The Normans were a remarkable people whose legacy shaped the course of medieval European history. Originating as Viking settlers in northern France, they evolved into a powerful military and political force, influencing regions from France and England to southern Italy and the Crusader states in the Middle East. This timeline outlines the major eve

While Cnut’s reign brought relative peace and prosperity, the nature of his rule had lasting consequences that indirectly influenced the Norman Conquest fifty years later. Norman Connections through Emma of Normandy Cnut’s marriage to Emma linked the English royal family with Normandy. Emma’s sons—Edward the Confessor (from her first

After Sweyn’s death, Æthelred returned to power, but the conflict was far from over. Cnut, having inherited his father’s crown in Denmark, prepared for another attempt to assert control over England. In 1015, Cnut assembled a formidable invasion force composed of Danes, Norwegians, and other Viking warriors, demonstrating the scale and serious

The early 11th century was a period of profound transformation for England, marked by intense political turmoil, shifting alliances, and repeated invasions. Among the most significant episodes was the Viking conquest led by King Cnut the Great (also spelled Canute), whose invasion and subsequent reign laid crucial groundwork that would eventually c