Lecture #4: The Untold Story of the Viking Conquest of England

by Brandon M. Bender
published on 30 September 2026

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• French

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Dive deep into the dramatic Viking conquest of England with medieval historian Brandon M. Bender. In this fascinating lecture, Bender unpacks the turbulent centuries of Viking raids, the rise of powerful Danish kings like Sweyn Forkbeard and Canute the Great, and the fierce resistance of English rulers like Alfred the Great and Aethelred II.

You'll learn about:
⚔️ The first Viking raids and the attack on Lindisfarne
⚔️ The escalating battles that shaped England's future
⚔️ How Canute built a North Sea Empire
⚔️ The lesser-known Danish rule of England before 1066
⚔️ The real story behind the St. Brice's Day Massacre

📚 Recommended Reading:
The King's Body
by Nicole Marafioti
https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1442647582

Edward the Confessor
by Tom Licence
https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0300260822

Cnut (Penguin Monarchs)
by Ryan Lavelle
https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0141999365

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— ATTRIBUTIONS —
The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on:
https://www.ancientlyre.com
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v?si=emacIH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A

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