Battle of Assandun

The Battle of Assandun occurred on October 18, 1016 in Assandun. It is still debatable whether it is Assandun to today's Ashdon or - how long believed - at Ashingdon in southeast Essex, England, is. The battle ended in victory for the Danes, who fought under the leadership of Knut the Great. The English army was led by Edmund II. The battle is the end of the Danish conquest of England and the beginning of the Anglo -Scandinavian empire under Canute's reign.

In earlier times there were seven kingdoms in England, but in the late 10th century there were only two. The Danes dominated two-thirds of England - the Danelaw, the area north of the Thames, along the Lee, north-west up to and including the Midlands, including eastern Mercia to Chester and the River Dee. The Saxons dominated the area south of the River Thames, west of Wessex and Mercia West.

Before the battle King Canute London had besieged. Against the Saxon hierarchy, he got significant support from the English nobility. The siege was a response to King Edmunds conquest of the then Danish- ruled Wessex as well as several smaller, but draw retarded arguments with Knut's army. London resisted the siege with Edmunds, but he lacked troops after the attack against the Danes in Mercia.

Edmund was forced to travel with his army through a land section, dominated by enemies. He was here exposed to the constant threat of being attacked by Danish troops. Knuts scouts had noticed Edmunds rise and in Essex Edmunds army was intercepted by Knut. This surprise led to some of Edmund's men deserted and a Danish supremacy dominated very quickly in battle. However, there are also sources that claim the English army had initially dominated, but would then have been betrayed by Eadric Streona that would have met with Knut, an agreement to let the English army at the crucial moment in the lurch.

After his defeat King Edmund was forced to sign a contract with Knut, Knut gave dominion over all British territories except for Wessex. After Edmund's death also Wessex should fall to the Danes. According to Knut the Great could Edmunds after death, which occurred already on 30 November of that year, combine all of England under his rule.

Knut erected after the victory to the memory of his fallen in battle men a church. 1020 was the construction of a memorial church, known as Ashingdon Minster, completed. It is in Ashingdon on the mountain next to the alleged battlefield. The church still stands.

Swell

Several chronicles of that time mention the battle. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle mentions the battle short. Also in the Knýtlinga saga it is mentioned briefly. The longest mention is found in the Encomium Emmae Reginae, the prize essay of Emma of Normandy, with the Queen of England wanted to establish the throne of claims Hardi Knut, her son with Knut the Great.