Vikings And Saxons Flashcards
(4 cards)
Impacts of the Viking raids on Anglo Saxon England 790-855
1: Shock and Awe, most accounts written by monks under attack by vikings so many stories are over exaggerated but they show the fear the vikings caused and in England ‘Northmen’ became another name for devil.
2: Economic Damage, the raids caused significant economic effect this is clear as many Saxon coins, jewellery and other treasure have been found in Scandinavia aswell as Saxon skeletons of people taken back as slaves. The huge scale fighting also greatly disrupted trade in England and Saxon coins went from silver to tin due to struggles economically.
3: New Identity, the raids united many English people as they had a common Viking enemy. The church also created large scale propaganda emphasising the vikings as a dangerous religious threat.
Why did Alfred the great succeed in Wessex?
By 860’s Viking raids had become full scale invasions and they had moved deep inland taking control of many shires.
Alfred took Wessex which was surrounded from the brink of defeat to victory and resisted Viking takeover, after many battles the Vikings agreed to stay out of Wessex.
1: Army, Alfred knew Vikings would renege on their promise so he improved the army which was very unfit, by having half his men at home and half out at service.
2: Burhs, Viking raids focused on vulnerable targets as they followed a raid and retreat method, so Alfred set up a chain of fortified towns throughout southern England, permanently manned by soldiers.
3: Navy, the vikings biggest advantage was in the sea so Alfred developed a stronger navy in England with boats twice the size of Viking longboats (very intimidating).
4: Money, Alfred used an efficient administration system to collect taxes from people.
Alfred also married his daughter, Aethelflaed to Ethelred of Mercia, this unification meant that Vikings faced much more resistance on their return.
Aethelflaed also became a strong ruler and built burhs throughout southern England, and led armies in capturing derby and Leicester. His grandson became ‘king of all Britons’.
He also compromised with the Vikings a lot, often left out of legends and accounts and became friendly with many Vikings.
Why did Aethelred the unready fail?
In 991AD a large Viking army defeated the Saxon army led by young king Aethelred at battle of Maldon. Following the defeat his consulted the Witan and they continued the appeasement process from prior kings where they paid off Vikings with Danegeld, but the attacks continued.
Many lords had no faith in Aethelreds ability to protect them from the Vikings. In 1002 he sent out an order to kill all Dane’s living amongst the Saxons but many noblemen refused in fear of revenge raids.
In 1013 danish king Sweyn Forkbeard launched a full scale invasion on the not united England and faced little resistance, Aethelred fled to Normandy.
Cnut actions following Viking victory
Cnut, who defeated Aethelred to secure control of England, did not make it a viking country. He kept the anglo Saxon system of law and government, extending it to Dane law and surrounded himself with Saxon advisors including earl godwin who by 1066 basically ruled the country.
