Wednesday 23rd April 2025
St John’s Place, Lower Road, Bemerton, SP2 9NP
7.30-9.30pm
Cnut’s conquest of England in 1016 was the culmination of a series of gruelling campaigns across the English kingdom and marked the coming of age of this young prince of Denmark who had first arrived in England with his father, Swein Forkbeard, in 1013. What were Cnut’s strategies? Was he an effective warleader or just lucky? In this talk, Professor Ryan Lavelle looks at the different motivations of the protagonists in campaigns that, though often overshadowed by the events of 1066, were just as dramatic and, some would argue, just as significant.
Ryan Lavelle is Professor of Early Medieval History at the University of Winchester. He writes on the politics and military history of the Anglo-Saxon period. His books include Cnut: The North Sea King (Penguin, 2017).
Entrance for members is included in your annual subscription. For non-members, entrance is £10 (cash, card or cheque) at the door.
There is a small car park and lay-by opposite St John’s Place on Lower Road (for approx. 20 cars). Parking is also allowed on single yellow lines on Lower Road after 6pm. Alternative car parking is available at The Clubhouse, Salisbury and South Wilts Sports Club (SP2 9NY) and a pathway connects to St John’s Place.