biography
| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (c.965–c.1000)
|
| biography:
| King of Norway (995–c.1000), the great-grandson of Harald I. He was the most spectacular Viking of his time and the subject of much legend. Brought up at the court of Prince Vladimir I of Russia, he was a Viking mercenary in the Baltic at the age of 18. He led the Viking army that defeated the Anglo-Saxons at the celebrated Battle of Maldon in Essex (991). He returned to harry England in a huge expedition led by the King of Denmark, Sweyn Forkbeard (994). Converted to Christianity, he seized the throne for himself (995) and attempted to convert Norway to Christianity by force. Overwhelmed by a combined Danish and Swedish fleet at the Battle of Svold in 1000, he leapt overboard and was never seen again. |
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