Summary:
Hardeknud, son of Knud/Canute the Great has, miracolously, survived an attempt on his life and holds the thrones of England and Denmark. In close co-operation with his half-brother Edward (the Confessor), and the timely intervention of God's arm, he also gains the the thrones of Norway and Sweden, as well as crushes a Wendish invasion of Jutland. In 1044 Hardeknid is the most famous Christian King of the world!
Maintaining an Empire 1044-1046
Back in England Hardeknud and Edward seemed an unbreakable unity. Rumours said, that Hardeknud knew everything about Edward’s involvement in the failed attempt on him in 1042, and that Hardeknud used this knowledge as a leash on Edward and had pressed Edward to arrange the death of Anund Jakob – apart from the absence of a clumsy maid and a thirsty dog the circumstances around the wedding in Lambeth and the court in Sweden were stunningly similar. Nobody dared say that in public of course, not only because both Hardeknud and Edward were known to instantly strike down on opposition, and if one wasn’t around, the other usually was. But as important was the fear of God present in all free men then. No matter what mortals did what, Hardeknud obviously had the good will of God, and Edward no doubt was an indispensable part of the execution of God’s will – it didn’t appear that wise to oppose such forces!
Although with different fathers Hardeknud and Edward both were sons of Emma of Normandy, married first to Aethelred (the Unready) of England and next to Canute of Denmark, Norway and England. Emma, as any other mother in a similar situation, had a keen eye on securing her offspring. The oath between Hardeknud and Edward, giving Edward the throne of England if Hardeknud should die childless of course was a good start, but Hardeknud getting married and having some sons was the only certain way to keep the throne of both England and Scandinavia in family hands. Edward of course should be given his important role, perhaps in the church, but the dynasty had to be founded on Hardeknud – so Mother spoke!
Soon Edith of Wessex, daughter of the powerful Earl Godwin of Wessex and through her mother connected to both Swedish (Styrbjoern the Strong) and Danish Royal Blood (Harald Bluetooth) was pointed out and a wedding held, incl. toasts, and fortunately all survived. The honeymoon should not last long however, for down in Constantinople a Norwegian of good birth Harald Siggurdsson (OTL Hardrada from Stamford Bridge) serving in the Varinger Guard had followed the events in Norway and Scandinavia with disgust. Harald was the youngest half-brother of the Olaf killed by Canute’s allies at Sticklestad in 1030, and Harald felt a deep hate to Canute's son and felt that everything that now belonged to him ought to be his.
In 1045 Harald returned to Norway bringing with him some of his best men from the Varangian Guard in Constantinople. He instantly proved a threat to the established order, and soon succeeded in raising an army in Norway, not at least utilising all the gold he had acquired while in Byzantian service. By mid 1046 Hardeknud’s Earl in Norway was forced to flee and Harald claimed himself King of Norway – with thirst for more. The Swedes showed no interest in joining his adventure, they apparently were content about being left largely alone and protected by their agreement with a distant Hardeknud, but Hardeknud could be hit hard in Denmark, his origin of power, and many free Danes were known to be dissatisfied with being ruled from across the North Sea.
In 1046 Harald landed in Jutland, Denmark, where Hardeknud’s loyal Earl Svend Estridsson repeated the tactics of 1043 – keeping in contact with Harald’s forces, but avoiding major battle until reinforcement had arrived. Svend knew that losing his main force now would mean a number of Danish nobles joining Harald – and he himself wouldn’t survive that for long.
Hardeknud of course had followed events from across the North Sea, but had hesitated to leave England himself. The solution showed up in the brother of his wife, the young Harold Godwinsson(born 1022), a strong and smart young man, and eager to earn honour in the service of his King and brother in law. Harold was put ahead of the fleet and army sent to Denmark, but with instruction to take advice from Svend.
When Harold and the army made contact with Svend, Harald Siggurdsson had marched from Aalborg in Northern Jutland to Vejle in eastern central Jutland in very short time and brushing aside all opposition. At Vejle, more precisely at Ravning Meadows a 700 m long wooden bridge crossed the swampy valley and as the experienced military commander Harald was, he knew that he would be very vulnerable while crossing the bridge, but OTOH he would be stuck in northern Jutland as long as he didn’t, and for every hour passing, the chance of Svend showing up with reinforcements from England would increase. So the advanceguard was ordered to cross immediately, and everything went well until suddenly battle noise was heard ahead – contact had been made – probably Svend performing one more of his tedious delaying actions. But even that could be dangerous in such a vulnerable situation, and Harald ordered all units to attack straight ahead as soon as leaving the bridge, not wasting time to put on the armour and mail usually carried in the train during marches– this might be the chance to catch Svend. Harald and his trusted men from the Varinger days lead the chase up the, for a Danish landscape, steep sides of the valley. At the top they did however not meet the scattered and exhausted men they had chased, but a massive shield wall of English and Danish Housecarls with the Royal Banner flying from its centre.
“Oh Sh...!” was all Harald got time to express, as he fell dead from his horse struck by an arrow in the head. His Varingers knew what was at stake and tried energetically to maintain order, but too many had seen Harald fall and as the shield wall from the top started pouring down the valley side with the young Godwinsson leading panic spread in Harald’s army. In the next hours until sunset followed a carnage and loot resembling that of the battle of Lyrskov Heath in 1043, and in many families precious Byzantian jewellery taken at Ravning Meadows was passed on from generation to generation.
With Harald dead the Norwegian rebellion soon vaporised like dew in the morning sun.
To be continued, and we shall see Edward qualify for a good job, with a little help from mommy, and mommy helping the Empire for a couple of centuries to come
Regards
Steffen Redbeard
A Dane on the English Throne and an Englishman on the Swedish one plus I am excited to see who Hardeknud marries and if you have plans for the Jelling Dynasty to last or eventually die out.