The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.1984, Qupperneq 35

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
33
Viking Age York
and its Historic Setting
c. 71
c. 400
c. 400 — c. 600
627
735
793
865
866
876
877-79
866
909-18
927-39
939-54
954
1016
1042
1066
1068-9
1069
York founded by the Romans.
Roman army abandons York.
?
Edwin baptised in York as first Christian, Anglo-Saxon king of Northumbria.
Archbishopric of York established.
First recorded Viking raid in Britain, on Northumbrian monastery of Lindisfame.
Viking ‘Great Army’ lands in East Anglia.
‘Great Army’ captures York, killing Anglo-Saxon kings in process.
Part of Viking army settles in and around York under Halfdan, first Scandi-
navian king of Northumbria.
Midland and East Anglian kingdons settled by other Vikings.
English resurgence begins with occupation of London by King Alfred of Wessex.
Alfred’s son and daughter, Edward and Aethelflaeda take control of all England
except Northumbria.
Alfred’s grandson, King Athelstan regains control of York.
Frequent alternation of power in York between English and Scandinavian kings.
Erik Bloodaxe, last Scandinavian king of York, expelled; until Norman con-
quest York governed by resident earls appointed by the English kings.
King Cnut of Denmark wins English throne.
Succession of Edward ‘the confessor’, a member of the English royal family.
Death of Edward ‘the confessor’ — earl Harold Godwinsson elected king of
England. Invasion of England by King Harald Hardradi of Norway ends in his
defeat by Harold of England in battle at Stamford Bridge near York. Shortly
after Harold killed by Norman invaders at Battle of Hastings.
William the Conqueror builds castles at York.
Threat of joint English/Danish attack makes York’s Norman garrison set fire
to part of City; William eventually gains control, rebuilds castles and devastates
Northumbria.
EDITOR’S FOOTNOTE
Modem-day Icelanders can easily relate to the names of the residents of Jorvik, e.g. Freyja,
Thura, Thorkell, Grimur, Gunnar, Snorri, Sygtryggur, Ingi, Halfdan, etc., also the anglicized
version of the Old Norse names of their English descendants of today, and the large number of cities,
towns, and district in northern England with names of Old Norse origin, e.g. Scarborough
(Scarthaborg), Grimsby (Grimsbaer— Grim’s abode), Riding (Thrithjungur), etc.
Furthermore, a large number of words in modem English are derived from Old Norse.