Lindisfarne Day June 8 2012
"This year came dreadful
fore-warnings over the land of the Northumbrians, terrifying the people most
woefully: these were immense sheets of light rushing through the air, and
whirlwinds, and fiery dragons flying across the firmament. These tremendous
tokens were soon followed by a great famine: and not long after, on the sixth
day before the ides of January in the same year, the harrowing inroads of
heathen men made lamentable havoc in the church
of God in Holy
Island, by rapine and slaughter."
The popularly accepted date for
the Viking raid on Lindisfarne is June 8, a
much more favorable time of year for a Viking sailing expedition. The AD
793 attack on Lindisfarne monastery was the first recorded Viking raid on the
English coast and marked the beginning of the end of Northumbria’s Golden Age.
On this day in the year 793 CE many heathens commemorate the three Viking ships that raided the Isle of Lindisfarne, officially opening what is the Viking Age. Toasts are made to the brave warriors who began the noble resistance of the alien invasion of the Northlands and sought rightful revenge for the slaughter of the Saxons by Charlamange.
There are many theories to why the Viking raiders chose Lindisfarne for this first attack. The most reasonable explanation is that it was unprotected and held great wealth. Under this theory we would have to assume that the Norsemen had some inside information about their target. As heathens we must always remember that in our celebration of this day the overall goal of our Viking brothers was to return home with treasure.
On this day in the year 793 CE many heathens commemorate the three Viking ships that raided the Isle of Lindisfarne, officially opening what is the Viking Age. Toasts are made to the brave warriors who began the noble resistance of the alien invasion of the Northlands and sought rightful revenge for the slaughter of the Saxons by Charlamange.
There are many theories to why the Viking raiders chose Lindisfarne for this first attack. The most reasonable explanation is that it was unprotected and held great wealth. Under this theory we would have to assume that the Norsemen had some inside information about their target. As heathens we must always remember that in our celebration of this day the overall goal of our Viking brothers was to return home with treasure.
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