Welcome to the British History Podcast.

My name is Jamie and this is episode 218, The Kingdom of Yorvik.

This show is ad-free due to member support and as a way of thanking members for keeping

the show independent, they get access to the members only feed, where we explore in-depth

topics like Nordic culture, Celtic myths, and the theories that guide the way we understand

our mutual past.

Members also get rough transcripts of the show, timelines, and other supporting materials

which can all be accessed through the British History Podcast website.

You can get instant access to all the members extras by signing up for membership at the

British History Podcast dot com for about the price you pay for a latte per month.

And thank you very much to Rachel, Alex, and Loki.

Yes, Loki for signing up already.

And I'm pretty sure we already have a Thor signed up as well, so I've got my fingers

crossed for Hymedall next.

Alright, today we begin in Orkney.

The history of Orkney is rather obscure and that fact is reflected in the show, with

it appearing only occasionally in the Scott casts and Celt casts.

However, in the last 80 years, things have been changing rapidly for the inhabitants of

this misty land.

And the people of Orkney started to play a key role in the Nordic invasion of Britain.

And actually, they provide a window into what's coming for Northumbria.

Early in the Viking Age, the Norse discovered that only a couple days voyage to the south

...