Battle of the Helgeå
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| Battle of the Helgeå | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Combatants | |||||||
| Denmark | Sweden and Norway | ||||||
| Commanders | |||||||
| Canute the Great | Anund Jacob and Olaf the Stout | ||||||
The naval Battle of the Helgeå took place in 1026, between Denmark and the other Scandinavians, at the estuary of a river called Helgeå. Opinions are divided on whether it was the Helgeå of Uppland or the Helgeå of eastern Skåne, but the battle is retold in skaldic poetry and in sources such as the Danish Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus and the Icelandic Saga of Olaf the Holy by Snorri Sturluson.
The Swedish and Norwegian navies led by the kings Anund Jacob and Olaf the Stout sailed into the river to await Canute the Great's Danish navy, which was commanded by Ulf Jarl. Canute's navy was massive and his own ship is said to have been 80 metres long. The Swedish and the Norwegian kings ordered a large dam made of peat and lumber on the river. When the Danish navy arrived, the water was released and a great many Danes drowned in the deluge. However, Canute still had enough ships to win the battle.
A short time after the battle, Canute was apparently the king of Sweden as well, and had coins minted in Sigtuna. He also became the king of Norway.
In the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, the battle is dated to 1025 and the Swedes won the battle:
- A.D. 1025. This year went King Knute to Denmark with a fleet to the holm by the holy river; where against him came Ulf and Eglaf, with a very large force both by land and sea, from Sweden. There were very many men lost on the side of King Knute, both of Danish and English; and the Swedes had possession of the field of battle.
