BattlefieldsNorthumbrian Siege of Lindisfarne Context 793
Early Medieval

Northumbrian Siege of Lindisfarne Context 793

793
Northumberland, England
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Northumberland, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Lindisfarne monastery
Forces
undefended monastic community amid Northumbrian political chaos
VS
Victor
Viking raiders
Forces
Viking raiders
Outcome
Lindisfarne sacked; Northumbrian political disorder shown to have weakened defences
The Battle

History & Significance

The political context of the Viking raid on Lindisfarne in 793 includes the Northumbrian civil wars of the 780s and 790s. The island monastery had suffered from the instability of Northumbrian kingship. Alcuin attributed the disaster partly to the sins of Northumbrian kings and nobles who had repeatedly killed their rulers. The raid was both a Viking attack and a symptom of Northumbrian disorder.

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