01-22-2010, 12:15 AM
The Vikings- (Late 8th Century A.D.- Late 11th Century A.D. )
1.Seafaring Raiders-
- For 300 years they raided the nations of the "civilized"
nations of Europe.
- The land itself brought about the need for a seafaring civilization
- They were explorers, settlers, traders, and most remembered they were raiders
- They traveled between North America (before Columbus) and Baghdad, Iraq. ( historians believe that the Vikings made it inland as far as Minnesota via the St. Lawrence River to the North Mississippi River )
- 1880, A.D. Norwegian archeologists unearth a Viking burial ship
- The family farm is the center of Norse economics
- Estimated time of building a Longship is a month
- Designs enabled the Vikings to sail open ocean, coasts, and rivers with basic structure yet small variation
-Light enough for portage (carrying), low draft and high adaptability made this a revolutionary technology.
- No central king or government guides the mass of the Viking civilization.
2. Motivated Explorers-
- The first recorded raid of a monastery was at Lindisfarne, England in June 793, A.D. (St.Cuthbert's Monastery)
- Viking tactics called on hit and run techniques, and stealth
- Viking Raiders armed themselves with knives, axes, spears and shields and wearing leather and/or fur armor.
-The more successful raiders or chiefs would also have swords and Ringmaille
- The Vikings go on to conduct many raids of monasteries and villages until they set their sights on major European cities (Paris, London, etc.)
- The main goals of Viking raids was silver and slaves
- Ragnar, with a fleet of 120 Longships attacks Paris via the Seine River
a) Before reaching Paris, Ragnar's Vikings meet the advance force of Paris, and quickly defeats them. Ragnar reportedly hangs 111 prisoners of war; the Vikings continue to raid the Seine and Loire Rivers for another 10 years.
b) Charles the Bald (King of France) pays Ragnar an est. 6 tons of silver and gold Bouillion to leave; it has the opposite effect
- Between 790 and 1100, A.D. Vikings spread through every major river on the European Continent to raid and trade
- Out of this period comes the colonization of Iceland and Greenland by Erik the Red and his son Leif Eriksson
- Banished from Iceland for murder Erik sets out for Greenland
a) Farming was not very productive but fishing was plentiful
b) The government conducted itself through an "Althing" a public assembly for law and community concern
- Leif sails on rumors of a promising land to the west found by a fisherman's account of being lost. He finds the land and aptly names it Newfoundland est. 1000 A.D.
a) The colony at L'anse aux Meadows lasts only a decade
yet still predates the Columbus expedition by 500 years
- Leif Eriksson converts to Christianity at the Norwegian
Kings request to Christianize Greenland
a) A religious duel between Christianity and the Norse religion was conducted by a Berserker and a monk.
"The two each start a fire for their respective gods
the Berserker passes through his first and then stops at the monks thereby Christianity wins because the Christian fire is stronger"
3. A King in the Making-
- Harald Haddrrade (half brother of Olaf King of Norway and heir)
a) At 15 years old he is wounded and exiled to Kiev, Russia for fighting on the losing side of a civil war in 1030 A.D. at Stiklestad against Canute the Great.
b) Harald realizes one needs a market for goods to have more power.
c) Harald eventually becomes the leader of a mercenary band quelling insurrections for eastern powers.
d) In Sicily during a battle, Harald reportedly captures birds and with pitch and string attached flaming twigs to the legs of the birds, lighting the city on fire thus defeating the inhabitants.
e) Snorri Sturllsson an Icelandic historian writes "King Harald's Saga" in the 13th Century.
f) In 1046, A.D. he returns to Scandinavia to claim his Kingship.
g) He convinces his nephew to let him co-rule alongside him.
h) The nephew dies within a year (possibly murdered by Harald).
i) Harald sets out to consolidate power by crushing all who oppose him.
4.Ruling By Force-
- In 1047 A.D. Harald becomes king of Norway.
a) With Kiev in mind he sets out to create a strategic trading center by the sea.This city becomes Oslo.
b) In 1066, A.D. Harald sets his sights on England.
5.Doomed Invaders-
-The Battle of Stamford Bridge (7 miles SE of York, England) Harald Haddrrade vs. Harold Godwinsson.
a) Haddrrade shows up thinking York will obey, he even leaves his armor behind. The English wear chain mail and carry Welsh longbows.
b) The English surprise the Vikings by marching double-time to cut them off.
c) The Vikings stand their ground even beat the English back once
A story states that "One Viking warrior held the bridge from the English" according to Harald's Saga he rallies his men with these words," Carry your head always high in battle, where swords seek to shatter the skulls of doomed warriors." The struggle is recounted in the Viking's saga," The fight sharpened leader's heart wavered not, the strong king showed all the greatest courage in the thunder of the fight. His bloody sword wounded the enemy... to death."
d) In the midst of the battle, an arrow strikes Harald Haddrrade in the throat killing him in September 1066.
e) Of the 270 ships that come to England 30 Longships return to Norway.
f) The Viking Age goes on the decline and they consolidated into separate countries.
- The Legacy of the Northmen
In 1066, A.D. King Harald entered a plan with King William of Normandy (also of Viking descent) to take over England. King Harald is defeated in the north at Stamford Bridge but King William invades the south and The Battle of Hastings is fought on Saturday October 14th. 1066, A.D.
Godwinsson after a short respite from Stamford Bridge undertakes a forced march 270 miles to Hastings. Godwinsson meets William and fights using a shield wall against Calvary and bows. The fight is sheer chaos and William's forces win the day. England's present royal family is founded in 1066, A.D.
- Notes that I took from The Vikings documentary that I rented from my local library. I thought it might prove useful in some form for re-enactment or reference purposes. If you see something that is inaccurate please P.M. me.
Extended Timeline-
793 A.D. (June 8th) - Vikings raid Lindisfarne Monastery in England ushering in the Viking Age. ( The Vikings - National Geographic Society )
1000 A.D.- Nordic mercenaries are commonplace among the forces of the Eastern Roman Empire. The Varangians and the Rus tribesmen are counted among them. ( Byzantine armies,886-1118;By Ian Heath, Angus McBride/Osprey )
1.Seafaring Raiders-
- For 300 years they raided the nations of the "civilized"
nations of Europe.
- The land itself brought about the need for a seafaring civilization
- They were explorers, settlers, traders, and most remembered they were raiders
- They traveled between North America (before Columbus) and Baghdad, Iraq. ( historians believe that the Vikings made it inland as far as Minnesota via the St. Lawrence River to the North Mississippi River )
- 1880, A.D. Norwegian archeologists unearth a Viking burial ship
- The family farm is the center of Norse economics
- Estimated time of building a Longship is a month
- Designs enabled the Vikings to sail open ocean, coasts, and rivers with basic structure yet small variation
-Light enough for portage (carrying), low draft and high adaptability made this a revolutionary technology.
- No central king or government guides the mass of the Viking civilization.
2. Motivated Explorers-
- The first recorded raid of a monastery was at Lindisfarne, England in June 793, A.D. (St.Cuthbert's Monastery)
- Viking tactics called on hit and run techniques, and stealth
- Viking Raiders armed themselves with knives, axes, spears and shields and wearing leather and/or fur armor.
-The more successful raiders or chiefs would also have swords and Ringmaille
- The Vikings go on to conduct many raids of monasteries and villages until they set their sights on major European cities (Paris, London, etc.)
- The main goals of Viking raids was silver and slaves
- Ragnar, with a fleet of 120 Longships attacks Paris via the Seine River
a) Before reaching Paris, Ragnar's Vikings meet the advance force of Paris, and quickly defeats them. Ragnar reportedly hangs 111 prisoners of war; the Vikings continue to raid the Seine and Loire Rivers for another 10 years.
b) Charles the Bald (King of France) pays Ragnar an est. 6 tons of silver and gold Bouillion to leave; it has the opposite effect
- Between 790 and 1100, A.D. Vikings spread through every major river on the European Continent to raid and trade
- Out of this period comes the colonization of Iceland and Greenland by Erik the Red and his son Leif Eriksson
- Banished from Iceland for murder Erik sets out for Greenland
a) Farming was not very productive but fishing was plentiful
b) The government conducted itself through an "Althing" a public assembly for law and community concern
- Leif sails on rumors of a promising land to the west found by a fisherman's account of being lost. He finds the land and aptly names it Newfoundland est. 1000 A.D.
a) The colony at L'anse aux Meadows lasts only a decade
yet still predates the Columbus expedition by 500 years
- Leif Eriksson converts to Christianity at the Norwegian
Kings request to Christianize Greenland
a) A religious duel between Christianity and the Norse religion was conducted by a Berserker and a monk.
"The two each start a fire for their respective gods
the Berserker passes through his first and then stops at the monks thereby Christianity wins because the Christian fire is stronger"
3. A King in the Making-
- Harald Haddrrade (half brother of Olaf King of Norway and heir)
a) At 15 years old he is wounded and exiled to Kiev, Russia for fighting on the losing side of a civil war in 1030 A.D. at Stiklestad against Canute the Great.
b) Harald realizes one needs a market for goods to have more power.
c) Harald eventually becomes the leader of a mercenary band quelling insurrections for eastern powers.
d) In Sicily during a battle, Harald reportedly captures birds and with pitch and string attached flaming twigs to the legs of the birds, lighting the city on fire thus defeating the inhabitants.
e) Snorri Sturllsson an Icelandic historian writes "King Harald's Saga" in the 13th Century.
f) In 1046, A.D. he returns to Scandinavia to claim his Kingship.
g) He convinces his nephew to let him co-rule alongside him.
h) The nephew dies within a year (possibly murdered by Harald).
i) Harald sets out to consolidate power by crushing all who oppose him.
4.Ruling By Force-
- In 1047 A.D. Harald becomes king of Norway.
a) With Kiev in mind he sets out to create a strategic trading center by the sea.This city becomes Oslo.
b) In 1066, A.D. Harald sets his sights on England.
5.Doomed Invaders-
-The Battle of Stamford Bridge (7 miles SE of York, England) Harald Haddrrade vs. Harold Godwinsson.
a) Haddrrade shows up thinking York will obey, he even leaves his armor behind. The English wear chain mail and carry Welsh longbows.
b) The English surprise the Vikings by marching double-time to cut them off.
c) The Vikings stand their ground even beat the English back once
A story states that "One Viking warrior held the bridge from the English" according to Harald's Saga he rallies his men with these words," Carry your head always high in battle, where swords seek to shatter the skulls of doomed warriors." The struggle is recounted in the Viking's saga," The fight sharpened leader's heart wavered not, the strong king showed all the greatest courage in the thunder of the fight. His bloody sword wounded the enemy... to death."
d) In the midst of the battle, an arrow strikes Harald Haddrrade in the throat killing him in September 1066.
e) Of the 270 ships that come to England 30 Longships return to Norway.
f) The Viking Age goes on the decline and they consolidated into separate countries.
- The Legacy of the Northmen
In 1066, A.D. King Harald entered a plan with King William of Normandy (also of Viking descent) to take over England. King Harald is defeated in the north at Stamford Bridge but King William invades the south and The Battle of Hastings is fought on Saturday October 14th. 1066, A.D.
Godwinsson after a short respite from Stamford Bridge undertakes a forced march 270 miles to Hastings. Godwinsson meets William and fights using a shield wall against Calvary and bows. The fight is sheer chaos and William's forces win the day. England's present royal family is founded in 1066, A.D.
- Notes that I took from The Vikings documentary that I rented from my local library. I thought it might prove useful in some form for re-enactment or reference purposes. If you see something that is inaccurate please P.M. me.
Extended Timeline-
793 A.D. (June 8th) - Vikings raid Lindisfarne Monastery in England ushering in the Viking Age. ( The Vikings - National Geographic Society )
1000 A.D.- Nordic mercenaries are commonplace among the forces of the Eastern Roman Empire. The Varangians and the Rus tribesmen are counted among them. ( Byzantine armies,886-1118;By Ian Heath, Angus McBride/Osprey )
Craig Bellofatto
Going to college for Massage Therapy. So reading alot of Latin Terminology
It is like a finger pointing to the moon. DON\'T concentrate on the finger or you miss all the heavenly glory before you!-Bruce Lee
Train easy; the fight is hard. Train hard; the fight is easy.- Thai Proverb
Going to college for Massage Therapy. So reading alot of Latin Terminology
It is like a finger pointing to the moon. DON\'T concentrate on the finger or you miss all the heavenly glory before you!-Bruce Lee
Train easy; the fight is hard. Train hard; the fight is easy.- Thai Proverb