Viking Britain

After the Romans left Britain it became a target for the Vikings. The Vikings is the term we use to describe a group of people from Scandinavia, who were mostly Pagan and raided countries across England. Much like the Romans beforehand, the Vikings had a huge impact on Britain’s society. The word Viking is from an old Norse word that means pirate raid, which considering the Vikings arrived via boat is an apt name. Contemporaries at the time referred to them as Danes, Norsemen, Northmen and sea rovers.

The Vikings arrived in Britain at the end of the 8^th century. At this time, the make up of Britain was very different to how it is now, England as we know it didn’t exist, instead, there were a number of kingdoms including Wessex, in the south west, Mercia in the midlands, Northumbria in the north of England and East Anglia. At this time, Scotland, was similarly divided and was mostly inhabited by a group known as the Picts. These kingdoms developed following the withdrawl of the Romans at the beginning of the fifth century where mass immigration from Europe and the north brought a new wave of people to Britain. This is the period of the Anglo-Saxons. Read more about the Saxon kingdoms and royalty here.