Often forgotten is that the Anglo-Saxons were very, very lucky. They had got a second chance. For today marks one thousand years since the other Conquest of England in the eleventh century.
It's fair to say that the reign of Aethelred II of England was fraught with difficulty. Harried by Viking attacks for much of his reign, by 1014 he had been deposed, hiding in exile in Normandy. The Viking king, Swein Forkbeard, was due to be crowned. Then, at the start of 1015, Aethelred was saved. Swein died, and the Anglo-Saxon Witan invited their former king back. But Aethelred was living on borrowed time. Swein's son, Cnut*, returned with a vengeance. By April 1016, Aethelred was besieged in London. And then he died, on St George's day. Much of the country was under Cnut's control. The ancient line of kings, stretching back into the mists of the post-Roman world, had apparently come to an end.
Enter Aethelred's son. Edmund Ironside was proclaimed king by those in London. His first move was to leave the city, and return to his ancestral homeland of Wessex. Here, he raised the West Saxon fyrd, and prevented the Vikings from further advances. Edmund then returned to London, and at the Battle of Brentford he lifted the Viking siege of the city. After years of royal dithering and inactivity, finally the Anglo-Saxons were putting up a fight.
Cnut's forces fell back into Essex, pursued by Edmund and the Anglo-Saxons. On October 18th, 1016, Edmund overtook Cnut at the battle of Assandun. Here was his chance to rid England of the Danes once and for all.
But it never happened. Desperate for allies, Edmund was relying on the Mercian Ealdorman Eadric Streona, to assist him. But Eadric had a reputation for treachery, and this time was no different. During the battle, he switched to supporting Cnut, and the Anglo-Saxons were defeated.
Both sides were exhausted. Cnut had been unable to deliver the knockout blow he had hoped for, but Edmund could not hope to recapture the whole of England with only Wessex on his side. So, after the battle, they agreed to a peace deal. Edmund would retain Wessex, while Cnut would control the rest of the country. Edmund would also retain the crown. However, when one of them died, the other would take control of the whole country, and their children would have a guaranteed succession.
This deal was clearly unsustainable, a pause to allow both sides to lick their wounds and prepare for future struggle. And then suddenly, Edmund Ironside died, on St Andrews Day 1016. Whether he was murdered, ill, or succumbed to injuries from Assandun, we don't know. But Cnut was now the undisputed master of England. The Vikings had finally won. The old Anglo-Saxon royal family fled into exile. And for his treachery, Eadric was executed by Cnut in 1017.
However, this Viking Conquest of England was not to last. After Cnut, his two sons had short reigns, and died childless. By 1042, the Witan were looking for a new King. Who better than the brother of Edmund Ironside, Edward the Confessor?
Seemingly, the Danish Conquest of England had no long term impact. Unlike 1066, 1016 was not a Year 0. The Vikings took over the top tier of English society, but did not replace the entire ruling classes and structures, as the Normans would do.
But the Danish Conquest did have one major long term impact. As Cnut assumed power, the children of Aethelred fled overseas, into the safe care of their uncle. This alliance with the Duke of Normandy may have kept Edward the Confessor safe for a while, but it would ultimately bring about the end of Anglo-Saxon England.
It's fair to say that the reign of Aethelred II of England was fraught with difficulty. Harried by Viking attacks for much of his reign, by 1014 he had been deposed, hiding in exile in Normandy. The Viking king, Swein Forkbeard, was due to be crowned. Then, at the start of 1015, Aethelred was saved. Swein died, and the Anglo-Saxon Witan invited their former king back. But Aethelred was living on borrowed time. Swein's son, Cnut*, returned with a vengeance. By April 1016, Aethelred was besieged in London. And then he died, on St George's day. Much of the country was under Cnut's control. The ancient line of kings, stretching back into the mists of the post-Roman world, had apparently come to an end.
Enter Aethelred's son. Edmund Ironside was proclaimed king by those in London. His first move was to leave the city, and return to his ancestral homeland of Wessex. Here, he raised the West Saxon fyrd, and prevented the Vikings from further advances. Edmund then returned to London, and at the Battle of Brentford he lifted the Viking siege of the city. After years of royal dithering and inactivity, finally the Anglo-Saxons were putting up a fight.
Cnut's forces fell back into Essex, pursued by Edmund and the Anglo-Saxons. On October 18th, 1016, Edmund overtook Cnut at the battle of Assandun. Here was his chance to rid England of the Danes once and for all.
But it never happened. Desperate for allies, Edmund was relying on the Mercian Ealdorman Eadric Streona, to assist him. But Eadric had a reputation for treachery, and this time was no different. During the battle, he switched to supporting Cnut, and the Anglo-Saxons were defeated.
Both sides were exhausted. Cnut had been unable to deliver the knockout blow he had hoped for, but Edmund could not hope to recapture the whole of England with only Wessex on his side. So, after the battle, they agreed to a peace deal. Edmund would retain Wessex, while Cnut would control the rest of the country. Edmund would also retain the crown. However, when one of them died, the other would take control of the whole country, and their children would have a guaranteed succession.
This deal was clearly unsustainable, a pause to allow both sides to lick their wounds and prepare for future struggle. And then suddenly, Edmund Ironside died, on St Andrews Day 1016. Whether he was murdered, ill, or succumbed to injuries from Assandun, we don't know. But Cnut was now the undisputed master of England. The Vikings had finally won. The old Anglo-Saxon royal family fled into exile. And for his treachery, Eadric was executed by Cnut in 1017.
However, this Viking Conquest of England was not to last. After Cnut, his two sons had short reigns, and died childless. By 1042, the Witan were looking for a new King. Who better than the brother of Edmund Ironside, Edward the Confessor?
Seemingly, the Danish Conquest of England had no long term impact. Unlike 1066, 1016 was not a Year 0. The Vikings took over the top tier of English society, but did not replace the entire ruling classes and structures, as the Normans would do.
But the Danish Conquest did have one major long term impact. As Cnut assumed power, the children of Aethelred fled overseas, into the safe care of their uncle. This alliance with the Duke of Normandy may have kept Edward the Confessor safe for a while, but it would ultimately bring about the end of Anglo-Saxon England.
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