The Fierce Great Heathen Army And The Invasion Of East Anglia

Ellen Lloyd - AncientPages.com - In the year 865 A.D., the Great Heathen Army, also known as the Great Viking Army, crossed the sea and dramatically changed the history of Britain.

Led by Ragnar Lodbrok's sons, Ivar the Boneless, Halfdan Ragnarsson, and Ubba, along with the Dane Viking chieftain Guthrum, the Norse warriors started the invasion of East Anglia.

The number of ships and Norse warriors sailing for is uncertain, but historians describe the Army as one of the largest forces of its kind.

The Great Heathen Army Sailed Carrying A Raven Banner

It's no coincidence that the Great Heathen Army was created at this time. It was a tactical decision as the Vikings were aware of the civil war that weakened England's great northern kingdom. The instability and uncertainty raging in England gave the Norse warriors opportunities they did not intend to miss.

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle informs the Viking army carried a raven banner when they reached England.

For the year 878, the Chronicle relates:

"In the winter of the same year, the brother of Ivar and Halfdan landed in Devonshire, Wessex, with 23 ships, and he was killed there along with 800 other people and 40 of his soldiers. The war banner (guþfana) which they called "Raven" was also taken."

According to the Annals of St Neots, the raven banner was created by three of Ragnar Lodbrok's daughters who had "woven that banner and gotten it ready during one single midday's time. Further it is said that if they were going to win a battle in which they followed that signum, there was to be seen, in the center of the signum, a raven, gaily flapping its wings. But if they were going to be defeated, the raven dropped motionless. And this always proved true." ¹

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See also: 

How Was A Viking King Elected And What Was Expected From Him?

Vikings’ Encounters With Peculiar White-Dressed Humanoids And Cave Dwellers In Unknown Lands Described In Norse Sagas

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