# Vikings capture York (866)

URL: https://english-history.com/timeline/866-vikings-capture-york
Categories: battle

The Great Heathen Army seized York and made it a major Scandinavian base. 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 866 in the chronology so it can be read alongside the political, military, social and cultural changes around it. York became the political and commercial centre of Viking Northumbria.

## Why it matters
York became the political and commercial centre of Viking Northumbria.

Ruler at the time: [Æthelred I](https://english-history.com/rulers/aethelred-i)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — Vikings capture York](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=Vikings+capture+York&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Vikings capture York](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Vikings+capture+York)
- [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)