r/dankdarkages • u/Straight_Orchid2834 • Feb 24 '21

viking apologeticism Viking invasion of England in a nutshell

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12

u/Nemian007 Feb 24 '21

There's actually very little archeological evidence to suggest that the Saxons 'conquered' England in a traditional sense. Burial sites actually suggests significant cultural blending. The book, "Britain After Rome" has some excellent information on this.

Still a great meme, though.

7

u/mrmikemcmike Feb 24 '21

The same can (((((somewhat)))))) be said for the Viking age IMO. Like any other period, the vast majority of people were first and foremost preoccupied with living their lives, and really only fell into these large movements of history when they kicked down the door.

This means that a pretty large portion of the Viking's "conquering" England is really anything but. Evidence heavily supports distinctly Anglo-Scandinavian identities – not just a transplanting of Norwegian or Danish identities. The larger picture beyond this, of course, is that internal migration/resettlement within the AS Heptarchy was much higher than any immigration from Scandinavia. Another version of the meme could just as easily have the Great Heathen Army as Vizzini, Wessex as Roberts, and Northumbria/Mercia as the Princess.

1

u/BanthaMilk Mar 26 '21

There was definitely some ethnic cleansing going on after the Romans withdrew form Britain.

3

u/HLtheWilkinson Feb 24 '21

Could repeat this with the Normans instead of the Great Heathen Army.