Svein, King Harald's son, who afterwards was called Tjuguskeg (forked
beard), asked his father King Harald for a part of his kingdom; but now,
as before, Harald would not listen to dividing the Danish dominions, and
giving him a kingdom. Svein collected ships of war, and gave out that he
was going on a viking cruise; but when all his men were assembled, and
the Jomsborg viking Palnatoke had come to his assistance he ran into
Sealand to Isafjord, where his father had been for some time with his
ships ready to proceed on an expedition. Svein instantly gave battle,
and the combat was severe. So many people flew to assist King Harald,
that Svein was overpowered by numbers, and fled. But King Harald
received a wound which ended in his death: and Svein was chosen King of
Denmark. At this time Sigvalde was earl over Jomsborg in Vindland. He
was a son of King Strutharald, who had ruled over Skane. Heming, and
Thorkel the Tall, were Sigvalde's brothers. Bue the Thick from Bornholm,
and Sigurd his brother, were also chiefs among the Jomsborg vikings:
and also Vagn, a son of Ake and Thorgunna, and a sister's son of Bue and
Sigurd. Earl Sigvalde had taken King Svein prisoner, and carried him
to Vindland, to Jomsborg, where he had forced him to make peace with
Burizleif, the king of the Vinds, and to take him as the peace-maker
between them. Earl Sigvalde was married to Astrid, a daughter of King
Burizleif; and told King Svein that if he did not accept of his terms,
he would deliver him into the hands of the Vinds. The king knew that
they would torture him to death, and therefore agreed to accept the
earl's mediation. The earl delivered this judgment between them--that
King Svein should marry Gunhild, King Burizleif's daughter; and King
Burizleif again Thyre, a daughter of Harald, and King Svein's sister;
but that each party should retain their own dominions, and there should
be peace between the countries. Then King Svein returned home to Denmark
with his wife Gunhild. Their sons were Harald and Knut (Canute) the
Great. At that time the Danes threatened much to bring an army into
Norway against Earl Hakon.