Died | 1035 (aged 18–19) Denmark |
| House | Jelling dynasty |
| Father | Cnut the Great |
| Mother | Ælfgifu of Northampton |
Svein Knutsson (Old Norse:Sveinn Knútsson[ˈswɛinːˈknuːtsˌson]; c. 1016–1035) was the son ofCnut the Great, king of Denmark, Norway, and England, and his first wifeÆlfgifu of Northampton, aMercian noblewoman. In 1017 Cnut marriedEmma of Normandy, but there is no evidence that Ælfgifu was repudiated, and in 1030 Cnut sent her and Svein as regents to rule Norway. However, their rule was considered oppressive by the Norwegians. They imposed new taxes and harsh laws that made them unpopular and they were expelled in 1034.[1][2][3][4]
Svein Knutsson is also mentioned asSveinn Alfífuson (matronym) and under theepithetóforsynjukonungr ("unforeseen king").[citation needed] InNorwegian, his name isSvein Knutsson; inDanish,Svend Knudsen. Many variations of the name are used, includingSven andSweyn, from the Anglo-SaxonSwegen. He was the second ruler of Norway by this name, after his grandfatherSweyn Forkbeard.[citation needed]
In 1029Håkon Eiriksson, Cnut's vassal ruler of Norway, was lost at sea andOlaf Haraldsson, who had been deposed as king of Norway by Cnut, tried to recapture the kingdom, but he was defeated and killed at theBattle of Stiklestad. Cnut then sent Svein and Ælfgifu to Norway, with Ælfgifu ruling as regent on behalf of her fourteen-year-old son.[5] This came as a great disappointment to a number of Norwegians who had wished to take the place of theEarls of Lade (Ladejarls). Nobles likeEinar Tambarskjelve andKalv Arnesson were especially disappointed because they both believed that Cnut had promised they could take power.[6]
The 1030s were difficult years in Europe. Danish policy in Norway changed – there was closer royal involvement and strict regulations in many areas. This created the basis of a popular resistance against the new regime which can be characterised as being of the same ilk as that which Saint Olav had earlier come up against. According to the Sagas, Ælfgifu's and Svein's tax-demands and new laws created resentment.[citation needed]
Snorri writes that "King Svein brought in new laws on many subjects. They were modelled on Danish laws but some were much stricter. No man was allowed to leave the country without the King's permission; if he did so his property would become the King's. A person who committed murder would lose the right to land and property. If an outlaw was due an inheritance, the King would take it. At Christmas every farmer had to give the king a measure (between 15 and 20 litres) of malt from every hearth and the thigh of a three-year-old ox, this was calledvinjartodde (land tax) in Old Norse, and also a bucket of butter."[7]
According to theHeimskringla, theBattle of Soknasund occurred during 1033 inRyfylke.Tryggve the Pretender came with an army from England. He said he was the son ofOlav Tryggvason and therefore claimed the kingdom as his own. When word reached Sveinn Alfífuson and Aelgifu that Tryggve's invasion was imminent, they summoned the landholders ofHalogaland and theTrondheim district to join the royal army in resisting Tryggve. Svein Knutsson and his army, probably including elite Danish troops stood against them. Sveinn and his forces made their way south toAgder, believing that Tryggve would attempt to slip through theSkagerrak and join his supporters inViken. Tryggve, however, landed instead inHordaland, then sailed toRogaland to attack Sveinn's navy. The two fleets met off the island ofBokn. Svein won the Battle of Soknasund and Tryggve Olavsson was killed.
Later that same winter Kalv Arnesson andEinar Tambarskjelve met and decided to travel toGardarike to fetch Olav Haraldsson's sonMagnus. When Magnus came to Norway the people sided with him and against the Danes. Svein had to flee home to Denmark where he died a short time later. Thus theKing of Denmark had to give up his claim on Norway.[8]
InWilliam Shakespeare'sMacbeth, there is a character called "Sweno, the Norways' king" based on Svein.[9]
Svein is aback-story character in the first act ofMacbeth, where Shakespeare calls him Sweno. His army arrived in Fife and began massacring Scots.[10] He besieged Macbeth in the castle of Bertha.[10] Duncan, the Scottish king, sent food and drink to the Norwegians, but laced it with a potion that caused them to become sleepy.[10] Macbeth then slaughtered Sweno's army, but Sweno himself escaped.[10] Canute and the Danes arrived to avenge this defeat, but they agreed to a truce:[10]
Sweno, the Norway's king, craves composition [treaty].
nor would we deign him burial of his men
till he disbursed at Saint Colme's-inch
ten thousand dollars to our general use.[11]
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Cnut the Great (de jure) asKing of the Norwegians | King of Norway 1030–1035 withCnut the Great | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Hákon Eiríksson (de facto) asRegent of Norway | ||
