Retracing The REAL Great Viking Army | With Dan Snow and Dr Cat Jarman

History Hit

2 Jun 202360:27

EducationalLearning

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TLDRThe video examines the great Viking army that invaded Britain in 865 AD, conquering much of England over several years. It follows historian Dan Snow and archaeologist Cat Jarman as they investigate remaining traces, like winter camps, graves, and battle sites. Analysis of skeletons and artifacts indicates the army consisted of thousands from Scandinavia. After defeating most Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, they were finally defeated by Alfred the Great in 878 AD. Their influence remained, with Scandinavian place names and customs enduring, as invaders transitioned into settlers.

Takeaways

😲 The Vikings first came to England in 865 AD not just to raid but to conquer and stay.
🛥️ The 'Great Heathen Army' of Vikings landed in East Anglia and set up winter camps across Britain.
⚔️ They defeated the kingdoms of Northumbria, Mercia and East Anglia within a few years.
💀 King Edmund of East Anglia was killed by the Vikings after refusing to share power.
🔨 The Vikings destroyed monasteries and churches like the one at Repton, Mercia.
🗡️ A Viking warrior and his son were found buried near Repton with weapons and injuries.
👩 Some Viking women may have fought alongside the men rather than just domestic jobs.
🔥 Cremation mounds were found on hills near Repton, clearly visible from the river.
🤝 Alfred the Great finally defeated the Vikings in 878 AD at the Battle of Edington.
🏘️ The treaty set England's boundary and many Vikings settled down as farmers in the east.

Q & A

When did the Vikings first come to England not just to raid but to conquer?
-In 865 AD, a great Viking army landed in East Anglia, not just to conduct a raid but with the intent to conquer and control territory in England.
What evidence suggests the Vikings may have set up a winter camp in Thetford in 869-870 AD?
-Viking artifacts like a sword, arrowheads, and other weapons were found in Thetford dating to around 869-870 AD, suggesting the Vikings may have set up a winter camp there.
Why did the Vikings attack the monastery at Repton in 873 AD?
-The monastery at Repton was very wealthy and an important religious and political site in the Kingdom of Mercia. The Vikings likely attacked it to plunder its riches and make a political statement about their conquest.
What does the Viking burial evidence found at Repton tell us?
-The pagan Viking burials with weapons and religious icons found at Repton, along with destroyed Anglo-Saxon crosses, suggest the Vikings were making a political statement that they were now in control of the area.
Were there women warriors amongst the Viking Great Army?
-Possibly. While many warriors were male, the presence of some female remains suggests women may also have fought, although their exact roles are still debated by scholars.
Where does the treaty between Alfred and Guthrum divide England?
-The treaty divides England roughly along the line where Danish/Scandinavian place names start appearing in the east and north, showing Viking areas of settlement.
What happened to the body of King Edmund after he was killed by the Vikings?
-After being lost for centuries, accounts suggest his body was hidden by monks in an iron chest somewhere on the grounds of his ruined abbey during the dissolution. Its exact location is still unknown.
How big was the Viking Great Army?
-It likely numbered in the thousands, too large to be accommodated only at Repton. Metal detector finds suggest camps extended for miles around Repton along the Trent valley.
What evidence suggests the Vikings who attacked Repton were part of larger trading networks?
-A carnelian bead found in a grave at Repton originated in India, indicating the Vikings had access to vast trading connections across Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and beyond.
How did analysis of skeletons from Repton change ideas about the Great Army?
-Isotope analysis showed varied origins matching an army from across Scandinavia. Corrected carbon dating aligned the burials with the 870s Viking occupation instead of earlier times.

Outlines

00:00

😏 Overview of the campaign of Viking raids into Britain, starting in 865 AD

Paragraph 1 introduces the Viking raids into Britain, beginning in 865 AD when a 'Great Army' of Vikings arrived and overwintered in East Anglia. It describes this as the start of the Vikings' attempt to conquer the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England, culminating later with the battle between Alfred the Great's Wessex and the Viking leader Guthrum.

05:01

📜 Vikings use Roman roads to move inland from East Anglia to York

Paragraph 2 details how the Viking Great Army used Roman roads and infrastructure to move inland towards the city of York after overwintering in East Anglia. It also notes how Britain was divided among several kingdoms at this time, allowing the Vikings to take advantage of internal conflicts.

10:02

🏕 First evidence found of a Viking winter camp in Britain at Thetford hill fort site

Paragraph 3 discusses the first archeological evidence discovered of a Viking winter camp in Britain located at the Thetford hill fort site. It suggests some Vikings intended to settle permanently in Britain at this early phase between raiding and conquest.

15:04

🗡 King Edmund of East Anglia killed by Vikings after refusing to surrender his kingdom

Paragraph 4 covers the interactions between King Edmund of East Anglia and the Viking Great Army. After an initial agreement, the Vikings later kill Edmund for refusing to surrender his kingdom and convert to Christianity.

20:05

🏰 Saint Edmund becomes focus of religious cult centered at burial site of Bury St Edmunds

Paragraph 5 examines the veneration of the martyred King Edmund after his death by the Vikings. A religious cult forms around his burial site, which later becomes an abbey and major pilgrimage site during the medieval period.

25:06

❓ No evidence found yet of Viking Army despite records of many battles in this period

Paragraph 6 notes that despite contemporary written records mentioning numerous Viking battles in England from 865-870 AD, no archeological evidence has been found relating to these battles.

30:08

💀 Hundreds of disarticulated skeletons discovered at Repton site suggest Viking rituals

Paragraph 7 discusses the important Viking site discovered at Repton, including burials of possible high-status warriors. Additionally, a building filled with hundreds of disarticulated skeletons was uncovered, suggesting post-battle rituals by the Viking settlers.

35:09

👪 Analysis of bones in mass grave shows mixed Scandinavian origins, some women present

Paragraph 8 covers isotope analysis done on skeletons from the Repton charnel house, indicating varied Scandinavian origins among this segment of the Viking Great Army. Additionally, several women were identified, raising questions about their possible roles.

40:11

🌾 Evidence found of wider winter encampment extending beyond the river near Repton site

Paragraph 9 puts forth evidence that the Viking overwintering encampment at Repton likely extended beyond the core activity area near the church onto higher ground. This larger-scale occupation would have resembled a substantial tribal gathering.

45:12

🗻 Cremation mounds discovered on hilltop overlooking Repton camp signify Viking burial rituals

Paragraph 10 discusses the discovery of numerous Viking cremation mounds high on a hilltop near the Repton winter camp. These prominent burials would have been easily visible, allowing the Vikings to assert their presence in the region through ritual activity.

50:14

😞 Great Army splits after Repton; Guthrum's contingent heads south to confront Alfred's Wessex kingdom

Paragraph 11 covers the breakup of the Viking Great Army after overwintering at Repton. One contingent under Guthrum heads south to begin engaging the Kingdom of Wessex ruled by Alfred the Great over the next several years.

55:14

⚔ Site of crucial battle between Alfred and Guthrum's Vikings possibly discovered but uncertain

Paragraph 12 speculates on a possible location for the pivotal Battle of Ethandun between Alfred's Wessex and Guthrum's Viking army. However, definitive evidence confirming this location remains elusive.

00:15

😌 Lasting legacy seen in boundary line, Scandinavian placenames and blended culture after period of battles

Paragraph 13 concludes by examining the lasting legacy of the Viking invasion, including Scandinavian influences seen in placenames, customs, and blended culture in eastern and northern England following the Treaty of Alfred and Guthrum which split control of the country.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Vikings

The video is about Vikings, who were seafaring people from Scandinavia. It depicts their invasion and conquest of parts of Britain in the 9th century. The 'Great Heathen Army' refers to the Viking army that invaded and occupied several Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.

💡conquest

The Vikings came to Britain in 865 not just to raid but to conquer and permanently settle parts of the country. This began the process of Viking conquest over Anglo-Saxon territories.

💡winter camp

The video discusses finding evidence of Viking winter camps in Britain - temporary settlements used during the winter months. This indicated the Vikings were not just raiding but planning to stay for longer periods.

💡King Edmond

Edmund was the king of East Anglia who was killed by the Great Heathen Army of Vikings. His subsequent veneration as a saint and martyr increased his importance after death.

💡Great Heathen Army

This refers to the Viking army described in medieval records that invaded England in 865 AD. Their conquests paved the wave for permanent Viking settlement.

💡Alfred the Great

Alfred was the King of Wessex who eventually defeated the Great Heathen Army at the Battle of Eddington in 878, leading to a treaty establishing Viking control over northern and eastern England.

💡archaeological evidence

The video examines archaeological evidence like graves, artifacts and landscape marks that reveal details about the otherwise obscure Great Heathen Army.

💡Battle of Eddington

This was the pivotal battle in 878 where Alfred defeated the Vikings, leading to a treaty dividing England and confirming Viking control over eastern areas.

💡Legacy

The video concludes by discussing the enduring impact and legacy left by the Vikings after 878 through customs, names, people and culture - their descendants still lived in England.

💡settlers

Many Vikings eventually transitioned from raiders into permanent settlers in England as the Great Heathen Army gave way to Viking migration and colonization.

Highlights

This might be the first evidence of a Viking winter camp in Britain

Repton was the jewel in the crown, a very deliberate place for the Vikings to attack

Edmund was killed after losing a battle to the Vikings and later became an important saint

The Vikings left almost no archeological evidence behind from the Great Heathen Army

Gaming pieces and weights became a signature of Viking camps

A warrior buried in Repton had terrible injuries possibly from battle

Isotope analysis suggests the bones in Repton were a mixed Viking army

The mound burial at Repton contained almost 300 individuals

Repton site seems too small, but lidar reveals a possible larger campsite

Cremation mounds near Repton would have been clearly visible statements

After Repton, the army split with half going north and half going south

The battle of Eddington against Alfred was a pivotal moment

Alfred's treaty with the Vikings divided England, influencing boundaries

Scandinavian place names show where Vikings settled after Alfred's treaty

The Vikings left a lasting legacy on customs, genes, names across England

Transcripts

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