List of 14 Famous Battles & Raids of the Viking Age

The extensive travel and fearsome raids of the Vikings are well-known to us thanks to books, movies, and popular television shows. Those living in the age of the Vikings learned about the “Northmen” through personal experiences. 

These experiences most famously included raids and battles. Raids became more frequent starting in the 700s, and coincided directly with the beginning of the Viking Age (793-1066). The Vikings traveled extensively throughout Europe and as far away as the Near East and North America. 

Vikings organized these voyages in search of riches and land. Many settled long-term in places like England, Scotland, Ireland, Iceland, Greenland, and France.  

While the success of these raids and battles varied, at the best of times, the Vikings were able to capture whole cities and geographical regions. 

In no other country is this as apparent as Britain. Much of our discussion of Viking raids centers in early medieval Britain because they were so important to the development of the country. The legacy of the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings continues to influence the culture of Britain to this day. 

Historically significant raids in France and Ireland are also included here. As described below, Viking raids and battles occurred over a time span of centuries during the Viking Age/early Middle Ages. 

The power of the Vikings in places such as Britain continued until William of Normandy landed on the island in 1066. 

1) Lindsfarne

(793) 

Viking ships had been spotted off the coast of Britain as early as 789, but the raid of Lindisfarne is considered the most significant of these early Viking encounters. 

The Vikings targeted the Holy Island of Lindisfarne because of its riches. The island, situated off the coast of Northumberland, was a popular pilgrimage site. It was therefore the home of many gifts from pilgrims. 

Lindisfarne was founded in 635 and as a pilgrimage site, was an extremely important center of early Christianity in England.

The Vikings raided the Church of St. Cuthbert, located on the island. The surprising nature of the attack and the violence with which the Viking raiders killed those in the monastery frightened the people of the area. 

Lindisfarne, as the first major interaction with the Vikings, unsurprisingly left a bad taste in the mouth of England’s inhabitants. It would set in motion a centuries-long struggle for power between the kings of England and the kings of the Norsemen. 

2) Battle of Hengest’s Hill 

(838)

By 838, the people of Cornwall were fed up with their insubordination to the King of Wessex. Cornwall had been recently raided by King Egbert of Wessex to remind the disgruntled county of his power. 

The Cornish made an alliance with the Vikings (who had a presence there) and faced off against Egbert and his army in the Battle of Hengest’s Hill. The help of the Vikings proved insufficient, however, and Egbert’s victory discouraged Cornwall from rebelling again. 

This battle, although not as popular as other events, is significant for being the first time the Vikings allied with a native British group like the Cornish people. 

3) Siege of Paris

(845)

The Siege of Paris of 845 took place during the reign of Charles the Bald. The Vikings had been raiding England and Continental Europe, and France was no exception. 

Allegedly led by the famous Ragnar Lothbrok, the Siege took place on Easter Sunday. 120 Viking longboats traveled down the Seine and reached the city. 

The Vikings only left the city of Paris after receiving 7,000 livres worth of gold and silver. 

4) Great Heathen Army Expansion

(865-878)

The raids and conflict of the previous century culminated in the arrival of the Great Heathen Army to England in 865. This massive force of mostly Danish Viking warriors landed in East Anglia and was led by Ragnar Lothbrok’s sons. 

The group of invaders advanced on towns across East Anglia, Wessex, Northumbria, and Mercia (as shown in the helpful map above). The conflict centered mostly around two goals: raiding monasteries for riches and grabbing as much territory as possible. 

While not an isolated incident, the arrival of the Great Heathen Army to England and their eventual expansion throughout much of the island makes this an important event in the history of Viking raids and battles. 

The spreading of the Vikings across England would continue until 878, when Alfred the Great faced the Vikings and negotiated peace (more on this later). 

5) Capture of York

(866)

One of the first major events following the arrival of the Great Heathen Army to England in 865 was the capture of York in the following year. 

York had long been a center of economic power in the northern region of Northumbria and was therefore an attractive target for Viking raiders. 

The attack of the city took place on November 1, which was All Saint’s Day. The arrival of Vikings to York took leadership by surprise, as most of the important members of the community were in the cathedral at the time of the attack.

The Vikings were led by Halfdan and Ivar the Boneless, who defeated Kings Aelle and Osbert of Northumbria. The city of York became the capital of the Vikings, and boasted a peak population of around 10,000 people.  

The influence of the Vikings on York and the surrounding area had long-lasting and far-reaching effects on the history and culture of northern England. 

6) Battle of Cynwit

(878)

By 878, the power of the Great Heathen Army had reached its peak. Alfred the Great, king of the Anglo-Saxons, was exiled in his own land by the Viking leader Guthrum. 

Fed up with the Viking occupation, Odda, the ealderman of Devon, led an army against his Norse foes.

The Battle of Cynwit was fought at the hill fort of Cynwit. The English were trapped in the fortress with no food or water, and had to make a decision to die in hiding or by fighting. 

They eventually chose to fight, and according to contemporary sources, ran down the hill with such ferocity that many of the Vikings turned tail and escaped to their longships. 

This encounter with the Vikings was a precursor to the significant Battle of Edington in the same year. 

7) Battle of Edington

(878)

After facing off against the Vikings in the Battle of Cynwit, the English needed to defeat their enemy once and for all. Alfred the Great, King of Wessex, gathered an army while still in exile. 

The two opposing forces fought the Battle of Edington, with Alfred defeating the Viking leader Guthrum and his Great Heathen Army.

The outcome of this battle would prove important to the geopolitical landscape of early medieval England. It established the Danelaw, which would split power in England between the Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings. 

8) Establishment of Danelaw

(886)

As mentioned above, the victory of the English in the Battle of Edington eventually led to a formal peace agreement between the English and Vikings in 886. 

This relative peace was known as ‘Danelaw’ and established East Anglia as the territory of the Vikings. While not a singular battle in itself, the previous conflicts between the English and Vikings made the establishment of this treaty necessary. 

Alfred made the agreement with Guthrum that if he converted to Christianity and changed his name, he could be the ruler of East Anglia. Guthrum agreed to the treaty’s conditions and the northern part of England became Viking territory. 

The new border would be enforced until 954. 

9) Battle of the Holme

(902)

While the establishment of the Danelaw was intended to lessen conflict between the native English and the Vikings, violence still occurred between the two groups. 

Following the death of Alfred the Great, his son Edward the Elder and his nephew Æthelwold both claimed the throne. After Edward was announced king, Æthelwold retreated to the Vikings and was welcomed as a leader. 

With his Viking allies, Æthelwold took up arms against his cousin Edward and the two met in battle in the fens of East Anglia. 

Edward the Elder defeated Æthelwold in the Battle of the Holme and maintained his hold on the throne. 

10) Battle of Maldon

(991)

The Battle of Maldon in 991 took place after the arrival of Danish King Swein Forkbeard. The Viking king landed in Kent with 90 longships and the intent to take over England. 

This was one of the few instances of a Viking king leading a group of invaders, and it paved the way for more intense conflict between English and Viking leadership. 

Bryhtnoth, ealderman of Essex, led an army against the Viking King Forkbeard but failed. Forkbeard won the battle of Maldon and conquered the surrounding countryside. 

He became the king of England for five weeks before his death. His son would go on to reign for 19 years.

11) Battle of Clontarf

(1014)

The Vikings not only wrecked havoc in England, but in Ireland, as well. The Battle of Clontarf occurred in 1014 between Irish King Brian Boru and a confederation of Vikings and their allies from Leinster and Dublin. 

The fierce battle ended with an Irish victory and between 7,000 and 10,000 deaths. The Battle of Clontarf is remembered as an Irish victory over the threat of occupation. Brian Boru is considered a national hero of Ireland. 

12) Battle of Assandun

(1016)

The Battle of Assandun in 1016 was one of the Vikings’ greatest victories in England. The battle for kingship was fought between Edmund Ironside of England and Cnut the Great of the Vikings. 

Edmund was ultimately defeated and exiled by Cnut, thanks in part to the betrayal of Eadric Streona, who fled during battle and allowed the Vikings to break through his line of defense. 

With Edmund defeated, Cnut the Great took the throne. His victory set up three generations of Viking kings on the throne of England. Their dominance would only end with the arrival of a greater power in 1066: William of Normandy. 

13) Battle of Dane’s Wood

(1016)

While the outcome of the Battle of Assandun was clearly in the Vikings’ favor, Edmund Ironside faced off against Cnut the Great for a final time in 1016. 

This conclusive battle took place in the Forest of Dean, then referred to as Dane’s Wood. Edmund was once again defeated, and made peace with Cnut, who became king after Edmund’s death.  

14) Battle of Stamford Bridge

(1066)

The Battle of Stamford Bridge was the final major conflict between the Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings. The battle took place in 1066 between Harold II of England and Harald Hardrada of Norway. 

It was the last attempt by the Vikings to take the English throne once and for all. It occurred after Harold was named King of England. Hostility between Harold and his brother Tostig influenced Harold’s decision to eject Tostig from his earldom.

Tostig obviously did not respond well to this, and teamed up with the Viking king Harald. 

He promised to help Harald defeat his brother in exchange for the return of his earldom and the power attached to it. 

Tostig and Harald, as well as 300 Viking longships, met Harold in battle. Although it seemed that a Viking victory was secure, the English won. 

Unfortunately for Harold, this conflict would weaken his army significantly enough that they would be unable to hold back the forces of William the Conqueror, who would land in England only three weeks after the Battle of Stamford Bridge. 

The Norman Battle of Hastings largely overshadows this final battle between the English and the Vikings pre-Norman conquest, but it is part of the reason William was able to take England for himself.