In 865 AD, England faced the Great Heathen Army—the largest Viking invasion in history. Led by the sons of the legendary Ragnar Lothbrok, including Ivar the Boneless and Halfdan, the Vikings landed with thousands of warriors. Unlike earlier raids, this wasn’t just plundering—they came to conquer. The Great Army swept through Northumbria, East Anglia, and Mercia, toppling kingdoms and seizing land. Their brutality shocked the Anglo-Saxons, but their tactics were organized and relentless. Only Wes

Before Alfred the Great became the symbol of English resistance, his father fought one of the most brutal—and most overlooked—victories of the Viking Age in England. In 851, Viking activity escalated from raids into something larger and more organized. Contemporary sources describe major forces operating along key rivers and striking deep into Anglo-Saxon territory. The pressure felt unstoppable: towns burned, kingdoms shaken, and the sense that the old defenses were failing. Then the storm hit

In 865 AD, England was invaded by the Great Heathen Army. The Great Viking Army, as it was also known, was made up of a coalition of Scandinavian warriors mainly from Denmark and, legend has it, four of the five sons of Ragnar Lothbrok, including Halfdan Ragnarsson, Ivar the Boneless, Bjorn Ironside, and Ubba. This was an army that would change Britain forever. | History Hit

The legendary Viking warrior Ragnar Lothbrok was captured by King Ælla of Northumbria around 865 AD, after raiding deep into English territory. As punishment, Ælla ordered Ragnar to be thrown alive into a pit of venomous snakes—a cruel and symbolic end. But Ragnar didn’t beg for mercy. According to the Ragnars saga loðbrókar, he began to sing a death song, recounting his legendary battles, the gods he honored, and the glorious life he lived. He mocked Ælla and spoke proudly of his warrior sons—w

The legendary Viking warrior Ragnar Lothbrok was captured by King Ælla of Northumbria around 865 AD, after raiding deep into English territory. As punishment, Ælla ordered Ragnar to be thrown alive into a pit of venomous snakes—a cruel and symbolic end. But Ragnar didn’t beg for mercy. According to the Ragnars saga loðbrókar, he began to sing a death song, recounting his legendary battles, the gods he honored, and the glorious life he lived. He mocked Ælla and spoke proudly of his warrior sons—w