Hello everyone and welcome back to the Viking Age podcast. My name is Lee and this is episode 20,

swords and ships and so the balance shifts. This is a community-supported podcast, and that includes

cringeworthy Hamilton references at no additional cost to you.

But really, what it means is that we are dependent upon our listeners, and that means you,

to help us keep this project going.

Now, normally, this is where I would make a pitch about reviews and donations. But you know what?

This is episode 20.

Over the past six months or so, we've produced 20 episodes about the Viking Age.

And while that's nothing compared to the big guys, I'm really proud of that.

I'm also really humbled because of the amazing response and the

incredible support that this project has received from every one of you. So, no plugs today. I really

just wanted to take a minute and say thank you. Thank you for listening,

for donating, for reviewing us on iTunes, and sending me awesome messages on social media and

email. Without you, I really wouldn't be doing this right now. Thank you. All right, feelings aside, let's move on to

the history. So last time, we talked about the plundering of the great monastery at Armagh in

832, and specifically we spent a while discussing how this raid was unlike any of those which had preceded it.

In scale, it was by far the largest raid we have seen, and in scope, it was easily the most ambitious.

It was a raid conducted on a wealthy, heavily defended monastic house,

which lay a full 30 miles from the coast. Such an undertaking would have simply been

unthinkable for vikingar and Ireland up until that point. And crucially, it was a massive success. The vikyar who raided Armagh in

832 took a massive risk, and in spite of all the logistical and military obstacles in their way,

they walked away unscathed, laden down not only with the considerable wealth of

...