The Viking Age began about 1,200 years ago in the 8th Century AD and lasted for 300 years.
Vikings were warriors. More precisely, Viking is the name by which the Scandinavian sea-borne raiders of the early medieval period are now commonly known. 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.
Southern Britain had been settled by the Anglo-Saxons. They called the Viking invaders ‘Danes’ but they came from Norway as well as Denmark.
Norwegian Vikings or ‘Norse’ sailed to Scotland, where they made settlements in the north and on the Orkney and Shetland islands. Vikings also settled on the Isle of Man. Vikings raided Wales, but few made homes there.
The Vikings worshipped many different gods, but there were three that were especially important: Odin, Thor and Frey.
The Vikings built many different kinds of ships, from small fishing boats and ferries, up to the famous longship. Viking ships large and small were all made in the same way. Planks of timber, usually oak were overlapped and nailed together. The ships were made watertight by filling the spaces between the planks with tarred wool or animal hair. The ships were all the same long narrow shape and floated near the surface of the water. This meant that they could be used in shallow water. Vikings often used their ships on rivers and lakes. Viking shipbuilders were very proud of their work and even the smallest ships had some carving as decoration.
Throughout the Viking Age, there were many battles between the Vikings and the English. In the 9th century, the English king Alfred the Great stopped the Vikings taking over all of England. In the 10th century the English reconquered much of the land held by Vikings. In 954, they drove out Eric Bloodaxe, the last Viking king of Jorvik. After Eric was killed in battle, the Vikings in England agreed to be ruled by England’s king.
Famous vikings
- Björn Ironside (pillaged in Italy and son of Ragnar Lodbrok)
- Egill Skallagrímsson (popular icelandic warrior and skald, see also Egils saga)
- Erik the Red (discoverer of Greenland)
- Gardar Svavarsson (discoverer of Iceland)
- Guthrum (colonised England)
- Harald Hardrada (king of Norway and member of the Varangian Guard)
- Ivar the Boneless (disabled son of Ragnar Lodbrok who, despite having to be carried on a shield, nevertheless conquered York)
- Leif Eriksson (discoverer of Vinland)
- Ragnar Lodbrok (captured Paris)
- Rollo of Normandy (founder of Normandy)
