# The Great Heathen Army invades England (865)

URL: https://english-history.com/timeline/865-the-great-heathen-army-invades-england
Categories: battle, main-event

A large coalition of Danish Vikings landed in East Anglia and began campaigns against the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Within the broader Vikings & Unification period, Scandinavian invasion and settlement transformed the political map while Wessex and its allies built the institutions of a unified English kingdom. This event is placed at AD 865 in the chronology so it can be read alongside the political, military, social and cultural changes around it. The invasion transformed Viking warfare from raiding into territorial conquest.

## Why it matters
The invasion transformed Viking warfare from raiding into territorial conquest.

Ruler at the time: [Æthelberht](https://english-history.com/rulers/aethelberht)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — The Great Heathen Army invades England](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=The+Great+Heathen+Army+invades+England&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — The Great Heathen Army invades England](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=The+Great+Heathen+Army+invades+England)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of British history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_British_history_%28before_1000%29)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica — Viking Britain topic search](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Viking%20Britain)