The Viking Great Army and the Making of England

The Viking Great Army that swept through England between AD 865 and 878 altered the course of British history. Since the late 8th century, Viking raids on the British Isles had been a regular feature of everyday life, but the winter of AD 865 saw a fundamental shift that would change the political, economic and social landscape of Britain forever. Instead of making quick smash-and-grab summer raids for silver and slaves, Vikings now remained in England for the winter and became immersed in its communities. Some settled permanently, acquiring land and forming a new hybrid Anglo-Scandinavian culture. The Viking army was here to stay.

Drawing on the most up-to-date discoveries and the latest scientific techniques, the authors’ recent research at the Great Army’s winter camp at Torksey in Lincolnshire has revolutionized what we know about the size, complexity and social make-up of the Viking army, as has the wealth of newly recovered evidence from metaldetectorists. Unfolding like a great detective story, this account traces the movements of the Great Army across the country, piecing together a new picture of Viking Age England in unprecedented detail, from the swords and jewelry the Vikings forged to the burials of their great warriors and the everyday objects they discarded. It is the definitive story of a vital period in British history.