A Look at Vikings in Wales

Vikings were no strangers to setting their sights out onto the distant ocean. With reports that they reached as far west as the Americas and as far east as Constantinople, they were never ones to commit to half efforts. As a much closer target, Vikings also had occasional visits to Wales. Though much more aggressive than we would have liked, the effect that these trips have had on Wales remains, if you know where to look.

The History

The earliest records we have on Viking raids on Wales date back to 852 CE. These were led by Rhodri Mawr, where he and his crew targeted their attacks on Anglesey and Gwynedd. Thanks to some stalwart defence, the Vikings failed to gain a foothold, eventually sailing on.

Attacks began again in 918, where Anglesey was again targeted by a series of not-particularly successful attacks. These raids grew increasingly common between 950 to 1000 CE, though not all were violent. Some Vikings instead chose to settle peacefully, acting as farmers, merchants, and craftsmen as they integrated into Welsh culture.

The Present

In the modern day, it’s archaeology we rely on for hard evidence of Viking spread and influence. Often this has come in the form of leftover Viking hoards of treasure. Bangor’s St Deiniol’s monastery has uncovered two of these, which experts believe were looted rather than earned legitimately.

As is often the case when it comes to engaging with Viking history, the appreciation in Wales is quite broad. The Thunderstruck slot in online casinos is a popular example that many readers might already be familiar with. Though this game moves more into mythological than historical facts, it still illustrates just how far the Viking and Norse concept has expanded into the Welsh zeitgeist, with symbols such as the Viking Horn, the Castle of Thor, or the hammer. Outside of casinos, most gamers would also know of titles like Valheim and Assassins Creed: Valhalla, which are similarly popular within their spheres. Of course, we have more direct illustrations of Viking influence too.

To take a look at some real artefacts first-hand, the Welsh National Museums contain a wealth of relics from that era, including pieces from the Bangor hoard. If you’re in Cardiff and have even a passing interest in Viking history, these have some remarkably well-preserved pieces among their collection.

Though leaning more on the name than the involvement of actual Vikings, Viking Cruises in Wales adopts the Viking theme of exploration more than raiding in their business. With several stops around the British Isles, travellers taking this route are likely to pass many of the sights the real Vikings did, only with less physical exhaustion.

Like the Egyptians and the Chinese Dynasties, Vikings illustrate a part of history that captures worldwide fascination. Unlike these other examples, however, the people of Wales might themselves have real historical ties to the Viking raids of over a millennia ago. If you live on the Welsh coast, then you might be overlooking where Vikings sailed by, or you could even have their blood coursing through your veins. If nothing else, it’s an interesting topic to consider, even if the reality is less romantic than the media makes it appear.