Cnut

THE VIKINGS!

Before 1066 and all that!

The defining moment of English history before Hastings. 

Learning Objectives. 

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. To be able to identify and understand why Cnut invaded.

2. To be able to correctly trace Cnut's military campaign.

3.  To be able to understand what made Cnut's campaign different from those that came before. 

Key Characters!

1. Cnut (Old Norse: Knutr, Danish: Knud) 

2. Edmund Ironside, King of the English. 

3. Aethelred the Unready, King of the English

4. Svien Forkbeard

Introduction

The scene:

England had been subject to renewed Viking raids from 991 onwards. After multiple bribes and other diplomatic attempts at peace, these renewed raids turned into a full-blown invasion headed by Swien Forkbeard. He died before he could be crowned King though.

The Why?

Aethelred 'The Unready' was given a lifeline after Svien died. He left his exile in Normandy and gathered an army that marched north. They met the Danish army at Gainsborough and won a decisive battle, forcing Cnut to flee to his brothers' kingdom in Denmark. 

The Landing:

Cnut landed his invasion fleet in Poole, the largest natural harbour in England. This is important because other Viking invasions always started in the North of England. Cnut's was different and more intense straight away.

Sources!!!

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle:

 A great primary source. Written by ecclesiastical organisations throughout the period. Often news bulletin style with some commentary, mainly religious or nationalist sentiment.  

Encomium Emmae Reginea: 

Another Primary Source. Written to document the life of Queen Emma, who was both Aethelred and Cnut's wife. The only Queen to ever be deposed then reinstated. The source gives an interesting insight into the invasion as she was Aethelred's wife during it but Cnut's wife after the invasion was successful and the death of her first husband.  

Sources continued!

Cnut the Great, written by Timothy Bolton: This secondary source is the most recent of our sources, written in 2017. Dr Bolton is a leading expert in Cnut and his exploits so this source will be informative. however, it is important to remember that this source relies on many others to draw its conclusions.

King Cnut and the Viking Conquest of England 1016, written by W. B. Barlett:

This is a secondary source that analyses the invasions of both Svien and Cnut in detail. Again due to its academic nature it is using many other sources to base its analysis and arguments.

Cnut, England Viking King 1016-35, written by M. K. Lawson:

This source is the oldest of our secondary sources which is important as it allows us to study how the perception and interpretation of the time period changed over the years.

Landing

Cnut and his army landed at Poole in Dorset in 1015.

He immediately began raiding and subjugating the people of Wessex, the historical royal kingdom of England. This was a very shrewd move. There were greater treasures and more food in the south which he could gift to his military, it also secured for him the royal treasury at Winchester and allowed Cnut to approach London and the Thames Valley from the west and south, something that the defensive structure of the country wasn't set up for.  

It also struck at the heart of the administrative and social centre of the country, the North was famously pro-Danish which allowed the intelligent young invader the time needed to subjugate his Southern foes. 

The Battles!

Sherston, Wiltshire, midsummer 1016: 

The sources are inconclusive as to the victor but there were some notable losses. Athelstan, the brother of Edmund Ironside is said to have been killed here.

Penselwood, Dorset: 

Again the outcome is indecisive, with later sources claiming an English victory. This battle is significant due to its positioning and its historical use as a gathering place for the local fyrds (army/militia).

Assandun, Essex, 18th October 1016: 

This is perhaps both the most crucial and most famous battle of the entire campaign. It was a crushing victory for the Danish forces that lead to many noble deaths and the mortal wounds of Edmund Ironside. 

www.google.com

Conclusion and review

Overall we have seen and read that Cnut was different from his predecessors in his conquest of the English kingdom. 

next week we will look at how and why he was such a great king.