Born – unknown
Died – 21st March 867
Father – unknown
Mother – unknown
Spouse – unknown
Children – unknown
862 (around)
Aelle became King of Northumbria after deposing the ruler Osberht who may have been his brother.
864 (around)
Aelle seized church lands in Billingham, Ileclif, Wigeclife and Crece.
865 (around)
The legendary Viking, Ragnar Lothbrok was shipwrecked off the Northumbrian coast. King Aelle immediately marched to the coast, defeated the Viking army and took Ragnar prisoner.
865 (during)
Aelle killed Ragnar Lothbrok by throwing him into a pit of snakes. This act led to the formation of the Great Heathen army by the sons of Ragnar who vowed to avenge the death of their father.
865 (during)
The sons of Ragnar, Ivar the Boneless, Ubba, Halfdan and Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye landed in East Anglia with the Great Heathen Army to avenge the death of their father.
866 (during)
The Great Heathen army marched north and invaded Northumbria.
866 (1st November)
The city of Jorvik (York) was taken by the Great Heathen Army. The Vikings used it as a base to make raids into Mercia.
867 (21st March)
Aelle made an alliance with his former adversary, Osberht, and together they marched to expel the Vikings from York. They were badly defeated. Osberht was killed during the battle. Aelle was captured and executed, allegedly by being subjected to the blood eagle as revenge for his killing Ragnar Lothbork.
Published Jan 21, 2019 @ 1:45 pm – Updated – [last-modified]
Harvard Reference for this page:
Heather Y Wheeler. (2019 – 2020). King Aelle of Northumbria d 867. https://www.thetimelinegeek.com/king-aelle-of-northumbria-d-867/