Vikings / Timeline
The Vikings · Timeline in eight lanes
The Viking Timeline
What was happening in Kiev while Alfred fought at Edington? Each lane is one part of the Viking world, so you can read across and see. 516 events from c. 1700 BCE to September 2023. Dashed dots are legend, dotted ones are disputed.
Open the map → Vikings overview → The eight peoples →
Before The Storm
c. 1700 BCE Nordic Bronze Age Ship Carvings Scandinavian homelands · Tanum, Bohuslän (Sweden) c. 1400 BCE Trundholm Sun Chariot Scandinavian homelands · Trundholm Mose, Zealand (Denmark) c. 900 BCE Veksø Horned Helmets Scandinavian homelands · Veksø, Zealand (Denmark) c. 350 BCE Hjortspring Boat Sacrificed Scandinavian homelands · Hjortspring Mose, Als (Denmark) 98 CE Tacitus Describes the Suiones Scandinavian homelands · Mälaren region, Svealand (Sweden) c. 160 CE Earliest Runes: The Vimose Comb Scandinavian homelands · Vimose, Funen (Denmark) c. 205 CE Illerup Ådal Weapon Sacrifice Scandinavian homelands · Illerup Ådal, Jutland (Denmark) c. 320 CE Nydam Boat Built Scandinavian homelands · Nydam Mose, Southern Jutland (Denmark) c. 400 CE Golden Horns of Gallehus Scandinavian homelands · Gallehus, Southern Jutland (Denmark) c. 450 CE Angles, Saxons and Jutes Cross to Britain Britain & Ireland · Kent and eastern Britain (England) c. 516 CE Hygelac's Raid on Frisia Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Lower Rhine, Frisia (Netherlands) 536 CE The Dust Veil of 536 Scandinavian homelands · Scandinavia c. 550 CE Vendel Period Begins Scandinavian homelands · Vendel, Uppland (Sweden) c. 550 CE Royal Mounds of Gamla Uppsala Scandinavian homelands · Gamla Uppsala, Uppland (Sweden) c. 625 CE Sutton Hoo Ship Burial Britain & Ireland · Sutton Hoo, Suffolk (England) c. 650 CE Scandinavians Settle at Grobiņa The Baltic · Grobiņa, Courland (Latvia) c. 700 CE Scandinavian Ships Take the Sail Scandinavian homelands · Gotland (Sweden) c. 705 CE Ribe Founded Scandinavian homelands · Ribe, Jutland (Denmark) c. 710 CE Willibrord's Mission to the Danes Scandinavian homelands · Jutland (Denmark) 726 CE Kanhave Canal Cut Across Samsø Scandinavian homelands · Kanhave, Samsø (Denmark) 737 CE Danevirke Rebuilt on a Grand Scale Scandinavian homelands · Danevirke, Schleswig (Germany) c. 750 CE Salme Ship Burials The Baltic · Salme, Saaremaa (Estonia) c. 750 CE Birka Founded Scandinavian homelands · Birka, Björkö, Lake Mälaren (Sweden) 753 CE Staraya Ladoga Founded The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Staraya Ladoga, Leningrad Oblast (Russia) c. 775 CE Younger Futhark Emerges Scandinavian homelands · Denmark and southern Scandinavia 777 CE Widukind Takes Refuge with the Danes Scandinavian homelands · Danish–Saxon border, Jutland (Denmark/Germany) c. 779 CE Storhaug Ship Burial at Avaldsnes Scandinavian homelands · Avaldsnes, Karmøy, Rogaland (Norway) c. 780 CE Kaupang Founded Scandinavian homelands · Kaupang, Vestfold (Norway) c. 789 CE Killing of the Reeve at Portland Britain & Ireland · Isle of Portland, Dorset (England) 792 CE Offa Orders Defences Against Pagan Seamen Britain & Ireland · Kent (England) The First Raids
8 June 793 CE Sack of Lindisfarne Britain & Ireland · Lindisfarne, Northumbria (England) 794 CE Raid on Jarrow Britain & Ireland · Jarrow, Northumbria (England) 795 CE First Viking Raid on Ireland Britain & Ireland · Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim (Northern Ireland) 795 CE Iona and Skye Plundered Britain & Ireland · Iona, Inner Hebrides (Scotland) 798 CE Burning of Inis Pátraic Britain & Ireland · St Patrick's Island, Co. Dublin (Ireland) 799 CE First Viking Attack on Francia Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Noirmoutier, Vendée (France) 800 CE Charlemagne Orders Coastal Defences Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Boulogne-sur-Mer, Channel coast (France) c. 800 CE Rök Runestone Carved Scandinavian homelands · Rök, Östergötland (Sweden) c. 800 CE Islamic Silver Reaches the Baltic The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Peterhof, Gulf of Finland (Russia) 802 CE Iona Burned Britain & Ireland · Iona, Inner Hebrides (Scotland) 804 CE Gudfred Comes to Sliesthorp Scandinavian homelands · Hedeby (Sliesthorp), Schleswig (Germany) 806 CE Massacre on Iona; Move to Kells Britain & Ireland · Iona, Inner Hebrides (Scotland) 808 CE Gudfred Destroys Reric and Builds Up Hedeby The Baltic · Reric (Groß Strömkendorf), Mecklenburg (Germany) 810 CE Gudfred's Fleet Ravages Frisia Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Frisia (Netherlands) 811 CE Treaty of Heiligen Scandinavian homelands · River Eider, Schleswig-Holstein (Germany) 812 CE Danish Civil Wars and Harald Klak Scandinavian homelands · Jutland (Denmark) c. 820 CE Oseberg Ship Built Scandinavian homelands · South-western Norway 820 CE Vikings Test the Frankish Coast Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Bouin, Bay of Bourgneuf (France) 823 CE Ebbo of Reims Preaches in Denmark Scandinavian homelands · Southern Jutland (Denmark) 824 CE Skellig Michael Raided Britain & Ireland · Skellig Michael, Co. Kerry (Ireland) 825 CE Dicuil Describes the Northern Islands North Atlantic · Faroe Islands c. 825 CE Norse Settlement of the Faroe Islands North Atlantic · Funningur, Eysturoy (Faroe Islands) 825 CE Martyrdom of Blathmac on Iona Britain & Ireland · Iona, Inner Hebrides (Scotland) 826 CE Baptism of Harald Klak Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Mainz and Ingelheim, Francia (Germany) 829 CE Ansgar's First Mission to Birka Scandinavian homelands · Birka, Björkö, Lake Mälaren (Sweden) c. 830 CE The First Rus' in the East The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Volkhov river, Novgorod region (Russia) 832 CE Armagh Plundered Three Times Britain & Ireland · Armagh (Northern Ireland) 834 CE Oseberg Ship Burial Scandinavian homelands · Oseberg, Tønsberg, Vestfold (Norway) 834 CE Dorestad Sacked Year After Year Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Dorestad (Wijk bij Duurstede), Utrecht (Netherlands) 835 CE Sheppey Ravaged Britain & Ireland · Isle of Sheppey, Kent (England) 836 CE Battle of Carhampton Britain & Ireland · Carhampton, Somerset (England) 837 CE Great Fleets on the Boyne and Liffey Britain & Ireland · Rivers Boyne and Liffey, Leinster (Ireland) 838 CE Battle of Hingston Down Britain & Ireland · Hingston Down, Cornwall (England) 839 CE Vikings Destroy the Pictish Royal House Britain & Ireland · Fortriu, northern Pictland (Scotland) 839 CE Turgesius and the Fleets on the Irish Lakes Britain & Ireland · Lough Neagh, Ulster (Northern Ireland) May 839 CE Rhos Envoys at Ingelheim The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Ingelheim, Francia (Germany) 841 CE Longphort Founded at Dublin Britain & Ireland · Dublin (Ireland) 841 CE Longphort at Linn Duachaill Britain & Ireland · Annagassan, Co. Louth (Ireland) 14 May 841 CE Rouen Sacked Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Rouen, Seine valley (France) 842 CE Quentovic Plundered Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Quentovic, River Canche (France) 842 CE Slaughter at London and Rochester Britain & Ireland · London (England) 24 June 843 CE Sack of Nantes Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Nantes, Loire (France) 844 CE Vikings Raid Asturias and Lisbon Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · A Coruña, Galicia (Spain) October 844 CE Seville Taken; Defeat at Tablada Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Seville, al-Andalus (Spain) 845 CE Hamburg Sacked Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Hamburg (Germany) c. 845 CE Ragnar Lodbrok, Hero of Legend Scandinavian homelands · Denmark (legendary) 845 CE Turgesius Drowned by Máel Sechnaill Britain & Ireland · Lough Owel, Co. Westmeath (Ireland) March 845 CE Siege of Paris Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Paris (France) 848 CE Battle of Sciath Nechtain Britain & Ireland · Castledermot, Co. Kildare (Ireland) 848 CE Bordeaux Captured Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Bordeaux, Aquitaine (France) 849 CE A Royal Fleet Comes to Ireland Britain & Ireland · Dublin (Ireland) Great Armies & Settlement
850 CE Rorik Granted Dorestad and Frisia Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Dorestad, Frisia (Netherlands) 850 CE First Viking Wintering in England Britain & Ireland · Isle of Thanet, Kent (England) 851 CE Dark Foreigners Attack Dublin Britain & Ireland · Dublin (Ireland) 851 CE Canterbury and London Stormed Britain & Ireland · London (England) 851 CE Battle of Aclea Britain & Ireland · Aclea, probably Surrey (England) c. 852 CE Ansgar's Second Mission to Birka Scandinavian homelands · Birka, Lake Mälaren (Sweden) 852 CE Battle of Carlingford Lough Britain & Ireland · Carlingford Lough (Ireland / Northern Ireland) 853 CE Amlaíb Takes the Kingship of Dublin Britain & Ireland · Dublin (Ireland) 854 CE Horik I Killed in Danish Civil War Scandinavian homelands · Jutland (Denmark) c. 854 CE Swedes Besiege Apuolė in Curonia The Baltic · Apuolė hillfort, Skuodas district (Lithuania) 855 CE Vikings Winter on Sheppey Britain & Ireland · Isle of Sheppey, Kent (England) 856 CE Rhodri Mawr Kills the Viking Leader Horm Britain & Ireland · Anglesey, Gwynedd (Wales) 28 December 856 CE Vikings Burn Paris Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Paris, West Francia (France) 859 CE Vikings Enter the Mediterranean Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Algeciras, al-Andalus (Spain) c. 859 CE King García of Pamplona Captured Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Pamplona, Navarre (Spain) 860 CE Winchester Sacked Britain & Ireland · Winchester, Wessex (England) 18 June 860 CE Rus' Attack on Constantinople The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) c. 860 CE Naddodd Sights Iceland North Atlantic · Reyðarfjörður, East Fjords (Iceland) c. 860 CE Raiders on the Rhône, Pisa and Luna Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Luni, Liguria (Italy) c. 862 CE Calling of the Varangians The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Staraya Ladoga (Russia) 863 CE Vikings Plunder the Boyne Tombs Britain & Ireland · Knowth, Boyne valley (Ireland) c. 863 CE Askold and Dir at Kiev The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Kyiv (Ukraine) c. 864 CE Garðar Svavarsson Circles Iceland North Atlantic · Húsavík, Skjálfandi Bay (Iceland) 25 June 864 CE Edict of Pîtres Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Pîtres, West Francia (France) 3 February 865 CE Death of Ansgar Scandinavian homelands · Bremen, East Francia (Germany) 865 CE Great Heathen Army Lands Britain & Ireland · East Anglia (England) 2 July 866 CE Battle of Brissarthe Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Brissarthe, Neustria (France) 1 November 866 CE Great Army Captures York Britain & Ireland · York, Northumbria (England) 21 March 867 CE Northumbrian Kings Fall at York Britain & Ireland · York, Northumbria (England) 867 CE Photius Reports Conversion of the Rus' The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) c. 868 CE Hrafna-Flóki Names Iceland North Atlantic · Vatnsfjörður, Westfjords (Iceland) 868 CE Great Army Besieged at Nottingham Britain & Ireland · Nottingham, Mercia (England) 20 November 869 CE Death of King Edmund Britain & Ireland · Thetford, East Anglia (England) 870 CE Siege of Dumbarton Rock Britain & Ireland · Dumbarton Rock, Strathclyde (Scotland) c. 870 CE Spillings Hoard Buried on Gotland The Baltic · Spillings, near Slite, Gotland (Sweden) c. 31 December 870 CE Battle of Englefield Britain & Ireland · Englefield, Berkshire (England) c. 4 January 871 CE Battle of Reading Britain & Ireland · Reading, Berkshire (England) c. 8 January 871 CE Battle of Ashdown Britain & Ireland · Berkshire Downs (England) c. 22 January 871 CE Battle of Basing Britain & Ireland · Old Basing, Hampshire (England) 22 March 871 CE Battle of Meretun Britain & Ireland · Meretun, site unknown, Wessex (England) April 871 CE Alfred Becomes King of Wessex Britain & Ireland · Wimborne Minster, Dorset (England) May 871 CE Battle of Wilton Britain & Ireland · Wilton, Wiltshire (England) 871 CE Great Army Winters in London Britain & Ireland · London, Mercia (England) c. 872 CE Battle of Hafrsfjord Scandinavian homelands · Hafrsfjord, Rogaland (Norway) 873 CE Death of Ímar Britain & Ireland · Dublin (Ireland) 873 CE Danish Kings Seek Peace with the Franks Scandinavian homelands · Worms, East Francia (Germany) 873 CE Repton Camp and Fall of Mercia Britain & Ireland · Repton, Mercia (England) 874 CE The Great Army Divides Britain & Ireland · Repton, Mercia (England) c. 874 CE Ingólfr Arnarson Settles Reykjavík North Atlantic · Reykjavík (Iceland) 875 CE Monks Carry Cuthbert from Lindisfarne Britain & Ireland · Lindisfarne, Northumbria (England) c. 875 CE Earldom of Orkney Founded Britain & Ireland · Orkney (Scotland) 876 CE Halfdan Shares Out Northumbria Britain & Ireland · Yorkshire, Northumbria (England) 876 CE Guthrum Seizes Wareham Britain & Ireland · Wareham, Dorset (England) 877 CE Storm off Swanage and Siege of Exeter Britain & Ireland · Exeter, Devon (England) 877 CE Battle of Strangford Lough Britain & Ireland · Strangford Lough, County Down (Northern Ireland) January 878 CE Guthrum's Surprise Attack on Chippenham Britain & Ireland · Chippenham, Wiltshire (England) 878 CE Death of Rhodri Mawr Britain & Ireland · River Conwy, Gwynedd (Wales) 878 CE Battle of Cynwit Britain & Ireland · Countisbury, Devon (England) May 878 CE Battle of Edington Britain & Ireland · Edington, Wiltshire (England) 878 CE Guthrum Baptised; Peace of Wedmore Britain & Ireland · Wedmore, Somerset (England) 879 CE Guthrum's Army Settles East Anglia Britain & Ireland · East Anglia (England) c. 879 CE Rurik Dies; Oleg Becomes Regent The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Veliky Novgorod (Russia) 879 CE Great Army Crosses to Ghent Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Ghent, Flanders (Belgium) c. 880 CE Alfred's Network of Burhs Britain & Ireland · Winchester, Wessex (England) 2 February 880 CE Battle of Lüneburg Heath Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Ebstorf, Saxony (Germany) February 880 CE Battle of Thimeon Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Thiméon, Hainaut (Belgium) 3 August 881 CE Battle of Saucourt-en-Vimeu Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Saucourt, Vimeu, West Francia (France) November 881 CE Raids on the Rhineland Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Aachen, Lotharingia (Germany) 882 CE Siege of Asselt Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Asselt, Meuse valley (Netherlands) c. 882 CE Oleg Takes Kiev The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Kyiv (Ukraine) c. 883 CE Guthred, Christian King at York Britain & Ireland · York, Northumbria (England) 885 CE Godfrid of Frisia Murdered Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Spijk, near Lobith (Netherlands) November 885 CE Siege of Paris Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Paris, West Francia (France) 886 CE Alfred Takes London; the Danelaw Defined Britain & Ireland · London (England) c. 890 CE Alan the Great's Victory at Questembert Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Questembert, Brittany (France) 890 CE Death of Guthrum Britain & Ireland · Hadleigh, Suffolk (England) c. 890 CE Ohthere's Voyage to the White Sea Scandinavian homelands · Hålogaland, northern Norway c. 890 CE Wulfstan's Voyage to Truso The Baltic · Truso (Janów Pomorski), near Elbląg (Poland) c. 890 CE Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Compiled Britain & Ireland · Winchester, Wessex (England) September 891 CE Battle of the Dyle Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Leuven, Lotharingia (Belgium) 892 CE Hastein's Army Lands in Kent Britain & Ireland · Appledore, Kent (England) c. 892 CE Sigurd the Mighty's Strange Death Britain & Ireland · Dornoch Firth, Sutherland (Scotland) 893 CE Battle of Farnham Britain & Ireland · Farnham, Surrey (England) 893 CE Storming of Benfleet Britain & Ireland · South Benfleet, Essex (England) 893 CE Battle of Buttington Britain & Ireland · Buttington, Powys (Wales) c. 895 CE First Viking Coinage at York Britain & Ireland · York, Northumbria (England) 896 CE Alfred's New Longships Britain & Ireland · The Solent, south coast (England) 26 October 899 CE Death of Alfred the Great Britain & Ireland · Winchester, Wessex (England) Atlantic Expansion & New Kingdoms
c. 900 CE Olof Dynasty Rules at Hedeby Scandinavian homelands · Hedeby, Schleswig (Germany) c. 900 CE Peak of the Dirham Silver Trade The Baltic · Gotland (Sweden) c. 900 CE Gunnbjörn Sights Land West of Iceland North Atlantic · East coast of Greenland c. 901 CE Gokstad Ship Burial Scandinavian homelands · Gokstad, Sandefjord, Vestfold (Norway) 13 December 902 CE Battle of the Holme Britain & Ireland · The Holme (site uncertain), East Anglia (England) 902 CE Norse Expelled from Dublin Britain & Ireland · Dublin (Ireland) c. 902 CE Ingimundr Settles the Wirral Britain & Ireland · Wirral Peninsula, Cheshire (England) c. 905 CE Cuerdale Hoard Buried Britain & Ireland · Cuerdale, Lancashire (England) c. 907 CE Oleg's Campaign Against Constantinople The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) c. 910 CE Scandinavians at Wiskiauten in Prussia The Baltic · Kaup near Wiskiauten (Mokhovoye), Kaliningrad Oblast (Russia) 5 August 910 CE Battle of Tettenhall Britain & Ireland · Tettenhall, Staffordshire (England) 20 July 911 CE Rollo Defeated at Chartres Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Chartres (France) 911 CE Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte The Normans · Saint-Clair-sur-Epte, Normandy (France) 2 September 911 CE Rus'–Byzantine Treaty of 911 The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) c. 912 CE Death of Oleg the Wise The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Kyiv (Ukraine) c. 913 CE Rus' Raid the Caspian Shores The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Caspian coast near Baku (Azerbaijan) 914 CE Viking Fleets Return to Waterford Britain & Ireland · Waterford (Ireland) c. 914 CE Vikings Occupy Brittany Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Nantes, Brittany (France) 917 CE Sihtric Cáech Retakes Dublin Britain & Ireland · Confey, Leixlip, County Kildare (Ireland) July 917 CE Æthelflæd Captures Derby Britain & Ireland · Derby (England) 917 CE Edward Conquers the Southern Danelaw Britain & Ireland · Tempsford, Bedfordshire (England) 918 CE Battle of Corbridge Britain & Ireland · Corbridge, Northumberland (England) 918 CE Æthelflæd Gains Leicester and Dies Britain & Ireland · Leicester (England) 919 CE Ragnall Takes York Britain & Ireland · York (England) 14 September 919 CE Battle of Islandbridge Britain & Ireland · Islandbridge, Dublin (Ireland) 10 November 921 CE Gofraid Spares Armagh's Prayer Houses Britain & Ireland · Armagh (Northern Ireland) 922 CE Ibn Fadlan Describes the Rus' The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Bolghar on the Volga, Tatarstan (Russia) 922 CE Norse Base Founded at Limerick Britain & Ireland · Limerick (Ireland) 924 CE Rollo's Grant Enlarged Westward The Normans · Bayeux, Normandy (France) c. 925 CE Gnezdovo Flourishes on the Dnieper The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Gnezdovo, Smolensk Oblast (Russia) 12 July 927 CE Athelstan Takes York; Eamont Submission Britain & Ireland · Eamont Bridge, Cumbria (England) c. 927 CE Vale of York Hoard Buried Britain & Ireland · Near Harrogate, North Yorkshire (England) c. 930 CE Althing Founded at Þingvellir North Atlantic · Þingvellir (Iceland) c. 930 CE Iceland Is Fully Settled North Atlantic · Iceland c. 932 CE Death of Harald Fairhair Scandinavian homelands · Haugesund, Rogaland (Norway) 933 CE William Longsword Gains the Cotentin The Normans · Cotentin Peninsula, Normandy (France) 934 CE Henry the Fowler Defeats the Danes Scandinavian homelands · Hedeby, Schleswig (Germany) c. 934 CE Haakon the Good Ousts Eric Bloodaxe Scandinavian homelands · Trøndelag (Norway) 17 September 936 CE Archbishop Unni Dies at Birka Scandinavian homelands · Birka, Lake Mälaren (Sweden) c. 936 CE Gorm the Old Rules the Danes Scandinavian homelands · Jelling, Jutland (Denmark) 936 CE Alan Barbetorte Returns to Brittany Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Nantes, Brittany (France) 937 CE Battle of Brunanburh Britain & Ireland · Brunanburh, perhaps Bromborough, Wirral (England) 1 August 939 CE Battle of Trans Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Trans-la-Forêt, Brittany (France) 939 CE Olaf Guthfrithson Seizes York Britain & Ireland · York (England) c. 940 CE Truso and Wolin Link Baltic Trade The Baltic · Wolin, Pomerania (Poland) 941 CE Igor's Fleet Burned by Greek Fire The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Bosporus near Constantinople (Turkey) 942 CE Edmund Recovers the Five Boroughs Britain & Ireland · Leicester (England) 17 December 942 CE William Longsword Assassinated The Normans · Picquigny, Somme (France) 943 CE Rus' Capture Bardha'a The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Barda (Azerbaijan) c. 945 CE Rus'–Byzantine Treaty of 945 The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Kyiv (Ukraine) 945 CE Igor Killed; Olga's Revenge The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Korosten (Iskorosten), Zhytomyr Oblast (Ukraine) 945 CE Harald's Vikings Rescue Normandy The Normans · River Dives, Normandy (France) 947 CE Eric Bloodaxe Becomes King at York Britain & Ireland · York (England) c. 948 CE Egil's Head-Ransom at York Britain & Ireland · York (England) 948 CE First Bishops Named for Denmark Scandinavian homelands · Ribe, Jutland (Denmark) c. 950 CE Emperor Describes the Dnieper Route The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Dnieper rapids near Zaporizhzhia (Ukraine) c. 950 CE Haakon the Good Promotes Christianity Scandinavian homelands · Mære, Trøndelag (Norway) 952 CE Eric Bloodaxe's Second Reign Britain & Ireland · York (England) 954 CE Eric Bloodaxe Killed at Stainmore Britain & Ireland · Stainmore, Cumbria (England) c. 957 CE Olga Baptised in Constantinople The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) c. 958 CE Gorm's Death and the Jelling Mounds Scandinavian homelands · Jelling, Jutland (Denmark) 959 CE Olga's Embassy to Otto I The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Kyiv (Ukraine) c. 960 CE Erik the Red's Family Leaves Norway North Atlantic · Drangar, Hornstrandir (Iceland) c. 961 CE Battle of Fitjar Scandinavian homelands · Fitjar, Stord, Vestland (Norway) c. 961 CE Harald Greycloak Rules Norway Scandinavian homelands · Western Norway c. 965 CE Legend of the Jomsvikings The Baltic · Wolin (Jomsborg), Pomerania (Poland) c. 965 CE Conversion of Harald Bluetooth Scandinavian homelands · Jelling, Jutland (Denmark) c. 965 CE Sviatoslav Destroys the Khazar Khaganate The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Sarkel on the Don, Rostov Oblast (Russia) c. 965 CE Iceland Divided into Quarters North Atlantic · Þingvellir (Iceland) c. 965 CE Al-Tartushi Visits Hedeby Scandinavian homelands · Hedeby, Schleswig (Germany) c. 965 CE The Great Jelling Stone Scandinavian homelands · Jelling, Jutland (Denmark) 966 CE Viking Fleet Raids near Lisbon Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Lisbon (Portugal) c. 968 CE Gunrod's Raid on Galicia Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Santiago de Compostela, Galicia (Spain) c. 968 CE Sviatoslav Invades Bulgaria The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Pereyaslavets, lower Danube (Romania) 968 CE Pechenegs Besiege Kiev The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Kyiv (Ukraine) c. 970 CE Harald Bluetooth Wins Norway Scandinavian homelands · Hals, Limfjord, Jutland (Denmark) 970 CE Mammen Chamber Grave Scandinavian homelands · Mammen, near Viborg, Jutland (Denmark) 971 CE Siege of Dorostolon The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Silistra (Dorostolon), Bulgaria 971 CE Al-Andalus Mobilises Against Viking Fleet Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Córdoba, al-Andalus (Spain) 972 CE Sviatoslav Killed at the Dnieper Rapids The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Dnieper rapids near Khortytsia (Ukraine) 974 CE Otto II Storms the Danevirke Scandinavian homelands · Danevirke, Schleswig (Germany) c. 975 CE Birka Abandoned Scandinavian homelands · Birka, Björkö, Lake Mälaren (Sweden) c. 975 CE Hiddensee Gold Hoard The Baltic · Hiddensee, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Germany) c. 977 CE War Between Sviatoslav's Sons The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Ovruch, Zhytomyr Oblast (Ukraine) c. 979 CE Traditional Founding of Tynwald Britain & Ireland · Tynwald Hill, St John's (Isle of Man) Conversion & The North Sea Empire
980 CE Viking Raids on England Resume Britain & Ireland · Southampton, Hampshire (England) 980 CE Battle of Tara Britain & Ireland · Hill of Tara, County Meath (Ireland) c. 980 CE Vladimir Seizes Kiev with Varangians The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Kyiv, Ukraine c. 980 CE Sigtuna Founded Scandinavian homelands · Sigtuna, Uppland (Sweden) 980 CE Trelleborg and Fyrkat Ring Fortresses Scandinavian homelands · Trelleborg, near Slagelse, Zealand (Denmark) c. 980 CE Aggersborg, the Largest Ring Fortress Scandinavian homelands · Aggersborg, North Jutland (Denmark) c. 980 CE Ravning Enge Bridge Built Scandinavian homelands · Ravning Enge, near Vejle, Jutland (Denmark) c. 982 CE Erik the Red Explores Greenland North Atlantic · South-west Greenland c. 985 CE Battle of Fýrisvellir Scandinavian homelands · Fyrisvellir, near Uppsala (Sweden) c. 986 CE Erik the Red's Fleet Colonises Greenland North Atlantic · Brattahlíð (Qassiarsuk), Eastern Settlement (Greenland) c. 986 CE Bjarni Herjólfsson Sights Western Lands North Atlantic · Coast of Labrador and Newfoundland (Canada) c. 986 CE Battle of Hjörungavágr Scandinavian homelands · Hjørungavåg, Sunnmøre (Norway) c. 986 CE Sweyn Forkbeard Overthrows Harald Bluetooth Scandinavian homelands · Denmark (Harald dies at Jumne, probably Wolin, Poland) c. 986 CE Vladimir's Testing of the Faiths The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Kyiv, Ukraine 988 CE Baptism of Vladimir and of Rus' The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Kyiv, Ukraine 988 CE Varangian Guard Founded The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) 989 CE Sihtric Silkbeard Becomes King of Dublin Britain & Ireland · Dublin, Ireland August 991 CE Battle of Maldon and First Danegeld Britain & Ireland · Northey Island, Maldon, Essex (England) 8 September 994 CE Olaf and Sweyn Attack London Britain & Ireland · London, England 995 CE Olaf Tryggvason Takes Norway Scandinavian homelands · Rimul, Melhus, Trøndelag (Norway) c. 995 CE First Swedish Coins Struck at Sigtuna Scandinavian homelands · Sigtuna, Uppland (Sweden) c. 997 CE Ireland's First Coins Minted in Dublin Britain & Ireland · Dublin, Ireland c. 997 CE Nidaros Founded Scandinavian homelands · Trondheim, Trøndelag (Norway) c. 997 CE Thangbrand's Mission to Iceland North Atlantic · Álftafjörður, East Iceland c. 999 CE Norman Pilgrims Fight at Salerno The Normans · Salerno, Campania (Italy) 30 December 999 CE Glenmama and the Sack of Dublin Britain & Ireland · Glenmama, near Ardclough, County Kildare (Ireland) c. 1000 Iceland Adopts Christianity at the Althing North Atlantic · Þingvellir, Iceland c. 1000 Battle of Svolder Scandinavian homelands · Øresund or western Baltic (site disputed) c. 1000 Leif Erikson Reaches Vinland North Atlantic · Vinland (Newfoundland and Gulf of St Lawrence, Canada) c. 1000 Thjodhild's Church at Brattahlíð North Atlantic · Brattahlíð (Qassiarsuk), Greenland 1002 Æthelred Marries Emma of Normandy Britain & Ireland · Winchester, Hampshire (England) 13 November 1002 St Brice's Day Massacre Britain & Ireland · Oxford, England 1003 Sweyn Forkbeard Ravages Wessex and East Anglia Britain & Ireland · Exeter, Devon (England) c. 1004 Thorvald Eriksson Killed in Vinland North Atlantic · Vinland (Atlantic Canada) c. 1005 Fifth Court Added to the Althing North Atlantic · Þingvellir, Iceland 1006 Vikings Sack Tiel Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Tiel, Gelderland (Netherlands) c. 1008 Olof Skötkonung Baptised at Husaby Scandinavian homelands · Husaby, Västergötland (Sweden) August 1009 Thorkell the Tall's Army Lands Britain & Ireland · Sandwich, Kent (England) c. 1010 Karlsefni and Gudrid Settle in Vinland North Atlantic · Vinland (Atlantic Canada) 5 May 1010 Battle of Ringmere Britain & Ireland · Ringmere Heath, near Thetford, Norfolk (England) c. 1011 Burning of Njáll North Atlantic · Bergþórshvoll, South Iceland September 1011 Sack of Canterbury Britain & Ireland · Canterbury, Kent (England) 1012 Heregeld: A Tax to Hire Viking Fleets Britain & Ireland · London, England c. 1012 Freydís's Vinland Voyage North Atlantic · Vinland (Atlantic Canada) 19 April 1012 Archbishop Ælfheah Killed at Greenwich Britain & Ireland · Greenwich, London (England) 1013 Sweyn Forkbeard Conquers England Britain & Ireland · Gainsborough, Lincolnshire (England) c. 1014 Olaf Haraldsson and London Bridge Britain & Ireland · London Bridge, London (England) c. 1014 Thorfinn the Mighty Inherits in Orkney Britain & Ireland · Birsay, Orkney (Scotland) c. 1014 First Swedish Bishopric at Skara Scandinavian homelands · Skara, Västergötland (Sweden) 3 February 1014 Sweyn Forkbeard Dies at Gainsborough Britain & Ireland · Gainsborough, Lincolnshire (England) 23 April 1014 Battle of Clontarf Britain & Ireland · Clontarf, Dublin (Ireland) 1015 Cnut Invades England Britain & Ireland · Sandwich, Kent (England) 15 July 1015 Vladimir Dies; Boris and Gleb Murdered The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Berestove, Kyiv (Ukraine) 1016 Battle of Liubech The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Liubech, Chernihiv Oblast (Ukraine) c. 1016 Eymund's Varangians Serve Yaroslav The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Veliky Novgorod, Russia c. 1016 Yaroslav's Law: The Russkaya Pravda The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Veliky Novgorod, Russia 25 March 1016 Battle of Nesjar Scandinavian homelands · Nesjar, off Brunlanes, Vestfold (Norway) 18 October 1016 Battle of Assandun Britain & Ireland · Ashingdon, Essex (England); Ashdon also proposed 1017 Cnut Sole King; Marries Emma Britain & Ireland · London, England 1017 Norman Knights Join Melus of Bari The Normans · Northern Apulia (Italy) 1018 Oxford Assembly; Cnut Pays Off the Fleet Britain & Ireland · Oxford, England 14 August 1018 Bolesław of Poland Takes Kiev The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Kyiv, Ukraine October 1018 Battle of Cannae The Normans · Cannae, Apulia (Italy) 1019 Cnut Becomes King of Denmark Scandinavian homelands · Roskilde, Zealand (Denmark) 1019 Battle of the Alta River The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Alta River, near Pereiaslav (Ukraine) 1021 Norse Fell Trees at L'Anse aux Meadows North Atlantic · L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland (Canada) 1024 Battle of Listven The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Listven, near Chernihiv (Ukraine) c. 1024 Olaf's Church Law at Moster Scandinavian homelands · Moster, Bømlo, Vestland (Norway) c. 1026 Battle of the Helgeå Scandinavian homelands · Helge å, Scania (Sweden); site disputed c. 1027 Scottish Kings Submit to Cnut Britain & Ireland · Scotland 26 March 1027 Cnut's Pilgrimage to Rome Britain & Ireland · Rome, Italy 1028 Cnut Takes Norway Scandinavian homelands · Trondheim (Nidaros), Trøndelag (Norway) c. 1028 Sihtric Founds Christ Church Cathedral Britain & Ireland · Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin (Ireland) 1030 Rainulf Drengot Receives Aversa The Normans · Aversa, Campania (Italy) 1030 Harald Sigurdsson Escapes to Rus' The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Kyiv, Ukraine (flight from Stiklestad, Norway) 1030 Ælfgifu and Svein Rule Norway Scandinavian homelands · Trondheim (Nidaros), Trøndelag (Norway) 29 July 1030 Battle of Stiklestad Scandinavian homelands · Stiklestad, Verdal, Trøndelag (Norway) 3 August 1031 Olaf Haraldsson Declared a Saint Scandinavian homelands · Trondheim (Nidaros), Trøndelag (Norway) c. 1034 Harald Sigurdsson Joins the Varangian Guard The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) 1035 Magnus the Good Becomes King of Norway Scandinavian homelands · Trondheim (Nidaros), Trøndelag (Norway) c. 1035 Hauteville Brothers Arrive in Italy The Normans · Aversa, Campania (Italy) July 1035 William Becomes Duke of Normandy The Normans · Falaise, Normandy (France) 12 November 1035 Death of Cnut the Great Britain & Ireland · Shaftesbury, Dorset (England) 1036 Murder of Alfred Ætheling Britain & Ireland · Guildford, Surrey (England) 1036 Yaroslav Sole Ruler; St Sophia Begun The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv (Ukraine) c. 1036 Ingvar the Far-Travelled's Expedition The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Gripsholm, Lake Mälaren (Sweden); expedition to the Caspian region 1037 Harold Harefoot Becomes King of England Britain & Ireland · Oxford, England 1038 Harald Hardrada in Sicily and Bulgaria The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Syracuse, Sicily (Italy) c. 1039 Treaty of Magnus and Harthacnut Scandinavian homelands · Brännö, Göta älv estuary (Sweden) 17 June 1040 Harthacnut Takes the English Throne Britain & Ireland · Sandwich, Kent (England) 17 March 1041 Normans Win at Olivento and Montemaggiore The Normans · River Olivento, near Melfi, Basilicata (Italy) 1042 Skuldelev 2 Longship Built at Dublin Britain & Ireland · Dublin, Ireland April 1042 Michael V Blinded; Harald Escapes Constantinople The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) 8 June 1042 Harthacnut Dies; Edward the Confessor Succeeds Britain & Ireland · Lambeth, London (England) September 1042 William Iron Arm Elected Count at Melfi The Normans · Melfi, Basilicata (Italy) 1066 & The End Of The Viking Age
1043 Magnus the Good Destroys Jomsborg The Baltic · Wolin, Pomerania (Poland) 1043 Last Rus' Attack on Constantinople The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Bosphorus near Istanbul (Turkey) 28 September 1043 Battle of Lyrskov Heath The Baltic · Lürschau, Schleswig-Holstein (Germany) c. 1044 Harald Hardrada Marries Elisiv of Kiev The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Kyiv (Ukraine) 1046 Harald Hardrada Becomes Co-King of Norway Scandinavian homelands · Eastern Norway (Norway) 1047 Battle of Val-ès-Dunes The Normans · Conteville near Caen, Normandy (France) 25 October 1047 Death of Magnus the Good Scandinavian homelands · Zealand or Jutland (Denmark) 1047 Sweyn Estridsen Becomes King of Denmark Scandinavian homelands · Roskilde, Zealand (Denmark) 1048 Lothen and Yrling Raid Sandwich Britain & Ireland · Sandwich, Kent (England) c. 1048 Harald Hardrada Founds Oslo Scandinavian homelands · Oslo (Norway) c. 1050 Harald Hardrada Burns Hedeby Scandinavian homelands · Hedeby, Schleswig-Holstein (Germany) c. 1050 Thorfinn the Mighty's Pilgrimage to Rome Britain & Ireland · Birsay, Orkney (Scotland) c. 1051 William Marries Matilda of Flanders The Normans · Eu, Normandy (France) 19 May 1051 Anne of Kiev Becomes Queen of France The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Reims (France) 1051 William of Normandy's Claimed Visit to England Britain & Ireland · London (England) 1052 Diarmait mac Máel na mBó Takes Dublin Britain & Ireland · Dublin (Ireland) 18 June 1053 Battle of Civitate The Normans · San Paolo di Civitate, Apulia (Italy) 1054 Battle of Mortemer The Normans · Mortemer, Normandy (France) 20 February 1054 Death of Yaroslav the Wise The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Vyshhorod near Kyiv (Ukraine) 1056 Ísleifur Becomes Iceland's First Bishop North Atlantic · Skálholt (Iceland) August 1057 Battle of Varaville The Normans · Varaville, Normandy (France) 1057 Robert Guiscard Becomes Count of Apulia The Normans · Melfi, Basilicata (Italy) 23 August 1059 Treaty of Melfi The Normans · Melfi, Basilicata (Italy) c. 1060 Sweyn Estridsen Reorganises the Danish Church Scandinavian homelands · Roskilde, Zealand (Denmark) May 1061 Normans Invade Sicily and Take Messina The Normans · Messina, Sicily (Italy) 9 August 1062 Battle of Niså Scandinavian homelands · Mouth of the Nissan, Halland (Sweden) June 1063 Battle of Cerami The Normans · Cerami, Sicily (Italy) c. 1064 Harold Godwinson's Oath to William The Normans · Bayeux, Normandy (France) 1064 Norman Knights at the Siege of Barbastro Francia, Iberia & the Mediterranean · Barbastro, Aragon (Spain) 1064 Peace Between Harald Hardrada and Sweyn Estridsen Scandinavian homelands · Göta älv near Kungälv (Sweden) 5 January 1066 Edward the Confessor Dies; Harold Crowned Britain & Ireland · Westminster, London (England) 24 April 1066 Halley's Comet Appears over England Britain & Ireland · England 1066 Wends Destroy Hedeby Scandinavian homelands · Hedeby, Schleswig-Holstein (Germany) 20 September 1066 Battle of Fulford Britain & Ireland · Fulford near York (England) 25 September 1066 Battle of Stamford Bridge Britain & Ireland · Stamford Bridge, Yorkshire (England) 28 September 1066 William Lands at Pevensey The Normans · Pevensey, Sussex (England) 14 October 1066 Battle of Hastings The Normans · Battle, Sussex (England) 25 December 1066 William Crowned King of England The Normans · Westminster Abbey, London (England) 1067 Normans Enter Wales at Chepstow The Normans · Chepstow, Monmouthshire (Wales) 3 March 1067 Battle on the Nemiga River The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Minsk (Belarus) September 1068 Cuman Victory and the Kiev Uprising The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Kyiv (Ukraine) September 1069 Sweyn Estridsen's Fleet Enters the Humber Britain & Ireland · Humber estuary and York (England) 1069 Harrying of the North The Normans · Yorkshire and northern England 1070 Hereward and the Danes at Ely Britain & Ireland · Ely, Cambridgeshire (England) c. 1070 Skuldelev Ships Sunk in Roskilde Fjord Scandinavian homelands · Skuldelev, Roskilde Fjord (Denmark) c. 1070 Olaf Kyrre and the Founding of Bergen Scandinavian homelands · Bergen (Norway) c. 1070 Urnes Carvings, the Last Viking Art Style Scandinavian homelands · Urnes, Vestland (Norway) April 1071 Fall of Bari Ends Byzantine Italy The Normans · Bari, Apulia (Italy) 26 August 1071 Varangian Guard at Manzikert The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Malazgirt, Muş Province (Turkey) 10 January 1072 Normans Capture Palermo The Normans · Palermo, Sicily (Italy) 1072 Treaty of Abernethy The Normans · Abernethy, Perth and Kinross (Scotland) 1073 Roussel de Bailleul's Norman State in Anatolia The Normans · Ankara (Turkey) 1075 Revolt of the Earls; Last Danish Fleet Britain & Ireland · Norwich, Norfolk (England) c. 1075 Adam of Bremen Describes the North and Vinland Scandinavian homelands · Bremen (Germany) c. 1075 English Exiles Join the Varangian Guard The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Istanbul (Turkey) 28 April 1076 Death of Sweyn Estridsen Scandinavian homelands · Søderup, Southern Jutland (Denmark) c. 1077 Bayeux Tapestry Embroidered The Normans · Bayeux, Normandy (France) 1079 Godred Crovan Wins the Battle of Skyhill Britain & Ireland · Sky Hill near Ramsey (Isle of Man) 1081 Battle of Mynydd Carn Britain & Ireland · Northern Pembrokeshire (Wales) 18 October 1081 Battle of Dyrrhachium The Normans · Durrës (Albania) May 1084 Robert Guiscard Sacks Rome The Normans · Rome (Italy) c. 1084 Blot-Sweyn and the End of Pagan Uppsala Scandinavian homelands · Gamla Uppsala (Sweden) 21 May 1085 Cnut IV's Charter to Lund Cathedral Scandinavian homelands · Lund, Scania (Sweden) 17 July 1085 Death of Robert Guiscard The Normans · Kefalonia, Ionian Islands (Greece) 1085 Cnut IV's Invasion of England Abandoned Scandinavian homelands · Limfjord, Jutland (Denmark) 1086 Domesday Book Compiled The Normans · Winchester, Hampshire (England) 10 July 1086 Cnut IV Murdered at Odense Scandinavian homelands · Odense, Funen (Denmark) 9 September 1087 Death of William the Conqueror The Normans · Rouen, Normandy (France) 1091 Fall of Noto and the Taking of Malta The Normans · Noto, Sicily (Italy) 26 May 1093 Battle of the Stugna River The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Trypillia, Kyiv Oblast (Ukraine) 1096 Bohemond Joins the First Crusade The Normans · Amalfi, Campania (Italy) c. 1097 Tithe Law Adopted in Iceland North Atlantic · Þingvellir (Iceland) 1097 Council of Liubech The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Liubech, Chernihiv Oblast (Ukraine) October 1097 Siege of Antioch and Bohemond's Principality The Normans · Antakya, Hatay (Turkey) 1098 Magnus Barefoot Seizes Orkney and the Hebrides Britain & Ireland · Hebrides (Scotland) 1098 Battle of Anglesey Sound Britain & Ireland · Menai Strait, Anglesey (Wales) 1098 Magnus Barefoot's Treaty with Scotland Britain & Ireland · Tarbert, Kintyre (Scotland) 10 July 1103 Erik Ejegod Dies on Pilgrimage in Cyprus Scandinavian homelands · Paphos (Cyprus) 24 August 1103 Death of Magnus Barefoot in Ulster Britain & Ireland · Near Downpatrick, County Down (Northern Ireland) 1103 Archbishopric of Lund Founded Scandinavian homelands · Lund, Scania (Sweden) Successor Realms
28 September 1106 Battle of Tinchebray The Normans · Tinchebray, Normandy (France) 1107 Sigurd the Crusader Sails East Scandinavian homelands · Bergen, Norway September 1108 Treaty of Devol The Normans · Devol, near Lake Ohrid (Albania) 19 October 1110 Siege of Sidon The Normans · Sidon, Lebanon c. 1113 Primary Chronicle Compiled at Kiev The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, Kyiv (Ukraine) 1113 Vladimir Monomakh Becomes Grand Prince The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Kyiv, Ukraine c. 16 April 1117 Martyrdom of St Magnus Britain & Ireland · Egilsay, Orkney (Scotland) 25 November 1120 White Ship Disaster The Normans · Barfleur, Normandy (France) c. 1122 Ari the Wise Writes Íslendingabók Legacy & rediscovery · Western Iceland 1124 First Bishop of Greenland North Atlantic · Garðar (Igaliku), Greenland 25 December 1130 Roger II Crowned King of Sicily The Normans · Palermo, Sicily (Italy) 14 April 1132 Death of Mstislav the Great The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Kyiv, Ukraine 1136 Novgorod Expels Its Prince The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Veliky Novgorod, Russia 1137 St Magnus Cathedral Begun Britain & Ireland · Kirkwall, Orkney (Scotland) 1140 Assizes of Ariano The Normans · Ariano Irpino, Campania (Italy) 22 June 1148 Normans Take Mahdia The Normans · Mahdia, Tunisia 1151 Earl Rognvald's Crusade Britain & Ireland · Orkney, Scotland 1152 Archbishopric of Nidaros Founded Scandinavian homelands · Trondheim, Norway c. 1153 Runes Carved in Maeshowe Britain & Ireland · Maeshowe, Orkney (Scotland) 1154 Al-Idrisi Completes the Tabula Rogeriana The Normans · Palermo, Sicily (Italy) January 1156 Battle of Epiphany Britain & Ireland · Off Islay, Hebrides (Scotland) 1164 Somerled Killed at Renfrew Britain & Ireland · Renfrew, Scotland June 1168 Danes Destroy the Temple at Arkona The Baltic · Cape Arkona, Rügen (Germany) March 1169 Sack of Kiev The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Kyiv, Ukraine May 1169 Anglo-Norman Invasion of Ireland Britain & Ireland · Bannow Bay, County Wexford (Ireland) 21 September 1170 Fall of Norse Dublin Britain & Ireland · Dublin, Ireland 24 August 1185 Normans Sack Thessalonica The Normans · Thessaloniki, Greece 25 December 1194 End of Hauteville Rule in Sicily The Normans · Palermo, Sicily (Italy) c. 1200 Saxo Writes the Gesta Danorum Legacy & rediscovery · Lund, Scania (Sweden) 12 April 1204 Varangian Guard at Constantinople's Fall The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Istanbul, Turkey 24 June 1204 Philip II Takes Normandy The Normans · Rouen, Normandy (France) 15 June 1219 Battle of Lyndanisse The Baltic · Tallinn, Estonia c. 1220 Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda Legacy & rediscovery · Reykholt, Iceland c. 1230 Heimskringla Written Legacy & rediscovery · Reykholt, Iceland 6 December 1240 Mongols Sack Kiev The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Kyiv, Ukraine 23 September 1241 Snorri Sturluson Killed North Atlantic · Reykholt, Iceland 1261 Greenland Submits to Norway North Atlantic · Eastern Settlement, Greenland 1262 Old Covenant: Iceland Submits North Atlantic · Þingvellir, Iceland 2 October 1263 Battle of Largs Britain & Ireland · Largs, Ayrshire (Scotland) 16 December 1263 Death of Haakon IV in Orkney Britain & Ireland · Bishop's Palace, Kirkwall, Orkney (Scotland) 2 July 1266 Treaty of Perth Britain & Ireland · Perth, Scotland c. 1270 Codex Regius Written Legacy & rediscovery · Iceland 1349 Black Death Reaches Norway Scandinavian homelands · Bergen, Norway c. 1350 Western Settlement Found Deserted North Atlantic · Nuup Kangerlua, near Nuuk (Greenland) 1387 Flateyjarbók Compiled Legacy & rediscovery · Víðidalstunga, northern Iceland 17 June 1397 Kalmar Union Scandinavian homelands · Kalmar, Sweden September 1408 Hvalsey Wedding North Atlantic · Hvalsey Church, near Qaqortoq (Greenland) c. 1450 Eastern Settlement Abandoned North Atlantic · Eastern Settlement, southern Greenland 8 September 1468 Orkney and Shetland Pledged to Scotland Britain & Ireland · Kirkwall, Orkney (Scotland) 20 February 1472 Scotland Annexes Orkney and Shetland Britain & Ireland · Edinburgh, Scotland Rediscovery
January 1598 End of the Rurikid Tsars The East: Rus' & Byzantium · Moscow, Russia 1643 Ole Worm Publishes the Danish Runestones Legacy & rediscovery · Copenhagen, Denmark 3 July 1721 Hans Egede Seeks the Lost Norse North Atlantic · Nuuk, Greenland 1825 Tegnér's Frithiof's Saga Legacy & rediscovery · Stockholm, Sweden 1831 Lewis Chessmen Found Legacy & rediscovery · Uig, Isle of Lewis (Scotland) 1837 Rafn's Antiquitates Americanae Legacy & rediscovery · Copenhagen, Denmark 15 May 1840 Cuerdale Hoard Found Legacy & rediscovery · Cuerdale, Lancashire (England) c. 1850 Last Speakers of Norn Britain & Ireland · Skaw, Unst, Shetland (Scotland) 1867 Tune Ship Excavated Legacy & rediscovery · Rolvsøy, Østfold (Norway) 13 August 1876 Horned Helmets at Bayreuth Legacy & rediscovery · Bayreuth, Bavaria (Germany) 1878 Birka Grave Bj 581 Excavated Legacy & rediscovery · Birka, Björkö (Sweden) 1880 Gokstad Ship Excavated Legacy & rediscovery · Gokstad, Sandefjord (Norway) 1881 Up Helly Aa Takes Its Viking Form Legacy & rediscovery · Lerwick, Shetland (Scotland) 1893 Replica Viking Sails to Chicago Legacy & rediscovery · Chicago, Illinois (United States) 1898 Kensington Runestone Appears Legacy & rediscovery · Kensington, Minnesota (United States) 1904 Oseberg Ship Excavated Legacy & rediscovery · Oseberg, Tønsberg (Norway) 1935 Ladby Ship Found Legacy & rediscovery · Ladby, Funen (Denmark) 1960 Norse Site Found at L'Anse aux Meadows Legacy & rediscovery · L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland (Canada) 1962 Skuldelev Ships Raised Legacy & rediscovery · Skuldelev, Roskilde Fjord (Denmark) 1964 Halfdan's Runes Identified in Hagia Sophia Legacy & rediscovery · Hagia Sophia, Istanbul (Turkey) October 1965 Yale Publishes the Vinland Map Legacy & rediscovery · Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut (United States) 21 April 1971 Saga Manuscripts Return to Iceland Legacy & rediscovery · Reykjavík, Iceland 1976 Coppergate Excavations in York Legacy & rediscovery · Coppergate, York (England) September 1978 L'Anse aux Meadows on UNESCO's First List Legacy & rediscovery · L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland (Canada) April 1984 Jorvik Viking Centre Opens Legacy & rediscovery · Coppergate, York (England) 1997 Bluetooth Named After a Viking King Legacy & rediscovery · Lund, Sweden 6 January 2007 Vale of York Hoard Found Legacy & rediscovery · Near Harrogate, North Yorkshire (England) 2008 Salme Ship Burials Excavated Legacy & rediscovery · Salme, Saaremaa (Estonia) June 2009 Ridgeway Hill Mass Grave Found Legacy & rediscovery · Ridgeway Hill, near Weymouth, Dorset (England) September 2014 Galloway Hoard Found Legacy & rediscovery · Balmaghie, Dumfries and Galloway (Scotland) September 2017 Birka Warrior Shown to Be a Woman Legacy & rediscovery · Birka, Björkö (Sweden) 30 June 2018 Hedeby and the Danevirke Inscribed by UNESCO Legacy & rediscovery · Hedeby, Schleswig-Holstein (Germany) October 2018 Gjellestad Ship Found by Radar Legacy & rediscovery · Gjellestad, Halden (Norway) 16 September 2020 Viking Genomes Published in Nature Legacy & rediscovery · Copenhagen, Denmark 1 September 2021 Yale Declares the Vinland Map a Fake Legacy & rediscovery · Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut (United States) 20 October 2021 Norse in America Dated to 1021 Legacy & rediscovery · L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland (Canada) September 2023 Ring Fortresses Inscribed by UNESCO Legacy & rediscovery · Trelleborg, near Slagelse (Denmark)
Every event links to its Wikipedia article. The time axis is stretched for 750–1110, where most events fall, and compressed before and after. Dates before c. 850 and all saga dates are approximate. Scroll sideways, drag the board, or use the arrow keys with an event open. Sources and method →