Anglo-Saxon England Chapter VII Appendix 1 Appendix 2 E-mail Author

APPENDIX 1

A COMPARISON OF THREE PRIMARY SOURCES FOR THE REIGN OF CNUT THE GREAT

Date Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Florence of Worcester William of Malmsbury
1010 East Anglians flee from battle with Danes

Danes plunder in south

Futility of English response

Danes plunder Oxford

Battle of Ringmere and plunder of East Anglia

Danes enter Wessex and Wiltshire

Note: Dates are generally not clear so events have been placed in the most likely year.
1011 English sue for peace

Country over run

Futility of English reaction

Canterbury besieged, Ælfeah captive,

Ælfeah later martyred

English sue for peace

Danes besieged and captured Canterbury.

Population decimated, 804 killed

Alphege captured and tortured


1012 48000 lb tribute paid.

Ælfeah martyred and buried at London

45 ships remain for pay

48000 lb tribute paid.

Alphege martyred and buried at London

45 ships remain to defend England


1013 Lyfing appointed Archbishop

Svein at Gainsborough

Northumbrians and Lindsey submit

Living made Archbishop of Canterbury

Svein in England

Cnut in charge of ships

Northumbria and Lindsey submit

Living made Archbishop

Turkill, chief cause of martydom settled in East Anglia

15 ships enter kings service

Swegn came to England at urging of Turkill and to avenge his sister, landed at Sandwich

Northumbria submits followed by whole north

1014 Svein died

Ælfwig became bishop of London

Cnut elected king by fleet

English witan choses Æthelred

Danish kings outlawed

Cnut gets supplies from Lindsey. Æthelred attacks and drives him off

Hostages mutilated

21000 lbs paid to army at Greenwich

Sea flood caused great damage

Svein died at Gainsborough, killed by St Edmund

Cnut elected king by Danes

English receive Æthelred by treaty

Cnut gets supplies from Lindsey. Æthelred attacks and drives him off

Hostages mutilated

Tribute paid to fleet

Cnut returned to Denmark

Swegn died, killed by St Edmund

Cnut chosen king by Danes

Angles chose return of Æthelred

Æthelred surprised Cnut and drove him off

Hostages mutilated

Sea flood caused great damage

1015 Sigeferth and Morcar murdered by Eadric Streona

Edmund married Sigeferth's widow against will of Æthelred

Cnut arrived at Sandwich and attacked west

Force gathered by Eadric and Edmund but disbanded due to mutual suspicions

40 ships from London join Cnut

West Saxons submit to Cnut

Sigeferth and Morcar murdered by Eadric Streona

Edmund married Sigeferth's widow against will of Æthelred

Cnut arrived at Sandwich and attacked west

Force gathered by Eadric and Edmund but disbanded due to mutual suspicions

40 ships from London join Cnut

West Saxons submit to Cnut

Ethelwold, Bishop of Winchester died, succeded by Elfwin

Council at Oxford, king commanded Sigeferth and Morcar put to death, killed by Eadric

Edmund married Sigeferth's widow against wishes of Æthelred

Edmund born of unknown mother

Cnut settled affairs in Denmark and came to Sandwich

Edmund attempted to resist but thwarted by Eadric

Eadric came to Cnut with 40 ships

West Saxons submit to Cnut

Æthelred stays in London while Cnut gains rest of country

1016 Cnut attacked Mercia

English army gathered and disbanded (twice)

Devastation of midlands by both armies

Edmund returned to London

Northumbria submits & Uhtred killed. Eric made Earl

Cnut returned south

Æthelred died in London

London elects Edmund

London besieged

Battle at Pen fought

Battle at Scearstan, deceit of Eadric

3rd army raised siege of London and defeated Danes at Brentford

Danes plunder Mercia

4th army defeats Danes in Kent

Danes victorious at Assandun by retreat of Eadric

Cnut and Edmund meet at Deerhurst

Edmund got Wessex & Cnut Mercia

Army wintered at London

Edmund died at London and buried at Glastonbury

Wulfgar, abbot of Abingdon died succeeded by Æthelsige

Cnut attacked Mercia

English army gathered and disbanded (twice)

Devastation of midlands by both armies

Edmund returned to London

Northumbria submits & Uhtred killed. Eric made Earl

Cnut returned south

Æthelred died in London as predicted by Dunstan

Cnut elected king at Southampton, London elects Edmund

London besieged

Danes defeated at Battle of Pen

English defeated at Scearstan by deceit of Eadric

3rd army raised siege of London and defeated Danes at Brentford

Danes plunder Mercia

4th army defeats Danes at Otford

English defeated at Assandun by retreat of Eadric

Cnut and Edmund meet at Deerhurst

Edmund got south & Cnut north

Army wintered at London

Edmund died at London and buried at Glastonbury

Cnut made king based on agreement with Edmund

Edwy banished

Sons of Edmund exiled and eventually go to Hungary

Leofsy, abbot of Thorney succeeded at Worcester

Devastation of midlands by both armies

Cnut learns Edmund at London

Northumbria submits & Uhtred killed. Eric made Earl, later banished for being too powerful

Æthelred died in London

London elects Edmund

Wessex submits to Edmund

Danes routed at Battle of Penn

Drawn battle at Scearstan, deceit of Eadric

Edmund raised siege of London and defeated Danes at Brentford

English defeated at Assandun, Edmund fled to Gloucester

Cnut and Emund meet and division of kingdom proposed

Edmund got Wessex & Cnut Mercia

Edmund died soon after and buried at Glastonbury, rumored killed at instigation of Eadric

Edwin driven from England, died on return, buried at Tavistock

Edwins sons sent to Sweden to be killed, exiled in Hungary. Youngest married Agatha, sister of queen

Alfred and Edward exiled in Normandy. Richard did not aid nephews to recover kingdom but married his sister Emma to Cnut

Robert's plan to recover kingdom for nephews opposed by God (contrary winds)

1017 Cnut succeeded to kingdom and divided England into 4 parts

Eadric ordered slain at London (very rightly)

Norman, Æthelward and Brihtric slain

Edwy outlawed and killed

Edwy, prince of churls outlawed

Cnut married Emma

Cnut divided England into 4 parts

Eadric ordered slain at London

Norman, Æthelward and Brihtric slain, Leofric replaced Norman

Edwy outlawed and killed

Edwy, prince of churls outlawed but reconciled

Cnut married Emma

Concord with people to disregard past animosities

Cnut succeeded to kingdom & ruled 20 years. Affable and firm king. Kingdom divided into 4 parts

Eadric ordered strangled and body thrown into Thames - Just reward for his perfidy

Cnut married Emma. Probable reason for marriage: acceptance of English and favor with Richard

1018 72000 lb levied + 10500 from London

40 ships remained, rest returned to Denmark


English and Danes unanimous at Oxford to observe laws of Edgar

Abbot Æthelsige of Abingdon died succeeded by Æthelwine

72000 lb levied + 10500 from London

45 ships remained, rest returned to Denmark

English and Danes agree at Oxford to observe laws of Edgar

English given equal rights with Danes
1019 Cnut wintered in Denmark with 40 ships Cnut wintered in Denmark

Ælmar of Selsey died replaced by Ethelric

Cnut repaired monasteries throughout England and built churches in the places he fought, particularly Assingdon
1020 Lyfing died

Æthelnoth, dean hallowed bishop (of Canterbury)

Cnut returned to England

Council at Cirencester outlawed Æthelward and Eadwig, king of churls

Monastery at Assendun consecrated

Living died, succeeded by Ethelnoth

Cnut returned and held council at Cirencester

Ethelward outlawed

Church at Assendun consecrated

Aldhun died and Lindisfarne vacant for 3 years. Edmund elected bishop approved by St Cuthbert

Ethelnoth appointed archbishop after Living

Ethelnoth acts as advisor to king encouraging good actions

7th Glastonbury monk to be archbishop

Cnut built a princely church for St Edmund & appted abbot and monks

Cnut present at the consecration of Assingdon

1021 Thurkill outlawed

Algar of Elmham died

Thurkill banished

Algar of Elmham died succeeded by Alwin

Thurkill and Eric driven from kingdom, Thurkill because of accomplice to murder of St Elphege killed by Danes
1022 Cnut went with ships to Wight

Ethelnoth went to Rome for pallium & was honored by Bennedict

Abbot Leofwine driven unjustly from Ely cleared by pope

Ethelnoth went to Rome for pallium Ethelnoth honored at Rome
1023 Cnut came again to England

Reconciled with Thorkell who is made regent of Denmark

Wulfstan died, succeeded by Ælfric blessed by Æthelnoth

St Ælfheah translated to Canterbury. Emma & Harthacnut present at translation

Wulfstan died, succeeded by Ælfric Puttuc of Winchester

St Alphege translated to Canterbury

Body of St Elphege brought to Canterbury
1024 Richard succeeded by Robert in Normandy

1025 Cnut went to Denmark.

Battle at Holy River, many men died, Swedes have possession of place of carnage

Edmund, a monk, made bishop of Lindisfarne
1026 Ælfric went to Rome for pallium Ælfric went to Rome for pallium

Richard II died, eventually succeeded by Robert

Cnut at Glastonbury, presented tomb of Edmund with rich pall
1027
Cnut bribed Norwegians to depose Olaf which was accepted
1028 Cnut went with 50 ships to Norway and drove out Olaf Cnut subjected Norway, expelling Olaf
1029 Cnut returned to England

Christchurch given haven at Sandwich

Cnut returned to England

Hacon banished


1030 Hacon died at sea

Olaf killed by Norwegians and afterwards sainted

Hacon died at sea, some say slain at Orkney

Olaf, king and martyr wickedly slain by Norwegians


1031 Cnut went to Rome

After return went to Scotland where Malcolm submitted

Robert of Normandy died in Jerusalem. William, later king of England succeeded

Cnut went from Denmark to Rome and returned to Denmark

Letter delivered by Living, abbot of Tavistock and bishop of Crediton

Text of letter included:
freedom for English school & abolition of tolls, Cnut vowed to amend life

In 15th yr of reign, Cnut went to Rome to atone for his crimes & then returned to England

Letter included sent by hands of Living, abbot of Tavistock

Soon after return Scotland subdued

1032 Wildfire did harm in many places

Ælfsige of Winchester died, succeeded by Ælfwine, kings priest

Church of St Edmund dedicated Glastonbury given land grant by Cnut

Cnut sent gifts to foreign churches on advice of Ethelnoth

1033 Leofsige died, succeeded by Brihteh

Merehwit, bishop of Sommerset died, buried at Glastonbury

Leofsy of Hwiccas died, Brihteag, abbot of Pershore (nephew of Wulfstan) succeeded
1034 Eatheric died, buried at Ramsey

Malcolm of Scots died

Eatheric of Dorchester died, buried at Ramsey, Eadnoth succeeded

Malcolm of Scots died


1035 Cnut died at Shaftsbury, buried at Winchester

Harold succeeds - not Cnuts son?

Harold seized wealth from Emma

Cnut gave Norway to Sweyn

Rumors of Elfgiva's deceit regarding sons

Cnut died at Shaftsbury

Harold made regent

Harold siezed wealth from Emma

Kingdom divided with Harold getting north and Hardicanute the south

Robert died succeeded by William the Bastard

Cnute died at Shaftsbury and was buried at Winchester

Harold succeeded and reigned 4 years [1036]

Copyright 1998 William Bakken Last Update: Dec 29, 1998
Anglo-Saxon England Chapter VII Appendix 1 Appendix 2 E-mail Author