Viking activity reshaped early medieval Europe through centuries of raiding, conquest, and colonisation. Their engagements stretched from the coasts of Northumbria to the gates of Constantinople. Below are twenty of the most impactful Viking battles and raids, ranked by scale, consequence, and historical importance.
20. Battle of Brávellir (legendary, 8th century)
Mythic narrative, not verifiable history
Legacy: While culturally important in Norse sagas, it has limited historical reliability and no traceable political consequence.
19. Battle of Lechfeld (955)
Viking involvement was peripheral (mercenaries among Magyar forces)
Commander (Nominal Viking Allies): Norse mercenaries under Hungarian command
Commander (Holy Roman Empire): Otto I
Troop Estimates: ~8,000 Magyars including Norse auxiliaries
Weapons Used: Horse archery, Norse axes, composite bows
Outcome: Decisive imperial victory
Legacy: While not a Viking-led battle, it closed a chapter on Norse and Magyar incursions into the Empire.
18. Battle of Tara (980)
Commander (Vikings): Olaf Cuaran
Commander (Irish): Mael Sechnaill II
Troop Estimates: ~2,000 each
Weapons Used: Heavy axes, mail armour
Outcome: Irish victory
Legacy: Broke Norse power in Meath and laid groundwork for Clontarf.
17. Battle of Saucourt-en-Vimeu (881)
Commander (Vikings): Unknown Norse raiders
Commander (Franks): Louis III of France
Troop Estimates: Several thousand
Weapons Used: Cavalry, longswords, axes
Outcome: Frankish victory
Legacy: One of the rare major defeats of Viking raiders in Francia. Celebrated in contemporary poetry.
16. Battle of Niså (1062)
Commander (Norwegians): Harald Hardrada
Commander (Danes): Sweyn II
Troop Estimates: ~300 ships involved
Weapons Used: Naval weapons, axes, spears
Outcome: Pyrrhic Norwegian victory
Legacy: Continued Norse power struggle before Stamford Bridge. Marked the fading influence of Viking kings.
15. Battle of the Helgeå (1026)
Commander (Vikings): Cnut the Great
Commander (Swedes and Norwegians): Anund Jacob and Olaf II
Troop Estimates: Unknown, large fleets
Weapons Used: Naval ramming, boarding axes, bows
Outcome: Cnut repelled attackers
Legacy: Cnut secured dominance over the Baltic and reinforced his empire.
14. Battle of Stiklestad (1030)
Commander: Olaf II of Norway
Troop Estimates: ~3,600 vs 7,000 peasants and nobles
Weapons Used: Spears, axes, broadswords
Outcome: Olaf killed
Legacy: Olaf canonised; helped Christianisation of Norway despite defeat.
13. Viking Capture of Dublin (853)
Commander: Olaf the White
Troop Estimates: Small but strategic force
Weapons Used: Close-quarters axes and spears
Outcome: Dublin became Norse stronghold
Legacy: Dublin grew into a major centre of Viking trade and power in Ireland.
12. Raid on Paris (845)
Commander: Ragnar Lodbrok (legendary)
Troop Estimates: ~120 ships, ~5,000 men
Weapons Used: Fire, axes, swords, siege equipment
Outcome: Paris sacked, massive ransom paid
Legacy: Demonstrated the reach and ferocity of Norse fleets. First large-scale raid deep into Frankish territory.
11. Battle of Hafrsfjord (late 9th century)
Commander (Vikings): Harald Fairhair
Troop Estimates: Several hundred ships, ~5,000 total warriors
Weapons Used: Longswords, round shields, javelins
Outcome: Victory for Harald
Legacy: Unified much of Norway under one king, triggering mass Viking emigration to Iceland and beyond.
10. Siege of London (1013)
Commander (Vikings): Sweyn Forkbeard
Commander (English): Aethelred the Unready
Troop Estimates: ~8,000 Danes
Weapons Used: Siege towers, axes, fire
Outcome: Sweyn seized the throne
Legacy: Brief Danish conquest of England; set the stage for Cnut’s later rule.
9. Battle of Tettenhall (910)
Commander (Vikings): Eowils and Healfdan
Commander (Anglo-Saxons): Edward the Elder and Aethelflaed
Troop Estimates: ~2,500 Vikings vs combined English forces
Weapons Used: Spears, swords, javelins, kite shields
Outcome: Viking leaders killed, army shattered
Legacy: Ended Viking offensives from Northumbria into Mercia. Began the reconquest of Danelaw.
8. Siege of York (866)
Commander (Vikings): Ivar the Boneless and Halfdan
Commander (Northumbrians): Kings Osberht and Aella
Troop Estimates: 2,000+ Vikings
Weapons Used: Dane axes, siege gear, swords
Outcome: York fell, both Northumbrian kings killed
Legacy: Northumbria collapsed as a kingdom. York became a Norse stronghold for generations.
7. Battle of Maldon (991)
Commander (Vikings): Olaf Tryggvason
Commander (Anglo-Saxons): Byrhtnoth, Ealdorman of Essex
Troop Estimates: ~2,000 Vikings vs ~1,500 Anglo-Saxons
Weapons Used: Spears, pattern-welded swords, round shields
Outcome: Viking victory
Legacy: Commemorated in Old English poetry; led to the payment of Danegeld, which only encouraged further raids.
6. Raid on Lindisfarne (793)
Commander (Unknown Viking warband leaders)
Troop Estimates: Small fleet, 100–150 men
Weapons Used: Axes, spears, fire, seaxes
Outcome: Monastery sacked
Legacy: Widely viewed as the beginning of the Viking Age. Shocked Christendom and announced a new threat.
5. Battle of Clontarf (1014)
Commander (Vikings): Sigtrygg Silkbeard, supported by Sigurd of Orkney
Commander (Irish): Brian Boru
Troop Estimates: ~6,000 Vikings and allies vs ~7,000 Irish
Weapons Used: Heavy axes, swords, slings, spears, mail hauberks
Outcome: Irish tactical victory, though Brian was killed
Legacy: Ended Norse political ambitions in Ireland and weakened Viking coastal power.
4. Battle of Stamford Bridge (1066)
Commander (Vikings): Harald Hardrada
Commander (English): Harold Godwinson
Troop Estimates: ~9,000 Vikings vs ~15,000 English
Weapons Used: Broad-bladed axes, swords, kite shields, chainmail
Outcome: English victory, Harald killed
Legacy: Marked the effective end of the Viking Age. Weakened Harold’s army ahead of Hastings.
3. Siege of Paris (885–886)
Commander (Vikings): Sigfred and Rollo
Commander (Franks): Count Odo of Paris
Troop Estimates: Up to 5,000 Vikings
Weapons Used: Longships, bows, axes, siege ladders, battering rams
Outcome: Siege failed, tribute eventually paid
Legacy: Highlighted the vulnerability of Frankish defences and marked the rise of Rollo, who would later become the first ruler of Normandy.
2. Great Heathen Army Campaign (865–878)
Commander (Vikings): Ivar the Boneless, Halfdan Ragnarsson, Ubba
Commander (Anglo-Saxons): Aethelred of Wessex, Alfred the Great
Troop Estimates: Over 3,000 Viking warriors
Weapons Used: Dane axes, longbows, seaxes, swords
Outcome: Occupation of much of England
Legacy: Created the Danelaw and brought prolonged Norse settlement, permanently altering English society and governance.
1. Battle of Edington (878)
Commander (Vikings): Guthrum the Old
Commander (Anglo-Saxons): Alfred the Great
Troop Estimates: ~4,000 Vikings vs ~3,000 Anglo-Saxons
Weapons Used: Dane axes, swords, seaxes, round shields, throwing spears
Outcome: Decisive Anglo-Saxon victory
Legacy: This battle forced the Christianisation of Guthrum and established the Danelaw. It was a turning point in resisting Viking domination of England.
