BattlefieldsViking Raid on Lindisfarne
Early Medieval

Viking Raid on Lindisfarne

793
Northumberland, England
Also known as: Sack of Lindisfarne · Raid on Holy Island
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Northumberland, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Northumbrians / Lindisfarne monks
Forces
Northumbrians: c. 300–600 Norse vs Lindisfarne monastery garrison.
VS
Victor
Vikings
Forces
Vikings
Outcome
Monastery sacked; monks killed, captured, or drowned
The Battle

History & Significance

The sack of Lindisfarne on 8 June 793 shocked Christendom. Alcuin of York wrote that "never before has such terror appeared in Britain." The monastery — the spiritual heart of Northumbrian Christianity and home of St Cuthbert's relics — was desecrated. This event is conventionally used to mark the beginning of the Viking Age in Britain.

Casualties & Losses

Many monks killed, some drowned, others enslaved

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around Northumberland

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in Britain — drawing on Domesday records, scheduled monuments, Victorian OS maps, geological data and archaeological archives to tell the full story of a place.

Research a location near Northumberland