CHAPTER V

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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

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