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Beyond the podcast: Alfred vs the Vikings

Beyond the podcast: Alfred vs the Vikings

In a four-part HistoryExtra podcast series, Viking expert Dr Eleanor Barraclough traces the struggle between Alfred and the Vikings, from the arrival of the Great Heathen Army in 865 to the decisive battle of Edington and its far-reaching aftermath. Below, find essential reading and listening to dive deeper into this pivotal moment in history

James Osborne

Published: April 5, 2026 at 9:00 AM

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In the late ninth century, Anglo-Saxon England stood on the brink of collapse. A vast coalition of Viking warbands, remembered as the Great Heathen Army, swept across the country, shattering kingdoms that had endured for centuries. As Northumbria, Mercia and East Anglia fell, only Wessex remained – ruled by a young and untested king named Alfred. For the Vikings, this was the culmination of decades of expansion and ambition; for the Anglo-Saxons, it was a fight for survival.

In this four-part HistoryExtra podcast series, Viking expert Dr Eleanor Barraclough traces the struggle between Alfred and the Vikings, from the arrival of the Great Heathen Army in 865 to the decisive battle of Edington and its far-reaching aftermath. Across the series, we explore the story from both sides: the world of the Viking army and the realities of life within it, the collapse of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, Alfred’s flight into the marshes, and the uneasy peace that reshaped England subsequently.

Below, I’ve selected some essential reading and listening from our archives to deepen your understanding of this pivotal moment in Viking and Anglo-Saxon history – including insights into Viking culture, the everyday experience of Anglo-Saxon communities, Alfred’s use of religion and learning as tools of political renewal, and the long legacy of the Danelaw on English identity and culture.

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It was an "extravaganza of brutality": how the Vikings menaced the Mediterranean. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Killing, burning, pillaging, enslaving. Even when heading to sunnier climes, Viking raiders deployed the same tactics that they had used along the shores of northern and western Europe, reveals Thomas Williams
Viking

The secrets of the Viking Great Army

The Viking Great Army caused chaos amongst the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England between AD 865-878. But how much do we really know about its structure, motivation and impact? Professor Julian Richards of the University of York investigates why the Great Army was unlike any previously known Viking force
Viking

"Vikings didn't wear horned helmets," plus 7 more Viking myths busted

Bearded, violent beyond reason and singularly successful at suppressing everyone around them. This, says Janina Ramirez, is the popular – yet questionable – image of Vikings. But how violent were they really, and did they actually wear horned helmets? You may be surprised to learn that many beliefs about the Vikings have little grounding in historical fact...
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Erik the Red: life of the week. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Eleanor Barraclough examines the life and legacy of Erik the Red, the outlaw Viking who settled Greenland and birthed a famous – and infamous – dynasty
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10 ways the Anglo-Saxons changed the course of British history. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

What did the Anglo-Saxons ever do for us? Michael Wood outlined 10 ways in which these northern European migrants changed the course of British history
Anglo-Saxon

Who was King Alfred the Great?

Alfred the Great is famous for his victories against the Vikings, and is the only English monarch known as 'the Great'. But how much do you know about him? Barbara Yorke, professor emerita of early medieval history at the University of Winchester, brings you the facts about the Anglo-Saxon king
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Michael Wood on Anglo-Saxon Christianity. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

"English culture was transformed by a Syrian and Libyan refugee," writes BBC History Magazine columnist Michael Wood...
Anglo-Saxon

10 things you (probably) didn’t know about the Anglo-Saxons

The Anglo-Saxon period lasted from the early fifth century AD to 1066 – after the Romans and before the Normans. But how much do you know about the Anglo-Saxons? Who were they, where did they come from, and where did they settle? Here, author Martin Wall brings you the facts…
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Reading the runes: what we can learn about everyday life in the Viking Age. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Runes – those instantly recognisable characters inscribed on stone, wood and bone – are filled with mystery, but can reveal little-known aspects of everyday Viking life. Eleanor Barraclough deciphers runes that recount tales of love, lust, travel and tragedy from a millennium ago
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Alfred the Great: do we overplay his 'greatness'?. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Did the Anglo-Saxon icon owe his success to serendipity? Alex Burghart asks if we're guilty of overplaying Alfred's greatness