The mutilated hostages he left at Sandwich that bought his crown
Failed to add items
Sorry, we are unable to add the item because your shopping basket is already at capacity.
Add to cart failed.
Please try again later
Add to wishlist failed.
Please try again later
Remove from wishlist failed.
Please try again later
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
The mutilated hostages he left at Sandwich that bought his crown
-
Narrated by:
-
Written by:
The mutilated hostages he left at Sandwich that bought his crown
In this episode, we follow the moment Cnut abandons England after his father's death and the ruthless decisions that framed his rise. We trace how a fleet, hostages, and calculated brutality became the grammar of power-and ask what those choices demanded of the man who built a North Sea empire.
Person: Cnut
Event: mutilation and abandonment of English hostages at Sandwich
Date: 3 February 1014 (Swein's death) and summer 1015 (return with two hundred ships)
Location: Sandwich, Kent; Denmark; Winchester Cathedral (burial chests)
Topic: conquest, fleet diplomacy, and the costs of rule
- Cnut was left commanding his father's fleet at Gainsborough when Swein Forkbeard died unexpectedly.
- Before sailing back to Denmark, Cnut put ashore the sons and daughters of English nobles at Sandwich after mutilating them.
- He returned from Denmark in summer 1015 with two hundred longships carrying roughly ten thousand fighting men.
- Wessex submitted to Cnut before the end of the year; submission is portrayed as the product of military arithmetic and expectation.
- After submission, Cnut ordered or presided over the killing of Earl Uhtred of Northumbria, signaling that submission did not guarantee safety.
To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.
© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet