28 March 2024

Kings on the Move: The case of the Great Viking Army

Online talk by Dr Shane McLeod

Organised by UHI Institute for Northern Studies. For further details and booking, see their website.

Between 865 and 879 CE, the great Viking army campaigned extensively across England, eventually conquering three of the four Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. As different members of the army permanently settled these kingdoms, their leaders became its kings. Yet before this, the leaders of the army were sometimes named as kings in the written sources, suggesting that the great army was recognised by its adversaries as a mobile kingdom led by one or more kings. This paper explores the validity of this notion through an examination of the written sources, the use of client kings, the evidence for the non-combative aspects of the army’s activities, and the highly symbolic monumental burial at Repton. Despite acknowledging that scholars are correct in saying that the great army was made up of a collection of liðs, or military retinues, it is argued that these units operated under strong central command that worked towards a consistent goal by following consistent policies. 

28 March 2024

Exploring Dornoch's Heritage

Course led by Susan Kruse, ARCH

Thursdays, 10:30am-1pm beginning 22nd February, Dornoch Social Club

Join us to share memories or learn about sites, finds and heritage of the local area! We will explore what remains, what has changed and what has disappeared, then start digging deeper to research any topics of interest. Later sessions will allow us to pull all the information together into a community display. Informal and lively, this course assumes no previous knowledge. Come to one or all the sessions. Donations please to cover venue hire. All welcome – free coffees and teas!

Please book on 077888 35466 or email archhighland@googlemail.com , so we have contacts in case of bad weather.