What were the Vikings like?

The Vikings came from Norway, Sweden and Denmark because there were too many people on their farmland. They searched for new lands to conquer and settle.

In AD787, the first Viking raids took place across Europe. They attacked Christian monasteries because they had valuable treasure and were undefended.

In AD865, a Viking army (The Great Heathen Army) sailed across the sea to conquer land. By AD878, they had conquered the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Northumbria, East Anglia and Mercia. Most Vikings settled in the Danelaw area, to the north and east of England.

The name 'Viking' comes from a language called 'Old Norse' and means ‘a pirate raid’.

• Some came to fight, but others came peacefully.

• They were farmers, and kept animals and grew crops.

• They were skilful at crafting, and made beautiful metalwork and wooden carvings.

• Viking warriors fought using long swords and axes.

• The first Viking raid recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle was around AD787.

• It was the start of a fierce struggle between the Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings.

• The Vikings were pagans, not Christians like most people living in Britain at the time.

• Christian monasteries in Britain were easy targets for the Vikings because they were undefended. The Vikings stole treasure and set fire to buildings. They also attacked villages and took people as slaves.

• In AD865 a Viking army (The Great Heathen Army) sailed across the North Sea.

• This time they wanted to conquer land rather than just raid it.

• Over several years the army battled through Northern England.

• By around AD878, almost all the kingdoms of Northumbria, East Anglia and Mercia had fallen to the Vikings. Wessex was still ruled by Alfred the Great because he stopped the Vikings from conquering the whole of England.

• Most Vikings settled in the Danelaw, to the north and east of England.
• Some sailed to Scotland, and on the Shetland and Orkney Islands.
• Vikings also settled on the Isle of Man and often raided Wales, but few made homes there. In Ireland, the Vikings founded the city of Dublin.

The Danelaw covered three main areas:

• Northumbria (which included modern-day Yorkshire)
• East Anglia
• The Five Boroughs (also known as a town: they were Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, Stamford and Lincoln)

The most important city was York. The Vikings called it Jorvik (pronounced 'your-vick').

Have a look at the thinking points below and think about your answer to each question. You could even write them down on a piece of paper or discuss them with somebody else if you want to.

• What jobs did the Vikings have when they came to Britain?

• In AD865, why did The Great Heathen Army sail across the North Sea?

• Why is Alfred the Great a significant individual?

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