The Viking Age was relatively short, but it has left its distinctive mark on the history. The warriors, raiders, pirates, seafarers, and traders from Scandinavia influenced the fate of more regions than any other culture before the Age of Discovery, and no other land more so than the British Isles. In this series, we will talk about the Viking invasions of Britain and we are going to start with the invasion of the Great Heathen Army. The first half of this invasion was concluded at the battle of Ashdown between the forces of the Vikings and Wessex in 871. It was the first battle during which one of the first great kings of England - Alfred the Great proved his mettle.
