June 8 in History

The first known Viking raid takes place on an island off the coast of England. 

  • The castle on Lindisfarne, the island off the northeast coast of England on which the first Viking raid took place on June 8 in 793, marking the beginning of the Viking Age.
  • June 8 in History
    793: The first known Viking raid takes place on Lindisfarne, a tidal island off the northeast coast of England, also known as Holy Island. The raid caused much consternation throughout the Christian west, and is often regarded as the beginning of the Viking Age.

  • Lindisfarne Castle on Holy island. Photo: Matthew Hunt/Wikimedia Commons
  • The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records: “In this year fierce, foreboding omens came over the land of Northumbria. There were excessive whirlwinds, lightning storms, and fiery dragons were seen flying in the sky. These signs were followed by great famine, and on January 8 the ravaging of heathen men destroyed God's church at Lindisfarne.”
    However, the more popular accepted date for the attack is June 8.

  • Read more about the island's history at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindisfarne