1 00:00:21,290 --> 00:00:28,170 On the shores of Sandwich, a man walks in silence. 2 00:00:31,450 --> 00:00:38,250 His name is Knut, a Viking prince born into a line of kings who have 3 00:00:38,250 --> 00:00:40,730 ruled Denmark for more than half a century. 4 00:00:45,750 --> 00:00:51,060 A few days earlier, He believed he could rely on a pact his father had forged 5 00:00:51,060 --> 00:00:52,380 with the English nobility. 6 00:00:53,980 --> 00:00:58,160 An agreement that he thought would make him king of England. 7 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:05,560 But the lords turned their backs on him. 8 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:14,300 And today it is their sons who will pay the price. 9 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:25,120 Many of these hostages may have been young men not much older than him. 10 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:33,660 In many ways, that highlights the ruthlessness Knut was wishing to 11 00:01:33,660 --> 00:01:35,740 in this particular action. 12 00:01:38,860 --> 00:01:43,800 He is only 20 years old, but Knut does not tremble. 13 00:01:45,980 --> 00:01:49,800 With a single gesture, he orders the hostages to be mutilated. 14 00:01:52,490 --> 00:01:53,490 Noses. 15 00:01:54,550 --> 00:01:55,550 Ears. 16 00:01:56,670 --> 00:01:57,670 Hands. 17 00:01:58,590 --> 00:02:01,610 Just enough for England to understand. 18 00:02:05,510 --> 00:02:10,389 He's not killing them. He wants these people to go back and send the message, 19 00:02:10,470 --> 00:02:11,950 Don't underestimate me. 20 00:02:12,750 --> 00:02:15,530 In his eyes burns a cold fury. 21 00:02:16,370 --> 00:02:18,370 He swears he will return. 22 00:02:19,290 --> 00:02:20,730 And this time... 23 00:02:21,870 --> 00:02:23,370 He will take England. 24 00:03:20,620 --> 00:03:26,400 On the shores of the Roskilde Fjord, Canute watches the longships 25 00:03:29,740 --> 00:03:32,640 On board stands his brother, Harald. 26 00:03:35,140 --> 00:03:39,320 As always, a single glance is enough to spark a furious race. 27 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:44,780 Not for the thrill of the game, but out of defiance. 28 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:49,380 Between the two brothers, everything already seems written. 29 00:03:56,460 --> 00:03:59,880 It is not Canute, but Harold, who will wear the crown. 30 00:04:03,820 --> 00:04:08,900 Canute is the second son, and I think that's important in understanding the 31 00:04:08,900 --> 00:04:13,500 and understanding his ambitions, because he can be Prince Harry to Prince 32 00:04:13,500 --> 00:04:18,120 William. As long as Harold stays alive, Canute is not really going to be in a 33 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:20,160 substantial position of power in Denmark. 34 00:04:22,280 --> 00:04:25,720 So there was a lot to play for, and that probably explains some of the kinds of 35 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:30,180 jockeying and competitiveness we often see amongst heirs in this period. 36 00:04:34,900 --> 00:04:39,980 Ideally located at the crossroads of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, the 37 00:04:39,980 --> 00:04:44,100 Kingdom of Denmark is one of the most powerful and feared realms in 38 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:52,960 Its coastline, scattered with islands and carved out by fjords, shelters 39 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:55,900 harbours where hundreds of merchant ships converge. 40 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:09,320 Like in Roskilde, the capital, the merchant stores overflow with riches 41 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:10,320 east and west. 42 00:05:13,620 --> 00:05:14,620 Amber. 43 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:16,920 Furs. 44 00:05:19,030 --> 00:05:20,850 weapons, and slaves. 45 00:05:24,430 --> 00:05:29,010 For Canute, who has never left his homeland, these treasures are a call to 46 00:05:29,010 --> 00:05:30,010 adventure. 47 00:05:31,220 --> 00:05:36,080 The kings of the Danes could be divided into two main categories, kings of the 48 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:37,280 land and kings of the sea. 49 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:41,700 Those who stay in the country and govern it, and the younger sons, often chose 50 00:05:41,700 --> 00:05:46,520 the sea, setting out for adventure in England, in West Francia, or elsewhere. 51 00:05:49,020 --> 00:05:54,840 It seems Canute was raised with that very purpose in mind, to conquer, to 52 00:05:54,840 --> 00:05:59,920 war, to amass wealth abroad, and then return home to carve out his own share 53 00:05:59,920 --> 00:06:02,330 power. by force or by strategy. 54 00:06:06,090 --> 00:06:09,470 Canute's thirst for power comes from an extraordinary lineage. 55 00:06:10,510 --> 00:06:16,070 Her grandfather, Harald Bluetooth, who for the first time united the kingdom 56 00:06:16,070 --> 00:06:22,610 under a single crown, and a father, Hvein Forkbeard, a feared Viking 57 00:06:22,610 --> 00:06:25,870 warlord who has ruled Denmark for more than 20 years. 58 00:06:26,470 --> 00:06:28,950 A lineage forged in blood and betrayal. 59 00:06:30,700 --> 00:06:35,880 Harold Bluetooth was a long ruling and highly successful king and therefore his 60 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:39,220 son Swain was chomping at the bit because it's of course in the interest 61 00:06:39,220 --> 00:06:43,560 Swain to gain as much power and authority as possible as quickly as 62 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:47,520 it's in Harold's interest to prevent him doing so because only one can be king 63 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:48,520 at the same time. 64 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:51,760 And it ends up in battle. 65 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:56,420 Again we don't know where the battle was but we do know that Harold is injured 66 00:06:56,420 --> 00:06:59,380 and he retreats to his allies in the Baltic where he died. 67 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:06,220 Venice sees power through the murder of his father. This is not a strong 68 00:07:06,220 --> 00:07:08,400 beginning. This is a weak and wobbly start. 69 00:07:12,460 --> 00:07:17,460 It is in a world where loyalty hangs by a thread and power is won by the sword 70 00:07:17,460 --> 00:07:19,480 that Canute comes of age. 71 00:07:24,980 --> 00:07:29,600 A ruthless world that one morning comes knocking at his door. 72 00:07:32,270 --> 00:07:34,610 King Thane summoned him to his hall. 73 00:07:37,010 --> 00:07:41,170 Canute does not yet know it, but his father has made his decision. 74 00:07:43,510 --> 00:07:46,590 Within weeks, they will march on England. 75 00:07:49,310 --> 00:07:55,250 The 11th century was a major target for the Vikings. It's wealthy, it's 76 00:07:55,250 --> 00:07:57,340 organised. It's bureaucratic. 77 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:00,880 The English have produced a money -making machine. 78 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:06,300 Trade is going well. There are large amounts of gold and silver lying around, 79 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:07,540 and it's close. 80 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:12,740 This time, it is no mere raid. 81 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:21,580 Thane is aiming for the entire kingdom, and above all, the crown of England. 82 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:27,920 And so one way of solving the problem of only having one Danish kingdom that you 83 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:32,400 can give to your sons and heirs is to conquer another kingdom and to offer 84 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:36,840 prospects to Canute. So at the back of his mind probably is that he'd like to 85 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:40,860 have and control England himself, but if he takes England, England can then be 86 00:08:40,860 --> 00:08:41,860 Canute. 87 00:08:45,560 --> 00:08:47,900 Canute is stunned. To conquer England? 88 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:51,160 Never before had a Viking dared to imagine it. 89 00:08:56,430 --> 00:09:00,370 For the first time in his life, Canute glimpses a spark of hope. 90 00:09:02,070 --> 00:09:07,610 The chance to break free from his place as the younger son, and finally forge 91 00:09:07,610 --> 00:09:08,610 his own destiny. 92 00:09:23,050 --> 00:09:27,710 In his palace, King Æthelred hastily gathers his counsellors. 93 00:09:28,790 --> 00:09:30,950 They confirm what many feared. 94 00:09:31,790 --> 00:09:34,570 A massive fleet is assembling in Denmark. 95 00:09:35,770 --> 00:09:37,670 There is no longer any doubt. 96 00:09:38,830 --> 00:09:40,670 The Vikings are coming back. 97 00:09:43,190 --> 00:09:48,470 It's very likely that Æthelred would have known about Fenn's invasion 98 00:09:48,930 --> 00:09:51,410 I think with the amount of... 99 00:09:51,630 --> 00:09:57,150 traffic across the North Sea during the late Viking Age, rumours that something 100 00:09:57,150 --> 00:10:02,770 was afoot would be very likely to reach the English court at this time. 101 00:10:05,190 --> 00:10:09,430 The nobles know it. They can no longer rely on Æthelred. 102 00:10:11,510 --> 00:10:15,350 Rarely in the kingdom's history has a king faced such open doubt. 103 00:10:18,830 --> 00:10:23,090 For over 20 years, men from the Northmen have ravaged his lands. 104 00:10:24,430 --> 00:10:28,250 And for over 20 years, Ethelred has failed to stop them. 105 00:10:29,510 --> 00:10:34,450 And of course, paying tribute has almost become the default solution. 106 00:10:35,110 --> 00:10:40,050 Whenever a fleet appeared, Ethelred seemed to offer greater and greater 107 00:10:41,070 --> 00:10:46,790 He is often portrayed as the archetypal weak king, a ruler who preferred to pay 108 00:10:46,790 --> 00:10:49,060 off his enemies, rather than fight them. 109 00:10:57,800 --> 00:11:00,500 Ever heavier tributes have drained the kingdom. 110 00:11:02,760 --> 00:11:07,540 His subjects are weary of a king unable to put an end to this infernal spiral. 111 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:14,100 But this time, Ethelred believes the outcome may be different. 112 00:11:15,210 --> 00:11:17,430 He has secured a powerful new ally. 113 00:11:19,070 --> 00:11:21,350 The Dane Thorkell the Tall. 114 00:11:22,450 --> 00:11:26,350 One of the most feared Viking leaders of his age, and above all, 115 00:11:26,450 --> 00:11:32,350 a sworn enemy of Svein Folkbeard. 116 00:11:37,590 --> 00:11:43,210 Thorkell the Tall is the greatest worry for the Danish kingship. He is a member 117 00:11:43,210 --> 00:11:44,450 of the elite. 118 00:11:44,830 --> 00:11:50,410 of eastern Denmark, so the southern tip of Sweden. This is an area that Knut's 119 00:11:50,410 --> 00:11:54,710 dynasty have pushed aggressively into, and he's seen his power and his wealth 120 00:11:54,710 --> 00:11:57,390 and his privilege being eroded, and he's not happy. 121 00:11:59,050 --> 00:12:05,090 Four years earlier, in 1009, Thorkell had fled Denmark with 45 ships. 122 00:12:07,770 --> 00:12:13,290 For three years, he ravaged England, leaving death and chaos in his wake. 123 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:21,140 To stop him, Ethelred once again chose to pay. 124 00:12:23,820 --> 00:12:26,740 But this time, there was a condition. 125 00:12:33,820 --> 00:12:39,940 At this point in 1013, Thorkell had signed up with Ethelred the Unready. He 126 00:12:39,940 --> 00:12:42,760 taking Ethelred's money, providing protection. 127 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:48,210 He pays them to be his... private bodyguard. If you've got one of the 128 00:12:48,210 --> 00:12:52,510 and scariest Viking armies, and you pay it to work for you, sitting in England, 129 00:12:52,710 --> 00:12:57,250 frightening off other Vikings, well, this is a brilliant idea. 130 00:12:57,510 --> 00:13:02,730 And so the strategy here, really, is to set a thief to catch a thief, to use a 131 00:13:02,730 --> 00:13:07,250 Viking to stop future Vikings. And that's his hope, really, is that 132 00:13:07,250 --> 00:13:10,410 his formidable army will be able to stop people like Sway. 133 00:13:16,220 --> 00:13:18,760 Æthelred and Thorkell struck a pact. 134 00:13:20,060 --> 00:13:25,400 In exchange for a generous tribute, the Dane would place his men and his 45 135 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:27,400 ships at the king's disposal. 136 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:35,020 Thane and Cnut would now face not only Æthelred's army, but a seasoned Viking 137 00:13:35,020 --> 00:13:37,520 force hardened by years of raiding. 138 00:13:49,130 --> 00:13:53,250 Vayne learns of the alliance between Etelred and Thorkell, and immediately 139 00:13:53,250 --> 00:13:55,950 understands that time is running out. 140 00:13:57,030 --> 00:14:01,310 He knew that his old rival's loyalty belonged to no one but himself. 141 00:14:05,610 --> 00:14:11,810 Behind this alliance of convenience, Thorkell is pursuing only one cause, his 142 00:14:11,810 --> 00:14:12,810 own. 143 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:19,260 Thorkell clearly poses a threat to Swain and Canute because he's shown just how 144 00:14:19,260 --> 00:14:24,240 weak the English regime now is, and he's come within a whisker of conquering 145 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:25,139 England himself. 146 00:14:25,140 --> 00:14:29,920 So it may well be that he himself is harbouring ambitions, that at some point 147 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:34,920 might just move from being the leading general to being the ruler of England. 148 00:14:35,140 --> 00:14:40,760 And so for Swain, it's a matter of trying to take England before Thorkell 149 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:41,760 the thing. 150 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:49,880 At the start of spring, Sweyn issues a great call to arms across Scandinavia. 151 00:14:54,940 --> 00:15:01,540 Each noble is ordered to provide men, weapons, provisions, and to join the 152 00:15:01,540 --> 00:15:02,540 gathering fleet. 153 00:15:06,860 --> 00:15:13,360 This is the first time that a king of Scandinavia has called for such a 154 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:18,500 campaign. And he's drawing in people from all across Scandinavia. It's an 155 00:15:18,500 --> 00:15:22,160 invasion. It's not raiding. And that's the key difference. 156 00:15:23,700 --> 00:15:30,500 On foot and on horseback, thousands of Danes, Norwegians and Swedes converge on 157 00:15:30,500 --> 00:15:31,500 Roskilde. 158 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:38,200 Soon they are joined by hundreds of fortune seekers. 159 00:15:43,459 --> 00:15:48,820 Within a few weeks, several thousand men and more than a hundred ships gather 160 00:15:48,820 --> 00:15:50,280 under the king's banner. 161 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:56,700 So we are looking at a scale of attack which is certainly very different to 162 00:15:56,700 --> 00:16:01,140 those England had traditionally seen in the earlier Viking ages. So this is a 163 00:16:01,140 --> 00:16:04,520 very, very large army that can rival any of the English army. 164 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:12,420 Canute watches the constant movement on the docks and the forest of moths 165 00:16:12,420 --> 00:16:15,160 stretching across the horizon. 166 00:16:18,660 --> 00:16:20,060 He could feel it. 167 00:16:21,700 --> 00:16:24,540 Everything in his life had led to this moment. 168 00:16:27,300 --> 00:16:32,350 From a very young age, Canute would have been trained up. to be a warrior. So 169 00:16:32,350 --> 00:16:36,970 crucial to his upbringing would have been learning those skills of war, 170 00:16:36,970 --> 00:16:41,090 them through things like hunting, but also alongside that, learning the tricks 171 00:16:41,090 --> 00:16:44,950 of the trade at court, where also politics was an important consideration, 172 00:16:44,950 --> 00:16:50,030 making deals, where hard -nosed realpolitik was also something to be 173 00:16:50,030 --> 00:16:51,030 a very young age. 174 00:16:52,870 --> 00:16:58,050 Setting aside their rivalry, Harold greets his brother one last time. 175 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:03,400 Their father had entrusted him with the regency of Denmark, confirming his 176 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:05,079 status as the rightful heir. 177 00:17:08,500 --> 00:17:10,260 Knut has no choice. 178 00:17:11,380 --> 00:17:16,300 If he ever wished to rule, he would have to carve out his own kingdom. 179 00:17:25,500 --> 00:17:29,820 At dawn, The armada weighs anchor and turns west. 180 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:36,560 On board, father and son share the same dream, to conquer one of the richest 181 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:37,760 kingdoms in the west. 182 00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:45,760 The task is immense, and Thane expects Canute to stand by his side. 183 00:17:46,580 --> 00:17:49,120 The role that Thane... 184 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:56,240 Once for Canute, as a junior partner, it's very handy to have a member of your 185 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:59,980 family who's able to provide some leadership within the Danish army. 186 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:05,680 But Thane also knows that his son still has much to prove. 187 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:10,100 His first lesson will be to earn the loyalty of his men. 188 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:21,100 At the heart of any Viking expedition lies the ability to reward followers. 189 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:26,260 And obviously, if a leader is able to distribute wealth, gold and precious 190 00:18:26,260 --> 00:18:29,100 metals, it tends to secure his men's loyalty. 191 00:18:32,620 --> 00:18:38,180 The second essential factor is prestige, delivering victory and being able to 192 00:18:38,180 --> 00:18:39,780 lead military operations successfully. 193 00:18:42,990 --> 00:18:46,130 Within days, the fleet will reach the English coast. 194 00:18:48,090 --> 00:18:53,850 There, the young prince is about to shed his former self and embrace his destiny 195 00:18:53,850 --> 00:18:58,190 as a warrior, a Viking, a war leader. 196 00:19:09,580 --> 00:19:13,620 Once again, Ethelred prepares to face the fury of the Northmen. 197 00:19:14,940 --> 00:19:17,580 All his hopes now rest on Thorkell. 198 00:19:18,940 --> 00:19:25,100 He orders him to deploy his fleet at Greenwich, along the Thames, hoping to 199 00:19:25,100 --> 00:19:27,200 Canute and Thane into a trap. 200 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:35,980 But one question torments him. Could he really be trusted? 201 00:19:37,100 --> 00:19:41,060 Æthelred knew his own fleet would be powerless to stop the Danes. 202 00:19:41,500 --> 00:19:46,160 Yet just five years earlier, that same fleet had seemed invincible. 203 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:55,560 Æthelred had, amongst his attempts to face down the Viking threat, sought to 204 00:19:55,560 --> 00:20:00,240 reinforce England's naval capabilities, and he raised a very, very large navy 205 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:03,500 with the prospect of preventing future invasion. 206 00:20:06,470 --> 00:20:09,030 Shipyards across the kingdom had been mobilized. 207 00:20:10,230 --> 00:20:15,310 Within months, an armada of 300 brand -new ships gathers along the southern 208 00:20:15,310 --> 00:20:16,310 coast of England. 209 00:20:20,690 --> 00:20:24,390 Never before had an English king achieved such a feat. 210 00:20:26,890 --> 00:20:31,450 Everything seems to be going well, since 300 ships are more than the Danes seem 211 00:20:31,450 --> 00:20:33,190 capable of assembling at that time. 212 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:36,900 But there's a major problem, the leadership within the Anglo -Saxon 213 00:20:39,420 --> 00:20:44,240 Æthelred entrusts command of the fleet to two close nobles of his inner circle, 214 00:20:45,140 --> 00:20:48,600 Wulfnott and Beotrick. 215 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:55,220 But one evening, a quarrel broke out. 216 00:20:56,280 --> 00:20:58,920 The two men accuse each other of treason. 217 00:21:03,050 --> 00:21:08,470 In a fit of rage, Wolfnott seizes 20 ships and 218 00:21:08,470 --> 00:21:10,270 rebels. 219 00:21:13,330 --> 00:21:17,590 And so he takes a portion of the English fleet off with him, the rest goes to 220 00:21:17,590 --> 00:21:20,330 try to chase them, and then a storm dashes them entirely. 221 00:21:21,170 --> 00:21:25,610 Many of the ships sink. The survivors who manage to reach the beach are 222 00:21:25,610 --> 00:21:29,410 slaughtered, and the ships are set on fire to Wolfnott's initiative. 223 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:39,720 A single dispute was enough to set the royal fleet ablaze, along with the 224 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:41,980 last hopes of the English people. 225 00:21:48,380 --> 00:21:54,380 The irony is that in 1009, shortly afterwards, Thorkell the Tall arrived at 226 00:21:54,380 --> 00:21:58,980 Sandwich with barely 50 ships, a relatively small force, and he meets no 227 00:21:58,980 --> 00:22:01,440 resistance at all. And so, what was? 228 00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:05,900 In essence, a very good strategic plan is completely undermined due to 229 00:22:05,900 --> 00:22:10,720 within the English camp rather than any battle being offered with the Vikings. 230 00:22:16,380 --> 00:22:20,820 After ten days at sea, the fleet finally reaches the English coast. 231 00:22:22,220 --> 00:22:27,700 The island has more than 12 ,000 kilometres of coastline, countless 232 00:22:27,700 --> 00:22:29,460 landing points for the Vikings. 233 00:22:33,930 --> 00:22:39,890 Geography of the English coastline contributed enormously to the success of 234 00:22:39,890 --> 00:22:46,130 Viking raids because Vikings could move very rapidly around the coastline. 235 00:22:46,370 --> 00:22:51,590 And so consequently, it's virtually impossible to defend. So it is 236 00:22:51,590 --> 00:22:54,730 perfect for Scandinavian attack. 237 00:22:59,910 --> 00:23:02,170 An unfamiliar landscape. 238 00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:04,120 and yet strangely familiar. 239 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:13,040 He remembers the evenings of his childhood, lulled by tales of raids and 240 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:14,040 battles. 241 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:17,680 And one name keeps coming back. 242 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:22,900 Sandwich, an English town invaded many times. 243 00:23:25,710 --> 00:23:30,350 Among the entry points into England, the port of Sandwich is extremely 244 00:23:30,350 --> 00:23:33,610 important, as it allows ships to be sheltered quite easily. 245 00:23:34,430 --> 00:23:37,590 It also offers easy access to the mouth of the Thames. 246 00:23:38,030 --> 00:23:41,990 It is difficult to secure for defenders and easy to access for attackers. 247 00:23:42,330 --> 00:23:44,510 An ideal place to launch an invasion. 248 00:23:51,690 --> 00:23:56,910 Canute leaps from the ship and for the first time sets foot on the soil of the 249 00:23:56,910 --> 00:23:57,910 Kingdom of England. 250 00:24:00,650 --> 00:24:01,950 What does he feel? 251 00:24:02,550 --> 00:24:03,550 Excitement? 252 00:24:04,050 --> 00:24:05,050 Rage? 253 00:24:05,870 --> 00:24:08,310 He probably has no time to wonder. 254 00:24:08,810 --> 00:24:12,590 On the beach, English soldiers are trying to stand in their way. 255 00:24:16,050 --> 00:24:19,410 For the young Dane, it is a baptism of fire. 256 00:24:19,950 --> 00:24:22,590 and perhaps his first chance to prove himself. 257 00:24:26,510 --> 00:24:31,250 All of these great Scandinavian leaders are warriors and lead troops into 258 00:24:31,250 --> 00:24:35,010 battle, and clearly are battle -hardened and known for this fact, and that is an 259 00:24:35,010 --> 00:24:36,230 essential part of their reputation. 260 00:24:36,950 --> 00:24:42,290 At the same time, they are almost certainly not normally in the front line 261 00:24:42,290 --> 00:24:46,250 the fray, so as a Scandinavian leader, you need to have the respect of your 262 00:24:46,620 --> 00:24:50,840 You need to be known to be a formidable warrior, but you also need to not be 263 00:24:50,840 --> 00:24:54,120 silly and ridiculous and take unnecessary risks. 264 00:24:54,500 --> 00:24:56,340 And Knut is an excellent example. 265 00:24:56,580 --> 00:25:00,820 We rarely see him fighting, except when he knows he will win, which is quite 266 00:25:00,820 --> 00:25:01,820 wise of him. 267 00:25:05,660 --> 00:25:08,020 The English troops are quickly defeated. 268 00:25:12,080 --> 00:25:14,580 The Vikings set up camp for the night. 269 00:25:18,120 --> 00:25:22,640 Around the fire, Thane and Canute ponder their next move. 270 00:25:25,240 --> 00:25:28,620 England is divided into several Anglo -Saxon kingdoms. 271 00:25:29,420 --> 00:25:36,260 Mercia to the west, Northumbria to the north, East 272 00:25:36,260 --> 00:25:42,900 Anglia to the east, and Wessex, the centre of power, to the south. 273 00:25:45,930 --> 00:25:49,510 That is where Thorkell deployed his fleet to defend London. 274 00:25:52,790 --> 00:25:56,170 Sweyn knows that attacking head -on would be suicidal. 275 00:25:59,450 --> 00:26:03,770 Thorkell is very frightening for Sweyn, presumably because he's slightly scared 276 00:26:03,770 --> 00:26:07,970 that he might either not win or damage an enormous part of the Danish royal 277 00:26:07,970 --> 00:26:13,050 forces. If we add to this the fortifications of the city of London, 278 00:26:13,050 --> 00:26:15,030 clearly becomes very difficult for Sweyn. 279 00:26:15,670 --> 00:26:19,530 He could go straight for it, but that would involve a real risk. Avoiding 280 00:26:19,530 --> 00:26:21,570 Thorkell is therefore the logical choice. 281 00:26:23,390 --> 00:26:26,970 At first light, Svein and Knut weigh anchor. 282 00:26:29,090 --> 00:26:35,530 They sail north, and at the mouth of the Thames, they turn away, leaving London 283 00:26:35,530 --> 00:26:36,530 behind. 284 00:26:38,770 --> 00:26:41,110 They head toward the Danelaw. 285 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:47,360 a vast territory stretching from East Anglia to Northumbria, where Viking 286 00:26:47,360 --> 00:26:48,660 influence runs deep. 287 00:26:50,560 --> 00:26:57,460 Dane law is a term which is used to refer to the areas in England 288 00:26:57,460 --> 00:27:02,700 which were settled by Scandinavian settlers from the early Viking age. 289 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:07,820 It does mean to say that there was a significant Scandinavian, particularly 290 00:27:07,820 --> 00:27:09,340 Danish, influence. 291 00:27:09,740 --> 00:27:13,660 These people are both simultaneously Scandinavian. 292 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:14,799 and English. 293 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:19,920 They don't see themselves, I think, as allied to either party. Sometimes they 294 00:27:19,920 --> 00:27:21,860 work with the Danes, sometimes they work with the English. 295 00:27:22,060 --> 00:27:24,620 But they see themselves as a unit in themselves. 296 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:30,860 And I think that's what attracts Sven Fortbeard. He recognises the Dane law as 297 00:27:30,860 --> 00:27:36,080 somewhere that looks like home. And he knows how to rule that area. He knows 298 00:27:36,080 --> 00:27:37,080 to control this. 299 00:27:39,860 --> 00:27:42,300 Sven and Knut are taking a gamble. 300 00:27:43,470 --> 00:27:47,270 If there is one place in England ready to welcome them, it's there. 301 00:27:50,410 --> 00:27:54,390 Here, resentment towards King Æthelred runs strong. 302 00:27:55,590 --> 00:28:00,830 A resentment born of a past neither Thane nor Canute has forgotten. 303 00:28:23,120 --> 00:28:27,480 As England buckles under Danish attack and the ever -growing weight of tribute, 304 00:28:27,920 --> 00:28:30,380 the nobility grows restless. 305 00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:38,460 Determined to regain control, Æthelred makes a drastic decision. 306 00:28:40,360 --> 00:28:45,540 In November of the year 1002, he sends messengers across the kingdom. 307 00:28:54,160 --> 00:28:59,840 On St. Brice's Day, the 13th of November, armed men slipped silently 308 00:28:59,840 --> 00:29:03,100 sleeping streets of towns and villages across the Danelaw. 309 00:29:07,260 --> 00:29:13,420 The St. Brice's Day massacre becomes one of those very storied events of 310 00:29:13,420 --> 00:29:14,420 Æthelred's reign. 311 00:29:14,640 --> 00:29:18,940 And it's the first real sign that panic is starting to grip Æthelred's court. 312 00:29:20,370 --> 00:29:23,990 logical, perhaps more sensible, measured responses have failed. 313 00:29:24,210 --> 00:29:27,330 And so he starts looking to more extreme measures. 314 00:29:27,650 --> 00:29:32,430 And what he fastens upon is the idea that the Danes who are resident in his 315 00:29:32,430 --> 00:29:35,530 kingdom, the Scandinavians resident in his kingdom, are plotting against him. 316 00:29:35,630 --> 00:29:37,450 And so he decides to kill them all. 317 00:29:39,370 --> 00:29:44,510 In York, the Danes are hunted down and enter into a church where they seek 318 00:29:44,510 --> 00:29:45,510 refuge. 319 00:29:53,230 --> 00:29:58,230 But outside, torches arc through the air towards the sacred building. 320 00:30:03,370 --> 00:30:09,470 The St. Price's Day Massacre is quite a stain on the reputation of King 321 00:30:09,470 --> 00:30:15,130 Ethelred, because whatever the scale of the St. Price's Day Massacre, it had an 322 00:30:15,130 --> 00:30:17,150 impact across the world. 323 00:30:17,640 --> 00:30:22,740 connected with the Danes. It must have been in the back of the minds of some of 324 00:30:22,740 --> 00:30:26,120 the Vikings who were present in England in Sven's army. 325 00:30:27,600 --> 00:30:30,400 Æthelred believed he was securing his kingdom. 326 00:30:30,820 --> 00:30:33,940 Instead, he unleashed a terrible storm. 327 00:30:36,020 --> 00:30:41,140 Now, who can say whether the people of the Danelaw will remain loyal to him? 328 00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:50,180 Fane and Knute's ships sail up the estuary of the River Humber. 329 00:30:51,080 --> 00:30:54,200 They then enter the calm waters of the River Trent. 330 00:30:57,480 --> 00:31:00,500 On deck, Knute remains watchful. 331 00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:04,880 He scans the riverbanks, alert to the slightest movement. 332 00:31:06,060 --> 00:31:08,840 He has not forgotten the tales of the elders. 333 00:31:09,980 --> 00:31:14,380 Venturing deep into the English countryside is never without danger. 334 00:31:16,600 --> 00:31:20,500 Since the 9th century, the Anglo -Saxons have established a network of 335 00:31:20,500 --> 00:31:24,160 fortifications known as the burghs, which were a kind of fortified 336 00:31:24,700 --> 00:31:29,020 Some were old restored Roman fortresses. Others were exceptional natural sites, 337 00:31:29,220 --> 00:31:33,760 headlands or cliffs, that were walled off to create a fortified point that was 338 00:31:33,760 --> 00:31:34,820 difficult to seize. 339 00:31:36,700 --> 00:31:41,900 Their purpose was to protect merchants, shelter populations, and above all, to 340 00:31:41,900 --> 00:31:44,080 create a defensive mesh across the territory. 341 00:31:45,160 --> 00:31:48,700 When you look at the map of these berths, it really gives the impression 342 00:31:48,700 --> 00:31:52,840 tight mesh, designed to prevent any Viking army from slipping through the 343 00:31:57,440 --> 00:32:02,560 The fleet reaches Gainsborough, a small fortified town south of York. 344 00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:07,680 Thane orders the landing. 345 00:32:10,780 --> 00:32:15,980 For Canute, who is experiencing his first military campaign, everything 346 00:32:15,980 --> 00:32:17,020 too easy. 347 00:32:18,940 --> 00:32:24,960 Since leaving the North Sea, nothing has stood in their way. No traps, no 348 00:32:24,960 --> 00:32:25,960 ambushes. 349 00:32:27,690 --> 00:32:32,190 This is an area of England which has often been distant from royal control 350 00:32:32,190 --> 00:32:35,710 power, which is naturally suspicious of English monarchs at the best of time. 351 00:32:35,750 --> 00:32:40,250 And that means that when Canute and Swain land at Gainsborough, they're 352 00:32:40,250 --> 00:32:43,470 able to gain the support of the local population. And they almost certainly 353 00:32:43,470 --> 00:32:47,450 that in advance. It's no accident that they, instead of attacking the south of 354 00:32:47,450 --> 00:32:51,930 England, the heartlands of the English kingdom, they go to precisely where 355 00:32:51,930 --> 00:32:53,650 is the chink in Æthelred's armour. 356 00:32:57,100 --> 00:32:59,380 A group of horsemen approaches the camp. 357 00:33:01,380 --> 00:33:05,260 At their head rides the powerful Uhtred of Northumbria. 358 00:33:06,300 --> 00:33:09,520 He comes to request an audience with Svein. 359 00:33:16,280 --> 00:33:18,280 Knut watches him in silence. 360 00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:23,960 Here stands the enemy he expected to fight. 361 00:33:25,100 --> 00:33:27,420 But Uhtred has not come for battle. 362 00:33:28,000 --> 00:33:33,540 Instead, he offers his submission, that of Linthe and the five boroughs. 363 00:33:35,720 --> 00:33:41,300 To Knut, raised in the Viking code of honour, this surrender without battle or 364 00:33:41,300 --> 00:33:44,260 glory speaks volumes about his adversary. 365 00:33:46,700 --> 00:33:52,040 What we have to realise at this time is that the idea of English unity... 366 00:33:52,910 --> 00:33:58,510 is only a relatively recent construction of the 10th century. 367 00:33:58,950 --> 00:34:05,630 And for Utrecht, it was probably his interest to submit to a Danish lord 368 00:34:05,630 --> 00:34:10,110 rather than a distant English king in the south of the island. 369 00:34:11,650 --> 00:34:16,429 It seems he was caught off guard, that he's defending his own interests in an 370 00:34:16,429 --> 00:34:17,429 unstable situation. 371 00:34:18,210 --> 00:34:22,270 Separated from the main Anglo -Saxon army, he knows no help is coming. 372 00:34:22,679 --> 00:34:26,900 For him, it becomes a matter of real politic. If he does not submit, he knows 373 00:34:26,900 --> 00:34:27,379 will die. 374 00:34:27,380 --> 00:34:30,300 Thus, he becomes Swain's ally, at least in the short term. 375 00:34:32,159 --> 00:34:35,880 As a pledge of good faith, Utrecht does not come alone. 376 00:34:36,560 --> 00:34:41,400 He brings with him the sons of the great northern families sent to serve as 377 00:34:41,400 --> 00:34:42,400 hostages. 378 00:34:45,120 --> 00:34:48,139 Young men, barely older than Knut himself. 379 00:34:49,820 --> 00:34:50,820 And yet... 380 00:34:51,130 --> 00:34:52,750 Everything separates them. 381 00:34:54,969 --> 00:34:57,550 On one side, the young conqueror. 382 00:34:59,150 --> 00:35:04,730 On the other, an unarmed youth, handed over as collateral for an oath. 383 00:35:06,370 --> 00:35:10,630 If you come to an agreement with anybody in politics in this period, you try to 384 00:35:10,630 --> 00:35:14,030 take a hostage to make sure the man is going to do what he's going to do. And 385 00:35:14,030 --> 00:35:15,090 those hostages... 386 00:35:15,370 --> 00:35:17,450 or then a token of their seriousness. 387 00:35:17,670 --> 00:35:21,610 They have to be very high -ranking individuals, and they are your 388 00:35:21,890 --> 00:35:25,630 And this is saying, well, we're not going to leave them tied up to a 389 00:35:25,630 --> 00:35:29,490 with handcuffs on. We will treat them with honour, with dignity. 390 00:35:29,690 --> 00:35:34,350 But if anything should happen, then it's the end of your son here. 391 00:35:34,550 --> 00:35:40,410 You know, this is a very practical guarantee, but it's also playing on this 392 00:35:40,410 --> 00:35:42,490 of honour as well. 393 00:35:46,000 --> 00:35:51,380 Without spilling a drop of blood, Thane and Canute seize control of northern 394 00:35:51,380 --> 00:35:52,380 England. 395 00:35:56,260 --> 00:35:59,420 But for Thane, this is only the beginning. 396 00:36:00,280 --> 00:36:02,180 What he wants is the crown. 397 00:36:03,600 --> 00:36:09,340 The northern nobility gathers and proclaims Thane king of England, 398 00:36:09,340 --> 00:36:10,340 Æthelred. 399 00:36:13,670 --> 00:36:18,050 But the rest of the realm still has to be persuaded to accept such a dramatic 400 00:36:18,050 --> 00:36:19,050 change of allegiance. 401 00:36:21,730 --> 00:36:25,190 And what better way to seal that bond than marriage? 402 00:36:28,910 --> 00:36:34,390 A union between Knut and a young noble woman from a powerful Anglo -Danish 403 00:36:34,390 --> 00:36:37,430 lineage could ease tension and seal alliance. 404 00:36:39,150 --> 00:36:42,630 Her name is Elgifu from Northampton. 405 00:36:47,200 --> 00:36:51,440 Here's the woman that Sven Fortbeard looks at the political landscape of the 406 00:36:51,440 --> 00:36:53,120 North and says, that one. 407 00:36:53,580 --> 00:36:57,560 She's the one that's going to marry my son because she's the one who can help 408 00:36:57,560 --> 00:37:01,120 control this region. She's the heiress to this old political machinery. 409 00:37:01,790 --> 00:37:07,390 She is the daughter of Alfhelm, who had been a alderman, so the leading man in 410 00:37:07,390 --> 00:37:12,570 the southern part of Northumbria. But he had been murdered in Æthelred's court 411 00:37:12,570 --> 00:37:18,310 in 1006 in a purge. But that family nonetheless remains important and very 412 00:37:18,310 --> 00:37:23,450 alienated from Æthelred. And so, in a sense, she can be a lightning rod for 413 00:37:23,450 --> 00:37:26,130 channeling that descent towards support for... 414 00:37:26,540 --> 00:37:30,200 Swain and Canute. And so for Canute coming in with Swain, perhaps also at 415 00:37:30,200 --> 00:37:35,280 back of his mind, the prospect may be of becoming an eventual king of England or 416 00:37:35,280 --> 00:37:40,140 an under -king of England under his father. She is the perfect match to make 417 00:37:40,140 --> 00:37:41,140 that moment. 418 00:37:45,200 --> 00:37:48,280 Canute knows exactly what Swain expects of him. 419 00:37:49,080 --> 00:37:53,620 Without hesitation, he leads this perfect stranger to the altar. 420 00:37:58,760 --> 00:38:03,820 And under his father's watchful eye, he takes Elgifu as his wife. 421 00:38:07,280 --> 00:38:12,000 The young prince understands that his destiny is now lying here. 422 00:38:12,280 --> 00:38:13,900 The path is set. 423 00:38:14,440 --> 00:38:16,280 Canute will not look back. 424 00:38:22,500 --> 00:38:26,300 At the end of summer, Thvane orders his army to prepare. 425 00:38:29,300 --> 00:38:32,220 supplies, reinforcements, horses. 426 00:38:35,180 --> 00:38:39,540 To his seasoned warriors are added the levies raised in the Danelaw. 427 00:38:41,960 --> 00:38:46,660 Before departing, he entrusts his son with the reins of the conquered 428 00:38:48,560 --> 00:38:54,120 Canute might have preferred to march to war, but instead another trial awaits 429 00:38:54,120 --> 00:38:55,120 him. 430 00:38:55,320 --> 00:39:00,640 In his father's absence, He must guard the fleet, watch over the hostages, 431 00:39:00,640 --> 00:39:05,620 and raise the funds needed to sustain the war. 432 00:39:08,200 --> 00:39:12,060 Sons are expected to be trained up in kingship and to learn the tricks of the 433 00:39:12,060 --> 00:39:13,600 trade as soon as possible. 434 00:39:13,820 --> 00:39:17,060 And one of the best ways to do this for someone like Swain, to ensure his sons 435 00:39:17,060 --> 00:39:21,040 that experience, is to allow them an element of rule while he's still alive. 436 00:39:21,360 --> 00:39:25,060 So we're seeing him potentially setting up Canute as his... 437 00:39:25,420 --> 00:39:29,600 under king, his representative in England. And the sense of responsibility 438 00:39:29,600 --> 00:39:33,620 this new conquest, this new land, this new world, as it were, that they've 439 00:39:33,620 --> 00:39:36,240 struck into is now his to control. 440 00:39:36,520 --> 00:39:41,380 It must be overwhelming, but simultaneously, simultaneously steps up 441 00:39:41,380 --> 00:39:44,400 plate. Is it a mark of trust being placed in him? 442 00:39:45,040 --> 00:39:46,040 Partly, perhaps. 443 00:39:46,480 --> 00:39:50,260 But what always strikes me is that Knut still does not fight. 444 00:39:50,920 --> 00:39:53,320 He's not on the front lines learning how to lead an army. 445 00:39:53,880 --> 00:39:57,380 He really gives the impression of being kept safe and reserved by his father. 446 00:39:57,880 --> 00:40:01,460 In a way, he's already being shaped into an administrator who's learning 447 00:40:01,460 --> 00:40:03,980 governance, which is, in fact, rather wise. 448 00:40:06,200 --> 00:40:09,200 For the young Viking, the moment of truth has come. 449 00:40:11,540 --> 00:40:14,540 Knut watches his father disappear in the distance. 450 00:40:20,940 --> 00:40:24,980 Now alone, he must prove himself worthy of the task. 451 00:40:26,640 --> 00:40:31,420 More than anything, he must ensure his father will be proud of him. 452 00:40:36,820 --> 00:40:41,680 Thane's long column of troops stretches southward, towards the heart of the 453 00:40:41,680 --> 00:40:42,680 kingdom. 454 00:40:44,100 --> 00:40:47,280 But instead of heading for London where Æthelred awaits, 455 00:40:48,230 --> 00:40:53,110 Swain leads his men west towards Oxford. 456 00:40:56,350 --> 00:41:01,690 Swain's decision to attack Oxford rather than London almost certainly is 457 00:41:01,690 --> 00:41:03,930 suggestive of serious strategic calculation. 458 00:41:04,390 --> 00:41:09,750 While Ethelred's regime has shown itself to be toothless in many respects, not 459 00:41:09,750 --> 00:41:15,030 very successful on the battlefield, it remains capable of deploying armies of a 460 00:41:15,030 --> 00:41:17,610 large scale and it still has the forces. 461 00:41:18,060 --> 00:41:23,040 of Thorkell the Tall at Greenwich. If Sven had rushed his campaign and gone 462 00:41:23,040 --> 00:41:30,020 that, then potentially this might have been game over for Sven too early. And 463 00:41:30,020 --> 00:41:34,880 made sense to essentially take the pieces on the playing board first of all 464 00:41:34,880 --> 00:41:38,060 before going to London. 465 00:41:43,560 --> 00:41:46,940 In early autumn, the invading army crosses Watling Street. 466 00:41:50,140 --> 00:41:55,920 This ancient Roman road runs across England from east to west and marks a 467 00:41:55,920 --> 00:42:00,780 symbolic frontier between the Danelaw and the southern lands, still loyal to 468 00:42:00,780 --> 00:42:01,780 Æthelred. 469 00:42:05,080 --> 00:42:06,860 Sweyn's orders are clear. 470 00:42:07,240 --> 00:42:10,320 Beyond this line, there will be no mercy. 471 00:42:14,440 --> 00:42:21,060 From farm to farm, village to village, his army unleashes its 472 00:42:21,060 --> 00:42:22,700 full destructive force. 473 00:42:25,380 --> 00:42:29,920 There's no Geneva Convention, so the objective is obviously to put pressure 474 00:42:29,920 --> 00:42:31,080 the enemy, to scare them. 475 00:42:31,460 --> 00:42:34,360 Men loot, kill and burn as they please. 476 00:42:36,370 --> 00:42:39,210 It's a phrase frequently used to describe Viking armies. 477 00:42:39,450 --> 00:42:43,490 Psychological warfare is nothing new. It exists in every conflict, in every era. 478 00:42:43,650 --> 00:42:47,050 And for civilian populations, it has always meant the same thing throughout 479 00:42:47,050 --> 00:42:51,590 history. Raiding the countryside, seizing resources, living off the land, 480 00:42:51,590 --> 00:42:55,450 killing a few people in a particularly dramatic way are all part of the usual 481 00:42:55,450 --> 00:42:56,450 practices. 482 00:42:59,370 --> 00:43:02,990 After a few days, Svein and his men reach Oxford. 483 00:43:04,880 --> 00:43:07,940 The troops take position before the fortified town. 484 00:43:11,400 --> 00:43:14,060 The city gates slowly open. 485 00:43:16,120 --> 00:43:19,480 A man steps forward and speaks a few words. 486 00:43:20,900 --> 00:43:24,600 The city surrenders without a fight. 487 00:43:27,640 --> 00:43:32,220 The inhabitants of Oxford had already suffered greatly over the previous 488 00:43:33,340 --> 00:43:37,420 Resisting now would mean a second full -scale plundering or another round of 489 00:43:37,420 --> 00:43:38,420 mass destruction. 490 00:43:38,600 --> 00:43:41,980 Clearly, not everyone is eager to turn their city into another Stalingrad. 491 00:43:42,900 --> 00:43:46,560 Surrendering is the logical choice if it spares lives and avoids crushing 492 00:43:46,560 --> 00:43:47,560 tribute. 493 00:43:51,280 --> 00:43:56,520 Fein and his men enter the city after a victory won without a single sword 494 00:43:56,520 --> 00:43:57,520 stroke. 495 00:43:59,240 --> 00:44:01,740 The strategy of fear worked. 496 00:44:04,490 --> 00:44:06,510 The local nobility submits. 497 00:44:10,850 --> 00:44:15,110 But for Thane, it is not enough. 498 00:44:17,490 --> 00:44:21,870 Sven Fortbeard is trying to terrorise the south of England. 499 00:44:22,070 --> 00:44:25,930 He has to subdue that part. He's got to do this with big public displays. 500 00:44:26,350 --> 00:44:31,310 The lords of each region must essentially kneel before him in public. 501 00:44:32,490 --> 00:44:33,790 He needs Wessex. 502 00:44:34,160 --> 00:44:38,880 to be seen to be beaten and to be under the heel of the Danish oppressor. 503 00:44:44,220 --> 00:44:48,620 In the days that followed, the southern cities fell one after another. 504 00:44:50,260 --> 00:44:56,480 Exeter, Winchester, all surrendered without resistance. 505 00:44:58,860 --> 00:45:03,020 In London, Ethelred remains barricaded in his palace. 506 00:45:04,880 --> 00:45:10,000 More cut off from his people than ever, he watches helplessly as his kingdom 507 00:45:10,000 --> 00:45:11,000 collapses. 508 00:45:12,880 --> 00:45:19,400 Ethelred's passivity has really damned the reputation of Ethelred. The 509 00:45:19,400 --> 00:45:24,400 12th century William of Malmesbury referred to him as being lazy, 510 00:45:24,700 --> 00:45:26,760 and not getting out of bed. 511 00:45:27,420 --> 00:45:33,900 But I think we also have to remember that he had to rely on regional 512 00:45:33,900 --> 00:45:36,140 to raise forces. 513 00:45:36,380 --> 00:45:42,120 And his commanders, his eldermen, are just unwilling to act on his behalf 514 00:45:42,120 --> 00:45:47,640 he's in London. So it's something of a difficult situation for Æthelred at this 515 00:45:47,640 --> 00:45:48,640 time. 516 00:45:52,160 --> 00:45:56,200 As autumn begins, the noose tightens around Æthelred. 517 00:45:59,150 --> 00:46:03,230 From the rampart, he observes Svein's troops across the river. 518 00:46:06,370 --> 00:46:10,630 He knows his survival may depend on what happens here and now. 519 00:46:11,870 --> 00:46:16,710 Losing the city, the last stronghold of resistance against the Danes, would mean 520 00:46:16,710 --> 00:46:17,930 losing the crown. 521 00:46:22,230 --> 00:46:26,370 Beyond the walls, Svein knows the confrontation will be harsh. 522 00:46:27,010 --> 00:46:31,070 For more than a century, London has remained unconquered. 523 00:46:33,930 --> 00:46:38,950 London benefits from its Roman walls that survived throughout the Middle Ages 524 00:46:38,950 --> 00:46:41,190 and were extensively restored for defense. 525 00:46:41,550 --> 00:46:44,530 It is the nerve center of Ethelred's defense. 526 00:46:45,230 --> 00:46:48,110 This is where he resides, likely with his household troops. 527 00:46:49,490 --> 00:46:52,050 Thorkell is there as well, probably with his fleet. 528 00:46:52,890 --> 00:46:55,270 And then there's London, large, wealthy, powerful. 529 00:46:55,490 --> 00:46:59,470 The inhabitants do not seem at all inclined to surrender to the first 530 00:47:01,530 --> 00:47:05,370 Svein knows a frontal assault would be doomed to fail. 531 00:47:05,730 --> 00:47:11,570 So, to bypass the English defences, he orders his men to ford the Thames. 532 00:47:19,090 --> 00:47:21,550 It's possible that they tried to cross the river. 533 00:47:22,520 --> 00:47:27,640 to the west of london at low tide but you have to know the river in order to 534 00:47:27,640 --> 00:47:34,440 this the maneuver turns into a disaster hundreds of men are 535 00:47:34,440 --> 00:47:37,740 swept away by the current and the river's tumultuous waters 536 00:47:42,890 --> 00:47:47,090 The likelihood that many men drowned while trying to do this would have been 537 00:47:47,090 --> 00:47:53,750 likely to cause Sven to think about changing the direction of his campaign. 538 00:47:57,150 --> 00:47:59,830 Sven is forced to face the truth. 539 00:48:00,270 --> 00:48:05,130 To persist would cost countless warriors and endanger the entire campaign. 540 00:48:08,910 --> 00:48:10,330 The Siege of London. 541 00:48:10,730 --> 00:48:16,130 ultimately is going to fail. London is just too tough a nut to crack in Sven's 542 00:48:16,130 --> 00:48:19,310 time. So Sven pulls out and he heads to the west. 543 00:48:24,450 --> 00:48:30,330 If he cannot force London to yield, Sven may try to isolate it from the rest of 544 00:48:30,330 --> 00:48:31,330 the kingdom. 545 00:48:32,030 --> 00:48:38,210 To do that, he must seize the last key stronghold of Wessex, Bath. 546 00:48:40,360 --> 00:48:45,620 This city, where Ethelred's father was crowned, enjoys near imperial prestige 547 00:48:45,620 --> 00:48:50,060 and is home to one of the kingdom's most influential noble families. 548 00:48:51,140 --> 00:48:54,880 This, if you're going to crack an easier nut and you're going to make an 549 00:48:54,880 --> 00:48:59,060 enormous political splash, do it with these people. They're related to the 550 00:48:59,060 --> 00:49:02,680 kingship, they're long related to the kingship, and that is a huge money 551 00:49:02,680 --> 00:49:06,820 area for Anglo -Saxon England. If you can break the West... 552 00:49:07,290 --> 00:49:10,470 Maybe you don't have to break London. Maybe London will fall on its own. 553 00:49:13,530 --> 00:49:19,850 By the end of 1013, the nobles of Bath, weary of Æthelred's chaotic rule, rally 554 00:49:19,850 --> 00:49:20,850 to the Dane. 555 00:49:22,910 --> 00:49:25,230 Soon, the rest of the kingdom follows. 556 00:49:28,250 --> 00:49:33,350 Ethelred will have seen it sitting in London as the lights going out one after 557 00:49:33,350 --> 00:49:38,070 another across the entire country as they just stopped talking to him. And 558 00:49:38,070 --> 00:49:41,310 you've got nothing left except the city of London, then I think you leave. 559 00:49:43,750 --> 00:49:50,190 Abandoned by all, Ethelred, the last king of a five -century -old dynasty, 560 00:49:50,190 --> 00:49:51,190 toward Normandy. 561 00:49:57,130 --> 00:50:02,410 And there he can remain king in exile, awaiting his moment to reappear. So he's 562 00:50:02,410 --> 00:50:06,830 kind of a bit like the free French government in London in World War II, if 563 00:50:06,830 --> 00:50:13,290 will. He's potentially there in Normandy as the, to his mind, genuine English 564 00:50:13,290 --> 00:50:19,310 king and the real government waiting for an opportunity to step back into those 565 00:50:19,310 --> 00:50:20,310 shoes. 566 00:50:27,720 --> 00:50:33,460 Aboard the ship carrying him into exile, Æthelred watches the English coastline 567 00:50:33,460 --> 00:50:34,860 fade into the mist. 568 00:50:36,600 --> 00:50:39,080 His defeat tastes of betrayal. 569 00:50:43,540 --> 00:50:47,780 His people did not raise their weapons to defend him. 570 00:50:48,140 --> 00:50:51,320 The nobles abandoned him for a king from the north. 571 00:50:51,540 --> 00:50:56,240 But Æthelred is not broken. He swears he will return. 572 00:50:56,920 --> 00:50:58,120 whatever the cost. 573 00:51:12,040 --> 00:51:15,040 In Lincoln, Canute awaits his father. 574 00:51:16,780 --> 00:51:20,160 The man he finds is no longer only king of Denmark. 575 00:51:20,880 --> 00:51:23,040 He is now king of England. 576 00:51:24,920 --> 00:51:31,900 Before him, stands a transformed son, seasoned and hardened by the demands of 577 00:51:31,900 --> 00:51:32,900 power. 578 00:51:34,100 --> 00:51:38,260 It's a new world. It's the conquest of somewhere for him to rule. 579 00:51:38,500 --> 00:51:43,180 Harald will now have Denmark, he will have England, and he is the second son, 580 00:51:43,300 --> 00:51:46,100 and he's got the conquest. But what a conquest. 581 00:51:46,420 --> 00:51:51,360 There is far more money there in England than there will ever be in Denmark. 582 00:51:51,580 --> 00:51:58,380 And that wealth will be used by his dynasty to... push its ambitions far 583 00:51:58,380 --> 00:52:03,580 into Scandinavia to rule what we have to use the modern word empire. 584 00:52:03,840 --> 00:52:10,320 If he ever dreamed of being an emperor, he did so on the day they conquered 585 00:52:10,320 --> 00:52:11,320 southern England. 586 00:52:14,420 --> 00:52:20,060 Together, Thane and Canute have achieved the unthinkable, seizing the richest 587 00:52:20,060 --> 00:52:21,860 kingdom in the Western world. 588 00:52:22,540 --> 00:52:25,400 For the young prince, the future now seems set. 589 00:52:25,800 --> 00:52:28,680 But history is far from finished with him. 590 00:52:29,220 --> 00:52:35,020 England will soon slip from their grasp, and Canute will be forced to face a new 591 00:52:35,020 --> 00:52:38,740 enemy, far more formidable than any before.