Battlefields›Siege of London by Cnut 1016
Early Medieval

Siege of London by Cnut 1016

1016
Middlesex, England
Also known as: Cnut besieges London 1016 · Danish siege of London 1016
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Middlesex, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
London / Edmund Ironside
Forces
London/Edmund: c.1,500–2,500. Strategic siege.
VS
Victor
Cnut (strategic)
Forces
Cnut: c.5,000–8,000
Outcome
London withstood multiple sieges; ultimately submitted after Edmund death
The Battle

History & Significance

Cnut prolonged siege of London in 1016 — including digging a canal to bypass London Bridge — was the most technically ambitious Viking military operation ever conducted on English soil.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near Siege of London by Cnut 1016

The Roman riverside wall and wharves at Three Quays
Scheduled monument · ~0.1 miles
The Roman riverside wall and wharves at Sugar Quay
Scheduled monument · ~0.1 miles
Tower Hill West
Scheduled monument · ~0.1 miles
Roman hypocaust and building on site of Coal Exchange
Scheduled monument · ~0.1 miles
Structures of archaeological interest below Billingsgate Market
Scheduled monument · ~0.2 miles
More from this era

Other Early Medieval Battles

Battle of Crecganford
456
Kent, England
Battle of Aylesford
455
Kent, England
Jutish Revolt — Battle at Aegelesthrep (Aylesford approach)
455
Kent, England
Anglian Assault on Roman York (c.450-500 AD)
450
Yorkshire, England
Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around Middlesex

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in Britain — drawing on Domesday records, scheduled monuments, Victorian OS maps, geological data and archaeological archives to tell the full story of a place.

Research a location near Middlesex
All Battlefields