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Swein Forkbeard's Invasions and the Danish Conquest of England, 991-1017
New insight gained into this exciting period of English history through focusing on the activities of Swein Forkbeard and, after his death in 1014, the Danish warlord Thorkell the Tall.
From the battle of Maldon in 991 during the reign of Æethelred (the Unready), England was invaded by Scandinavian armies of increasing size and ferocity. Swein Forkbeard, king of Denmark, played a significant part in these invasions, which culminated in the domination of England and the long reign of his son, Cnut. This analysis of the invasions demonstrates beyond doubt that Æthelred was no indolent and worthless king who bribed invading Vikings to goaway: his relationship with the Scandinavian armies was more complex and more interesting than has been supposed. It is equally apparent that Swein was more than a marauding Viking adventurer: he was a sophisticated politician who laid the foundations for a great northern empire which was ruled by his descendents for many years after his death. New insight into this exciting period of English history is gained by focusing on the activities of Swein Forkbeard and, after his death in 1014, the Danish warlord Thorkell the Tall, both outstanding warriors and political leaders of what is sometimes called 'the Second Viking Age'. Many factors leading to the invasions and conquest are investigated through a critical analysis of the chronology of events, an explanation of the economic background, plotting the itineraries of the Scandinavian armies, and a fresh examination ofthe sources, including the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, the Encomium, and John of Worcester's Chronicle.
IAN HOWARD has a PhD from Manchester University and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. After a career in industry and commerce, he has returned to full-time research and has produced several papers covering a variety of aspects of early medieval history.
From the battle of Maldon in 991 during the reign of Æethelred (the Unready), England was invaded by Scandinavian armies of increasing size and ferocity. Swein Forkbeard, king of Denmark, played a significant part in these invasions, which culminated in the domination of England and the long reign of his son, Cnut. This analysis of the invasions demonstrates beyond doubt that Æthelred was no indolent and worthless king who bribed invading Vikings to goaway: his relationship with the Scandinavian armies was more complex and more interesting than has been supposed. It is equally apparent that Swein was more than a marauding Viking adventurer: he was a sophisticated politician who laid the foundations for a great northern empire which was ruled by his descendents for many years after his death. New insight into this exciting period of English history is gained by focusing on the activities of Swein Forkbeard and, after his death in 1014, the Danish warlord Thorkell the Tall, both outstanding warriors and political leaders of what is sometimes called 'the Second Viking Age'. Many factors leading to the invasions and conquest are investigated through a critical analysis of the chronology of events, an explanation of the economic background, plotting the itineraries of the Scandinavian armies, and a fresh examination ofthe sources, including the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, the Encomium, and John of Worcester's Chronicle.
IAN HOWARD has a PhD from Manchester University and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. After a career in industry and commerce, he has returned to full-time research and has produced several papers covering a variety of aspects of early medieval history.
204 pages, Hardcover
First published March 4, 2003
About the author
Ian Howard
32 books3 followersIAN HOWARD has a PhD from Manchester University and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. After a career in industry and commerce, he has returned to full-time research and has produced several papers covering a variety of aspects of early medieval history.
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
August 18, 2026
This is a difficult book to get through unless you are an academic. It is based partly on the author's doctoral thesis and it shows. The structure is a mess. Instead of explaining in simple language what it is going to cover, the background and the three invasions in chronological order followed by a conclusion, the book spends far too much time being uncertain about dates, events, which chronicle account or skaldic verse or other source differs from one another or which may be more reliable. The clearest chapter is the 2 and a quarter pages of the conclusion which would have been a better introduction. This is followed by Appendices which serve only to further tie the reader in knots.
This book has too few points of interest for the general reader. Surprisingly I found the section on horses in warfare in the Viking Age very readable, and was drawn to occasional shorter phrases such as "there were more sheep than population at this time". Unfortunately such points of interest were swamped by overwhelming forensic treatment for example of the possible routes taken by the invaders or when exactly did Candlemas day fall in February.
A book that is more anal than about annals.
This book has too few points of interest for the general reader. Surprisingly I found the section on horses in warfare in the Viking Age very readable, and was drawn to occasional shorter phrases such as "there were more sheep than population at this time". Unfortunately such points of interest were swamped by overwhelming forensic treatment for example of the possible routes taken by the invaders or when exactly did Candlemas day fall in February.
A book that is more anal than about annals.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review