The Sea Wolves: A History of the Vikings by Brownworth, Lars

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In the year 793 CE, ships with dragons and snakes on their prows appeared on the north coast of England, sneaking up on the island where the famous Lindisfarne Priory was located. The invaders jumped onto the shore and broke down the monastery gates. They beheaded every monk, tore down the gorgeous tapestries, and razed the altars. The island was instantly littered with bodies and stained with rivers of blood.

This massacre happened so suddenly that it took everyone by surprise. In the 8th century, a group of strong European rulers had risen up, so the entire Western part of the continent had a strong sense of security, and people lived rather stable lives in the early Middle Ages. England flourished as well; monasteries were popping up regularly, and Lindisfarne Priory was an outstanding example. It was home to countless treasures of great value, attracting pilgrims and boosting local trade.

Viking merchants spread the word of the prosperity of the region back to their own homeland. At the end of the 8th century, a group of blonde, blue-eyed Vikings jumped out of their dragon boat, covered the monastery in blood, and took all of its precious possessions. This disaster in the midst of a peaceful time shocked the local people, and it also had a huge impact on all of Europe: “If the heart of English Christianity could fall, then surely no one was safe”

The Viking invasions of Europe’s nations, both coastal and further inland, continued for three hundred years, which is known as the Viking Age in Europe