7.1 why was eadred so successful when dealing with the vikings? Flashcards
What type of king is Eadred known as? Why?
‘Care-taker’ king, Edmund’s (his brother) eldest child is 9 years old when Edmund died
What is significant about Eadred’s coronation?
He was crowned in Kingston-upon-Thames
Border between Mercia and Wessex
Aethelstan was crowned here
Why was Eadred respected as a King?
Good relations built with Scottish king (Owain) and Earl of Northumbria (Oswulf)
What happened in 947 with Northumbria?
Who did the earls prefer?
What happened as a result?
Northumbria allied with Eric Bloodaxe (viking, half brother of Hakon of Norway, he was raised in court with eadred)
Hakon
Bloodaxe was removed from his throne in Norway
How did Eadred deal with vikings in 947?
Was this successful? What did it provide?
THROUGH FEAR
947 Eadred marches North
948 burnt down a town called Rippon/Ripton
Threatened to arrest and hand Wulfstan I (archbishop of york=northumbria)
Yes, provided England with unity
What are the 4 reasons on why Eadred was able to defeat the vikings?
Luck
Weak viking leaders
Controlling the north (diplomacy)
Fear/reputation
Why is Eadred’s succession to the throne unusual? Why?
He faced very little opposition
Had no wife or kids
What happened in 947 in the timeline of Viking-Saxon conflict?
947- constant on and off alliance between Northumbrians and Vikings, 947 Eadred gets oath of loyalty but within a year Northumbrians allied with Bloodaxe again>Eadred=angry
What happened in 948 and 950 in the timeline of Viking-Saxon conflict?
948- Eadred attacked Rippon and tried to become minister there, when Eadred retreated he was attacked by Northumbrians, they allied with him when Eadred threatened to obliterate the North, lasted until 950>Northumbrians rebelled by 951
What happened in 951 in the timeline of Viking-Saxon conflict?
951- Northumbrians allied with Olaf Sihtricsson, Eadred drove him out as soon as he arrived
What happened in 952 in the timeline of Viking-Saxon conflict?
952- Wulfstan I is accused of plotting against Eadred=arressted after Bloodaxe’s arrival, his arrest shows how worried Eadred was about betrayal
What happened in 954 in the timeline of Viking-Saxon conflict?
954- Northumbrians welcomed Eadred back as king after driving Bloodaxe out
What are the 2 possible ways that Bloodaxe could have allegedly been murdered?
What are each of their motives?
1- murdered by Earl of Northumbria (Oswulf). Earl expanded his territory after Bloodaxe’s death>motive?
2- murdered by Earl Marcus (son of Olaf Guthfritshsson or Olaf Sihtricsson. Both sides had blood feuds>motive?
Why was the murder of Bloodaxe beneficial for Eadred?
Eadred is now KIng of England in full right, without any involvment>eliminated potential problems…
What would the potential problems be for Eadred if Bloodaxe was murdered by Earl Oswulf and Marcus?
Oswulf-Hakon (brother) would be honour-bound to start a blood feud in revenge
Marcus-matter to be decided between 2 different Norse royal families (Dublin and Norway)
