The Viking Great Army and the Making of England

The Viking Great Army that swept through England between 865 and 878 ad altered the course of British history forever. Since the late eighth century, Viking raids on the British Isles had become commonplace, but the winter of 865 ad saw a fundamental shift that would permanently change the country’s political, economic, and social landscape. Rather than making quick, violent summer raids for silver and enslaved people, Vikings now remained in the country and became immersed in its communities. The Viking army was here to stay.

Some settled permanently, acquiring land, and forming a new hybrid Anglo-­Scandinavian culture. This critical period for English history led to revolutionary changes in the very fabric of society and the economy, including the growth of towns and industry, while transformations in power politics would ultimately see the rise of King Alfred the Great, making Wessex the preeminent kingdom of Anglo-Saxon England.

Tracing the movements of the Great Army across the country, this book pieces together a new picture of Viking Age England in unprecedented detail, from swords, coins, jewelry, and the burials of great warriors to the everyday objects that ordinary farmers and craftsmen discarded. Drawing on the most up-­to-­date discoveries, and the latest scientific techniques, this is the definitive account of a vital period in England’s history.