The Viking raid on Lindisfarne in 793 is often cited as the beginning of the Viking Age in Europe. This brutal attack on the monastery marked a significant turning point in European history, as it showcased the Vikings' naval prowess and their willingness to engage in violent conquest. The raid led to widespread fear and initiated a series of Viking incursions across the continent, reshaping the political landscape of medieval Europe.

The Viking raid on Lindisfarne initiated contact between Norse and Anglo-Saxon cultures that would eventually blend into Middle English literature. The oral traditions of Norse skalds preserved in sagas later influenced the alliterative revival in Middle English poetry, enriching its thematic complexity.