[MR] Vikings Sack Lindisfarne, 793

[Garth Groff]

Noble Friends,

On this day in 793 the Vikings sacked the monastery at Lindisfarne 
Island on the Northumbrian coast. In the words of Alcuin, "Never before 
has such terror appeared in Britain as we have now suffered from a pagan 
race. . . .The heathens poured out the blood of saints around the altar, 
and trampled on the bodies of saints in the temple of God, like dung in 
the streets." This raid is generally thought to mark the beginning 
attack in what became a Viking conquest of England.

You can read more about Lindisfarne at: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindisfarne . The monastery is now 
maintained by English Heritage, which has a web site with more 
information on the ruins: 
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/lindisfarne-priory/ .

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, That Crazy Scot
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northumbria>