Great Heathen Army
Encyclopedia
The Great Heathen Army, also known as the Great Army or the Great Danish Army, was a Viking
army
originating in Denmark
which pillaged and conquered much of England
in the late 9th century. Unlike many of the Scandinavian
raiding armies of the period, surviving sources give no firm indication of its numbers, but it was clearly among the largest forces of its kind, comprising a number of ships reaching into the hundreds, and many thousands of men.
. Much of the evidence for the army comes from these annals, and as they start the year on September 1, many of the events are said to have occurred what appears to be a year later. This article uses the Gregorian calendar
throughout.
The origins of the Army can be seen in the band of Viking warriors who attacked Paris
in 845, perhaps led by the legendary Viking, Ragnar Lothbrok. They raided the region from 850, repeatedly sacking Rouen
and various smaller towns, perhaps striking from easily defended bases in the area of their depredations.
Having gained experience across Europe, the army arrived in Britain
in late 865, landing in East Anglia
. Under the command of Halfdan Ragnarsson
and Ivar the Boneless
, with the support of Ubbe Ragnarsson
, it aimed to conquer and settle in England. Norse sagas consider the invasion a response to the death of their father, Ragnar Lodbrok
, at the hands of Ælla of Northumbria in 865, but the historicity of this claim is uncertain.
In late 866, it conquered the Kingdom of Northumbria, followed in 870 by the Kingdom of East Anglia. In 871, the Great Summer Army arrived from Scandinavia
led by Bagsecg
. This reinforced the Great Heathen Army, enabling it in 874 to conquer Mercia
. Evidence of their stay in Derbyshire are a mass grave for 250 people at Repton
and several dozen barrows recording cremations
at nearby Ingleby
. The same year, a considerable number of them settled in the conquered territories, followed by another group in 877. Halfdan moved north to attack the Picts
, while Guthrum
emerged as the war leader in the south, and in 876 they were joined by further forces and won the Battle of Wareham
. However, Alfred the Great
fought back and eventually won victory over the army at the Battle of Ethandun in 878, achieving the Treaty of Wedmore
.
The settlers from the army formed the Kingdom of York, which survived with several interruptions until the 950s.
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
originating in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
which pillaged and conquered much of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in the late 9th century. Unlike many of the Scandinavian
Scandinavians
Scandinavians are a group of Germanic peoples, inhabiting Scandinavia and to a lesser extent countries associated with Scandinavia, and speaking Scandinavian languages. The group includes Danes, Norwegians and Swedes, and additionally the descendants of Scandinavian settlers such as the Icelandic...
raiding armies of the period, surviving sources give no firm indication of its numbers, but it was clearly among the largest forces of its kind, comprising a number of ships reaching into the hundreds, and many thousands of men.
History
The term "Great Heathen Army" is used in the Anglo-Saxon ChronicleAnglo-Saxon Chronicle
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is a collection of annals in Old English chronicling the history of the Anglo-Saxons. The original manuscript of the Chronicle was created late in the 9th century, probably in Wessex, during the reign of Alfred the Great...
. Much of the evidence for the army comes from these annals, and as they start the year on September 1, many of the events are said to have occurred what appears to be a year later. This article uses the Gregorian calendar
Gregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter...
throughout.
The origins of the Army can be seen in the band of Viking warriors who attacked Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 845, perhaps led by the legendary Viking, Ragnar Lothbrok. They raided the region from 850, repeatedly sacking Rouen
Rouen
Rouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages...
and various smaller towns, perhaps striking from easily defended bases in the area of their depredations.
Having gained experience across Europe, the army arrived in Britain
Britain in the Middle Ages
England in the Middle Ages concerns the history of England during the Medieval period — from the end of Roman rule in Britain through to the Early Modern period...
in late 865, landing in East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
. Under the command of Halfdan Ragnarsson
Halfdan Ragnarsson
Halfdan Ragnarsson was a Viking chief and one of the sons of Ragnar Lodbrok with Aslaug. It has been suggested that Halfdan is the same person as Ragnar's son Hvitserk....
and Ivar the Boneless
Ivar the Boneless
Ivar Ragnarsson nicknamed the Boneless , was a Viking leader and by reputation also a berserker. By the late 11th century he was known as a son of the powerful Ragnar Lodbrok, ruler of an area probably comprising parts of modern-day Denmark and Sweden.-Invader:In the autumn of AD 865, with his...
, with the support of Ubbe Ragnarsson
Ubbe Ragnarsson
Ubbe, Ubba or Hubba Ragnarsson was a Norse leader during the Viking Age. Ubbe Ragnarsson was one of the sons of Ragnar Lodbrok and, along with his brothers Halfdan and Ivar the Boneless, a leader of the Great Danish Army....
, it aimed to conquer and settle in England. Norse sagas consider the invasion a response to the death of their father, Ragnar Lodbrok
Ragnar Lodbrok
Ragnar Lodbrok was a Norse legendary hero from the Viking Age who was thoroughly reshaped in Old Norse poetry and legendary sagas.-Life as recorded in the sagas:...
, at the hands of Ælla of Northumbria in 865, but the historicity of this claim is uncertain.
In late 866, it conquered the Kingdom of Northumbria, followed in 870 by the Kingdom of East Anglia. In 871, the Great Summer Army arrived from Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
led by Bagsecg
Bagsecg
Bagsecg was a Viking leader referred to as a 'King' and was possibly a King of Denmark, after Horik II died and ruled Denmark after his death from the 860s to his death in 871...
. This reinforced the Great Heathen Army, enabling it in 874 to conquer Mercia
Mercia
Mercia was one of the kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy. It was centred on the valley of the River Trent and its tributaries in the region now known as the English Midlands...
. Evidence of their stay in Derbyshire are a mass grave for 250 people at Repton
Repton
Repton is a village and civil parish on the edge of the River Trent floodplain in South Derbyshire, about north of Swadlincote. Repton is close to the county boundary with neighbouring Staffordshire and about northeast of Burton upon Trent.-History:...
and several dozen barrows recording cremations
Heath Wood barrow cemetery
-Description:Heath Wood contains a series of 59 barrows and is a Viking burial site near Ingleby, Derbyshire. They are unusual because they are the only known Scandinavian cremation site in the British Isles. It is believed to be a war cemetery of the Viking Great Army which arrived in England...
at nearby Ingleby
Ingleby, Derbyshire
Ingleby is a hamlet and civil parish in South Derbyshire, England. Situated on the south of the River Trent on a rise between Stanton by Bridge and Repton, Ingleby contains the privately owned John Thompson public house and the Ingleby Art Gallery....
. The same year, a considerable number of them settled in the conquered territories, followed by another group in 877. Halfdan moved north to attack the Picts
Picts
The Picts were a group of Late Iron Age and Early Mediaeval people living in what is now eastern and northern Scotland. There is an association with the distribution of brochs, place names beginning 'Pit-', for instance Pitlochry, and Pictish stones. They are recorded from before the Roman conquest...
, while Guthrum
Guthrum
The name Guthrum corresponds to Norwegian Guttom and to Danish Gorm.The name Guthrum may refer to these kings:* Guthrum, who fought against Alfred the Great* Gorm the Old of Denmark and Norway* Guthrum II, a king of doubtful historicity...
emerged as the war leader in the south, and in 876 they were joined by further forces and won the Battle of Wareham
Wareham, Dorset
Wareham is an historic market town and, under the name Wareham Town, a civil parish, in the English county of Dorset. The town is situated on the River Frome eight miles southwest of Poole.-Situation and geography:...
. However, Alfred the Great
Alfred the Great
Alfred the Great was King of Wessex from 871 to 899.Alfred is noted for his defence of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of southern England against the Vikings, becoming the only English monarch still to be accorded the epithet "the Great". Alfred was the first King of the West Saxons to style himself...
fought back and eventually won victory over the army at the Battle of Ethandun in 878, achieving the Treaty of Wedmore
Treaty of Wedmore
The Peace of Wedmore is a term used by historians for an event referred to by the monk Asser in his Life of Alfred, outlining how in 878 the Viking leader Guthrum was baptised and accepted Alfred as his adoptive father. Guthrum agreed to leave Wessex and a "Treaty of Wedmore" is often assumed by...
.
The settlers from the army formed the Kingdom of York, which survived with several interruptions until the 950s.
See also
- Uí ÍmairUí ÍmairThe Uí Ímair , or Dynasty of Ivar, were an enormous royal and imperial Norse dynasty who ruled Northern England, the Irish Sea region and Kingdom of Dublin, and the western coast of Scotland, including the Hebrides, from the mid 9th century, losing control of the first in the mid 10th, but the rest...
, dynasty widely believed to be the descendants of Ivar the Boneless - Raven bannerRaven bannerThe raven banner was a flag, possibly totemic in nature, flown by various Viking chieftains and other Scandinavian rulers during the ninth, tenth and eleventh centuries A.D...
- The Ballad of the White HorseThe Ballad of the White HorseThe Ballad of the White Horse is a poem by G. K. Chesterton about the idealized exploits of the Saxon King Alfred the Great, published in 1911. Written in ballad form, the work is usually considered the last great traditional epic poems ever written in the English language...
- Medieval invasions of Britain
Other sources
- Gardiner, Juliet, ed. The Penguin Dictionary of British History
- TimeRef - Viking Invasions