Page "Viking Age" Paragraph 29

A new wave of Norwegian Vikings appeared in England in 947 when Erik Bloodaxe captured York.

The Viking presence continued throughout the reign of the Danish King Cnut the Great ( 1016 – 1035 ), after which a series of inheritance arguments weakened power of his descendants.

By 1012, the Vikings were in service in England as Thingmen, a personal bodyguard to the King of England.

They were offered payment, the Danegeld, which lasted from 1012 to 1066 and stopped Viking raids for almost twenty years.

The Viking presence dwindled until 1066, when the invading Norsemen lost their final battle with the English at Stamford Bridge.

Nineteen days later the Normans, themselves descended from Norsemen, invaded England and defeated the weakened English army at the Battle of Hastings.