OCR Specification focus:
‘The ‘submission’ of the Welsh kings (918), the Scottish king (923) and Raegnald (920); the threat of the Norwegians from Ireland (including Raegnald)’
Edward the Elder’s dealings with neighbouring rulers highlight his efforts to consolidate power across Britain, combining diplomacy, military force, and strategic alliances to secure his dominance.
Context of Edward’s Reign
Edward the Elder (899–924) inherited the throne from his father, Alfred the Great, and pursued the expansion of Wessex’s influence. By the early 10th century, the political landscape of the British Isles was fragmented: independent Welsh kingdoms, a semi-unified Scotland, Viking-ruled territories in the north, and Norwegian threats from Ireland.
Map of Saxon England c. 900, showing Wessex, Mercia, Northumbria and neighbouring Welsh kingdoms, plus key places that appear in Edward’s diplomacy. Use it to visualise borders that underpinned the submissions of 918 and 923. The page also shows some battle markers from c. 900 that are not required by the OCR syllabus; they can be ignored. Source
The Submission of the Welsh Kings (918)
In 918, Edward achieved the formal submission of the Welsh kings, marking a significant diplomatic success.
Several Welsh rulers from Gwent, Gwynedd, and Dyfed acknowledged Edward’s overlordship.
Submission was often formalised through oaths of loyalty, tributes, or attendance at Edward’s court.
Silver penny of Edward the Elder (AD 899–924), likely by the moneyer Eofermund, showing obverse and reverse. Coins circulated Edward’s name and titles, reinforcing the royal ideology behind Welsh, Scottish and Norse submissions. The PAS record includes numismatic specifics that go beyond OCR needs; students only need recognise it as royal propaganda/authority. Source
This submission allowed Edward to:
Secure his western frontier.
Reduce the likelihood of Welsh alliances with Vikings.
Integrate the Welsh rulers into his political network.
Submission: In early medieval politics, the act by which a lesser ruler formally recognised the superiority of a more powerful monarch, often through ritual gestures and tribute.
The Welsh acceptance of Edward’s authority was not necessarily permanent dominance, but it demonstrated his growing status as a hegemon in Britain.
The Submission of Raegnald (920)
In 920, Raegnald, a Norse king controlling York and surrounding Northumbrian territories, also submitted to Edward.
Raegnald was a powerful Norse warlord, possibly with roots in both Norwegian and Hiberno-Norse traditions.
His submission was a diplomatic milestone because:
York was a major Viking stronghold.
It implied at least temporary peace between Wessex and the northern Danelaw.
Likely driven by:
Pressure from Scottish forces.
The need to secure his position against rival Viking leaders.
Recognition of Edward’s growing influence.
This moment is a key example of Edward’s ability to negotiate with Viking leaders without constant warfare.
The Submission of the Scottish King (923)
In 923, Constantine II, King of Scotland, submitted to Edward.
This was part of a broader political shift in which northern rulers recognised the advantage of aligning with Wessex.
The submission may have been:
A precaution against Viking raids from Ireland and the Hebrides.
An acknowledgment of Edward’s military strength after his campaigns in the Midlands.
Scotland at this time was consolidating power, and relations with Wessex could serve as a counterbalance to Norse and Northumbrian threats.
This act further extended Edward’s influence into the far north, at least symbolically.
The Norwegian Threat from Ireland
While Edward was securing submissions, he also faced the threat of Norwegian Vikings based in Ireland.
These Vikings often sailed from Dublin or other Irish ports to raid and establish footholds in north-western Britain.
Dublin c. 900 showing the early Norse town and harbour setting used by Irish Sea Vikings. The plan helps explain cross-channel mobility behind Ragnall’s presence in York (920) and the wider Norse pressure on Northumbria. The map includes additional archaeological layers beyond the OCR requirement (street grid and site outlines); treat those as optional enrichment. Source
Raegnald himself had ties to these Hiberno-Norse communities, making his submission a strategic move to neutralise an immediate threat.
The Norwegian threat was part of a broader pattern of maritime Viking activity in the Irish Sea region.
Challenges included:
Rapid mobility of Viking fleets.
Difficulty in controlling the Irish Sea coastline.
Possibility of alliances between Irish-based Vikings and discontented northern rulers.
Hiberno-Norse: Term describing people of mixed Gaelic and Norse descent, often originating from Viking settlers in Ireland, particularly around Dublin.
By managing this threat through both diplomacy and military readiness, Edward maintained stability across a wide area.
Diplomatic Strategies and Their Impact
Edward’s successes in gaining the submission of neighbouring rulers were underpinned by consistent strategies:
Demonstrations of military power through campaigns in the Danelaw.
Symbolic authority reinforced through public ceremonies of submission.
Mutual benefit — offering protection in return for loyalty.
Regional alliances designed to isolate common enemies, particularly the Vikings.
Long-Term Significance
Enhanced Edward’s reputation as not just King of Wessex, but a ruler with influence over much of Britain.
Strengthened the foundation for later English unification under his successors.
Demonstrated the shifting nature of early medieval kingship — authority often being negotiated and reinforced through personal oaths and displays of power.
Challenges to Authority
Despite these achievements, Edward’s authority over these regions was not absolute:
Welsh and Scottish rulers could revert to independence if circumstances changed.
Viking threats remained persistent, especially from the Irish Sea.
Submissions often reflected temporary political expedience rather than long-term subjugation.
Nevertheless, the events of 918, 920, and 923 show Edward’s ability to combine military and diplomatic tools to project power far beyond Wessex’s borders.
FAQ
Geography was a critical factor in Edward’s diplomacy. The Welsh kingdoms lay along a mountainous western frontier, making direct conquest costly; securing loyalty through submission was more practical.
To the north, Scotland and Norse-ruled York were separated from Wessex by buffer territories like Mercia, which Edward had influence over. The Irish Sea provided both a route for Viking raids and an avenue for communication with rulers in Dublin, meaning Edward needed to maintain control over coastal defences.
Submission ceremonies were highly symbolic events designed to publicly display Edward’s superiority.
Rulers might kneel, offer gifts, or swear oaths of loyalty in front of witnesses.
These rituals legitimised Edward’s claims not only to military dominance but also to a moral and divine right to rule.
Public visibility meant the act was remembered and repeated as precedent, reinforcing the idea of Wessex as the central authority in Britain.
York was a key Viking stronghold controlling access to the north of England and important trade routes.
Raegnald’s control linked Northumbria with the Irish Sea Viking networks. By securing Raegnald’s submission, Edward weakened potential alliances between northern Vikings and the Norwegians from Ireland.
It also gave Edward indirect influence over the volatile borderlands with Scotland, where shifting loyalties could threaten stability in the north.
Constantine II likely recognised the strategic benefit of peace with Wessex while facing threats from Norse forces in the Hebrides and Ireland.
Edward’s military successes in the Midlands showed his capability, and an alliance or acknowledgement avoided costly conflict.
The act also positioned Scotland diplomatically, allowing Constantine to focus resources on consolidating power at home rather than defending against southern incursions.
The Norwegians in Ireland, particularly the Hiberno-Norse in Dublin, maintained active raiding and trading connections with Britain.
Their fleets could quickly support Viking leaders in Northumbria.
Welsh or northern rulers could ally with them to challenge Wessex authority.
Edward’s diplomacy sought to disrupt these links, making submission agreements with key figures like Raegnald essential to undermining Norwegian influence in Britain.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks)
In which year did the Welsh kings submit to Edward the Elder, and name one reason why this submission was significant.
Mark Scheme
1 mark for correct year: 918.
1 mark for any valid reason, for example:
Secured Edward’s western frontier.
Reduced likelihood of Welsh alliances with Vikings.
Integrated Welsh rulers into Edward’s political network.
Question 2 (5 marks)
Explain two ways in which Edward the Elder dealt with threats from Norwegians based in Ireland.
Mark Scheme
Award up to 2 marks for each well-explained way (maximum 4 marks), plus 1 mark for clear contextual detail.
Valid points include:
Negotiating submission of leaders with Irish Sea links, e.g., Raegnald in 920, to neutralise immediate threats. (1 mark for identification, 1 mark for explanation)
Maintaining military readiness to deter raids from Dublin or other Irish ports. (1 mark for identification, 1 mark for explanation)
Using alliances with neighbouring rulers (Welsh or Scots) to isolate Norwegian Viking forces. (1 mark for identification, 1 mark for explanation)
Contextual detail mark for linking the threat to the wider Irish Sea Viking activity or Hiberno-Norse communities.
