Emma of Normandy was the daughter of Richard I, the Duke of Normandy. Emma married Athelred the King of the English in November of 1002. This was at the time when England was under constant attack from Viking raiders. The English had to pay the Vikings sums of money, known as Dangeld, to keep the Vikings from invading. The marriage to Emma was an attempt by Athelred to strenghten his position against the Vikings with support from the Normans. In the same year, on St. Brice's Day, Athelred had all the Danes who were living in England killed.

Invasion

This did nothing to prevent the Viking raids which continued until 1013 when the Viking Sweyn Forkbeard invaded England and took control. Emma was forced to leave England by the invasion from Denmark and she fled to Normandy along with her sons Edward (the Confessor) and Alfred. Athelred was not far behind. After the death of Sweyn in 1014, Athelred returned to England to reclaim the English throne but it was contested by Canute, the son of Sweyn Forkbeard. In 1016 Canute arrived in England to confront Athelred, but the English king died the same month. The country choose Canute as the next king of England.

Wife of Canute

In 1017 Emma married Canute securing ties between the Danes and the Normans. Together they had a son called Harthacanute. In 1035, when Canute died, the English throne was claimed by Harthacanute and Harold Harefoot, the son of Canute by his first wife Aelfgifu. Harthacanute was in Denmark at the time and Harold claimed the throne for himself forcing Emma into exile in Bruges.

Edward the Confessor

Emma's son Edward became King in 1042 when Harthacanute died. Emma joined forces with Magnus of Norway in attempt to take the English throne for herself but failed and was stripped of her lands and wealth. When she died in 1052 Emma was buried at Winchester.