In short
Facts at a glance
A shorter path through the same sourced claims. The full list, and the disagreements, live on the fact-check log.
Dating the age
The National Museum of Denmark dates the Viking Age from 800 until 1050 AD. Nat. Mus. Denmark
By AD 1050, Christian kingdoms were established in Scandinavia and, in the British Museum's words, the Viking Age was over. British Museum
In England, desultory raiding occurred in the late 8th century, notably the raid on the monastery of Lindisfarne in 793, and began more earnestly in 865. Britannica
Stamford Bridge is remembered as the last time the Vikings attempted to conquer England, though it is overshadowed by Hastings three weeks later. Britannica
On King Harald Bluetooth's rune stone at Jelling, Denmark is named for the first time around 965 AD. Nat. Mus. Denmark
Raids and England
A few years earlier, in 789, three ships of northmen landed on the coast of Wessex and killed the king's reeve. English Heritage
English Heritage dates the Lindisfarne attack to 8 June 793, when "heathen men came and miserably destroyed God's church on Lindisfarne, with plunder and slaughter." English Heritage
By 850 foreign armies were overwintering in England. English Heritage
By 870 the Danish conquest of the northern, midland and eastern Anglo-Saxon kingdoms had begun. English Heritage
From AD 870 Danish Vikings moved west and invaded Wessex in AD 878. King Alfred of Wessex defeated them in battle and established a frontier dividing England in two. British Museum
A truce with Alfred the Great was made in 878, which became the basis of a treaty in or soon after 886, recognising that much of England was in Danish hands. Britannica
The Danelaw was the northern, central and eastern region of Anglo-Saxon England colonised by invading Danish armies in the late 9th century. Britannica
In Britain the Vikings established major towns at York (Jorvic) and Dublin, which issued their own coinage and became important trading centres. British Museum
Canute was Danish king of England from 1016 to 1035, of Denmark from 1019 to 1035, and of Norway from 1028 to 1035. Britannica
The Battle of Stamford Bridge was fought on 25 September 1066, about 7 miles east of York. Britannica
Ships
The longship is the best-known Viking ship type. Nat. Mus. Denmark
Trading vessels ranged up to large ocean-going ships with a cargo capacity of up to 60 tons. Nat. Mus. Denmark
The Gokstad ship is 23 metres long and about 5 metres wide. Mus. of the Viking Age
It is clinker-built, with 16 strakes of overlapping planks. Mus. of the Viking Age
The ship could probably reach speeds of up to 11 knots, or about 20 kilometres per hour. Mus. of the Viking Age
It was likely built around the year 890 in the Oslo Fjord region. Mus. of the Viking Age
Across the sea
Settlers poured into Iceland from at least about 900. Britannica
From Iceland, colonies were founded in Greenland and attempted in North America. Britannica
UNESCO describes it as the first and only known site established by Vikings in North America, and the earliest evidence of European settlement in the New World. UNESCO
L'Anse aux Meadows was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1978. UNESCO
The remains of the camp were discovered in 1960 by Helge and Anne Stine Ingstad. Parks Canada
Scandinavian invasions of Ireland are recorded from 795. Britannica
Life and belief
Most Vikings were actually ordinary farmers, not full-time raiders. Nat. Mus. Denmark
Viking women were able to own property and divorce their husbands, and they often ran their family's finances and farms in their husbands' absence. Britannica
The Vikings themselves wrote short messages in runes on wood and stone. Nat. Mus. Denmark
The Vikings did not write books themselves. Nat. Mus. Denmark
Odin was the most powerful god, whilst the most popular god was Thor. British Museum
The large runic stone's inscription says that Harald "won for himself all Denmark and Norway and made the Danes Christians." UNESCO
Isle of Man
Tynwald Hill at St John's is the traditional meeting place of the Manx parliamentary assembly, dating back at least 1,000 years. Manx Nat. Heritage
The parliament of the island has its origins in the things of the Viking Age: a thing (pronounced "ting") is a Viking gathering or assembly. Manx Nat. Heritage
The Vikings called an outdoor meeting place thingvollr, "assembly field." From this word comes the name Tynwald. Manx Nat. Heritage
Tynwald Hill is one of four known Viking assembly sites on the Isle of Man. Manx Nat. Heritage
In 1979 the Manx people celebrated its millennium as a continuous parliament. Manx Nat. Heritage
A wealthy burial at Balladoole in Arbory is among the Viking Age finds on the Isle of Man. Manx Nat. Heritage
Myths
Many people think Vikings wore horned helmets, but this is not true. Manx Nat. Heritage
The stereotype of Viking helmets having horns goes back to costuming in 19th-century opera. Britannica
Horned helmets would have been impractical during combat. Britannica