Retracing The REAL Great Viking Army | With Dan Snow and Dr Cat Jarman

In 865 AD, England was invaded by the Great Heathen Army. The Great Viking Army, as it was also known, was made up of a coalition of Scandinavian warriors mainly from Denmark and, legend has it, four of the five sons of Ragnar Lothbrok, including Halfdan Ragnarsson, Ivar the Boneless, Bjorn Ironeside and Ubba.

This was an army that would change Britain forever. It would lay siege to towns and cities like York, attack monasteries and kill kings - the most famous of course being St Edmund, who was brutally beheaded by the Norse warriors in 869 AD.

Dan Snow was recently joined by bioarchaeologist and Viking specialist Cat Jarman on a road trip across England to retrace the path of this conquering Viking Army.

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00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:57 What was the Great Viking Army
00:06:16 The first Winter Camp
00:10:36 Viking burial mounds
00:13:18 The murder of King Edmund
00:23:33 Archaeological evidence
00:28:04 The conquest of Mercia
00:39:29 Analysing Viking skeletons
00:48:00 The Repton camp
00:54:47 The end of the Great Viking Army

[Draggis]

I live in Oslo, Norway, and recently visited the viking ships at display here. I am proud of our strong heritage. The Vikings were as much travelers, explorers and merchants, as they were warriors.

[count]

18:22 I REALLY thought he was going to say "The most interesting part of Edward's life is that he was 5 foot 6 inches tall at the start of his reign, but only 4 foot 8 inches tall at the end of it" (Monty Python "Oliver Cromwell")

[sandraholland]

I am from Norfolk and discovered that i am 50.9% Scandinavian which i find amazing, plenty of place name evidence for settled vikings in my part of Norfolk. Always been interested in the viking. Love this documentary.

[funjuror]

I like the way Dr Cat doesn't get carried away with hyperbole comments like, " We think so, "Maybe, possibly, as far as we can tell, etc.

[scootergoat]

Being lucky enough to live in York I have seen first hand what the Vikings were capable of, but this has taught me so much more. Thankyou guys 🫡

[shehansenanayaka]

This documentary is fasicinating . History hit tv is actually the netflix of history . Your huge fan from sri lanka . ❤️❤️

[jonathanwright]

If you like watching History documentaries of all kinds, then History Hit is worth it.

[beachcomberbloke]

Absolutely enthralled by this account of the Great Viking Army. Ties in nicely with Bernard Cornwells Viking TV seies, i wish Cat Jarman had been my history teacher she really brings history alive.Also i love Dan Snows school boyish enthusiasm.👍

[louiseedwards]

Really love listening to Cat Jarman talk about Vikings. Missing her on the Gone Medieval podcast.

[manuelkong]

GREAT documentary and Cat Jarman is AMAZING....needs her own show....

[alistairlambert]

What a compelling documentary, Dan Snow brings the subject to life with passionate history experts.

[OldieBugger]

My family comes from southern Sweden (Småland I believe) but a forefather of mine moved to Finland right after the 30-year war. It is interesting to hear about my ancestors.

[maksimlipecki]

Great documentary. Dan Snow and Dr Cat Jarman are amazing presenters.

[johnalexander.]

As a Chinese, I love the history of Britain. Thank you for an interesting documentary!

[blockingthesunmusic]

Epic documentary! Thank you everyone who worked on this, tremendous job well done.

[Sarge]

That is funny, you see them really struggling to get up on the old motte and then you see stairs on the other side hahaha

[legendary_catzz]

HIstory Hit has really become one of my favorite channels over the past few weeks. I have seen videos with both of these people and both are great personalities and very entertaining historians to watch, I mean if i was a teacher I would probably show this to my history class one day.

[timmaxwell]

Fascinating, and wonderfully presented. I especially like that Cat (as Dan points out) thinks of anything "only a few hundred years old" as "very, very recent." Really puts a nice perspective on the concept of "ancient" history :)

[LaWraWaN]

This was great! As a Dane I love to hear and learn about Vikings. :)

[wilsontheconqueror]

As an American listening to the history of the Vikings conquests & travels is fascinating! From their forays into the British Isles and the continent.all the way to Constantinople & even the middle east & America itself! Whats interesting is their political & religious transformation ultimately to become Christian Kings, like Harald Hardrada & William the Conqueror.