when did the vikings invade england
The first recorded major Viking attack on England took place in 793 AD, when raiders struck the monastery at Lindisfarne off the northeast coast.
Key dates in brief
- 789 AD: Early Viking raiders land at Portland in Dorset, often cited as the first recorded Viking raid on English shores.
- 793 AD: Famous raid on Lindisfarne monastery, traditionally seen as the start of the Viking Age in England.
- 865 AD: The “Great Heathen Army” lands in East Anglia and begins a large-scale invasion and conquest campaign.
How invasions escalated
After the shock of Lindisfarne in 793, Viking raids continued around England’s coasts, mainly targeting rich monasteries and churches. Over time these small- scale raids evolved into larger armies that stayed over winter, allowing more systematic conquest and settlement.
From raids to rule
By the mid-9th century, Viking forces were seizing large parts of northern and eastern England, creating what became known as the Danelaw. In the early 11th century, the Danish king Cnut (Canute) even ruled all of England, showing how far the invasions had transformed the kingdom.
If you need a one-liner
The Vikings first raided England in 789, but the famous Lindisfarne attack in 793 is usually taken as the moment they “invaded” England in earnest.
Mini timeline (HTML table)
| Year | Event in England |
|---|---|
| 789 | First recorded Viking raid at Portland, Dorset. | [5][7]
| 793 | Lindisfarne monastery sacked; widely seen as start of Viking Age in England. | [9][3]
| 850 | Vikings overwinter in England for the first time, at Thanet in Kent. | [1][3]
| 865 | Great Heathen Army lands and begins full-scale invasion. | [3][1]
