The Great Heathen Army

Question 1

When and where did the Vikings first raid England

Answer 1

In the North in Lindisfarne in 793

Question 2

How did the Vikings initially perform their attacks

Answer 2

A hit-and-run format on centres of moveable wealth, such as monasteries, but the raids increased in scale and frequency over the years leading up to the 860s

Question 3

What did medieval observers see the Vikings as?

Answer 3

As a punishment from God, come to wreak havoc and destruction on their ‘civilised’ Christian society

Question 4

How were the Great Heathen Army different from these earlier Viking attacks?

Answer 4

• GHA was much larger
• GHA’s purpose was to conquer and settle

Question 5

Who were the Vikings who led the GHA when they first arrived in England in 865?

Answer 5

• Halfdan
• Ivar
• Ubba

Question 6

What year did the Great Summer Army arrive?

Answer 6

871

Question 7

What is some evidence supporting the fact that the GHA was a significant threat?

Answer 7

(Peddie):
- Early raids would have been up to 50 ships, after 850s this went up to 150-250 with each carrying 40-60 warriors

(Wormald) :
- Armies definitely numbered in the many thousands
- GHA had ‘royal’ leaders, eg. Halfdan, Ivar ‘the boneless’, Guthrum - all very high status commanders
-Impact on churches went beyond simply losing valuble objects and disruption to learning

(Whitelock):
- Anglo-Saxons were genuinely fearful that their way of life was about to end as the invaders were pagan