Gyda Svendsdatter

Gytha or Gyda was a Danish princess, daughter of King Sweyn Forkbeard, who ruled Denmark, England, and Norway. while Gytha was already married by about 997. It is presumed that Gytha's mother was either Sweyn's first, unnamed wife or his concubine. According to one hypothesis, her mother might have been Gunhilda, possibly of Obotrite origin.

Gytha was probably the half-sister of King Cnut of England, King Harald II of Denmark, Estrid Svendsdatter, and .

Marriage to Jarl Eiríkr The marriage of Gytha and Jarl Eiríkr was noted under the year 996 by Snorri Sturluson in the 13th-century Saga of Olaf Tryggvason. However, the date of the wedding given by Sturluson is questioned by historians. It is believed that the marriage took place between 995 and 1000, most likely around 997. In 995, after his father's death, Eiríkr was deposed by Olaf Tryggvason and, together with his brother Sweyn, fled to Sweden, and a year later to Denmark. There, he married Gytha and became an ally of Sweyn Forkbeard in his fight against Olaf Tryggvason. Eiríkr also had the support of King Olof Skötkonung of Sweden, who was the brother-in-law of his brother Sweyn. In 1000, with the help of Sweyn and Olof, Eiríkr, commanding Swedish forces, defeated Tryggvason in the Battle of Svolder. He likely died around 1023.

The later fate of Eiríkr's wife, Gytha, as well as the date of her death, is unknown.

Historical authenticity The Polish historian Jakub Morawiec questions Gytha's historicity. He suggests that she may have been created by saga authors to justify Sweyn Forkbeard's alliance with the sons of Jarl Haakon Sigurdsson.

Gytha's family tree Note: