Draft:Haakon's campaigns in Denmark and Götaland
{{Short description|Haakons rise to power in Norway}}
{{Draft topics|biography|northern-europe|military-and-warfare}}
{{AfC topic|soc}}
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Haakon's campaigns in Denmark and Götaland ca. 954-955. Haakon the Good would wage a series of battles in Denmark, Scania, and Götaland (Southern Sweden).
After the death of Eric Bloodaxe at the Battle of Stainmore in 954, King Haakon would hear about his death and that the Eric's sons did not have any alliances with the English. He would quickly act as they would stand no threat for him to take full power over southern Norway. he would sail to Viken where Eric's sons would have some influence with the Jarls, but when the supporters for the Eric's sons heard that King Haakon had set sail for them they quickly flee to Denmark. Haakons forces would Sail after them.{{Cite book |last=Sturlason |first=Snorre |title=Heimskringla |publisher=Snorre Sturlason |year= |pages=80 |trans-title=}}{{Citation |title=Works Cited |work=James Kelman |url=https://doi.org/10.3726/978-3-0353-0464-0/9 |access-date=2025-03-28 |publisher=Peter Lang}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Haakon's campaigns in Denmark and Götaland
| place = Denmark and Southern Sweden
| partof = War between King Haakon the Good and the sons of Eirik Bloodaxe
| territory = Temporary hold of Zealand
| result = Norwegian victory
| combatant1 = {{flag|Medieval Norway|name=Norway}}
| combatant2 = {{flag|Medieval Denmark|name=Denmark}}
Götaland
| commander1 = {{flagicon|Medieval Norway}} Haakon the Good
| commander2 = {{flagicon|Medieval Denmark}} Gorm the Old
| strength1 = Unknown
| strength2 = Unknown
| casualties1 = Light
| casualties2 = Heavy losses
}}
The campaign
after Haakon understood what they were doing he quickly followed them down to Jylland (Jutland). Where Haakon would meet up with his fleet at the coast of Jylland, they would prepare his army to meet the Danes who saw Haakon and his army off shore, the Danish forces would gather a rather large army to meet the Norwegians in battle. Haakon would lead his army against the Danes and It is said that Haakon fought so boldly, that he went forward before his banner without a helmet or a coat of mail. Which may have given the Norwegians more moral to fight. Haakon would win and persue the Danish army as they retreated down south to Sjælland (Zealand).
Haakon's army would arive in Sjælland to hunt after the stragglers from first battle, Haakon set sail to Øresund with 2 warships where he would meet a fleet of 11 Danish warships. Haakon would turn out victorious against the Danes as many of them retreated. After Haakon's victory, he would carrie out war far and wide on Sjælland where he would plunder riches, slaying others, taking some prisoners of war to use as ransom or take people as slaves, he would meet no resistance from the local people.
After Haakon's raids in Sjælland, he would set sail east to Scania. He would raid and collect tribute from the people he raided. He would go and kill all Vikings he saw, either Dane or Wend. He would continue his raid all the way east to Götaland and collect riches and take slaves to sell or to take back to Norway.{{Cite book |last=Sturlason |first=Snorre |title=Heimskringla |publisher=Snorre Sturlason |pages=80-81}}
Aftermath
After Haakon raided Götaland, he marched home in the autumn with his army and returned to Viken with his endless plunder. He would stay in Viken over the winter to see if the Danes or Geats would retaliate against him, but nothing ever came. Grom the Old was furious against Haakon and there was word that he would have revenge but nothing came to fruition.{{Cite book |last=Sturlason |first=Snorre |title=Heimskringla |publisher=Snorre Sturlason |pages=81}}
References
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