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The Great Heathen Army, also known as the Great Army or the Great Danish Army, was a Viking army originating in Denmark which pillaged and conquered much of England in the late 9th century. Unlike many of the Scandinavian raiding armies of the period, surviving sources give no firm indication of its numbers, but it was clearly among the largest forces of its kind, comprising a number of ships reaching into the hundreds, and many thousands of men.

The term "Great Heathen Army" is used in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Much of the evidence for the army comes from these annals, and as they start the year on September 1, many of the events are said to have occurred what appears to be a year later. This article uses the Gregorian calendar throughout.

The origins of the Army can be seen in the band of Viking warriors who attacked Paris in 845, perhaps led by the legendary viking, Ragnar Lothbrok. They raided the region from 850, repeatedly sacking Rouen and various smaller towns; perhaps striking from easily defended bases in the area of their depredations.

Having gained experience across Europe, the army arrived in Britain in late 865, landing in East Anglia. Under the command of Halfdan Ragnarsson and Ivar the Boneless, with the support of Ubbe Ragnarsson, it aimed to conquer and settle in England. Norse Sagas consider the invasion a response to the death of their father, Ragnar Lodbrok, at the hands of Ælla of Northumbria in 865, but the historicity of this claim is uncertain.

In late 866, it conquered the Kingdom of Northumbria, followed in 870 by the Kingdom of East Anglia. In 871, the Great Summer Army arrived^[1] from Scandinavia led by Bagsecg. This reinforced the Great Heathen Army, enabling it in 874 to conquer Mercia. The same year, a considerable number of them settled in the conquered territories, followed by another group in 877. Halfdan moved north to attack the Picts, while Guthrum emerged as the war leader in the south, and in 876 they were joined by further forces and won the Battle of Wareham. However, Alfred the Great fought back and eventually won victory over the army at the Battle of Ethandun in 878, achieving the Treaty of Wedmore.

The settlers from the army formed the Kingdom of York, which survived with several interruptions until the 950s.

See also

• Raven banner
• The Ballad of the White Horse

References

1. ^ Nicholas Hooper and Matthew Bennett, The Cambridge illustrated atlas of warfare: the Middle Ages, p.22

• TimeRef - Viking Invasions
• The Penguin Dictionary of British History, Ed. Juliet Gardiner