The History People - Vikings
The story of the Vikings in Britain is one of conquest, extortion and reconquest. Their ever lasting legacy was the formation of the individual kingdoms of England and Scotland.
Viking raids
Raids by seaborne Scandinavian pirates at sites within Britain, mostly largely undefended monastic sites began at the end of the eighth century AD.
By the end of the 9th century there were a huge scale settlements of Scandinavians in many parts of Britain, and they had achieved political domination over a significant territory.
Early in the 11th century the king of Denmark became king of England as well. And in 1066 there were separate invasions by the king of Norway, Harald Hardrada, and duke of Normandy, William, the latter the descendant of Scandinavian settlers in northern France.
