In the early 11th century, England was ruled by a powerful king named Æthelred the Unready. Despite his name, he was not unprepared for the threat that loomed on the horizon. The Vikings, who had been raiding England for centuries, were once again gathering their forces for an invasion.
In September of 1013, a massive fleet of Danish ships arrived at Sandwich on the southeast coast of England. Led by King Sweyn Forkbeard, they quickly overran Kent and then moved on to London.
At that time, London was not the sprawling metropolis we know today. It was a walled city with a population of around 10,000 people. Its most important feature was its bridge over the River Thames, which allowed it to control trade and communication between northern and southern England.
The Danes arrived at London in mid-December and began their attack. The defenders put up a fierce resistance, but they were eventually overwhelmed by sheer numbers. The city fell to the Danes on Christmas Day, 1013.
King Æthelred had fled to Normandy before the Danes arrived in London, leaving his son Edmund Ironside to lead the resistance. Despite his bravery and leadership skills, Edmund was unable to hold off the Danes alone.
The Danes quickly established themselves as rulers of London and began extracting tribute from the surrounding countryside. However, their victory was short-lived.
Less than two months after taking London, King Sweyn Forkbeard died suddenly. His son Cnut (also known as Canute) took over as leader of the Danish forces in England.
King Æthelred saw this as an opportunity to reclaim his throne and returned from Normandy with an army. He fought several battles against Cnut’s forces throughout 1014 but was unable to gain a decisive victory.
Finally, in November of that year, King Æthelred died. His son Edmund Ironside took over as king and continued the fight against the Danes.
Edmund and Cnut fought several battles over the next few months, with neither side gaining a clear advantage. Finally, in April of 1016, the two kings met in a decisive battle at Ashingdon in Essex.
The battle was fierce, but Cnut’s forces were ultimately victorious. Edmund was forced to flee and eventually agreed to a treaty that divided England between him and Cnut.
So, did the Danes take London? Yes, they did.
But their victory was short-lived, and they were eventually defeated by King Æthelred’s son Edmund Ironside. The Danish conquest of England would have to wait until Cnut’s successful invasion in 1016.
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