Questions about Norsemen

Short answers, pulled from the story.

When did the word Norseman first appear in English?

The word Norseman first appears in English during the early 19th century. The earliest attestation given in the third edition of the Oxford English Dictionary is from Walter Scott's 1817 Harold the Dauntless.

Where did Norsemen mainly invade and settle according to historical records?

Norsemen mainly invaded islands north and northwest of Britain as well as Ireland. These people established polities across Great Britain, Iceland, Russia, Belarus, France, Sicily, Greenland, Canada, and many other regions.

Who was Harald Fairhair and when did he become King of Norway?

Harald Fairhair became the first King of Norway around the year 850 CE. He unified various Norwegian kingdoms before his death which occurred later in history.

What names did Slavs and Byzantines use for Norsemen?

Slavs called them Rus' while Byzantines knew them as Varangians. The name Varangian means sworn men within that historical context.

How does modern usage of the word Viking differ from medieval usage?

Modern use of the word viking has no particular basis in medieval usage either. In Old Norse and Old English the word simply meant pirate rather than describing organized raids.