Sweyn II of Denmark

Also known as Sweyn Estridsson or Estridsen, because his mother was Estrid, daughter of Sweyn Forkbeard, Sweyn II was King of Denmark from 1047 to 1078. He was also sometimes known as Sweyn Ulfsson because his father was Ulf Thorgilsson.Born c.1019, he was raised in England where his parents lived under the reign of his uncle, King Cnut. He was raised as a warrior and eventual king, but he also knew how to read and write. Pope Gregory VII, who became a personal friend of Sweyn, described him as an exceptionally educated monarch.What we know of him (and much of this era in Denmark) we learned from Adam of Bremen and his chronicle Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum ("Deeds of Bishops of the Hamburg Church"). As king of Denmark, Sweyn invited scholars from all over to make sure Danes were educated in Latin so they could communicate with the rest of the world. We also know that he was of above average height, based in examination of his skeleton (entombed in Roskilde…