Sven Knutsson

Sven Knutsson (ca. 1016 - 1035 ) - the ruler of Norway ( 1030 - 1035 ) in the period of Norway's accession to the Anglo-Danish state Knud the Great . Sven's rule was marked by a tightening of the state administration and the revolts of the Norwegians against the Danish government.

Gorm's Old Dynasty
( Knights )

Knud i hardneck Children Gorm old Gorm old Children Harald I Bluetooth Harald I Bluetooth Children Sven I Forkbeard Sven I Forkbeard Children Harald II Knud the Great Harald II Knud the Great Children Sven Knutsson Harold I Hardnecknud

Sven was the eldest illegitimate son of Knud the Great , king of England , Denmark and Norway , and Elfgif of Northampton , daughter of Elfgelm, Eldorman of Northumbria .

In 1030, the young Sven was appointed his father as governor of Norway. Probably, Knud planned after his death to divide the territory of his state between Sven and his legitimate son, Hardeknud , leaving Norway to the first, and England and Denmark to the second. Shortly before Sven arrived in Norway, her throne attempted to capture Olaf the Holy , the former Norwegian king, overthrown by Knud the Great. But Olaf's troops were defeated in the battle of Styklastadir , and the applicant himself was killed. This allowed Sven to establish himself in Norway.

Sven and his policy in Norway were greatly influenced by his mother Elfgifu Northampton. She actually ruled the country on behalf of her son. Elfgifu and Sven continued the course of Knud the Great to strengthen the central authority, trying to introduce the state system in Norway according to the Danish model. Taxes were raised, new duties of peasants in favor of the king were introduced, and penalties for a number of criminal offenses against the state and public order were tightened. This caused outrage of the Norwegians. The cult of St. Olaf arose and began to spread rapidly in the country, whose rule was now remembered with gratitude and the movement to restore the ancient Norwegian royal dynasty against Danish usurpation. The uprising against Sven was led by Trygvvi the Pretender , who called himself the son of King Olaf Tryggvason and the Irish Queen Guides (Gude), but soon the Pretender was defeated. In 1033, Sven and his mother were forced to flee Trondheim to the south of the country. For about two years, they still managed to maintain the power of Denmark in southern Norway, but in 1035 , shortly before the death of Knud the Great, Magnus the Noble , the son of Olaf the Holy returned to the country, who was immediately recognized as king. Sven and Elfgifu were expelled from Norway. On the way to England, Sven Knutsson died.