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During the 9th-century, the Saxon dominance of Britain was threatened by the Vikings, who had made a number of violent raids into costal areas towards the end of the previous century. This time, Viking forces arrived in far greater numbers and gradually fought their way down towards London - which they effectively ended up occupying by 872. Although for a number of years the city seemed to be under no overall control, the Saxons, under the leadership of King Alfred the Great (who for a time was forced into hiding), eventually managed to retake London for good in 886. By rebuilding what was the old Roman city, and strengthening the existing defensive walls, they also set about constructing new port facilities to increase trade. Consequently, throughout the 9th and 10th centuries London began to prosper again under the English kings, who were also spending increasing periods of time in the city.
The Viking threat was still very real, however, with their forces returning in 980 during the reign of the Anglo-Saxon King Aethelred (popularly referred to as Aethelred the Unready). This time though it was the town of Thanet, not far from London, that proved to be the focus for Viking aggression. In an attempt to buy peace with their marauding forces, Aethelred offered the Viking leaders huge sums of money rather than confront them by force of arms. The Vikings, who saw this as easy bounty, took the money and returned home for a short time, before threatening the English once more a year or two later. This strange state of affairs continued for a number of years until it became ever more difficult for Aethelred to gather money and pay the Vikings off. Eventually, realising that the Saxons would have to take up arms, Aethelred’s soldiers first set about massacring a number of Viking settlers who had established themselves in the south of England. Of course, such actions were not without consequence, as vicious Viking reprisals took place almost immediately, followed by a bloody conflict that ensued for a further four years. It was only when Aethelred agreed to pay another huge bounty that a partial peace was achieved in 1011. Even this was short-lived, however, as the Vikings returned yet again within two years. This time, after being besieged in London, Aethelred was forced to flee across the Channel and seek sanctuary with the Duke of Normandy (who’s sister Emma he had married in 1002). Interestingly, the marriage now gave the Normans a claim to the English throne which, as we will learn later, they would exercise in the not too distant future.
Although Aethelred eventually returned to England to lead the Saxon armies (with his son Edmund joining him) within five years they were both dead. This marked the end of the Anglo-Saxon line of kings for a time, with the throne of England passing to the Viking King - Canute. Even this proved to be a transitional phase though, with a dynastic line that lasted only 30 years. For, following the death of Canute’s son Harthacanute, the Anglo-Saxon Edward (the Confessor) took to the throne. In marked contrast to the small-scale development of London under Viking rule, Edward immediately set up court at Westminster, which was entirely separate from the City of London.