Ragnar Lothbrok and the Lindisfarne Raid of 793

In 793 CE, Viking raiders attacked the monastery of Lindisfarne off the coast of Northumbria, an event that shocked Christian Europe and is often seen as the beginning of the Viking Age. But what really happened? Using the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Alcuin's letters, and archaeological evidence from the site, Lucas and Luna examine the raid itself: the timing, the targets, the aftermath. They explore why Lindisfarne was chosen, what the raiders took, and how contemporary chroniclers interpreted the attack as divine punishment. The episode also weighs the evidence for Ragnar Lothbrok's involvement—none exists—and discusses how later sagas and legends retroactively linked him to this pivotal moment. Along the way, they touch on the monastery's treasures, the fate of the monks, and the wider political context of eighth-century Northumbria. A focused, evidence-based look at the event that launched a thousand legends. #Lindisfarne #793 #VikingAge #RagnarLothbrok #Northumbria #Monastery #AngloSaxonChronicle #Alcuin #VikingRaid #HolyIsland #EarlyMedieval #RavenBanner #NorthSea #History #FexingoHistory #VikingHistory #MedievalHistory #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo