Viking Age

• 1. The Fury Of The Northmen

  ›

  On the 8th of June 793, a group of Norse raiders landed on Lindisfarne. They destroyed the abbey and killed monks who tried to defend the holy place. Some of these men were thrown into the sea to drown while others were taken away as slaves. Church treasures vanished into the hands of the attackers. This event marked the beginning of the Viking Age in England. Alcuin of York wrote that never before had such terror appeared in Britain. The phrase Free us from the fury of the Northmen became a traditional prayer though it was not documented at the time. Three ships had beached in Weymouth Bay four years earlier but that incident may have been a trading expedition gone wrong. The attack on Lindisfarne was different because it targeted a center of learning.

• 2. Ships That Conquered Seas

  ›

  Sailing innovations allowed Vikings to travel farther than any previous seafarers. They built clinker-built longships that could navigate both deep ocean waters and shallow river valleys. These vessels featured large sails and tacking practices that enabled 24-hour sailing capabilities. A single ship design extended the reach of Norse raiders along coastlines and major river systems across northwestern Europe. Without these technological advances there would have been no Viking Age. Archaeological evidence shows that early medieval Scandinavians became exquisite shipwrights during this period. The use of iron tools increased agricultural yields which contributed to population growth. Overpopulation near the Scandinavian mountains pushed many people to seek new lands abroad. Shortages of women due to selective female infanticide also played a role in driving expansion. Tensions caused by Frankish attacks on Viking peoples added another layer of motivation for raids.

• 3. The Danelaw And York

  ›

  In 865 the Great Heathen Army arrived in East Anglia under brothers Ivar the Boneless, Halfdan, and Ubba. Guthrum led another faction within this massive force. They crossed England into Northumbria and captured York establishing a community called Jorvik. Some settlers became farmers while others worked as craftsmen. By 870 the Great Summer Army led by Bagsecg joined forces with the Great Heathen Army. Their combined power raided much of England until 871 when they planned an invasion of Wessex. Alfred of Wessex managed to keep them out of his country despite their overwhelming numbers. A new wave appeared in 947 when Eric Bloodaxe captured York again. In 1013 Sweyn Forkbeard started a series of raids against England to avenge the St. Brice's Day massacre. He was crowned king of England that year but died in 1014. His son Cnut the Great won the throne in 1016 through conquest. When Cnut died in 1035 he ruled Denmark, England, Norway, and parts of Sweden. Harold Harefoot became king after Cnut's death ending Viking rule of England temporarily.

• 4. The Treaty Of Saint-Clair

  ›

  In 911 Frankish King Charles the Simple granted Rouen and Upper Normandy to Rollo. This agreement established the Duchy of Normandy under the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte. Rollo swore fealty to Charles and converted to Christianity as part of the deal. He pledged to defend northern France against other Viking groups. During Rollo's baptism Robert I of France stood as his godfather. The duchy expanded over time annexing further areas beyond what was originally negotiated. By the end of Richard I's reign in 996 all descendants of Vikings had become Christians and essentially Frenchmen. They created one of the most powerful feudal states in Western Europe during the Middle Ages. The Normans later conquered England and southern Italy while playing key roles in the Crusades. Their culture blended Norse traditions with French language and customs forming a unique identity.

• 5. Varangians On Eastern Rivers

  ›

  Rurik became ruler of Novgorod in 859 either by conquest or invitation from local people. His successors founded Kievan Rus' with its capital in Kiev. These Varangians operated the Volga trade route connecting northern Russia with the Middle East. As the Volga route declined by the century's end the route from Varangians to Greeks gained popularity. Gnezdovo and Gotland served as major centers for Varangian trade alongside Ladoga and Novgorod. A massive majority of all Viking Age Arabian coins found in Scandinavia appeared on Gotland. Some 40,000 such coins were discovered there compared to only about 1,000 from Denmark. Byzantine coins numbered around 400 and were found almost exclusively on Gotland too. Swedish men enlisted in the Byzantine Varangian Guard in large numbers during the 11th century. Old East Norse was probably still spoken in Kievan Rus' at Novgorod until the 13th century. The ruling classes of Novgorod and Kiev became thoroughly Slavicised by the beginning of that same century.

• 6. Raids On Southern Shores

  ›

  In 959 Björn Ironside and Hásteinn led a long-distance expedition toward Spain and Rome. They tried landing at Galicia but were driven off before sailing down the western coast. Their fleet burned the mosque at Seville yet faced resistance from a large Muslim force. After entering the Mediterranean through Gibraltar they sacked Nekor on Morocco's coast defeating another army. Another group landed at Luni in Liguria and sacked the city before moving sixty miles further south. They destroyed Pisa and Fiesole above Florence while traveling up the Arno river. In 844 a flotilla of about eighty ships ascended the Guadalquivir to seize Išbīliya (Seville). They besieged it for seven days inflicting many casualties and taking numerous hostages for ransom. A pitched battle occurred on November 11 near Talayata where four hundred Vikings were captured and executed. Survivors negotiated peace surrendering their plunder and hostages in exchange for food and clothing. Some Norse survivors converted to Islam and settled as farmers producing dairy products later known as Sevillian cheese.

• 7. Islands Of The North Atlantic

  ›

  Iceland was discovered by Naddodd a Viking from the Faroe Islands before being settled mostly by Norwegians fleeing Harald Fairhair's rule. Erik the Red sailed west after his exile from Iceland pioneering Greenland. These harsh lands allowed pastoral farming familiar to Norse people despite difficult conditions. Settlements formed across the British Isles including Ireland Scotland Wales and the Faroe Islands. Dublin became the biggest slave port in western Europe during the Viking Age. Sigtrygg Silkbeard established Ireland's first mint there becoming an economic innovator. Brian Boru subdued Viking territories over thirty years making himself High King of Ireland. After the Battle of Clontarf Dublin Vikings could no longer single-handedly threaten powerful Irish kings. The Western Isles remained under Scandinavian authority until 1266 when Orkney and Shetland were pledged as security on a dowry. Attempts to redeem Shetland failed during the 17th and 18th centuries leaving them officially part of the United Kingdom today.

• 8. The End Of An Era

  ›

  Scholars propose different end dates for the Viking Age but many argue it concluded in the 11th century. The year 1000 marked Iceland's conversion to Christianity completing Scandinavia's Christianization process. Harthacnut died in 1042 ending Danish rule of England temporarily. Óláfr Haraldsson known as Olav the Holy was killed at Stiklestad in 1030 though his army lost the battle. Christianity continued spreading after his death making him one of three miracle subjects in the Manx Chronicle. Olof Skötkonung became the last king in Scandinavia to adopt Christianity around this time. Norse beliefs persisted until the 12th century despite growing church influence. Harald III attempted invasion of England in 1066 but was defeated by Harold Godwinson at Stamford Bridge. This defeat ended hopes of reviving Cnut's North Sea Empire. Nineteen days later William Duke of Normandy invaded England defeating weakened English forces at Hastings. Scotland regained territory from Norse powers between the 13th and 15th centuries while Western Isles remained under Scandinavian control until 1266. Orkney and Shetland belonged to Norway until 1469 when pledged as security on a dowry.