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| “ | Wales or Canute, choose one. Honestly, I don't care about Wales. Give me Canute's head and join me, then I'll let Wales go free... I've looked into who you are a bit. Your mother really was a slave. I can guess why you're so caught up with Wales. The only merchandise that Wales produces... is slaves. | „ |
| ~ Sweyn trying to convince Askeladd to kill his son so Wales can be spared. |
King Sweyn "Forkbeard" Haraldson is the overarching antagonist in the War Arc of the manga and anime series Vinland Saga. He was a Danish king who managed to conquer almost the entirety of England and Wales, all the while keeping control of his more northern kingdoms. He uses his intuitiveness and battle strategy to keep everything under his rule.
He is voiced by Takayuki Sugo in the Japanese version, and Jamieson Price in the English dub, the latter of whom also voiced Lordgenome in Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, Kirei Kotomine in Fate/Stay Night, and Aultcray Melromarc XXXII in The Rising of the Shield Hero.
Appearance[]
Sweyn is an elderly man that appears to have a skin condition. He is missing several of his front teeth, often has a tired expression on his face, with many dried wrinkles and small bumps across his forehead and cheeks. He has long black hair and a beard that studiedly points to two different sides.
He owns a red and purple royal mantle and his personally important golden crown.
Personality[]
Sweyn can be best described as having a strong lust for power and domination. Not just because of all the land and people he controls, but by his ownership of the crown. He has no problem eliminating any threats or personal morals to make sure that he keeps his power over the Northern lands and England.
This domineering behavior also finds its way to small trivial matters; when a young Canute presented his father with a dish that he had cooked, Sweyn lashed out at Canute telling him that cooking is a job for slaves, showing his narrow worldview and lack of being able emotionally connect with his children. Out of his children, Canute seems to be the one he bears the most resentment towards. He sees Canute as nothing more than a burden who is in the way of his older brother Harald. Canute even points out that he's aware that his father never loved him and that he wants him dead.
He believed the crown itself holds the king under its will and is what drives them to continue usurping more power. This happened to Sweyn's father and to Sweyn himself. He believes that this power-hungry cycle will always continue for the one who holds the crown. This also technically becomes true with Canute, who starts to have hallucinations of his father and keeps taking more extreme measures to keep his dreams of a peaceful utopia.
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 Villains
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Jomsvikings Askeladd's Band of Vikings Monarchs Ketil's Farm Lnu Others | ||