In 1014, King Sweyn of Denmark died while attempting to conquer England, leaving the campaign to his son Cnut. Ethelred the Unready, emboldened, allied with Norwegian prince Olaf Haraldsson and attempted to recapture London; but when his fleet attempted to pass a bridge over the Thames, the Danes hurled missiles from above and drive his ships off.

Although Ethelred’s fleet could not pass the bridge occupied by the Danes, Olaf, who had added wooden coverings to his ships, was able to sail beneath it and dislodge the piles on which it stood. The bridge fell, taking the Danish army with it; and thanks to Olaf’s ingenuity Ethelred was able to liberate London.

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