North Sea Empire
The North Sea Empire, also referred to as the Anglo-Scandinavian Empire, was a personal union comprising the kingdoms of England,
Denmark, and
Norway. This union existed for most of the period between 1013 and 1042, towards the end of the
Viking Age. The union was a
Thalassocracy, as the components of the union are only connected by sea. This maritime dominance allowed for control over the
North Sea and facilitated trade, military expeditions, and cultural exchanges among the territories. The most notable ruler of this empire was king
Cnut the Great, who reigned over the three kingdoms and managed to maintain a relatively stable and prosperous empire during his rule.
History[edit | edit source]
Cnut the Great, originally a prince of the
Danish kingdom, became king after the death of his father, king
Sweyn Forkbeard, in 1014.
Sweyn had previously conquered parts of
England, and after his death,
Cnut continued the campaign.
Cnut's significant military campaign in
England culminated in the Battle of Assandun in 1016, where he defeated king
Edmund Ironside. Following
Edmund's death,
Cnut became the undisputed king of
England.
Cnut also solidified his rule in
England by integrating it with his
Danish kingdom, fostering a period of stability and prosperity. He maintained a delicate balance of power among the
English and
Danish nobility.
As the king of Denmark,
Cnut maintained his homeland's dominance and used its resources to support his wider ambitions. In 1028,
Cnut extended his empire by conquering
Norway, thereby establishing his rule over three significant territories across the
North Sea. The combined rule over
England,
Denmark, and
Norway under
Cnut's leadership formed the North Sea Empire. This vast realm allowed for economic growth, cultural exchange, and strengthened maritime trade routes across
Northern Europe.
Cnut's death in 1035 marked the beginning of the empire's decline. His sons,
Harold Harefoot and
Harthacnut, struggled to maintain the unity and stability of the realm. After
Cnut's death, the empire quickly fragmented.
Harold Harefoot ruled
England until his death in 17 March 1040, while
Harthacnut succeeded him but could not maintain control over the entire empire.
Norway and
Denmark soon reasserted their independence. By 8 June 1042, with the death of
Harthacnut, the North Sea Empire effectively ceased to exist.
England came under the rule of
Edward the Confessor, while
Denmark and
Norway had separate
monarchs.
Name[edit | edit source]
Historians coined the term "North Sea Empire" at the beginning of the 20th century. However, the idea of Cnut's domains forming an empire dates way back to 1623, as seen in
John Speed's Histoire of
Great Britaine. Historically, the union was referred to by his individual components: the kingdoms of
Denmark,
Norway, and
England.
Religion[edit | edit source]
By the early 11th century, England had been
Christian for centuries, and the
Danelaw was transitioning from
paganism to
Christianity. However,
Scandinavia remained mostly
pagan.
Cnut's father,
Sweyn, started as a
pagan but later became mostly
Christian. In
England,
Cnut supported the Church, gaining acceptance from
Christian rulers in
Europe, a recognition no previous
Scandinavian king had achieved. In
Norway, he built churches and was generous to the clergy but also made alliances with
pagan chieftains.
Cnut didn't make Church-favoring laws until his rule was secure.
How to draw[edit | edit source]
![](/images/thumb/8/8a/NorthSeaEmpireFlag.png/222px-NorthSeaEmpireFlag.png)
- Draw a ball.
- Fill it with white
- Draw a black border around inside the ball.
- Draw a vertical black stripe on the left side of the ball.
- Erase four squares that are lined up vertically from the black stripe.
- Draw a black bird in the white portion of the ball.
- Add six (6) black spikes poking out of the ball on the right side.
- Add eyes and done!
Color Name | HEX | |
---|---|---|
White | #FFFFFF | |
Black | #000000 |
Gallery[edit | edit source]
-
Shaped