Viking Attack on Lindisfarne, 793AD

The First Recorded Raid by Vikings in England, at Holy Island

Oct 26, 2009 Rachel Bellerby

In 793AD, the Island of Lindisfarne, in Northumberland, northern England, was violently raided by Vikings who arrived in a surprise attack from the North Sea.

This small island, off the coast of Northumberland, south of Berwick on Tweed, and north of Alnwick, was at the time, a thriving medieval community with a wealthy priory and a community of townspeople which supported it, with men and women making their living from the sea.

The island was totally unprepared to defend itself against such a surprise attack. As with other Viking attacks at this time, this one seems to have been pre-planned, as the raiding ships arrived in the middle of winter, targeted a wealthy building and left with many treasures. As usual, the raiders terrified the people they targeted, who proved no match for a band of armed men arriving in a surprise attack.

Viking Attacks on the North of England

Although this attack was the first attack from Vikings against the people of the island, it was not the first attack in the area. For several years, people living on the coast had been aware of attacks from people arriving via the sea.

Moreover, several portents, which must have seemed real and frightening to the people of the time, seemed to foretell the coming attack, according to the Anglo Saxon Chronicle: ‘AD. 793. This year came dreadful fore-warnings over the land of the Northumbrians, terrifying the people most woefully: these were immense sheets of light rushing through the air, and whirlwinds, and fiery dragons flying across the firmament. These tremendous tokens were soon followed by a great famine...’

Vikings Arrive on Holy Island

Many historians now believe that the attack was a pre-planned one. The raiders arrived in January, and seem to have purposely attacked a more-or-less defenceless community, with a comparatively wealthy priory. Many religious goods were taken, including decorated crosses, tapestries and illuminated manuscripts. These would have been the items of most value on the island, as ordinary people had no fine or valuable items.

The raiders left as quickly as they came, but the damage was done. Never again could the medieval community here feel safe on their island home. They may have been able to defend the causeway which stretched from the island to the mainland, but defending themselves from surprise attacks by sea was another thing entirely.

Eventually, worn down by generations of raids, the monks left Lindisfarne for good in 875AD, taking with them the bones of their beloved Saint Cuthbert, which were eventually housed in Durham cathedral.

Sources

Tristram, KateThe Story of Holy Island [Canterbury, 2009]

Lindisfarne.org website

The copyright of the article Viking Attack on Lindisfarne, 793AD in Medieval History is owned by Rachel Bellerby. Permission to republish Viking Attack on Lindisfarne, 793AD in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Lindisfarne Priory was the Target of Viking Raids