1. The Vikings

2. Basics 800 AD to 11th century During the dark ages
Scandinavians left homeland to seek fortune
Seafaring warriors

3. Raiding and Piracy Vikingr – old Norse meaning pirate
Initially preyed on merchant ships in Baltic sea
Raided monasteries off coast of England
First raided mainland Europe in 799 AD
Hit and run

4. From pirates to mercenaries
First hired in 840 for their fleet in a power struggle in Frankia (France & Germany)
Frankish rulers willing to pay huge sums to prevent attacks

5. Conquest in the British Isles
Started settling in the British Isles
Controlled much of Scotland
Founded the City of Dublin in Ireland
Europe became more fortified
851 conquered all England but Wessex

6. Loss of England 871 King Alfred the great of Wessex defeats Vikings
York established as main city of Danish (Viking) in England
Last Scandinavian king Erik Bloodaxe was expelled and killed in 952
This unifies England into one kingdom