Inspired By Earlier Raids
The Norsemen's primary objective in attacking England was to take its wealth. They were driven by England's wealth, notoriety, and grandeur. The raids of the Vikings were swift yet violent. The Great Heathen Army marched across the country from East Anglia in 865 CE under the direction of Halfdane and Ivar the Boneless. York was destroyed in 867 CE, Mercia was attacked in 868 CE, and by 871 CE Halfdane had defeated all forces sent against him and had grown so strong that Alfred the Great was forced to pay him an astronomical sum to leave Wessex. Cnut assumed the thrones of Norway and Sweden after being crowned king of Denmark in 1018 and uniting it with Britain.
They would set the entire hamlet on fire and leave a path of destruction in their wake. During the raids, they poured out violence while stomping the bodies of nuns, saints, and bystanders. Ancient kings were so terrified by the dreadful raids that they paid the Vikings protection money in the vain hope that they would escape the assaults. To get the Vikings to cease raiding and leave, Danegeld was paid to them in silver. On the other hand, this notion increased the appeal of Viking attacks. They invaded England out of extreme thirst for wealth and as a result of the defense money they would receive as preservation money.
