Vikings!

[DanaC]

Then too, England was pretty primitive, so maybe better plunder could be had on the continent.

Primitive? In some ways. But wealthy. And one of the centres of manuscript illumination (several centres actually).

Lot of monasteries in England. Very much part of the catholic community and a key player, alongside Ireland, in the politics of the Church.

What's the timeline on this programme? Vikings invaded Lindisfarne in 793. But they mainly just did smash and grab raids along the coast at that time, mainly in the Summer months.

They came properly into the country and wintered here in the mid 9th century (I think, I'll have to wiki it)


[eta] Ha! Yes, they wintered in England for the first time in 850, on the Isle of Thanet in Kent. I almost said Thanet in my post but wasn't sure.