Anglo-Viking treaty of 994 facts for kids
The story of King Æthelred II, sometimes called Æthelred the Unready, and the Viking warriors is about a time when Vikings often raided the south-west of England. These raids caused a lot of trouble for the English people.
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The First Peace Treaty: 991
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After the Vikings won a big battle against the English at Maldon in 991, they kept attacking different parts of southern England. King Æthelred wanted to stop these attacks. So, he signed a peace treaty with the Vikings.
He promised to give them food and a large payment of £10,000. This payment was called Danegeld. In return, the Vikings agreed to stop their attacks and even help England if other enemies tried to invade. A very important Viking leader at this time was Olaf Tryggvason. He later became the king of Norway. Sadly, this agreement did not last, and Viking raids started again soon after.
The Second Peace Treaty: 994
King Æthelred II tried to make peace with the Vikings again in 994. This was after a year of many heavy Viking attacks. This new treaty is sometimes called "II Æthelred." It was made between Æthelred and three leaders of the Norwegian Viking armies: Guthmund Steitason, Josteinn, and Olaf Tryggvason. In the old documents, Olaf was called Anlaf.
Just like in the 991 treaty, the Vikings were asked to help protect England from other groups that might threaten peace. This included protection from other Vikings! The raiders were paid again, but this time the Danegeld was even more: £16,000.
Forgiving Past Actions
This treaty also had a special part about forgiving past actions. It said that all the fighting, raiding, and harm done before the peace was made would be forgotten. No one could seek revenge or ask for money for past wrongs. This was one of the first times a document before the year 1200 clearly stated that neither side could ask for payment for anything that happened before the agreement.
Rules for Future Problems
The agreement also explained how any future arguments would be handled. For example, if the English killed more than eight Viking men, it would be seen as breaking the peace and starting a war. But if a Viking soldier killed an English person, only that Viking would be punished. This shows that King Æthelred was willing to make big compromises to get peace and military help.
What Happened Next?
After the agreement was made, Olaf Tryggvason was invited to Andover. He was honored there and became a Christian. King Æthelred was his sponsor, which means he supported Olaf in his baptism. Just like in 991, Olaf promised he would never attack England again. This time, he kept his promise.
After this, Olaf is not mentioned in English history books like the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle anymore. Instead, he appears in some of the oldest stories from Scandinavia. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle says that Olaf received gifts when he met King Æthelred in Andover. These gifts might have included money or ships to help him conquer Norway.
Scandinavian stories also say that Olaf was given priests to help him turn Norway into a Christian country. Between 995 and 1000, Olaf successfully helped convert Norway, Iceland, Greenland, and the Shetlands to Christianity. So, while a peace treaty was signed in 994, it is also possible that the meeting at Andover led to the English royal family and Olaf becoming friends and allies.
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