North Sea Empire

(Today part of: England, Denmark, Norway and region Scania in Sweden)

The name Dane was used centuries before the Denmark was founded in the second half of the 10^th century. The country was spread from the peninsula of Jutland to Skåneland. English referred to all Vikings as Danes regardless where they came from. Vikings’ naval adventures differed in terms of the place of invasion, characteristics and range (from robberies to permanent colonization). Europeans referred to all Vikings as Normans (people from the north) even though not all Normans were Vikings. All Scandinavians lived in autonomous tribes governed by a king or ruler. Each of the Scandinavian nations had their distinctive characteristics. However, they used similar dialects of the Old Norman language and believed in the Norse gods Odin, Thor, Frey, etc. They started accepting Christianity in the 10^th century.

 The most powerful Scandinavian country in the Middle Ages was Denmark. During Cnut’s reign, Danes defeated Norway and England. Cnut was the first ruler who used the title “king of England” (Rex Angliae). Cnut did not want to be a conqueror; rather, he wanted to be the ruler of Danes and non-Danes. He was the king of multiple kingdoms rather that the king of a single vast kingdom. It seemed that Cnut would unite the north naval empire under the Danish dynasty; however, it never happened. Cnut’s country fell apart after his death.