The Viking Invasion of Lindisfarne

Vikings vs Anglo-Saxons Information Sheet B

When? Question to consider: ✤ The year 793 ✤ Were the Vikings really just after gold and silver or did they have ✤ Most sources agree it was June 8th other objectives in mind? ✤ Were the monks naive to think they would never be subject to a Where? raid, given that monasteries often had stores of holy treasures? ✤ Lindisfarne monastery, Holy Island, off the coast of Northumberland ✤ Why did the Vikings massacre the monks when they clearly had no Who? way of stopping the Vikings making off with the treasure? ✤ Vikings from Norway ✤ Why did the Vikings burn down the monastery? ✤ Monks living at the Lindisfarne monastery ✤ Were the Vikings purely vicious and bloodthirsty or were they simply opportunists? What? ✤ Vikings attacked the monastery looking for treasures they could steal ✤ They plundered the monastery, taking gold, silver and precious jewels ✤ They massacred the monks who couldn’t defend themselves against the Vikings ✤ They burnt the monastery down, taking their loot back to Norway

How? ✤ The Vikings sailed in longboats from Norway to the Northumbrian coast ✤ They were armed with weapons and armour ✤ The Lindisfarne monks lived quiet, peaceful lives and never expected a raid as monasteries were considered holy places that were left alone, even during war ✤ The monks were defenceless, allowing the Vikings to do whatever they wanted