Towards the end of the eighth century new raiders were tempted by
Britain's wealth. These were the Vikings, a word which probably means either
"pirates" or "the people of the sea inlets", and they came
from Norway and Denmark. Like the Anglo-Saxons they only raided at first. They
burnt churches and monasteries along the east, north and west coasts of Britain
and Ireland. London was itself raided in 842.
In 865 the Vikings invaded Britain once it was clear that the
quarrelling Anglo-Saxon kingdoms could not keep them out. This time they came
to conquer and to settle. The Vikings quickly accepted Christianity and did not
disturb the local population. By 875 only King Alfred in the west of Wessex
held out against the Vikings, who had already taken most of England. After some
serious defeats Alfred won a decisive battle in 878, and eight years later he
captured London. He was strong enough to make a treaty with the Vikings.
Viking rule was recognised in the east and north of England. It was
called the Danelaw, the land where the law of the Danes ruled. In the rest of
the country Alfred was recognised as king. During his struggle against the
Danes, he had built walled settlements to keep them out. These were called burghs.
They became prosperous market towns, and the word, now usually spelt borough,
is one of the commonest endings to place names, as well as the name of the
unit of municipal or town administration today.Читать весь материал.
