The past decade has seen monumental changes in the United Kingdom's relationship with Europe. The Brexit referendum of 2016 led to the U.K.'s official exit from the European Union in 2020, a dream (or, for those campaigning to "Leave," a fever dream) that had lasted more than 5 decades.
However, the bonds that link the British Isles and Europe, despite being recently somewhat broken, are centuries old. We know that the first time much of what is now Great Britain was brought under the auspices of Europe was back during the height of the Roman legions.
The late Roman Republic (and later Empire) went about conquering and subduing much (but not all) of Great Britain. That Roman experience lasted until the early 5th century, when it was Europe that pulled out of Britain, with imperial authority withdrawn under Honorius and the island left very much to its own devices.
More than half a millennium would pass before, during the high point of the Viking Age (c. 750–1100), much of the British Isles (specifically the Kingdom of England) was brought into a closer political union with Europe.
The North Sea Empire
This closer political union, however, was ruled not by a Roman emperor but by a Viking king, Sweyn Forkbeard. Having seized the Danish throne from his father, Harald Bluetooth, around 986, he spent almost the next 3 decades campaigning across Norway and England.
He would add control of much of Norway (c. 1000) as well as the English throne (1014) to his collection and create an empire, which we moderns call the North Sea Empire.
Yet as soon as he had defeated the combined forces of English King Æthelred and his Viking commander, Thorkell the Tall, seized the English throne, and began organizing to rule his new kingdom, he died little more than 6 weeks later. His North Sea Empire suddenly faced its greatest existential challenge: succession.
PLEASE NOTE: The rest of this article is only available to our paid Patreon subscribers.
The topic was selected by our Patrons in a weekly poll. Support The Viking Herald on Patreon to read the full article and help choose future topics.
If you would like to learn more about Patreon and why we have decided to restrict access to some content, please take a look at this article.
Feel free to reach out to discuss potential stories that may be in the public interest. You can reach us via email at hello@thevikingherald.com with the understanding that the information you provide might be used in our reporting and stories.
