Late Anglo-saxon England intoduction

Viking invasions

England was rich, paid invaders (10k then 36k coins) and weak.
Alfred the Great fought off the Vikings and reformed English burhs.
Invasions continued under Etheldred the Unready, who introduced the danegeld to pay them off. 1013, Sweyn of Denmark invaded and conquered England.
Edward grew up in exile in Normandy- he had 6 older brothers.
Ethelred was invited to rule when Swein died.
Cnut invaded and killed Ed's brothers- Ed went back to Normandy.
Queen Emma married Cnut (Ethelred's widow).
After Dukes Richard II and III died, Duke Robert of Normandy arranged a fleet for his cousins.
Ed was held up by the wind from invading England.

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Introduced housecarls and gave Godwine Essex.
Cnut died, leaving two main sons- Harold from Elfigu and Harthacnut from Emma.
Harold was more popular in the Witan (minted coins show support).
Emma seized Wincester's treasury with the coronation items.
Emma made Ed try to invade- he raided Southhampton then left.
1036, Alfred visited Godwine and was blinded in Ely- this was Harold or Godwine's doing.
Emma was exiled, and wrote to Harthacnut in Denmark.
Harold died and Harthacnut became king.
Harthacnut raised huge taxes and pillaged Worcester when they couldn't pay.
Edward was invited to rule with him, then Harthacnut died.

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Robert of Normandy went to the Holy land and named William heir.
Herleva, his mother, was from a family of undertakers.
Henry I anointed him. Most of his advisors and regents were murdred.
1046, his cousin Guy rebelled at Val-es-Dunes, and William and Henry fought him off.
He also defeated Geoffrey Martel, who invaded Alencon.
1054, Geoffrey and Henry invaded Normandy, but William shadowed him and stopped him raiding villages for food, leaving them vulnerable to defeat.
1060, Geoffrey and Henry died.
Harold visited normandy to swear an oath or rescue hostages.

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