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
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.
In 1026, Cnut led a fleet and defeated the combined Norwegian-Swedish 
fleet at the mouth of the 
Helgea Rover.
In 1029, 
Olaf II, then king of Norway, went to Sweden and received military aid from his brother-in-law, king of Sweden Anund Jacob. He crossed the mountains and invaded Cnut's Norway, but was killed in battle against the pagans while outnumbered 3:1 in 1030. Olaf's death greatly angered the Norwegian public, sparking rebellion against Cnut. Olaf was proclaimed a saint, and the Christian missionaries portrayed Olaf as a good king unjustly martyred by pagans, greatly accelerating the Christianization of Norway.
As the king of Denmark, Cnut maintained his homeland's dominance and used Denmark's resources to support his wider ambitions. By 1028, Cnut's empire had conquered all of Norway, thereby establishing his rule over three significant territories across the North Sea. Cnut did not impose the 
Christianity, so Norway remained largely pagan. 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
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 its individual components: the kingdoms of 
Denmark, 
Norway, and 
England.
Religion
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
- 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
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Shaped
