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.

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

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.

Swein attacked the town of Wilton and possibly its abbey. ¹

Edward the Confessor is thought to have been born sometime between 1003 and 1005 at Islip in Oxfordshire. His father was Aethelred II, the Unready, and his mother was Emma of Normandy, daughter of Robert I, Earl of Normandy. ¹

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.

Aelfheah becomes Archbishop of Canterbury.

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

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

The Danes attacked and burnt the town or Reading. ¹

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.

Aethelred ordered England to build a massive fleet of ships. The people of England had to supply armour for the crew as well. It was a huge undertaking but was completed the following year.

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

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

The Vikings captured Canterbury and obtained a payment of £48,000. In a drunken rage the Vikings murdered Aelfheah, the Archbishop of Canterbury. Aelfheah was the man that had baptised Olaf Trygvasson in the Winter of 994. Outraged by the actions of his fellow men Thorkell the Tall defected to the side of Aethelred along with 45 Viking ships to help defend England from further Viking attacks. ¹

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

Lyfing becomes Archbishop of Canterbury.

Swein Fork-Beard and his son Canute sailed from Denmark to attack England. Again London defended itself and the Vikings moved elsewhere, taking Wessex, Mercia and Northumbria.

Forced to leave England by the invasion from Denmark, Emma Aethelred's wife, fled to Normandy assisted by the Bishop of Peterborough. Sons Edward (the Confessor) and Alfred followed later along with the Bishop of London. Ethelred was not far behind.

London was the last part of the country to accept Swein as the new king of England. Swein and his Viking army had already taken control of the Danelaw and the rest of the country accepted him as their new ruler. Swein's rule of the country would only last a few months.

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

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

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

Canute invaded England taking control of Mercia and Northumbria. Aethelred was ill and England was in the hands of Edmund (Ironside).

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

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.

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

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

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

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

Canute married Emma, the widow of Aethelred the Unready. This helped Canute secure ties with Normandy as Emma was the daughter of Count of Normandy.

Canute had the treacherous Ealdorman Eadric Streona of Mercia killed.

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.

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.

Canute travelled to Denmark after the death of his elder brother Harald to ensure his own succession to the Danish throne. ¹

Aethelnoth became Archbishop of Canterbury.

Around this time King Canute gave the trusted Godwin the title and role of Earl of Wessex.