The Background: Viking Invasions and the Struggle for the English Crown
The Viking Age, which began in the late 8th century, was marked by the relentless raids of Scandinavian warriors who targeted the wealth and resources of the British Isles. Over the centuries, these raids evolved from sporadic pillaging into full-scale invasions, and by the 10th century, Viking settlers had established powerful kingdoms in England, particularly in the north and east. The most prominent of these was the Danelaw, a region governed by Danish law and populated largely by Danish settlers.
The Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, meanwhile, struggled to hold onto their power. In 1013, a particularly ambitious Danish king, Sweyn Forkbeard, invaded England, capitalizing on the weakened state of the Anglo-Saxon monarchy under Æthelred the Unready. Æthelred had been struggling to defend his kingdom from Viking attacks for years and, in a desperate attempt to maintain control, ordered the mass expulsion of Danish settlers in England. This decision only worsened relations with the Danes, leading to Sweyn’s invasion and the eventual flight of Æthelred to Normandy.
Sweyn Forkbeard's reign in England, however, was short-lived. In 1014, after Sweyn’s sudden death, Æthelred was able to return to England and reclaim the throne, with the support of the English nobility. However, the peace was fragile, and the threat of Danish invasion remained looming over the Anglo-Saxon kingdom. shutdown123