Airdeconut facts for kids
Airdeconut (also known as Harðaknútr in Old Norse) was a Viking king who ruled in Northumbria, a region in northern England. Evidence from old coins suggests he was a Christian. He likely ruled around the year 900.
Discovering a New King
In 2011, a collection of old coins and jewelry was found near Silverdale, England. This discovery is known as the Silverdale Hoard. One special coin in this hoard had the name AIRDECONUT on one side. On the other side, it had the letters DNS REX. These letters are short for "Dominus Rex," which means "the Lord and King."
Experts at the British Museum believe that "Airdeconut" is a version of the Norse name Harthacnut. They also noticed that the coin's design was similar to coins from kings Siefredus and Cnut. These two kings ruled the Viking kingdom of Northumbria together between 895 and 905.
The coin is very important for another reason: it suggests Airdeconut was a Christian. The letters DNS REX on the back are arranged in the shape of a cross. This coin is the only proof we have that a ruler named Harthacnut existed in Northumbria. Dr. Gareth Williams, a coin expert at the British Museum, said that finding Airdeconut was the first time a new medieval English king had been discovered in over fifty years! It was also the first unknown Viking king found since 1840.
Northumbria's Viking History
Airdeconut was probably one of several kings who shared power in Viking Northumbria around the early 900s. This was a time when the region was not very stable. For example, in 902, Vikings who ruled in Dublin were forced to leave. Some of them came to England. Later, several of these Vikings became kings in York, a major city in Northumbria.
During this period, there was a lot of fighting. The Anglo-Saxons from areas like Mercia and Wessex often clashed with the Vikings in Northumbria. This conflict reached a major point in 910 at the Battle of Tettenhall. In this battle, an army from Wessex and Mercia worked together. They strongly defeated a Viking army that was raiding in Mercia. Several northern kings, including Eowils and Halfdan, were killed in this important battle.
See also
- Harthacnut I of Denmark
