It is sometimes said that the Danish royal line started with King Gorm the Old, who ruled around 935 CE to his death in 958 CE.

The son of Gorm the Old was Harald Bluetooth. We know about these two kings because, among other sources, the runes inscribed on the Jelling stone tells us. The stone was raised in memory of his parents, and describes Harald Bluetooth’s various achievements; namely he unified Denmark and introduced Christianity. The Jelling Stone is an important example of nordic runes. Moreover, the image carved on one side of the stone is an interesting combination of pagan and Christian imagery.

Harald Bluetooth’s son, Svein Forkbeard, took power from his father by force. Svein Forkbeard’s  reign continued until 1014, during which time he invaded England and conducted a campaign of destruction. Despite being paid Danegeld (essentially protection money) Svein Forkbeard continued to raid the north of England. When the then king of England Aethelred the Unready ordered in response that all Danes in England be killed (including women and children), Svein Forkbeard invaded England in 1003 attacking mercilessly.

Raids continued on and off until 1013, when the English earls, being disillusioned with their own king, declared Svein Forkbeard their king.

The twist in this story is that Svein Forkbeard only ruled England for a few weeks, as he died suddenly on 3 February 1014.