1.1.4 King Cnut

Question 1

What was the result of the Battle of Brunanburh?

Answer 1

After Alfred the Great’s victory, the Viking threat was greatly reduced
- Alfred’s grandson, Athelstan, defeated the Vikings again at the Battle of Brunanburh in 937, and England experienced a period of piece

Question 2

What happened when King Edgar the Peaceful died?

Answer 2

Things began to unravel

Question 3

When and how did Aethelred become king?

Answer 3

978 - after his supporters murdered his half-brother Edward

Question 4

How was Aethelred considered to be?

Answer 4

Aethelred was considered a or judge of character and was taken advantage of by his advisors

Question 5

Describe King Aethelred’s reign, 978-1013 (3)

Answer 5

• A huge Viking army, led by Dane Sven Forkbeard and the Norwegian Olaf Tryggvason, arrived at Folkestone in a fleet of over 90 ships
• The Vikings defeated the English at the Battle of Maldon in 991. Aethelred paid them to leave - and the taxes raised to pay for this became known as Danegeld (money for the Danish). This cost a fortune - about £1.8 million in today’s money. It made the English angry because of the taxes that were needed to pay for it
• To stop paying Danegeld, Aethelred made a deal with the Normans which stated that they would support each other against their enemies. This meant that the Vikings would not be able to use Normandy as a base to launch attacks on Britain. This did not stop the Vikings from attempting to conquer Britain

Question 6

Describe the timeline of events that happened with Edmund and Cnut from 1014-35 (6)

Answer 6

• Nov. 1002: Aethelred carries out a mass killing of all Viking men, women and children that he can find south of the Danelaw. This becomes known as the St Brice’s Day Massacre
• 1013: Sven Forkbeard, the king of Denmark is angered by the massacre (his sister has been murdered) so he summons a large army and conquers England. Aethelred flees
• 1014: Forkbeard dies and is succeeded by his young son, Cnut. Aethelred returns to England and forces Cnut back to Denmark. Aethelred is now back on the throne
• 1014-16: Cnut’s supporters in England rebel against Aethelred; Athelred’s own son joins the rebellion
• April 1016: Aethelred dies and his son, Edmund, becomes king
• October 1016: Cnut finally gets the better of King Edmund and beats him at the Battle of Assandun in Essex. Cnut and Edmund then agree that: Wessex will belong to Edmund, the rest of the country will be run by Cnut, and when one of them dies, the other will inherit the land. About a month later Edmund dies and Cnut becomes king of all England

Question 7

Who is Sven Forkbeard?

Answer 7

King of Denmark

Question 8

Who is Sven Forkbeard’s son - he inherits the throne in 1014

Answer 8

Cnut

Question 9

When Cnut beats King Edmund at the Battle of Assandun in Essex, what 3 points do they agree on?

Answer 9

• Wessex will belong to Edmund
• The rest of the country will be run by Cnut
• When one of them dies, the other will inherit the land

Question 10

In what year did Cnut declare himself King of England?

Answer 10

1016

Question 11

Why did Cnut see Britain as his main domain rather than part of the Danish Empire?

Answer 11

It was his richest kingdom

Question 12

What were the good things about how Britain changed under Cnut’s rule? (4)

Answer 12

• He divided the kingdom into earldoms, with an individual earl ruling each one, in order to run the country effectively.
• His reign was a peaceful time, since he sent most of his Viking soldiers back to Denmark
• Brought back the popular and peaceful laws of Edgar the Peaceful
• Saw Britain as his main domain, rather than a Danish colony

Question 13

What were the bad things about how Britain changed under Cnut’s rule? (5)

Answer 13

• Hostile takeover at the start of his reign
• He was tough with those Anglo-Saxons he thought might rebel against him
• Ordered the execution of a number of powerful Anglo-Saxons
• Transferred riches back to Denmark
• Danish nobles were given land

Question 14

What did Cnut think about religion?

Answer 14

Cnut encouraged religion in England to thrive: he was on good terms with the Pope and even visited him in Rome

Question 15

When did Cnut begin to rule countries too? (2)

Answer 15

• In 1018 Cnut became King of Denmark and in 1029 he became King of Norway
• He was therefore ruler of an empire that stretched from England across the North Sea and Scandinavia

Question 16

Describe Cnut’s relationship with Emma of Normandy and what this meant for him

Answer 16

Cnut married Emma of Normandy, sister of the Duke of Normandy and the widow of Aethelred. Emma united the Vikings and Anglo-Saxons when she married Aethelred, but for Cnut she symbolised the old and helped him forge his way in England. She brought lands to her marriage with Cnut, expanding his North Sea Empire. Her achievements were not solely linked with marriage; she proved to be a strong leader who was respected and intended to when Cnut travelled his empire. She also improved relations with the Church and helped to bring peace in England. Emma was renowned for being good with money - protecting not only Cnut’s but her own interests. Two of her children - Edward (her son with Aethelred) and Harthacnut (her son with Cnut) became Kings of England

Question 17

How many years did Cnut rule England for?

Answer 17

19 years

Question 18

When did Cnut marry Emma of Normandy?

Answer 18

1017

Question 19

How did Emma make sure that one of her sons could become King of England?

Answer 19

She wrote a book which explained her sons’ right to the throne

Question 20

How long did Edward (Emma’s son with Aethelred) rule England for?

Answer 20

He ruled England until 1066

Question 21

What is Normandy?

Answer 21

Normandy is what France was known as then

Question 22

Alfred’s grandson, Athelstan, defeated the Vikings again at the Battle of ____________ in 937, and England experienced a period of ______

Answer 22

Brunanburh, peace

Question 23

When did Cnut become King of Denmark?

Answer 23

1018

Question 24

When did Cnut become King of Norway?

Answer 24

1028

Question 25

When did Emma and Cnut’s son, Harthacnut, become king?

Answer 25

1040