Aelfwine of Anglia (The Kalmar Union)

'King Aelfwine succeeded his father to the Anglian throne in 1059. His reign saw the beginnings of Anglian interference in Scotland but was more characterised by endless upheavals in Mercia and the start of an ambitious church building program.

Born in 1035 Aelfwine inherited the throne with little trouble at the age of 14. The most serious challenge to his rule occured in 1066 when Harald IV Hardrada of Hordaland attempted to seize Jorvik. He was aided in this by a fresh outbreak of unrest in Mercia; Aelfwine had not been able to solve the problems that his father had largely caused there, and by the Scottish kingdom; eager to push their realm southwards.

After Harald was defeated at Stamford Bridge Aelfwine took his army into Scotland, received King Malcolm III's homage and went home. There would be three more campaigns against the Scots during his lifetime, non of which were as successful as the initial invasion and would cause more noble uprisings as Aelfwine looked around for people to blame for their failings.

More like his grandfather Cnut I than his father in many ways, Aelfwine devoted a large portion of his time and wealth to the church. During his reign the great cathedrals of Jorvik, Lincoln and Norwich were started. Despite the air of piousness cultivated by his chroniclers he had a reputation for violence, especially toward unloyal nobles and was an eager hunter.

Relations with Wessex were generally good in this period. Edgar II's long minority gave Aelfwine a certain cache in Britannia as the 'senior' king and at one point in 1060 he even received the homage of the Archbishop of Canterbury, much to his evident pleasure.

He died in 1074, in dispute with the Archbishop of Jorvik over land rights and was succeeded by his only son Sweyn II.