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Questions and Answers
What significant event marked the beginning of the Viking Age in Britain?
What significant event marked the beginning of the Viking Age in Britain?
Which kingdom reached its peak of power during the Viking Age before declining into civil war?
Which kingdom reached its peak of power during the Viking Age before declining into civil war?
How many warriors were estimated to be in the Viking army led by the sons of Ragnar Lothbrok during their invasion in 865?
How many warriors were estimated to be in the Viking army led by the sons of Ragnar Lothbrok during their invasion in 865?
What was the outcome of the Viking invasion of Northumbria in 866?
What was the outcome of the Viking invasion of Northumbria in 866?
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Which British kingdom sought assistance from Wessex during the Viking incursions?
Which British kingdom sought assistance from Wessex during the Viking incursions?
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What led to the Vikings' invasion of Britain in 865?
What led to the Vikings' invasion of Britain in 865?
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Which of the following was the capital of the Danish kingdom after the Viking conquest of Northumbria?
Which of the following was the capital of the Danish kingdom after the Viking conquest of Northumbria?
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What happened to the inhabitants of Kent when the Vikings invaded?
What happened to the inhabitants of Kent when the Vikings invaded?
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Which king was killed at the Battle of Thetford?
Which king was killed at the Battle of Thetford?
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What significant outcome resulted from Guthrum's siege of Alfred's forces at Wilton?
What significant outcome resulted from Guthrum's siege of Alfred's forces at Wilton?
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What was the primary military reform implemented by Alfred the Great?
What was the primary military reform implemented by Alfred the Great?
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At which battle did Alfred the Great defeat Guthrum?
At which battle did Alfred the Great defeat Guthrum?
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What was the Danelaw?
What was the Danelaw?
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Who succeeded Alfred the Great as king of Wessex?
Who succeeded Alfred the Great as king of Wessex?
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Which battle marked the final unification of the Anglo-Saxons?
Which battle marked the final unification of the Anglo-Saxons?
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What happened to Guthrum after he was defeated by Alfred?
What happened to Guthrum after he was defeated by Alfred?
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What strategy did Alfred use to prepare for future Viking attacks?
What strategy did Alfred use to prepare for future Viking attacks?
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Who helped the Vikings resist the Anglo-Saxons during Æthelstan's reign?
Who helped the Vikings resist the Anglo-Saxons during Æthelstan's reign?
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Study Notes
The Viking Age in Europe and Britain
- The Viking Age began in 793 with a raid on Lindisfarne Island.
- This instigated fear of further Viking attacks along British coasts.
- England was divided into seven kingdoms (the Heptarchy), lacking a unified navy and often disorganized armies.
Viking Raids and the Fragmentation of English Kingdoms
- Within fifty years, Vikings raided Canterbury, Dorchester, London, and numerous other English towns.
- This period saw significant changes within England:
- Northumbria fractured into three parts due to internal conflicts.
- East Anglia gained independence under Mercian control.
- Mercia, controlling Middlesex and Essex and dominating neighboring kingdoms, experienced internal strife and lost its power.
- Wessex expanded significantly, annexing Sussex and Kent and defeating Mercia, establishing a border along the Lee and Thames rivers.
The Great Danish Army's Arrival and the Conquest of Northumbria
- In 865, a 5,000-10,000 Viking army (Great Danish Army), led by the sons of Ragnar Lothbrok (Ivar the Boneless, Ubba the Terrible, and Halfdan Ragnar), arrived in Britain.
- Historians believe Ragnar Lothbrok may be a legendary figure, and that the events surrounding his death aren't definitively confirmed.
- This conquest wasn't motivated by revenge (though often portrayed that way).
- Kent paid a ransom to stave off Viking attacks.
- In 866, the Vikings attacked Northumbria:
- King Ella II fled York, which was captured by the Vikings, and both Ella II and his brother Osbert were killed.
- Northumbria was divided along the River Tyne.
- York was renamed Jórvík, becoming the capital of the Danish kingdom of Jórvík.
Vikings Confront Mercia and East Anglia
- In 868, the Vikings captured Nottingham.
- Mercia's King Burgred I sought help from Wessex, temporarily stopping the Viking advance through a truce in return for payment.
- In 869, Vikings invaded Mercia again but again honored the truce and then attacked East Anglia.
- King Edmund of East Anglia was killed at the Battle of Thetford.
The Great Summer Army and the Rise of Alfred the Great
- In 870, the Great Summer Army (led by Bagsecg) arrived in East Anglia, substantially increasing Viking presence.
- The Vikings seized Reading, clashing with King Ethelred of Wessex.
- Alfred the Great, Ethelred's brother, won a battle at Ashdown, killing Bagsecg and forcing the Vikings to retreat from Wessex.
- Ethelred was killed, and Alfred became King of Wessex.
Guam's Leadership and the D-geld
- In 871, King Guthrum (leading over 3,000 Vikings) resumed the offensive.
- He besieged Alfred's forces at Wilton but ultimately agreed to leave Wessex in exchange for a ransom (D-geld).
- A new tax, initially temporary, was imposed in Wessex.
Viking Expansion and Alfred's Military Reforms
- Vikings settled in London, maintaining plans for further conflict.
- Alfred reformed his army, achieving professionalism by having only one man out of ten serve in the military.
- In 876, Guthrum established himself as king of East Anglia.
- Halfdán Ragnar brutally put down a Northumbrian uprising.
Continued Viking Invasions and Alfred's Defenses
- In 878, Guthrum invaded Wessex, capturing Chippenham.
- Alfred escaped, and at the Battle of Edington, defeated Guthrum's forces.
- Guthrum and his Vikings were forced to leave Wessex and converted to Christianity.
- Alfred established a protectorate over Mercia through a marriage alliance.
- Alfred fortified defences, built 'burs', and strengthened the navy.
- Wessex expanded, but England remained divided.
- The Danelaw extended from London to Chester, following prominent Roman roads.
Alfred's Final Years and the End of the Viking Conquest
- In 892, a Viking force (led by Hostein) landed in Kent but was forced to retreat.
- Hostein settled in Essex but was expelled by Alfred in 895.
- Alfred died in 899, and his son, Edward I, inherited the throne.
- Vikings continued raiding but were eventually defeated by Edward I, paving the way for the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of England.
The Unification of England
- Edward I annexed East Anglia and Mercia.
- He established a protectorate over Jórvík which was later conquered by his son Æthelstan.
- Æthelstan unified England.
The Anglo-Saxon Struggle to Retain Power
- King Constantine II of Alba (Scotland) aided Vikings against the Anglo-Saxons, culminating in Æthelstan's conquest of Jórvík.
- Constantine II allied with other Viking/Celtic rulers, launching an invasion in 937.
- Æthelstan decisively defeated them at the Battle of Brunanburh, finally unifying England and establishing it as a major European force.
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Description
Explore the Viking Age and its impact on Britain, beginning with the 793 raid on Lindesfarne. This quiz covers key events, the fragmentation of English kingdoms, and the Vikings' influence on the political landscape of the era. Challenge your knowledge of this transformative period in history.
