1016 CE
A tumultuous year for England as Edmund Ironside and Cnut the Great fought a series of battles for the English throne, culminating in Edmund's death and Cnut's establishment of a North Sea empire.
Conflict & Power
- Ethelred the Unready died on April 23, and his son Edmund Ironside was proclaimed king by the citizens of London, while the Danish prince Cnut was recognized by much of the rest of England.
- Edmund Ironside and Cnut fought multiple engagements throughout the year, including battles at Penselwood, Sherston, and a major Danish assault on London that was repelled.
- The Battle of Assandun in October was a decisive victory for Cnut, after which Edmund agreed to divide England, keeping Wessex while Cnut held the rest of the kingdom.
- Edmund Ironside died on November 30, possibly from wounds or illness, and Cnut became the undisputed King of England, uniting it with Denmark under a single ruler.
Climate & Environment
- Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was approximately 275 parts per million, as later confirmed by ice core analysis.
Population & Demographics
- World population is estimated to have been approximately 311 million.