Pirates & Shipwrecks · Viking raid, 793
Lindisfarne raid
Holy Island, England
What happened
Lindisfarne, also called Holy Island, is a small island off northeast England with an important monastery. On 8 June 793 Viking raiders attacked the church of St Cuthbert there. The news sent a shockwave through Europe.
Why it matters
The raid is often seen as the start of the Viking Age in England. A Christian community survived on the island and recorded the event.
What came next
According to Wikipedia, the monks of Lindisfarne left the island in 875 and took with them the bones of St Cuthbert, which are now buried at Durham Cathedral.
Did you know?
Holy Island is reached by a causeway that the sea covers at high tide, and signs warn visitors to check the tide times.
Timeline
- 8 June 793Vikings attack the monastery.
- 875The monks leave the island with St Cuthbert's bones.