North Sea Empire: Difference between revisions
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== Religion == | == Religion == | ||
By the early 11th century, [[File:KOEngland-icon.png]] [[Kingdom of England|England]] had been [[File:Christianity-icon.png]] [[Christianity|Christian]] for centuries, and the [[File:Denmark-icon.png]] [[Danelaw]] was transitioning from [[File:NorsePagan-icon.png]] [[Norse Paganism|paganism]] to [[File:Christianity-icon.png]] [[Christianity]]. However, [[File:Kalmar Union-icon.png]] [[Scandinavia]] remained mostly [[File:NorsePagan-icon.png]] [[Norse Paganism|pagan]]. [[File:NorthSeaEmpire-icon.png]] [[Monarchy|Cnut]]'s father, [[File:Monarchy-icon.png]] [[Monarchy|Sweyn]], started as a [[File:NorsePagan-icon.png]] [[Norse Paganism|pagan]] but later became mostly [[File:Christianity-icon.png]] [[Christianity|Christian]]. In [[File:KOEngland-icon.png]] [[Kingdom of England|England]], [[File:NorthSeaEmpire-icon.png]] [[Monarchy|Cnut]] supported the Church, gaining acceptance from [[File:Christianity-icon.png]] [[Christianity|Christian]] rulers in [[File:EU-icon2.png]] [[Europe]], a recognition no previous [[File:Kalmar Union-icon.png]] [[Scandinavia|Scandinavian]] king had achieved. In [[File:KONorway-icon.png]] [[Kingdom of Norway|Norway]], he built churches and was generous to the clergy but also made alliances with [[File:NorsePagan-icon.png]] [[Norse Paganism|pagan]] chieftains. [[File:NorthSeaEmpire-icon.png]] [[Monarchy|Cnut]] didn't make Church-favoring laws until his rule was secure. | By the early 11th century, [[File:KOEngland-icon.png]] [[Kingdom of England|England]] had been [[File:Christianity-icon.png]] [[Christianity|Christian]] for centuries, and the [[File:Denmark-icon.png]] [[Danelaw]] was transitioning from [[File:NorsePagan-icon.png]] [[Norse Paganism|paganism]] to [[File:Christianity-icon.png]] [[Christianity]]. However, [[File:Kalmar Union-icon.png]] [[Scandinavia]] remained mostly [[File:NorsePagan-icon.png]] [[Norse Paganism|pagan]]. [[File:NorthSeaEmpire-icon.png]] [[Monarchy|Cnut]]'s father, [[File:Monarchy-icon.png]] [[Monarchy|Sweyn]], started as a [[File:NorsePagan-icon.png]] [[Norse Paganism|pagan]] but later became mostly [[File:Christianity-icon.png]] [[Christianity|Christian]]. In [[File:KOEngland-icon.png]] [[Kingdom of England|England]], [[File:NorthSeaEmpire-icon.png]] [[Monarchy|Cnut]] supported the Church, gaining acceptance from [[File:Christianity-icon.png]] [[Christianity|Christian]] rulers in [[File:EU-icon2.png]] [[Europe]], a recognition no previous [[File:Kalmar Union-icon.png]] [[Scandinavia|Scandinavian]] king had achieved. In [[File:KONorway-icon.png]] [[Kingdom of Norway|Norway]], he built churches and was generous to the clergy but also made alliances with [[File:NorsePagan-icon.png]] [[Norse Paganism|pagan]] chieftains. [[File:NorthSeaEmpire-icon.png]] [[Monarchy|Cnut]] didn't make Church-favoring laws until his rule was secure. | ||
Revision as of 20:27, 14 July 2024
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 Denmark, 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.
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 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
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.
Gallery
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Shaped
