| 1011 | | The Vikings murder Aelfheah |
| | | The Vikings captured Canterbury and obtained a payment of £48,000. In a druken rage the Vikings murdered Aelfheah, the Archbishop of Canterbury. Aelfheah was the man that had baptised Olaf Trygvasson in the Winter of 994. Outraged by the actions of his fellow men Thorkell the Tall defected to the side of Athelred along with 45 Viking ships to help defend England from further Viking attacks. |
| 1012 | | Danegeld paid |
| | | The Danes were paid a large sum of money, known as the Danegeld, to leave England. |
| 1013 | | Swein Fork-Beard and Canute attack England |
| | | Swein Fork-Beard and his son Canute sailed from Denmark to attack England. Again London defended itself and the Vikings moved elsewhere, taking Wessex, Mercia and Northumbria. |
| Autumn | Emma and Edward leave England |
| | | Forced to leave England by the inavsion from Denmark, Emma Athelred's wife, fled to Normandy assisted by the Bishop of Peterborough. Sons Edward (the Confessor) and Alfred followed later along with the Bishop of London. Ethelred was not far behind. |
| Nov | London surrenders to Swein |
| | | London was the last part of the country to accept Swein as the new king of England. Swein and his Viking army had already taken control of the Danelaw and the rest of the country accepted him as their new ruler. Swein's rule of the country would only last a few months. |
| 1014 | | Athelred goes into exile |
| | | Athelred had to abandon his country to Swein and went to Normandy to join his wife Emma and his sons. |
| Feb 3 | Swein dies |
| | | Swein Fork-Beard died. Canute left England not sure of his ability to hold the country but returned a year later. Athelred sent ambassadors to England, including his own son Edward (later the Confessor) to negotiate a possible return. |
| 1015 | Qtr 3 | Canute returns to England |
| | | Canute invaded England taking control of Mercia and Northumbria. Athelred was ill and England was in the hands of Edmund (Ironside). |
| 1016 | Apr | Canute attempts to take the throne |
| | | Canute advanced on London for a fight with Athelred but Athelred died in the same month. London accepted Edmund Ironside as their ruler. Canute would have to defeat Edmund if he was to become King of England. |
| Oct 18 | Treaty between Canute and Edmund |
| | | Canute defeated Edmund Ironside at Ashingdon and a treaty was signed leaving Edmund with only the area of Wessex. |
| Nov 30 | Canute becomes King of England |
| | | Edmund Ironside died only a month after the treaty with Canute. Canute then became King of England. |
| 1017 | Jul | Canute marries Emma |
| | | Canute married Emma, the widow of Athelred the Unready. This helped Canute secure ties with Normandy as Emma was the daughter of Count of Normandy. |
| 1019 | | Canute takes Denmark |
| | | Canute travelled to Denmark after the death of his brother to ensure his own succession to the Danish throne. |
