Medieval and Middle Ages History Timelines (original) (raw)

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Historical events occurring between 1001 and 1025

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Danish raids on Sussex and Devon. ¹

Aethelred was forced to pay the Danes that were camped on the Isle of Wight another large amount of money for them to leave.

Nov

##### Aethelred marries Emma

Nov

Aethelred paid the Vikings a sum of £24,000 to try and stop further invasions. In an attempt to strengthen his position against the Vikings he married Emma, the daughter of Richard Duke of Normandy. Aethelred also ordered the murder of all Danes in England but some escaped to report back. Not surprisingly the Viking attacks started again. ¹

Nov 13

##### Massacre of St Brice's day

Nov 13

Aethelred ordered the massacre of all Danes living in England because he was fearful of them plotting against him. The death toll was greatest in the south. In the north the number of Danes and their close relationships to the Saxons made the order more difficult to perform. One of those killed was Gunhilde, the sister of Sweyn Forkbeard, the wife of Palig, also a Dane and living in England a hostage as a condition of peace. It is possible that in revenge for the murder of Gunhilde that the Danes invaded England and took control of the English throne.

A Viking raiding fleet landed in Norfolk. The Ealdorman in the area was Ulfcetel who ordered some men to reach and burn the Viking ships to strand Swein. The plan failed and Ulfcetel's small army was defeated by the Vikings.

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##### John XVIII becomes Pope

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##### Aelfheah becomes Archbishop of Canterbury

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##### Malcolm II becomes Kings of the Scots

Malcolm killed his cousin Kenneth III to become Malcolm II, King of the Scots.

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##### Destruction of Walingford

The Danes, led by Swein, attacked and destroyed the river crossing at Wallingford. ¹

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##### Reading attacked by the Danes

The Danes attacked and burnt the town or Reading. ¹

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##### Aefheah becomes Archbishop of Canterbury

Aefheah, formerly the bishop of Winchester became the Archbishop of Canterbury.

At a -7.5 visual magnitude, this supernova could be the brightest stellar event to be recorded. Civilisations around the world recorded the same event that was visible for several months. The minus figure indicating that it as a bright event as the magnitude scale runs backwards.

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##### Danes repeatedly attack England

Swein Fork-Beard repeatedly attacked England over several years destroying the land.

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##### Church of the Holy Sepulchre destroyed

The unstable sixth Caliph of Egypt, Al-Hakim, ordered the destruction of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

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##### Sergius IV becomes Pope

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The Danes were paid a large sum of money, known as the Danegeld, to leave England.

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##### Benedict VIII is elected Pope

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##### Aethelred goes into exile

Aethelred had to abandon his country to Swein and went to Normandy to join his wife Emma and his sons.

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##### Harald II becomes King of Denmark

As Swein's eldest son Harald became King of Denmark when Swein died. Harald controlled Denmark while his younger brother Canute was in England.

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##### London Bridge destroyed

An attempt was made by Ethelred II to take back his throne from the Danes. He was assisted by Olaf of Norway and sailed up the Thames to London. The tactic was to destroy the wooden bridge and so divide the Danish army. The bridge was heavily defended and so by using rafts with coverings to protect those onboard Ethelred's men were able to get close enough to place ropes around the bridge piles. Then by rowing back down stream they managed to pull the piles from the riverbed and sections of the bridge fell down. ¹

Swein Fork-Beard died. Canute left England not sure of his ability to hold the country but returned a year later. Aethelred sent ambassadors to England, including his own son Edward (later the Confessor) to negotiate a possible return. ¹

Uhtred, the earl of Northumbria, was murdered by a fellow lord. This started a family blood-feud that lasted several generations.

Apr

##### Edmund II (Ironside) becomes King

Apr

Edmund II became king at the death of his father Aethelred II in London. The people of London chose prince Edmund as king but it was short lived as the Southampton Witan chose Canute, who then invaded England.

Apr

##### Canute attempts to take the throne

Apr

Canute advanced on London for a fight with Aethelred but Aethelred died in the same month. London accepted Edmund Ironside as their ruler. Canute would have to defeat Edmund if he was to become King of England. ¹

May

##### Canute attacks London

May

Edmund had gone to Wessex to accept the support of the people there as the new king of England but Canute had reached London and was besieging its inhabitants. The Londoners held out against Canute's attempts to defeat them while Edmund travelled back to help. Edmund's army grew as he advanced towards Canute. The English won a couple of battles forcing the Danes to retreat and regroup but the Danes won the important battle at Ashingdon. ¹

Oct 18

##### Treaty between Canute and Edmund

Oct 18

Canute defeated Edmund Ironside at Ashingdon and a treaty was signed leaving Edmund with only the area of Wessex.

Nov 30

##### Canute becomes King of England

Nov 30

Edmund Ironside died only a month after the treaty with Canute. Canute then became King of England.

Canute arranged for a massive Danegeld to be paid to the Viking fleet. Happy with the sum of money they received from the English, the Viking army returned home leaving just a small number of ships under the control of Canute.

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##### Harald II of Denmark dies

The Scots led by Malcolm II defeated the Northumbrians at the Battle of Carham. The actual date of the battle is confused and could have been two years earlier.

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##### Constantine VIII becomes the Byzantine emperor