The Viking and Angevin Empires

This section explores the Viking and Angevin Empires in the middle ages. The Middle Ages saw England as part of two major European empires: the North Sea Empire of the Vikings and the Angevin Empire. Both empires influenced England's political, cultural, and military history, shaping its role in medieval Europe.

The North Sea Empire of the Vikings

The North Sea Empire, also known as the Viking Empire, was a powerful domain forged through the military prowess of the Vikings. It spanned territories in Denmark, Norway, and England under the leadership of King Cnut (Canute).

• 1016: Cnut became King of England, uniting it with Denmark and Norway to form a vast Viking empire.
• 1042: After Cnut’s death, the empire’s unity weakened. His successors failed to maintain control over England, and the Viking influence in the region began to wane.
• 1042–1066: The rise of Edward the Confessor, an Anglo-Norman king, marked a shift away from Viking rule in England.

Despite this decline, the Vikings made a final bid for power in 1066:

• 1066: Harald Hardrada, King of Norway, launched an invasion of England, seeking to claim the throne. He was decisively defeated by King Harold II at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. This battle effectively ended the Viking threat to England.
• However, just three weeks later, Harold II faced the Normans at the Battle of Hastings, where William the Conqueror successfully invaded and established Norman rule over England.

The Angevin Empire

The Angevin Empire was a powerful political entity that emerged from the union of the Anglo-Norman kings of England and the Counts of Anjou in France. It reached its zenith under King Henry II, who became King of England in 1154.

• 1152: Henry’s marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine brought vast French territories, including Aquitaine, under his control.
• 1154–1189: Under Henry II, the Angevin Empire stretched from Scotland in the north to the Pyrenees in the south, encompassing England, Normandy, Anjou, Aquitaine, and more.
• However, the empire faced constant pressure from the kings of France, who sought to incorporate the Angevin lands into their kingdom.

The decline of the Angevin Empire began with Henry’s son, King John:

• 1204: King John lost most of the French territories, including Normandy, to King Philip II of France. This marked a significant contraction of the Angevin Empire.
• 1216: Prince Louis of France invaded England, aiming to claim the throne with French support. However, after King John’s death and negotiations with English barons, Louis withdrew in 1217, ending the immediate threat.

The Hundred Years’ War

The final struggle over the remnants of the Angevin Empire culminated in the Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453), a prolonged conflict between England and France. While primarily a territorial dispute, the war also had significant economic and dynastic elements.

• 1337: The war began when King Edward III of England claimed the French throne, seeking to restore English dominance in France.
• The wine trade of Gascony, particularly from Aquitaine, was an essential economic driver for England, making the control of French territories even more critical.

The war can be divided into key phases:

1. Early English Successes (1337–1360)
   • Major victories at Crécy (1346) and Poitiers (1356) enabled England to expand its territories in France. The Treaty of Brétigny (1360) marked the peak of English influence.
2. Decline and Resurgence (1360–1422)
   • English fortunes waned under later rulers. However, King Henry V revitalised the war effort.
   • 1415: The famous victory at Agincourt demonstrated English military superiority, leading to a renewed English presence in France.
   • 1420: The Treaty of Troyes recognised Henry V as the heir to the French throne.
3. Final French Victory (1428–1453)
   • After Henry V’s death in 1422, English control in France began to erode.
   • The emergence of Joan of Arc rallied French forces, shifting momentum in favour of the French.
   • 1453: The decisive Battle of Castillon marked the end of the war and the collapse of English rule in France, except for the port of Calais.

Conclusion

The Viking and Angevin empires illustrate England’s complex role in medieval European geopolitics. The Viking era brought military dominance and cultural exchange, but ended with the Norman conquest. The Angevin Empire demonstrated the reach of English kings but also highlighted the challenges of maintaining such vast and diverse territories. The Hundred Years’ War marked the final attempt to reclaim an empire in France, ultimately leading to England’s focus on domestic and maritime power in the centuries to follow.