The Vikings

When did the Vikings arrive?

• The Vikings arrived in England about 1,200 years ago • They stayed for 300 years.

A Timeline to show where the Vikings fit into British history

Where did the Vikings come from?

• The Viking people came from the three countries of Scandinavia • Denmark • Norway • Sweden.

Who were the Vikings?

• They were mostly farmers, but some worked as craftsmen or traders.

• Many Vikings were great travellers and sailed all over Europe and the north Atlantic Ocean in their longships.

• Some went as fierce pirate raiders.

• They stole treasure and attacked local people.

• But most Vikings who sailed overseas were simply searching for better land for their farms.

• The name 'Viking' comes from a language which is called 'Old Norse'.

• It means 'a pirate raid'.

Some significant events of the Viking Age.

793 AD

• In the year 793 Viking pirate raiders sailed across the North Sea to a Christian monastary at Lindisfarne in north-east England. .

• They stole its treasures, murdered the monks and terrified everyone.

• This was followed by other violent 'Viking raids' all over Britain .

865 AD

• In 865 a 'Great Army' of Danish Vikings led by Ivor the Boneless, invaded England.

• The Vikings conquered all of northern, central and eastern England, and seized much of the land for their own farms.

867 AD

• In 867 the Vikings attacked captured York. .

• During the same period, they sailed to northern and western Scotland. ..

• They also settled in the Isle of Man, and parts of Wales .

871 AD

• The only part of England to hold out against the Vikings was Wessex.

• In 871 Alfred the Great became King of Wessex .

• He had to fight many battles to stop the Vikings taking over Wessex.

878- 886 AD

• In 878 the Vikings were defeated by Alfred the Great at Eddington • The leader of the Vikings was called Guthrum.

• In 886 Alfred drew up a treaty allowing the Vikings to live in the Danelaw .

899 AD

• In 899 Alfred died. .

• He was the only Saxon King to stop the Vikings invading all of England. .

950 AD

• The last Viking king of York, was Eirik Bloodaxe • He was killed at the battle of Stainmore in 954 .

980 AD

• A Viking man called Bjarni Herjolfsson discovered America by accident in the year 985.

991 AD

• In 991 the English were defeated at the battle of Malden .

1001 AD

• A few years later, in 1001, Leif Eriksson 'the Lucky' sailed to America to take a proper look at it. .

1016 AD

• Edmund became king.

• Canute defeated Edmund • ..Edmund died and Canute became king.

1035 AD

• King Canute ruled the whole of England in peace until 1035 when he died.

• Harald became king.

• In 1040 Canute’s son Harthacanute became King..

1042 AD

• Harthacanute died suddenly in 1042.

• Edward the Confessor was chosen as king of England.

1066 AD

• In 1066 Harold ll claimed the throne.

• He was killed at the battle of Stamford Bridge the same year .

• This was the end of the Viking Age in England. .