The Battle of York- The Great Heathen Army Isabella Romano On the 21st of March 865, a group of Scandinavian warriors known as the Great Heathen Army, attacked England, in the city of York, back then known as Northumbria. Their invasion of Northumbria had the intention of many aspects, such as, their strong feelings of revenge, ambition, and temptation of England’s riches, as well as to conquer settlements for new lands. However, according to numerous articles, the Great Heathen Army was on a hunt for retribution for the death of Ragnar Lothbrok. The death of Ragnar was held accountable by lla, who was the king of Northumbria at the time. The Great Heathen Army was run by three of Ragnar Lothbrok's five sons, which included Ubba, Halfdan Ragnarsson,
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When they landed in East Anglia in 865, their invasion had truly begun. The group of Vikings were able to obtain horses, more than likely due to an agreement with the East Anglians, allowing them greater mobility. It’s likely that the Vikings selected York as their first objective, as they believed that an easier invasion would result from the civil war that was occurring in Northumbria at the time. The Great Heathen Army overthrew both lla and Osberht, taking control of both the country and its capital, York. During this battle, evidence provides that the British suffered roughly 475 losses in total: 82 dead, 43 wounded, 69 wounded captives, 274 captured, and 7 missing. While bulky leather armour and horned helmets are common representations of Vikings in popular culture, historical and archaeological data presents a different picture. Mostly made up of helmets, body armour, and shields, Viking armour was well-made, long-lasting, and highly accurately crafted. The common misconception is that Viking helmets had horns; however, they were usually composed of iron and came in multiple sections, such as a nose guard, a bowl to cover the head, and occasionally extra protection for the eyes and neck, no horns
When they landed in East Anglia in 865, their invasion had truly begun. The group of Vikings were able to obtain horses, more than likely due to an agreement with the East Anglians, allowing them greater mobility. It’s likely that the Vikings selected York as their first objective, as they believed that an easier invasion would result from the civil war that was occurring in Northumbria at the time. The Great Heathen Army overthrew both lla and Osberht, taking control of both the country and its capital, York. During this battle, evidence provides that the British suffered roughly 475 losses in total: 82 dead, 43 wounded, 69 wounded captives, 274 captured, and 7 missing. While bulky leather armour and horned helmets are common representations of Vikings in popular culture, historical and archaeological data presents a different picture. Mostly made up of helmets, body armour, and shields, Viking armour was well-made, long-lasting, and highly accurately crafted. The common misconception is that Viking helmets had horns; however, they were usually composed of iron and came in multiple sections, such as a nose guard, a bowl to cover the head, and occasionally extra protection for the eyes and neck, no horns