The St. Brice's Day Massacre took place on November 13, 1002, under the orders of King Æthelred the Unready of England. Concerned about the growing influence and presence of Danish settlers in England, Æthelred ordered the killing of all Danes in his kingdom. This massacre, which targeted Danish men, women, and children, was an attempt to eliminate the threat posed by the Danes, whom Æthelred viewed as a destabilizing force. The massacre, however, did not have the intended effect; instead, it provoked further Viking invasions and retaliations, exacerbating tensions between the English and the Danes. Further discoveries in northern Britain include the famous Lewis Chessmen, intricately carved ivory pieces that reflect the Scandinavian influence on the Isle of Lewis during the Viking era.

00:00 Intro
02:26 The Isle of Harris
07:51 The Iconic Lewis Chessmen
16:14 The St. Brice's Day Massacre
30:44 The Vale of York Hoard
37:30 The Udal Discoveries
42:28 The Viking Chieftan Of Orkney

Welcome to Chronicle; your home for all things medieval history! With documentaries covering everything from the collapse of the Roman Empire to the beginnings of the Renaissance, from Hastings to Charlemagne, we'll be exploring everything the Middle Ages have to offer.

Subscribe now so you don't miss out!

Chronicle is part of the History Hit Network. To get in touch please email [email protected].

Discover the past on History Hit with adfree exclusive podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by worldrenowned historians Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Matt Lewis, and more. Get 50% off your first 3 months with code CHRONICLE https://access.historyhit.com/