The Viking Invasion

This section explores the Viking Invasion of England and how it was handled by the Anglo-Saxons. In the Middle Ages, England faced a series of major invasions that shaped its political, cultural, and social development. The Vikings were the first group to challenge Anglo-Saxon society and brought about significant changes.

Handling the Vikings

The Viking invasions, which began in the late 8th century, posed a serious threat to Anglo-Saxon England. These raiders were from Scandinavia and carried out brutal attacks along England’s coasts. Over time, the Vikings sought more than just plunder, eventually trying to establish settlements in England. The Saxon kings’ ability to cope with the Vikings varied, with different rulers adopting different strategies.

King Alfred: Confrontation, Conversion, and Coexistence

Alfred the Great, King of Wessex, is one of the most famous English monarchs, partly because of his successful efforts to resist Viking invasions. Alfred’s reign marked a turning point in the Viking saga.

• Confrontation: Faced with the growing Viking threat in the 9th century, Alfred initially fought the Vikings in a series of battles. His most famous victory came in 878 at the Battle of Edington, where Alfred decisively defeated the Viking leader Guthrum and his army. Alfred’s military strategy, including the use of fortified towns known as burhs, helped to protect Wessex and allowed him to regroup.
• Conversion: After his victory at Edington, Alfred made peace with Guthrum, and one of the terms of the peace settlement was that Guthrum and his warriors would convert to Christianity. Guthrum was baptised at Alfred’s court, with Alfred becoming his godfather. This marked a significant shift in the relationship between the Anglo-Saxons and the Danes, as many Vikings were now Christians.
• Coexistence: The peace between Alfred and Guthrum led to the creation of the Danelaw, an area in northern and eastern England under Viking control, where Danish laws were applied. This agreement allowed for peaceful coexistence between the Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings, with both groups sharing the country, although tensions remained.

King Ethelred: Money, Marriage, and Massacre

Alfred’s great-great-grandson, King Ethelred the Unready, faced renewed Viking invasions in the late 10th century. Unlike Alfred, Ethelred struggled to deal with the Viking threat, and his reign was marked by a series of failures.

• Money: Initially, Ethelred attempted to buy off the Vikings through Danegeld, a form of tribute or "protection money" paid to the Danes in the hope that they would leave England in peace. However, this policy only encouraged the Vikings to demand more money, and it failed to stop the raids.
• Marriage: In an attempt to strengthen his position, Ethelred arranged a political marriage to Emma of Normandy in 1002. Emma was the sister of the Duke of Normandy, and the marriage was hoped to bring Norman support to help defend against the Vikings. However, the marriage failed to prevent the continued Viking attacks.
• Massacre: In 1002, after several years of Viking raids, Ethelred ordered the St. Brice's Day Massacre, where all Danes living in England were killed. This act of vengeance, however, backfired, as it provoked a fierce response from the Vikings.

King Cnut: Revenge, Re-Marriage, and Restoration

Following the St. Brice’s Day Massacre, the Vikings sought revenge. Sweyn Forkbeard, the Danish king, invaded England in 1003, and by 1014 he had conquered much of the kingdom. After Sweyn’s death in 1014, his son Cnut (Canute) continued his father’s campaign, eventually becoming the king of England in 1016.

• Revenge: Cnut’s conquest of England was part of a long period of Viking revenge following the massacre. Cnut waged a series of successful campaigns, eventually defeating the Anglo-Saxon forces led by King Edmund Ironside in 1016, securing his rule over the entire kingdom.
• Re-marriage: Cnut married Emma of Normandy, the widow of Ethelred, in 1017. This political marriage was intended to help stabilise his reign and ensure that the Anglo-Saxon nobility accepted his rule. It also helped to bridge the gap between the Anglo-Saxon and Viking populations.
• Restoration: Once in power, Cnut worked to consolidate his rule. He sent many Viking warriors back to Denmark and began to rule with a sense of fairness, making generous donations to the church and promoting a strong central government. He also successfully managed the tensions between the Anglo-Saxon and Viking populations, maintaining peace throughout his reign.

By the time Cnut’s reign ended in 1035, the Viking threat had largely been neutralised, and England was relatively stable under Viking control. However, the kingdom would soon face another threat—the Normans.