The Viking Storm Returns - England Under Siege
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The Viking Storm Returns - England Under Siege
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About this listen
The episode tells the story of England during the Viking invasions of the late 10th and early 11th centuries. After King Edgar’s death, Æthelred the Unready struggled to defend the realm against repeated Viking attacks, often paying huge tributes (Danegeld) that only encouraged further raids. The infamous St. Brice’s Day Massacre of 1002 enraged the Danes, leading King Sweyn Forkbeard of Denmark to conquer much of England. His sudden death in 1014 left the throne contested between his son Cnut and Æthelred’s heirs. After fierce battles, Edmund Ironside briefly resisted but died, leaving Cnut as King of England.
Cnut’s reign brought stability and prosperity, linking England to a wider North Sea Empire with Denmark and Norway. But after his death, his dynasty faltered, and Edward the Confessor of the House of Wessex restored Anglo-Saxon rule. The Viking storm left deep scars, showing England’s vulnerability yet also shaping it into a more interconnected kingdom. This turbulent chapter set the stage for the next great upheaval: the Norman Conquest.