Cnut the Great's invasion of England facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cnut the Great's Invasion of England |
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| Part of the Viking Invasions of England | |||||||||
 Ashingdon hill, possible location of the battle of Assandun |
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Kingdom of Denmark | Kingdom of England | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Cnut the Great | Edmund II  Eadnoth the Younger † Ulfcytel Snillingr † |
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| Strength | |||||||||
| unknown | unknown | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| unknown | unknown | ||||||||
In the autumn of 1016, a Danish prince named Cnut the Great successfully invaded England. Cnut's father, Sweyn Forkbeard, had also conquered England for a short time before. This invasion was part of a larger series of Viking attacks on England.
Cnut's Invasion of England
Cnut the Great's invasion was a major event in English history. It led to a Danish king ruling England. This period saw many battles between the English and Danish armies.
The Battle of Brentford
The Battle of Brentford took place in 1016. It was fought between the English army, led by King Edmund Ironside, and the Danish army, led by Cnut. This battle happened between May and October of that year.
King Edmund won this particular battle. The English chased the Danish forces back to their ships. However, some English soldiers were careless and drowned while trying to plunder. Even though Edmund won at Brentford, he struggled to defend his father's lands overall.
The Battle of Assandun
The Battle of Assandun was a very important fight. It happened on October 18, 1016. This battle was the final major clash between the Danish and English armies.
There is some debate about where Assandun was located. Historians think it was either near Ashdon or Ashingdon in Essex, England. The battle ended with a clear victory for Cnut and his Danish forces. This win completed the Danish takeover of England.
During the battle, a bishop named Eadnoth the Younger was killed by Cnut's men. He was saying prayers for Edmund Ironside's soldiers. Another important English leader, Ulfcytel Snillingr, also died in this battle.
After the Battle
After his defeat at Assandun, King Edmund Ironside had to sign a treaty with Cnut. This agreement divided England between them. Cnut would control all of England except for Wessex. The treaty also said that if one king died, the other would rule all of England. The surviving king's son would then become the heir.
King Edmund died shortly after, on November 30, 1016. This meant Cnut became the sole King of England. To remember the soldiers who died, Cnut built a church. This church, known as Ashingdon Minster, was finished in 1020. It still stands today. Cnut even appointed his own priest, Stigand, to serve there. The church is now dedicated to Saint Andrew, but it might have originally been for Saint Michael, a saint often linked with military victories.
