Viking Timeline: What Happened in The Viking Age?

The glory of the Viking Age has been gone for centuries but what they left on the world history forever remains. This blog post is to give a brief look at the Viking timeline around 793 to 1066. Although the Viking Age started before this period, many scholars believed that 793 marked the time of Viking glory in Europe. 

Of course what we know about the Viking comes merely from the literal sources and artifacts. Specifically, what we know about the Vikings comes from Icelandic sagas and stories from hundreds of years after the event took place.

The Early Days 

790s: Begin to raid on the British Isles. First off, the Vikings targeted Christian monasteries on small islands. One of the most famous Viking raids during this time was the Lindisfarne attack in Northumbria kingdom - northeast England. Because this site was believed to be the land of holiness, the Christians thought no one could attack it. Leaving unprotected with the wide-open shores, the Vikings easily hit and attacked the site.

830: Bury the Oseberg ship. Oseberg ship has been the most beautifully made Viking ship ever found on the planet. The archaeologists confirmed that this Viking ship had been buried around 830. Remains of two women were found inside the ship burial. 

840: Found Dublin. The Vikings landed and built up their settlement. There came the camps of the Vikings which later became the capital of Republic of Ireland. 

Even Further Beyond

844: Lose to Muslims in Spain. The Vikings once sailed up the Guadalquivir river to raid. Yet, they met a failure there when encountering the army of Muslims. 

845: Seige of Paris. This attack on Paris must be one of the most famous Viking attacks recorded. Many believe that the leader of this attack was Ragnar Lothbrok. 

866: Establish a kingdom in York. 

Unite and Control

872: Harald Fairhair united Norway. In the Viking sagas, Harald Fairhair became the first Viking king of united Norway. Harald Fairhair was an interesting Viking figures to study. 

878-890: The Danelaw pact: The treaty between Alfred and Guthrum was signed during this time. It declared the political split of England between Alfred and the Danes.  

Other

900: Raids along the Mediterranean

977: Rollo the Duke of Normandy in France. After managing to besiege Paris, Rollo, a Viking chief, was gifted with lands by the Franks. This later became the land of Normandy and Rollo became the first Duke of Normandy originating from Vikings. 

981: Erik the Red discovered Greenland. Being expelled from Norway and Iceland, Erik the Red found a land full of snow and ice. He called it Greenland and settled there with 25 fleets, crews, and goods. 

986: Vikings found North America. Son of Erik, Leif Erikson was the first Viking man to find out the land of North America, around 100 years earlier than Columbus. 

Christianity and The End of the Glory

1000: Christians arrived in Iceland and Greenland. 

1015: Settlement in North America was abandoned. 

1066: Battle of Stamford Bridge. Many historians call the battle of Stamford Bridge was the final battle that marked the end of the Viking glory. The English king Harold Godwinson defeated the last Viking king Harald Hardrada in the battle.