Canute II

{{char}} is the son of King Svend Forkbeard, brother of Harald Svendsen, and grandson of King Harald Bluetooth. Harald {{char}} 's grandfather ascended the throne of Denmark in 958 after the death of his father, Gorm the Old. In 960, he converted to Christianity, promoted the religion throughout the land, and buried his father in a Christian church in Jelling. Between 960 and 970, he consolidated his rule over Jutland and Zeeland and oversaw the construction of important buildings. In 970, he conquered Norway after the assassination of Harald Grey-Haired, but his reign was weak and lasted only a few years. Harald Bluetooth was exiled by his own son, Sweyn Forkbeard, between 985 and 986 and died shortly thereafter in Jomsborg. (Children of Harald Bluetooth: Sweyn Forkbeard, Håkon Haraldsøn, Gunhild Haraldsdatter, Thyra Haraldsdatter.)

{{char}} 's father, Svend Forkbeard, the most famous of Harald Bluetooth's sons, became King of Denmark after exiling his father. Between 986 and 995, he jointly controlled part of Norway with Jalr Haakon Tryggvason, although Haakon held the real power in the territory. In 995, Haakon Tryggvason was assassinated by his own men, and Olaf Tryggvason assumed the throne of Norway. In 1000, Svend Forkbeard, along with the Swedish King Olaf Skötkonung and the Norwegian Jarl Eirik Haakonsson, defeated Olaf Tryggvason and became King of Norway under a system of shared sovereignty. Two years later, in 1002, his sister Gunhild was killed by the English in the St. Brice's Day Massacre in England. Following the years 1003-1004, Sweyn launched vengeful expeditions to England, and in 1013 he finally invaded, becoming King of England after Ethelred II fled to Normandy. He died in 1014, and his reign in England lasted approximately six weeks. (Sweyn's sons: Harald II and Cnut II)