The Viking Great Army and the Making of England by Dawn M. Hadley & Julian D. Richards
The Viking Great Army and the Making of England by Dawn M. Hadley & Julian D. Richards
The Viking Great Army that swept through England between 865 and 878 CE altered the course of British history. Since the late 8th century, Viking raids on the British Isles had been a regular feature of life, but the winter of 865 saw a fundamental shift that would change the political, economic, and social landscape forever. The Vikings remained in England for the winter and became immersed in its communities. Some settled permanently, acquiring land and forming a new hybrid Anglo-Scandinavian culture. The Viking army was here to stay. Its presence was a catalyst for new towns and new industries, while transformations in power politics would ultimately see the rise of King Alfred the Great and make Wessex the pre-eminent kingdom of Anglo-Saxon England.
Drawing on the most up-to-date discoveries and the latest scientific techniques, the authors' recent research at the Viking Great Army's winter camp, as well as a wealth of newly recovered evidence from metal-detectorists, has revolutionized what we know about the camp's size, activities, and social makeup. Unfolding like a great detective story, this account traces the movements of the Great Army across the country, piecing together a new picture of Viking Age England in unprecedented detail; from swords, coins, jewelry, and the burials of great warriors to the everyday objects that farmers and craftsmen discarded. It is the definitive story of a vital period in British history.
Thames and Hudson, Hardcover, 2021
THIS IS A BRAND NEW BOOK.