9.2 why did aethelred II fail to deal with the return of the Vikings Flashcards
Aethelred failed to deal with the return of the Vikings, because of 4 reasons.
Name them based on things he could and could not control
Could control: Economy
Couldn’t control: Monastic crisis, change in Viking culture
What was the problem with Aethelred’s coin in 1013?
8% purity>problems with ealdormen, they need to be paid
Debased coin>inflation
What is tribute?
What is Danegeld?
Paying money to the enemy for peace
The tax to pay for tributes
How much tribute did Aethelred pay overall between 991-1014?
Why is this a problem?
£107,00
Tribute paying isn’t a long term solutions to the Vikings, they will continue raiding>conquest the whole of England
What is an argument that defends Aethelred for his tribute paying?
Even if Aethelred hadn’t paid large sums, tribute paying still would’ve been used, before 1012, regional leaders paid local tribute to ward off looting
How did the monastic crisis make it easier for the Vikings to beat Aethelred?
Ealdormen will form an alliance with Vikings
Ealdormen are already untrusty (murder of edward), had problems with land
What were most attacks like before Aethelred’s reign?
What major change occured?
Why?
Operated independently
New raids started to be co ordinated by a Danish royal government
Anglo Saxons had been keeping Vikings under control
Why did the Vikings shift their focus to England in the 11th century?
Where did they come from and what happened?
Weakness in English defences
Denmark, had become more organised and co-ordinated in their activity, had defence structures e.g. in Frykat -
How was this new Viking age organised?
What were they built like?
What does this give an indication of?
Where else was this organisation reflected?
Had defence structures e.g. in Frykat
Buhrs
Planning, designing and controlling strategies in a bigger scale
Viking sleets and armies
How do changes in Viking culture make it harder for Aethelred to defeat?
Defences aren’t reliable
