The Earls of Lade (Norwegian: ladejarler) were a dynasty of Norse jarls who ruled what is now Trøndelag and Hålogaland from the 9th century to the 11th century.
The seat of the Earls of Lade was at Lade Gaard (Old Norse: Hlaðir), now located in the eastern parts of the city of Trondheim. The site is near the seaside of the Trondheimsfjord, which was an important waterway in the Viking Age.
Swein Forkbeard (also Sweyn, died 3 February 1014) was King of Denmark from 986, King of England for five weeks from December 1013, and King of Norway from 999/1000, all until his death in 1014. He was the father of King Harald II of Denmark, King Cnut the Great, and Queen Estrid Svendsdatter.
In the mid-980s, Swein revolted against his father, Harald Bluetooth, and seized the throne. Harald was driven into exile and died shortly afterwards in November 986 or 987. In 1000, with the allegiance of Eric, Earl of Lade, Swein ruled most of Norway. In 1013, shortly before his death, he became the first Danish king of the English after a long effort.