Vikings: The Rise and Fall

The episode follows the early Norse peoples in their native Scandinavian homeland, looking at the social framework, seafaring expertise and the harsh environment that moulded a community ready to venture beyond its borders. It sketches how these foundations set the stage for a culture that would soon turn its attention outward. It then concentrates on the raid on the sacred island of Lindisfarne, an assault that is traditionally regarded as the flashpoint that ushered in the Viking Age. By presenting the attack on this holy site as the decisive trigger, the programme highlights the moment when Norse incursions began to reshape the wider European landscape.

The episode follows the early Norse peoples in their native Scandinavian homeland, looking at the social framework, seafaring expertise and the harsh environment that moulded a community ready to venture beyond its borders. It sketches how these foundations set the stage for a culture that would soon turn its attention outward. It then concentrates on the raid on the sacred island of Lindisfarne, an assault that is traditionally regarded as the flashpoint that ushered in the Viking Age. By presenting the attack on this holy site as the decisive trigger, the programme highlights the moment when Norse incursions began to reshape the wider European landscape.

In 866, York faced a siege as the force known as the Great Heathen Army moved to assert control over the Northumbrian capital. The attack marked the army’s claim on the city, turning York into a contested stronghold. This operation, occurring in the mid‑ninth century, saw the Great Heathen Army laying claim to the capital of Northumbria, with the siege of York standing out as a pivotal moment. The event encapsulates the year 866 when the Great Heathen Army laid claim to York, the heart of Northumbria, through a determined siege. It highlights how the city was besieged and how the army secured its hold on the region.

In 866, York faced a siege as the force known as the Great Heathen Army moved to assert control over the Northumbrian capital. The attack marked the army’s claim on the city, turning York into a contested stronghold. This operation, occurring in the mid‑ninth century, saw the Great Heathen Army laying claim to the capital of Northumbria, with the siege of York standing out as a pivotal moment. The event encapsulates the year 866 when the Great Heathen Army laid claim to York, the heart of Northumbria, through a determined siege. It highlights how the city was besieged and how the army secured its hold on the region.