Vikings: The Rise and Fall

In the year 866, the Viking Great Heathen Army launched a siege on York, targeting the principal city of the Kingdom of Northumbria. This operation culminated in the army successfully laying claim to the Northumbrian capital, thereby establishing their authority over the city.

The Great Heathen Army is a television programme presented in the form of individual episodes. It falls under the genre of episode‑based storytelling, offering viewers a focused look at specific historical moments tied to the famed Viking force. One of the episodes centres on the events of 866, when the Great Heathen Army laid siege to York. The city, which served as the capital of the Northumbrian kingdom, became the focal point of the army’s campaign, and the episode follows the unfolding of that confrontation. The narrative concentrates on the siege itself, highlighting how the Viking force moved to claim York as part of their broader push into the region. By concentrating on the year 866 and the strategic importance of the Northumbrian capital, the episode underscores the significance of the city's capture for the army’s ambitions. In its conclusion, the episode shows the Great Heathen Army succeeding in its attempt to take control of York, marking a decisive moment in the Viking incursion into northern England. The story ends with the army’s claim over the capital firmly established, closing the account of that particular siege.