Britons, Saxons and Vikings

Until 410AD, Britain's social, political and military institutions were determined by Roman cultural values. When the Roman army was recalled from Britain, it left a leadership vacuum. Local landholders and religious institutions stepped in, but soon it became clear that without cohesive government and trained military forces, communities were at the mercy of speculative tribes who arrived by boat from Scandinavia, in single vessels at first, seeking land on which to settle or carry out small, sporadic raids. Later, they arrived in masse to pillage, murder, grab land and spread fear among the people. This is the story of how Britain's population transformed and evolved as communities chose to unite to counter threats that began in Northumbria, Scotland, Ireland, down the east coast of England, in Kent and Wales, as Picts, Scotti, Saxons, Jutes and Vikings arrived seeking to seize power and subjugate a nation. Along the way, expert author Gabriele Esposito uncovers stories of King Arthur and Alfred the Great and describes the encounter at the Battle of Stamford Bridge that ultimately brought the Viking Age to its conclusion.