Denmark Flashcards
Kanhave Canal
726, Samso Island, 11m / 1km
Not maintained after being built
Danevirke renewed
737 (main and north rampart)
Also underwater barrier in Schlei Fjord (next to what became Hedeby)
Ribe
c. 700
Symmetrical plots suggests top-down organisation
Saxon King Widukind fled to “Sigfred king of the Danes”
777
Franks conquer Saxony
804
Godfred destroys Reric
808
Was a Slavic trading centre
Strategic trade route for Charlemagne
Moved traders to Sliesthorp, which became Hedeby (c. 811)
Godfred has the king of the Obodrites killed
809
Godfred ravishes Frisia
810
200 ships, Frisia pays over 100 p
Skills of Godfred
- cavalry and a large fleet
- Understood value of merchants and tolls
- Public works
- capable of great feats e.g. moving the people of Reric
- clearly formidable to the Franks
Successor of Godfred
his nephew Hemming
Civil war after Hemming
d. 812, Sons of Godfred vs. Harald Klak and Reginfred
Response of Frankia to civil war in Denmark
aggressive policy 814-840 under Louis
Repulsed in attack 815
Frankish aggressive policies
- threatening military campaigns
- political negotiations
- supporting exiles
- extending patronage to willing Danes in return for support
- sending missionaries
Success of Frankish attempts in Denmark?
- Harald Klak couldnt hold onto power even with Frankish support
- Converting Harald Klak may have been a mistake as made Danes more antagonistic towards him as a Frankish puppet
Horik
Sole ruler of Denmark c. 827
