Chapter V

THE DANISH CONQUEST OF ENGLAND. 975–1016.
Character and reign of Æthelred 260–263

§ 1. _Reign of Eadward the Martyr._ 975–979.
975 Death of Eadgar; reaction against the monks 263–264
Disputed election to the Crown; election of Eadward;
banishment of Oslac of Northumberland 264–266

§ 2. _From the election of Æthelred to the first dispute with
Normandy._ 979–1000.
979 Murder of Eadward; election of Æthelred 266
979–988 Death of Dunstan; various internal events 267–268
980–982 Beginning of Danish inroads; characters of Swegen and
Olaf 268–270
988–993 Beginning of Danish attempts at settlement 268
991 Norwegian invasion; battle of Maldon and death of
Brihtnoth 270–276
The Danes first bought off; Ealdorman Ælfric 277–279
992 Naval victory of the English; treason of Ælfric 279–280
Greatness of London 280–283
993 Ravages in the North; treason of Godwine and others 283–284
988–991 Affairs of Wales 284–285
991 Dispute between Æthelred and Richard appeased by Pope
John the Fifteenth; increasing connexion between
England and Normandy 285–287

§ 3. _From the first dispute with Normandy to the Massacre of Saint
Brice._ 991–1002.
994 Great combined expedition of Olaf and Swegen; attack
on London defeated by the citizens; Æthelred buys
peace 287–289
994–1000 Peace with Olaf; his later days 289–291
994–1003 Inaction of Swegen 291
995 Meetings of the Witenagemót; Ælfric elected
Archbishop; Translation of the Bernician Bishopric
to Durham 291–294
996–998 Gemóts of Cealcyth, Calne, and London; legislation 294–295
997–999 Renewed ravages and inefficient resistance 295–297
Causes of inefficient resistance 297–299
1000 Character of Æthelred; he ravages Cumberland 299–301
Second quarrel with Normandy; alleged English
invasion of the Côtentin 301–303
1002 Marriage of Æthelred and Emma; its results 303–307
1000 Expected end of the world; condition of Europe and
Asia 307–308
1001 Invasion of Sussex; treason of Pallig; defence of
Exeter; Battle of Pinhoe 308–312
1001–1002 Meetings of the Witan; fresh payments to the Danes 312–315
1002 Massacre of the Danes; its probable extent 315–316
Burning of Saint Frithswyth’s church at Oxford;
murder of Gunhild 316

§ 4. _From the Massacre of Saint Brice to Swegen’s Conquest of
England._ 1002–1013.
1003 Results of the Massacre; invasion by Swegen in
person; Exeter betrayed by Hugh the Frenchman 317–318
Renewed treason of Ælfric; Swegen sacks Salisbury 318–321
1004 Exploits of Ulfcytel of East-Anglia; Swegen burns
Norwich and Thetford; his drawn battle with
Ulfcytel 322–325
1005 Year of respite and famine 325
1006 Rise and character of Eadric; murder of Ælfhelm 326–328
Malcolm of Scotland besieges Durham; the city
delivered by Uhtred 328–330
1006 Great devastation of the Danes in Wessex 330–332
1007 Witenagemót of Shrewsbury; tribute paid again 333
1007–1008 Two years’ respite; Eadric Ealdorman of the Mercians 333–334
1008–1009 Legislation; decree for the formation of a fleet 334–339
The fleet raised by assessments; origin of ship-money 339–341
1009 Alleged Embassy to Normandy; Richard’s treaty with
Swegen 341–343
The fleet assembled at Sandwich; quarrel of Wulfnoth
and Brihtric; dispersion of the fleet 343–344
1009–1010 Invasion of Thurkill; vain attack on London; Oxford
burned 344–346
1010 Last year of resistance; Ulfcytel’s battle at
Ringmere; hopeless state of the country 346–350
1011 Peace again purchased; Eadric invades Wales 350–352
Siege and capture of Canterbury; captivity of Ælfheah 352–354
1012 Martyrdom of Ælfheah 354–355
Money paid to the Danes; Thurkill joins the English 355–356
1013 Swegen’s last invasion; the North submits 356–358
He ravages Mercia and is repulsed from London 358–360
The West-Saxons submit; Swegen acknowledged King;
London submits 360–361
1013–1014 Æthelred and his family take refuge in Normandy 361–362

§ 5. _From the Conquest of England by Swegen to the Death of Æthelred._
1013–1016.
Importance of Swegen’s Conquest as preparatory to
William’s 362–364
1014 Death of Swegen 365–366
Double election to the Crown; the Danes choose Cnut;
the English Witan vote the restoration of Æthelred 367–368
Return and legislation of Æthelred 368–370
Æthelred drives out Cnut; position of Thurkill 370–371
1015 Witenagemót of Oxford; murder of Sigeferth and
Morkere 371–374
The Ætheling Eadmund marries Ealdgyth and establishes
himself in the Five Boroughs 374
Cnut returns; he ravages Wessex and is joined by
Eadric; Wessex submits to Cnut 375–377
1016 Cnut and Eadric invade Mercia; Eadmund and Uhtred in
the North; submission and murder of Uhtred 377–379
Cnut sails towards London 380
Death of Æthelred 380

§ 6. _The War of Cnut and Eadmund._ 1016.
Double election of Cnut and Eadmund; short and
glorious reign of Eadmund 380–383
Eadmund acknowledged in Wessex; Cnut’s fresh siege of
London 383–384
Battle of Pen Selwood; victory of Eadmund 384–385
Battle of Sherstone; victory doubtful 385–387
Cnut renews the siege of London; Eadric joins Eadmund 387
Battles of London and Brentford; third siege of
London 387–388
Cnut ravages Mercia; battle of Otford 388–389
Battle of Assandun; treason of Eadric; final victory
of Cnut 389–394
Conference of Olney and division of the Kingdom 395–398
Death and burial of Eadmund 398–400