The Viking Era

Start of Viking Era

Jan 1, 793

The Viking Era began when the Danes launched the first viking raid on Lindisfarne; a monastery in present-day England. The monks living in Lindisfarne were slaughtered and any valuable items were taken as loot. Following Lindisfarne, the "Vikings" made other raids in South Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Northumbria, and islands off the coast of France. These attacks came as an unexpected jolt to Western Europe and shook the Christian peace that had controlled the region.

Attack on Paris and First Danegeld

Mar 28, 845

In 845, a Viking leader named Ragnar sailed up the Seine river to raid Paris. Holy Roman Emperor Charles the Bald divided his army to defend both of Seine's banks. Ragnar destroyed the smaller force, hung the captives in view of the other army, and continued up the Seine to sack Paris on the 28th. Charles persuaded Ragnar by paying him 4,000 pounds of silver in an effort to make him leave peacefully, which was later given a term called "danegeld."

Viking Conquest in England

Nov 1, 866

In 865, viking leaders Ivar the Boneless, Ubbi, and Halfdan led a massive force of men, between 500-1000 warriors, across England. This was the first time vikings attacked in large, organized numbers. At the time, two English kings were fighting for rule in Northumbria. Recognizing weakness in the English force, the viking army attacked the trade port of Eoforwic on All Saints Day in 866. After successfully obtaining Eoforwic, they renamed the town Jorvik and continued their conquest in England.

Treaty for Trade

Jan 1, 873

Trading towns and centers were places of significant importance to kings as they generated a lot of income, which Viking leaders needed to support their followers and household. Additionally, kings were responsible for the safety and development of trading towns. In 873, Danish king Sigfred sent emissaries to form a treaty with King Louis the German. They secured peace between the borders of their countries, which enabled merchants to safely trade and travel between these two countries.

Settlement of Iceland

Jan 1, 874

The exact discovery of Iceland is unclear as there were many voyages to the island, by a multitude of people, that went undocumented. It is estimated that Irish monks discovered Iceland in the 790s, but expeditions didn't begin until the 860s due to the Viking presence that emerged at that time. Word of unclaimed land spread fast and in 874, Ignolf Arnarson became the first Norseman to start a settlement on Iceland. This marks the start to the Age of Settlement.

Settlement in Jorvik

Jan 1, 876

The large viking army, which was called the Great Heathen Army, was split after almost ten years of successful conquest in England. Danish viking Halfdan led his force back to Jorvik and distributed the Northumbrian lands with the Danes where they began plowing and supporting themselves from the land. Jorvik became an established place of viking power.

Guthrum's Campaigning Against Alfred the Great in Wessex

Jan 1, 876

When the Great Heathen Army split, Halfdan returned to Jorvik and viking king Guthrum took his part of the army south towards the kingdom of Wessex. While king Alfred the Great of Wessex was occupied with viking ships off the coast, Guthrum attacked Wareham, a fortified town deep in Alfred's kingdom. A truce was established, but Guthrum dishonored the treaty and attacked Exeter. King Alfred tried to take back Exeter, but after no success he payed Guthrum to leave Wessex.

Conversion to Christianity

Period: Jan 1, 880 to Jan 1, 1060

Viking conversion to Christianity was a slow process and not easily documented by specific dates. There are examples of Christian leaders converting Viking leaders, such as Hrolf the Walker's conversion, along with other christian figures influencing the Vikings. The Scandinavians mainly changed through their exposure to Christianity through settling in Christian Europe. However, some of the earliest Vikings to become Christians were leaders who converted for political advancement or gain.

Hrolf the Walker, Creation of Normandy

Jan 1, 911

Hrolf was a powerful Viking, presumable Danish, who was so large that no horse could carry him. Thus giving him the name Hrolf the Walker. He was a notorious viking who raided along the Seine river in France and was given a deal proposed by French king Charles III. Hrolf was given lands at the mouth of the Seine and became a duke. He was also entitled with converting to Christianity and protect ingthe mouth of the river from other raiders. The land given to the Vikings became known as Normandy.

Voyage to North America

Jan 1, 995

North America was first discovered by Bjarni Herjólfsson in 985 when he traveled off course on his way to Greenland. In 995, Leif Eriksson made the first voyage to North America, in which he landed at three different locations. The first he called Helluland because it was rocky and bare. The second he called Markland, as the land was heavily forested. Leif camped at a third spot and named it Vinland due to the grape vines in that region. Leif returned to Greenland wealthy with timber and grapes.

Massacre on Saint Bruce's Day

Nov 13, 1002

King Aethelred was a weak ruler and descendant of Alfred the Great. He feebly controlled England, and an influx of vikings made raids much more apparent. Aethelred bribed the vikings with large amounts of silver to make them go away and even employed some of them as mercenaries. However, raids did not wholly end and on St. Bruce's Day of 1002, Aethelred decreed that all Danes "were to be destroyed by a just extermination." The Danes fled inside a church, and the mob burnt the building down.

Forkbeard's Revenge and Conquest on England

Jan 1, 1003

The vikings had been pestering southern England in the late 10th century and large scale invasion, led by Svien Forkbeard, was initiated by the deaths of Svien's relatives in the massacre on St. Bruce's Day. For the next two years, Svien viciously attacked and pillaged England not as an act of conquest, but as compensation for the massacre. Five prominent towns were sacked in the next two years. Svien's revenge turned to conquest and by 1014, Svien was king of England.

End of Viking Era

Dec 13, 1066

Most historians agree that the end of the Viking Era was marked with the Battle of Stamford Bridge. In the battle, Harold the II and Harold III fought near Jorvik at Stamford Bridge. Harold III was attempting to claim land in England, though in the battle he was killed by Harold II. Not long after, Harold II was killed in the Battle of Hastings by Norman invader, William II. The rest of the Vikings weren't killed in battle or were conquered, they simply stopped raiding.