A Dive Into Exeter's Viking Past

Wherever you are in the world, you're surrounded by walls steeped in history - this is no different for Exeter. Beyond its inspirational museums and jaw-dropping landscape, Exeter has a Viking history worthy of storytelling, a history that has shaped the city into how we see it today. In this article, we'll be taking a dive into how Vikings came to find Exeter and what transpired there, all those years ago.

The year the Vikings came to England

The year was AD 793. The Vikings of Denmark were ready to set sail for new riches and opportunities, in a land different from their own. With courage, skill and bravery, they made it across The North Sea to the northeast coast of England, a land that, back then, was made up of several large kingdoms instead of one unified kingdom. This is where the infamous Lindisfarne invasion took place, and would pave the way for many more over the next few decades.

Conquering England

Once the Lindisfarne invasion had concluded, the Vikings pressed on to conquer other areas of the country. They would capture large parts of the north (known as Northumbria at this time), including the city of York, which would eventually become a hub for the Vikings, and make their way south to Mercia and Wessex - Exeter would be a part of Wessex during this period. These lands would become a part of Danelaw, shaping the way of life in England.

Influences of Vikings

We can still feel the impact of the Vikings in the country today. For example, York's Jorvik Viking Centre educates the public on how Vikings conquered York in 866 and still uses the city as a dig site to unearth Viking possessions from thousands of years ago. In the digital setting, even online casinos have captured the intrigue surrounding Viking history and mythology, using it to create online casino slots like Viking Queen and Odin: Protector of Realms. Not only are these slots made popular by their live online casino UK bonuses offering incentives for players, but it shows their distinct influence shaped by their characteristics and ways of living. What part does Exeter have in Viking history?

Vikings in Exeter

Although Vikings were known to have raided Exeter several times before, the primary affiliation between Exeter and the Vikings comes from the Battle of Pinhoe. In the year 1001, the Vikings took to conquering the city by claiming surrounding villages, including Pinhoe. Although the Vikings initially took the fight to the city during Athelstan's reign, the city's defences were too strong. Fighters from Devon and Somerset would join the battle at Pinhoe to defeat the Vikings, but their efforts would be fruitless, and the Vikings would defeat those who fought back to protect their lands. In the modern day, the public can cast their minds back to the Viking age at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum and take part in crafting a Viking long boat, a clear homage to Exeter's rich past.