In 1042, the death of King Harthacnut shattered Cnut's North Sea Empire. England slipped back into Saxon hands, yet in Denmark the dream of dominion endured. From Sweyn Estridsson's wars against Norway to William the Conqueror's victory at Hastings, the mid-eleventh century was an age of upheaval where crowns were lost, kingdoms remade, and brothers turned against one another.
Twice Danish fleets crossed the sea to answer Saxon calls, threatening Norman rule in England. Yet Denmark's greatest struggles lay within: feuds between sons and brothers, bishops and jarls seizing power, and blood spilled in the struggle for the throne. The century ended with King Erik Ejegod dying far from home on Cyprus, leaving Denmark without a king - and with only fragile hope for peace.
The Shattered Crown continues the acclaimed series The Blood and the Crown, blending meticulous research with gripping drama to bring the Viking Age and Middle Ages vividly to life. This is the story of invasions and councils, betrayals and battles - the fight not just for crowns, but for the soul of Europe's oldest kingdom.