Who attacked the monastery of Iona?
Who attacked the monastery of Iona? And if you know anything else about Iona, it is probably that the religious community was brought to a sudden and catastrophic end by the Vikings, who subjected the monastery to a series of violent raids from 795 to 825. Despite these attacks, though, the monastery was never abandoned.
Who defeated the Vikings?
At the battle of Ashdown in 871, Alfred routed the Viking army in a fiercely fought uphill assault.
Why is Iona so special?
Iona is a holy isle and has been described as the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland. St Columba and 12 companions came here from Ireland in AD 563. The monastery they founded was one of the most important and influential in the British Isles.
Why did the Vikings raid Iona?
Like other monasteries, Iona was targeted because it was a site where wealth was concentrated. Indeed, Iona was undoubtedly the most important and identifiable centre' of wealth in the Hebrides. Here would have been stored gold and silver in the form of reliquaries, book covers and hanging bowls.
Was Kells attacked by Vikings?
Among other theories, it is believed that the Book of Kells may have been either started in Iona and finished in Kells or written entirely in the scriptorium at Kells by successive generations of monks. The Vikings continually raided the abbey during the 10th century and it was repeatedly sacked and pillaged.