Vikings habitat on the map. Vikings - the world of the Middle Ages

The Viking campaigns can rightfully be considered the most striking events in history, just as they themselves can rightly be called very interesting figures in the period from the 9th to the 11th centuries. The word "Viking" roughly means "sailing the sea." In the native language of the Normans, “vic” means “fiord,” which in our language would be “bay.” Therefore, many sources interpret the word "Viking" as "man of the bay." A common question is “Where did the Vikings live?” would be as inappropriate as the statement that “Viking” and “Scandinavian” are the same thing. In the first case we are talking about a person, in the second - about belonging to a certain nation.

As for belonging to a particular ethnic group, it can be difficult to identify, since the Vikings settled in the occupied territories, soaking up all the local “benefits”, as well as being saturated with the culture of these lands. The same can be said about the names that were awarded to the “people of the fort” by various peoples. Everything depended on the place where the Vikings lived. Normans, Varangians, Danes, Russ - these were the names the “sea army” received on more and more shores where it landed.

Many myths and misconceptions hover around bright historical characters, which were the Vikings. Where the Norman invaders lived, what they did besides their campaigns and raids, and whether they did anything besides them at all are very sensitive questions that torment the heads of historians to this day. However, today it is possible to derive at least seven misconceptions regarding the “Scandinavian barbarians”.

Cruelty and lust for conquest

In most films, books and other entertainment resources, the Vikings appear before us as bloodthirsty barbarians who cannot imagine their life without daily sticking their ax into someone’s skull.

The initial reason for the military campaigns of the Normans was the overpopulation of the Scandinavian lands where the Vikings lived. Plus constant clan feuds. Both forced a considerable part of the population to go in search of better life. And river robbery became nothing more than their bonus hard way. Naturally, poorly fortified European cities became easy prey for sailors. However, as for other peoples - the French, British, Arabs and others, who also did not disdain bloodshed for the benefit of their pockets. Suffice it to recall that all this happened in the Middle Ages, and this method profit was equally attractive to representatives of various powers. And the national inclination towards bloodshed had nothing to do with it.

Hostility

Another statement that the Vikings were hostile to everyone except themselves is also a fallacy. In fact, strangers could both take advantage of the hospitality of the Normans and join their ranks. Many historical records confirm that the Vikings could have included French, Italians and Russians. An example of the stay of Ansgarius, the envoy of Louis the Pious, in the Scandinavian possessions is another proof of the hospitality of the Vikings. You can also remember the Arab ambassador Ibn Fadlan - the film “The 13th Warrior” was made based on this story.

Immigrants from Scandinavia

Although, contrary to the above remark, the Vikings are equated with the Scandinavians - this is a deep misconception, which is explained by the fact that the Vikings lived in Greenland, Iceland, as well as France and even Ancient Rus'. The very statement that all “fjord people” come from Scandinavia is a mistake.

Where the Vikings lived at the beginning of the Middle Ages is an inappropriate question, since the “maritime community” itself could include different nationalities from different lands. Among other things, it is worth noting the fact that the French king easily gave part of the lands to the Vikings, and they, in gratitude, stood guard over France when it was attacked by an enemy “from without.” It is not uncommon that this enemy was also Vikings from other lands. By the way, this is how the name “Normandy” appeared.

Dirty heathen savages

Another oversight of many of the storytellers of yesteryear is the portrayal of the Vikings as dirty, unscrupulous and wild people. And this again is not true. And the proof of this is the finds that were recovered during excavations in various places where the Vikings lived.

Mirrors, combs, baths - all these remnants of ancient culture found during excavations confirmed that the Normans were a clean people. And these finds were recovered not only in Sweden, Denmark, but also in Greenland, Iceland and other lands, including the Sarskoye settlement, where the Vikings lived on the banks of the Volga, which was located on the territory of Ancient Rus'. Plus, it’s not uncommon to find remains of soap made by the hands of the Normans themselves. Once again, their cleanliness is proven by the British joke, which roughly sounded like this: “The Vikings are so clean that they even go to the bathhouse once a week.” It doesn’t hurt to remind you that Europeans themselves visited the bathhouse much less often.

Two-meter blondes

Another incorrect statement, since the remains of Viking bodies indicate otherwise. Those who are represented as tall warriors with blond hair actually reached no more than 170 centimeters in height. The vegetation on the heads of these people was different color. The only thing that is undeniable is preference of this type hair from the Normans themselves. This was facilitated by the use of special coloring soap.

Vikings and Ancient Rus'

On the one hand, it is believed that the Vikings were directly related to the formation of Rus' as great power. On the other hand, there are sources that deny their involvement in any event in history. Historians are especially controversial about Rurik’s belonging to the Scandinavians, and vice versa. However, the name Rurik is close to the Norman Rerek - this is what many boys were called in Scandinavia. The same can be said about Oleg, Igor - his relative and son. And my wife Olga. Just look at their Norman counterparts - Helge, Ingvar, Helga.

Many sources (almost all) unanimously state that the Vikings' possessions extended to the Caspian and Black Seas. In addition, to sail to the Caliphate, the Normans used crossings across the Dnieper, Volga and many other rivers flowing in the territory of Ancient Rus'. The presence of trade transactions in the area of ​​the Sarsky settlement, where the Vikings lived on the Volga, was repeatedly noted. In addition, raids accompanied by robberies in the area of ​​Staraya Ladoga and the Gnezdovo burial mounds were often mentioned, which also confirms the presence of Norman settlements on the territory of Ancient Rus'. By the way, the word “Rus” also belongs to the Vikings. Even in the “Tale of Bygone Years” it was said that “Rurik came with all his Russia.”

The exact location where the Vikings lived - on the banks of the Volga or not - is a controversial issue. Some sources mention that they were based right next to their forts. Others argue that the Normans preferred neutral space between the water and large settlements.

Horns on helmets

And another misconception is the presence of horns on the upper part of the Norman military vestments. During all the time of excavations and research in the places where the Vikings lived, no helmets with horns were found, with the exception of one single one, which was discovered in one of the burial grounds of the Normans.

But a single case does not provide grounds for such a generalization. Although this image can be interpreted differently. This is exactly how it was beneficial to present the Vikings to the Christian world, which considered them to be the offspring of the devil. And for some reason Christians always have horns for everything that has to do with Satan.

They belonged different peoples, but understood each other perfectly. They were united by many things: the fact that their homeland was the northern limit of the earth, and the fact that they prayed to the same gods, and the fact that they spoke the same language. However, what united these rebellious and desperate people most firmly was the thirst for a better life. And it was so strong that almost three centuries - from the 8th to the 11th centuries - entered the history of the Old World as the Viking Age. The way they lived and what they did was also called Viking.

The word "Viking" comes from the Old Norse "vikingr", which literally translates as "man from the fjord". It was in the fjords and bays that their first settlements appeared. These warlike and cruel people were very religious and worshiped their deities, performing cult rituals and making sacrifices to them. The main god was Odin - the Father of all Gods and the God of those killed in battle, who after death became his adopted sons. The Vikings firmly believed in afterworld, and therefore death did not frighten them. Death in battle was considered the most honorable. Then, according to ancient legends, their souls ended up in the wonderful country of Valhalla. And the Vikings did not want any other fate for themselves or for their sons.

The overpopulation of the coastal regions of Scandinavia, the lack of fertile lands, the desire for enrichment - all this inexorably drove the Vikings from their homes. And this was only possible for strong warriors who could easily endure hardships and inconveniences. Detachments were formed from Vikings prepared for battle, each of which consisted of several hundred warriors, unquestioningly obeying the clan leader and the king-prince. Throughout the Viking Age, these units were entirely voluntary.

During the battle, one of the warriors always carried the clan banner. This was an extremely honorable duty, and only a chosen one could become a standard bearer - it was believed that the banner had miraculous powers, helping not only to win the battle, but also to leave the bearer unharmed. But when the enemy’s advantage became obvious, the main task for the warriors was to preserve the life of their king. To do this, the Vikings surrounded it with a ring and shielded it with shields. If the king did die, they fought to the last drop of blood next to his body.

Berserkers (among the Scandinavians, a mighty, frantic hero) were especially fearless. They did not recognize armor and marched forward “like madmen, like mad dogs and wolves,” terrifying the enemy troops. They knew how to put themselves into a euphoric state and, breaking through the front line of enemies, dealt crushing blows and fought to the death in the name of Odin. Battle-hardened Vikings typically won victories both at sea and on land, earning them the reputation of being invincible. Everywhere, heavily armed detachments acted in approximately the same way - their landings took cities and villages by surprise.

This happened in 793 on the “holy” island of Lindisfarne off the east coast of Scotland, where the Vikings plundered and destroyed the monastery, which was considered one of largest centers faith and a place of pilgrimage. Several other famous monasteries soon suffered the same fate. Having loaded their ships with church goods, the pirates went out to the open sea, where they were not afraid of any pursuit. Just like the curses of the entire Christian world.

A quarter of a century later, the Vikings assembled a large force to attack Europe. Neither the scattered island kingdoms nor the Frankish empire of Charlemagne, which had weakened by that time, could provide them with serious resistance. In 836 they sacked London for the first time. Then six hundred warships besieged Hamburg, which suffered so badly that the episcopate had to move to Bremen. Canterbury, secondarily London, Cologne, Bonn - all these European cities were forced to share their wealth with the Vikings.

In the fall of 866, ships with twenty thousand soldiers landed on the shores of Britain. On the lands of Scotland, the Danish Vikings founded their state Denlo (translated as the Strip of Danish law). And only 12 years later the Anglo-Saxons regained their freedom.

In 885, Rouen fell under the onslaught of the Normans, then the Vikings again besieged Paris (it had already been plundered three times before). This time, about 40,000 soldiers landed at its walls from 700 ships. Having received compensation, the Vikings retreated to the northwestern part of the country, where many of them settled permanently.

After decades of robbery, the uninvited northern guests realized that it was more profitable and easier to impose tribute on the Europeans, since they were happy to pay off. Medieval chronicles testify: from 845 to 926, the Frankish kings paid the pirates about 17 tons of silver and almost 300 kilograms of gold in thirteen stages.

Meanwhile, the Vikings moved further south. Spain and Portugal were subjected to their raids. A little later, several cities on the northern coast of Africa and the Balearic Islands were plundered. The pagans also landed in western Italy and captured Pisa, Fiesole and Luna.

At the turn of the 9th - 10th centuries, Christians found weak spots in Viking combat tactics. It turned out that they were incapable of long sieges. By order of the king of the Franks, Charles the Bald, the rivers began to be blocked with chains, and fortified bridges were built at their mouths; deep ditches were dug on the approaches to cities and palisades were erected from thick logs. In England, around the same time, they began to build special fortresses - burghs.

As a result, pirate raids increasingly ended in disaster for them. The British King Alfred, among others, managed to dispel the myth of their invincibility by putting more than tall ships, which the Vikings could not board with their usual ease. Then, off the southern coast of England, two dozen Norman warships were destroyed at once. The blow dealt to the Vikings in their native element was so sobering that after it the robbery began to noticeably decline. More and more of them abandoned Viking as an occupation. They settled on the captured land, built houses, married their daughters to Christians and returned to peasant labor. In 911 the Frankish king Charles III Rustic granted Rouen and the surrounding lands to one of the leaders of the northerners - Rollon, honoring him with the ducal title. This region of France is now called Normandy, or the Land of the Normans.

But the most important turning point of the Viking Age was the adoption of Christianity by King Harald Bluetooth of Norway in 966. Following him, under the growing influence of Catholic missionaries, many soldiers were baptized. Among last pages Viking military chronicle - their capture in 1066 royal power in England and the enthronement of the Norman Roger II to the throne of the Kingdom of Sicily in 1130. Rollo's descendant, Duke William the Conqueror, transported 30,000 warriors and 2,000 horses from the continent to Albion on 3,000 ships. The Battle of Hastings ended with his complete victory over the Anglo-Saxon monarch Harold II. And the newly minted knight of the Christian faith Roger, who distinguished himself in crusades and battles with the Saracens, with the blessing of the Pope, he united the Viking possessions in Sicily and southern Italy.

From the raids of small pirate detachments to the conquest of royal power - the path of the warlike northerners from primitive savagery to feudalism fits into such a framework.

Viking ships

Of course, the Vikings would not have gained their gloomy glory if they had not possessed the best ships of that time. The hulls of their "sea dragons" were perfectly adapted to sailing in rough waters. northern seas: low sides, gracefully upturned bow and stern end; on the stern side there is a stationary steering oar; painted with red or blue stripes or checks, rough canvas sails on the mast were installed in the center of the spacious deck. Same type merchant ships and the military, much more powerful, inferior in size to the Greek and Roman ones, was significantly superior to them in maneuverability and speed. Time really helped to evaluate their superiority. At the end of the 19th century, archaeologists found a well-preserved 32-oared dragon in a burial mound in southern Norway. Having built its exact copy and tested it in ocean waters, experts came to the conclusion: with a fresh wind, a Viking ship under sail could develop almost ten knots - and this is one and a half times more than Columbus's caravels during the voyage to the West Indies... through more than five centuries.

Viking weapons

Battle axe. The ax and poleaxe (double-edged ax) were considered the favorite weapons. Their weight reached 9 kg, the length of the handle was 1 meter. Moreover, the handle was bound with iron, which made the blows delivered to the enemy as crushing as possible. It was with this weapon that the training of future warriors began, so they all wielded it perfectly, without exception.

Viking spears were of two types: throwing and for hand-to-hand combat. Throwing spears had a short shaft length. Often a metal ring was attached to it, indicating the center of gravity and helping the warrior to throw right direction. Spears intended for land combat were massive with a shaft length of 3 meters. For combat combat, four to five meter long spears were used, and in order for them to be liftable, the diameter of the shaft did not exceed 2.5 cm. The shafts were made mainly of ash and decorated with applications of bronze, silver or gold.

Shields usually did not exceed 90 cm in diameter. The shield field was made of one layer of boards 6-10 mm thick, fastened together, and covered with leather on top. The strength of this design was given by the umbo, handle and rim of the shield. The umbon - a hemispherical or conical iron plaque that protects the warrior's hand - was usually nailed to the shield with iron nails, which reverse side riveted. The handle for holding the shield was made of wood according to the principle of a rocker, that is, crossing inner side The shield was massive in the center, and became thinner closer to the edges. An iron strip, often inlaid with silver or bronze, was placed on it. To strengthen the shield, a metal strip ran along the edge, nailed with iron nails or staples and covered with leather on top. The leather cover was sometimes painted with colored patterns.

Burmas - protective chain mail shirts, consisting of thousands of intertwined rings, were of great value to the Vikings and were often passed down by inheritance. True, only rich Vikings could afford to have them. The majority of warriors wore leather jackets for protection.

Viking helmets - metal and leather - had either a rounded top with shields to protect the nose and eyes, or a pointed top with a straight nose bar. Overlay strips and shields were decorated with embossing made of bronze or silver.

Arrows VII - IX centuries. had wide and heavy metal tips. In the 10th century, the tips became thin and long and with silver inlay.

The bow was made from one piece of wood, usually yew, ash or elm, with braided hair serving as the bowstring.

Only wealthy Vikings, who also possessed remarkable strength, could have swords. This weapon was very carefully kept in a wooden or leather sheath. The swords were even given special names, such as the Tearer of Chainmail or the Miner.

Their length averaged 90 cm, they had a characteristic narrowing towards the tip and a deep groove along the blade. The blades were made from several iron rods intertwined, which were flattened together during forging.

This technique made the sword flexible and very durable. The swords had guards and pommels - parts of the hilt that protect the hand. The latter were equipped with hooks that could be used to attack by moving the enemy's main blade to the side. Both guards and pommels, as a rule, had correct geometric shapes, were made of iron and decorated with copper or silver plates. The decorations of the blades, extruded during the forging process, were simple and represented either simple ornaments or the name of the owner. Viking swords were very heavy, so sometimes during a long battle it was necessary to hold it with both hands, in such situations retaliatory strikes The enemy was repelled by shield bearers. One of the common fighting techniques depended entirely on their skill: they positioned the shield in such a way that the Viking sword did not stick into its surface, but slid along and cut off the enemy’s leg.

The medieval Viking era dates back to the period of the 8th-11th centuries, when the European seas were plied by brave robbers originally from Scandinavia. Their raids struck terror into the civilized inhabitants of the Old World. The Vikings were not only robbers, but also traders and explorers. They were pagans by religion.

The emergence of the Vikings

In the 8th century, residents of the territory of modern Norway, Sweden and Denmark began to build the fastest ships at that time and go on long journeys on them. They were pushed into these adventures by the harsh nature of their native lands. Agriculture in Scandinavia was poorly developed due to the cold climate. The modest harvest did not allow local residents to sufficiently feed their families. Thanks to the robberies, the Vikings became noticeably richer, which gave them the opportunity not only to buy food, but also to trade with their neighbors

The first attack of sailors on neighboring countries happened in 789. Then the robbers attacked Dorset in southwest England, killed the than and robbed the city. Thus began the Viking Age. Another important reason for the emergence of mass piracy was the disintegration of the previous system based on community and clan. The nobility, having strengthened their influence, began to create the first prototypes of states on For such jarls, robberies became a source of wealth and influence among their compatriots.

Skilled Sailors

The key reason for the Vikings' conquests and geographical discoveries was their ships, which were much better than any other European ones. Warships The Scandinavians were called drakkars. Sailors often used them as own house. Such ships were mobile. They could be dragged to the shore relatively easily. At first the ships were oared, but later they acquired sails.

Drakkars were distinguished by their elegant shape, speed, reliability and lightness. They were designed specifically for shallow rivers. By entering them, the Vikings could go deep into the ravaged country. Such voyages came as a complete surprise to the Europeans. As a rule, longships were built from ash wood. They are an important symbol that the early medieval history. The Viking Age was not only a period of conquest, but also a period of trade development. For this purpose, the Scandinavians used special merchant ships - knorrs. They were wider and deeper than longships. Much more goods could be loaded onto such ships.

The Viking Age in Northern Europe was marked by the development of navigation. The Scandinavians did not have any special instruments (for example, a compass), but they made good use of the clues of nature. These sailors knew the habits of birds thoroughly and took them with them on voyages to determine whether there was land nearby (if there was none, the birds returned to the ship). The researchers also navigated by the sun, stars and moon.

Raids on Britain

The first Scandinavian raids on England were fleeting. They plundered defenseless monasteries and promptly returned to the sea. However, gradually the Vikings began to lay claim to the lands of the Anglo-Saxons. There was no single kingdom in Britain at that time. The island was divided among several rulers. In 865, the legendary Ragnar Lothbrok set out for Northumbria, but his ships ran aground and were destroyed. The uninvited guests were surrounded and taken prisoner. King Aella II of Northumbria executed Ragnar by ordering him to be thrown into a pit full of poisonous snakes.

Lodbrok's death did not go unpunished. Two years later, the Great Pagan Army landed on the shores of England. This army was led by numerous sons of Ragnar. The Vikings conquered East Anglia, Northumbria and Mercia. The rulers of these kingdoms were executed. The last stronghold of the Anglo-Saxons was South Wessex. Its king, Alfred the Great, realizing that his forces were not enough to fight the invaders, concluded a peace treaty with them, and then, in 886, completely recognized their possessions in Britain.

Conquest of England

It took Alfred and his son Edward the Elder four decades to clear their homeland of foreigners. Mercia and East Anglia were liberated by 924. In remote northern Northumbria, Viking rule continued for another thirty years.

After some lull, the Scandinavians again began to appear frequently off the British coast. The next wave of raids began in 980, and in 1013 Sven Forkbeard completely captured the country and became its king. His son Canute the Great ruled three monarchies at once for three decades: England, Denmark and Norway. After his death, the former dynasty from Wessex regained power, and foreigners left Britain.

In the 11th century, the Scandinavians made several more attempts to conquer the island, but they all failed. The Viking Age, in short, left a noticeable imprint on the culture and state structure Anglo-Saxon Britain. On the territory that the Danes owned for some time, the Danelaw was established - a system of law adopted from the Scandinavians. This region was isolated from other English provinces throughout the Middle Ages.

Normans and Franks

The Viking Age is the period of the Norman attacks. It was under this name that the Scandinavians were remembered by their Catholic contemporaries. If the Vikings sailed to the west mainly to plunder England, then in the south the goal of their campaigns was the Frankish Empire. It was created in 800 by Charlemagne. While under him and under his son Louis the Pious, a single strong state was maintained, the country was reliably protected from the pagans.

However, when the empire split into three kingdoms, and they, in turn, began to suffer from the costs of the feudal system, dizzying opportunities opened up for the Vikings. Some Scandinavians plundered the coast every year, while others were hired to serve the Catholic rulers in order to protect Christians for a generous salary. During one of their raids, the Vikings even captured Paris.

In 911, the king of the Franks, Charles the Simple, gave the region to the Vikings. This region became known as Normandy. Its rulers were baptized. This tactic proved effective. More and more Vikings gradually switched to a sedentary lifestyle. But some brave souls continued their campaigns. So, in 1130, the Normans conquered southern Italy and created the Kingdom of Sicily.

Scandinavian discovery of America

Moving further west, the Vikings discovered Ireland. They frequently raided this island and left a significant imprint on the local Celtic culture. For more than two centuries, the Scandinavians ruled Dublin. Around 860, the Vikings discovered Iceland ("Iceland"). They became the first inhabitants of this deserted island. Iceland proved to be a popular location for colonization. Residents of Norway sought there, fleeing the country due to frequent civil wars.

In 900, a Viking ship accidentally lost its way and stumbled upon Greenland. The first colonies appeared there at the end of the 10th century. This discovery inspired other Vikings to continue searching for a route to the west. They rightly hoped that there were new lands far beyond the sea. Around the year 1000, the navigator reached the shores of North America and landed on the Labrador Peninsula. He called this region Vinland. Thus, the Viking Age was marked by the discovery of America five centuries before the expedition of Christopher Columbus.

Rumors about this country were fragmentary and did not leave Scandinavia. In Europe they never learned about western mainland. Viking settlements in Vinland lasted for several decades. Three attempts were made to colonize this land, but they all failed. Indians attacked strangers. Maintaining contact with the colonies was extremely difficult due to the enormous distances. Eventually the Scandinavians left America. Much later, archaeologists found traces of their settlement in Canadian Newfoundland.

Vikings and Rus'

In the second half of the 8th century, Viking detachments began to attack lands inhabited by numerous Finno-Ugric peoples. This is evidenced by the finds of archaeologists discovered in the Russian Staraya Ladoga. If in Europe the Vikings were called Normans, then the Slavs called them Varangians. The Scandinavians controlled several trading ports on the coast Baltic Sea in Prussia. Here began the profitable amber route, along which amber was transported to the Mediterranean.

How did the Viking Age affect Rus'? In short, thanks to newcomers from Scandinavia, East Slavic statehood was born. According to official version, the residents of Novgorod, who were often in contact with the Vikings, turned to them for help during internal strife. So the Varangian Rurik was invited to reign. From him came a dynasty, which in the near future united Rus' and began to rule in Kyiv.

Life of the inhabitants of Scandinavia

In their homeland, the Vikings lived in large peasant dwellings. Under the roof of one such building there was room for a family that included three generations at once. Children, parents, and grandparents lived together. This custom was an echo of houses being built from wood and clay. The roofs were turf. In the central large room there was a common fireplace, behind which they not only ate, but also slept.

Even when the Viking Age began, their cities in Scandinavia remained very small, inferior in size even to the settlements of the Slavs. People concentrated mainly around crafts and shopping centers. Cities were built deep in the fjords. This was done in order to obtain a convenient harbor and, in the event of an attack by an enemy fleet, to know in advance about its approach.

Scandinavian peasants dressed in woolen shirts and short, baggy pants. The Viking Age costume was quite ascetic due to the shortage of raw materials in Scandinavia. Wealthy members of the upper classes could wear colorful clothing that made them stand out from the crowd, showing wealth and status. A woman's costume of the Viking Age necessarily included accessories - metal jewelry, a brooch, pendants and belt buckles. If a girl was married, she put her hair in a bun; unmarried girls tied their hair up with a ribbon.

Viking armor and weapons

In modern popular culture The image of a Viking with a horned helmet on his head is common. In fact, such headdresses were rare and were no longer used for combat, but for rituals. Viking Age clothing included light armor required for all men.

The weapons were much more varied. The northerners often used a spear about one and a half meters long, which could be used to chop and stab the enemy. But the sword remained the most common. These weapons were very light compared to other types that appeared in the subsequent Middle Ages. The Viking Age sword was not necessarily made in Scandinavia itself. Warriors often acquired Frankish weapons, as they were different best quality. The Vikings also had long knives - the Saxons.

The inhabitants of Scandinavia made bows from ash or yew. Braided hair was often used as a bowstring. Axes were common melee weapons. The Vikings preferred a wide, symmetrically diverging blade.

Last Normans

In the first half of the 11th century, the end of the Viking Age came. It was due to several factors. Firstly, in Scandinavia the old clan system completely disintegrated. It was replaced by classic medieval feudalism with overlords and vassals. Half of the inhabitants of Scandinavia have remained in the past and settled in their homeland.

The end of the Viking Age also came due to the spread of Christianity among the northerners. The new faith, unlike the pagan one, opposed bloody campaigns in foreign lands. Gradually, many rituals of sacrifices, etc., were forgotten. The first to be baptized were the nobility, who, with the help of the new faith, were legitimized in the eyes of the rest of the civilized European community. Following the rulers and aristocracy, ordinary residents did the same.

In the changed conditions, the Vikings, who wanted to connect their lives with military affairs, became mercenaries and served with foreign sovereigns. For example, at Byzantine emperors had its own Varangian guard. Residents of the north were valued for their physical strength, unpretentiousness in everyday life and many fighting skills. The last Viking in power in the classical sense of the word was King Harald III of Norway. He traveled to England and attempted to conquer it, but was killed at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066. Then came the end of the Viking Age. William the Conqueror from Normandy (himself also a descendant of Scandinavian sailors) nevertheless conquered England in the same year.

For three centuries (from 9 to 11), the shores of Europe were devastated by the terrifying Scandinavian seafaring warriors - the Vikings. In Europe they were called Normans (people of the north), in England - Danes (hence the name of the country “Denmark”), in Rus' - Varangians. The word “Viking” is interpreted as “knight”, “warrior”, “one who is on a campaign”.

The Vikings attacked ships they encountered along the way, coastal villages, plundered monasteries, villages and entire cities, seized land for settlement, as in the British Isles and northern France, or occupied empty lands - for example, the islands of Iceland and Greenland. Some Viking units served as mercenaries or were members of the squads of Russian princes and the guards of the Byzantine emperors.

In the 10th century, the kings (kings, leaders) of the Scandinavian countries took control of the raids, and Viking detachments were now part of the king’s army. At the beginning of the 11th century, the Danish king Knut the Mighty created a power that included Denmark, Norway and England and disintegrated after his death.

The youngest sons in the family usually became Vikings. Campaigns could be organized by the head of the family; often “sea kings” who had no land in their homeland and spent their whole lives on campaigns at sea went on campaigns. The members of the Viking squad represented a special “companionship” for trade and military campaigns.

The Vikings' main means of transportation was the ship. A fast and capacious sailing vessel made it possible to sail on the open sea, climb up rivers, and quickly disappear from the scene of an attack. Vikings were often even buried in a ship. After the ship important look transport were horses. For transportation, the Scandinavians also used carts in summer and sleighs in winter, skis and skates. The Viking was armed with a spear, sword or battle axe, bow and arrows, and protected by a round shield, chain mail or scale armor.

The Vikings were pagans for a very long time, which especially horrified Christian Europeans. They honored the supreme god Odin, the thunder god Thor, to whom they even made human sacrifices. Heroes who fell in the campaign, according to the Vikings, after death ended up in the heavenly palace Valhalla (Valhalla), where they feast with the gods to this day. The exploits of warriors were sung by special poets - skalds. The main task The skald wanted to describe the battle and compare the leader with the great warriors, put him on a par with the heroes, immortalize his name, for glory was the main value for the Scandinavians.

Art also flourished among the Vikings. Weapons, memorial stones, decorations, pillars in the house, benches, and sleighs were decorated with ornate patterns, images of intertwining fantastic animals, and scenes of a person fighting them.

By the 12th century, the Viking campaigns had ceased. They finally settled in the lands of Scandinavia and founded their kingdoms - Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Their kings built them capital cities, they began to build fortresses, issue laws and sought to streamline and make the life of their subjects peaceful, like other European countries. Some of the Vikings settled in Normandy, where they began to speak French. The Normans from Normandy conquered England in 1066.

In France they were called Normans, in Rus' - Varangians. Vikings were the name given to the people who lived in what is now Norway, Denmark and Sweden from about 800 to 1100 AD.

Wars and feasts were two of the Vikings' favorite pastimes. Swift sea robbers on ships that bore sonorous names, for example, “Bull of the Ocean”, “Raven of the Wind”, raided the coasts of England, Germany, Northern France, Belgium - and took tribute from the conquered. Their desperate berserker warriors fought like mad, even without armor. Before the battle, the berserkers gnashed their teeth and bit the edges of their shields. To the cruel gods Vikings - the Ases were pleased with warriors who died in battle.

Discoverers of Iceland

But it was these ruthless warriors who discovered the islands of Iceland (on ancient language — « icy land") and Greenland ("green land": then the climate there was warmer than now!). And the Viking leader Leif the Happy in the year 1000, sailing from Greenland, landed in North America, on the island of Newfoundland. The Vikings called the open land Vinland - “rich”. Due to clashes with the Indians and among themselves, the Vikings soon left and forgot America, and lost contact with Greenland.

Viking Age

And their songs about heroes and travelers have survived to this day - sagas and the Icelandic parliament Althing - the first national assembly in Europe.

The beginning of the Viking Age is considered to be 793. This year there was a famous attack by the Normans on a monastery located on the island of Lindisfarne (north-east of Great Britain). It was then that England, and soon the whole of Europe, learned about the terrible “northern people” and their dragon-headed ships. In 794 they “visited” the nearby island of Wearmus (there was also a monastery there), and in 802-806 they reached the Isles of Man and Iona (west coast of Scotland)

First sack of London

Twenty years later the Normans collected large army for a campaign against England and France. In 825 the Vikings landed in England, and in 836 London was sacked for the first time. In 845, the Danes captured Hamburg, and the city was so devastated that the episcopate located in Hamburg had to be moved to Bremen. In 851, 350 ships again appeared off the coast of England, this time London and Canterbury were captured (and of course plundered).

Creation of the Norman State of Dunloe

In 866, a storm carried several ships to the shores of Scotland, where the Normans had to spend the winter. The following year, 867, the new state of Danelaw was formed. It included Northumbria, East Anglia, part of Essex and Mercia. Danlo existed until 878. At the same time, a large fleet attacked England again, London was captured again, and then the Normans moved on to France. In 885, Rouen was captured, and Paris was under siege (in 845, 857 and 861, Paris was already sacked). Having received the ransom, the Vikings lifted the siege and retreated to the northwestern part of France, which in 911 was transferred to the Norwegian Rollon. The region was named Normandy.

Conquest of England in the 10th century

At the beginning of the 10th century, the Danes again tried to capture England, which they succeeded only in 1016. The Anglo-Saxons managed to overthrow their power only forty years later, in 1050. But they did not have time to enjoy freedom. In 1066, a huge fleet under the command of William the Conqueror, a native of Normandy, attacked England. After the Battle of Hastings, the Normans reigned in England.

Division between Norwegians and Icelanders

In 861, the Scandinavians learned about Iceland from the Swede Gardar Svafarsson. Soon after, in 872, the unification of Norway by Harald Fairhair began, and many Norwegians fled to Iceland. According to some estimates, between 20,000 and 30,000 Norwegians moved to Iceland before 930. Later they began to call themselves Icelanders, thus distinguishing themselves from the Norwegians and other Scandinavian peoples.

Eirik Raud (Red) founder of the Brattalid settlement

In 983, a man named Eirik Raud (Red) was exiled from Iceland for three years for murder. He went in search of a country rumored to have been seen to the west of Iceland. He managed to find this country, which he named Greenland (“Green Country”), which sounds rather strange in relation to this snowy and cold island. In Greenland, Eirik founded the settlement of Brattalid.

Vinland Leif Eiriksson son of Red discovered Boston

In 986, a certain Bjarni Bardsson sailed from Iceland, intending to get to Greenland. He came across three times unknown land until he reached the southern coast of Greenland. Having learned about this, Leif Eiriksson, son of Eirik Raud, repeated Bjarni's journey, reaching the Labrador Peninsula. Then he turned south and, walking along the coast, found an area he called “Vinland” (“Grape Country”). Presumably this happened in the year 1000. According to the results of work carried out by scientists, Leif Eiriksson's Vinland was located in the area of ​​​​modern Boston.

Leif's brothers: Torvald and Thorstein

After Leif's return, Thorvald Eiriksson, his brother, went to Vinland. He lived there for two years, but in one of the skirmishes with local Indians he was mortally wounded, and his comrades had to return to their homeland.

Leif's second brother, Thorstein Eiriksson, also tried to reach Vinland, but he was unable to find this land.

There were only about 300 estates in Greenland. The lack of forest created great difficulties for life. The forest grew in Labrador, which was closer than in Iceland, but everything needed had to be brought from Europe, due to the very difficult conditions of navigation to Labrador. Settlements existed in Greenland until the 14th century.

Viking History

VIKINGS - (Normans), sea robbers, immigrants from Scandinavia, who committed in the 9th-11th centuries. hikes up to 8,000 km long, perhaps even longer distances. These daring and fearless people in the east they reached the borders of Persia, and in the west - the New World.

Origin of the word Viking

The word “Viking” goes back to the Old Norse “vikingr”. There are a number of hypotheses regarding its origin, the most convincing of which traces it to “vik” - fiord, bay. The word “Viking” (literally “man from the fiord”) was used to refer to robbers who operated in coastal waters, hiding in secluded bays and bays.

In Scandinavia they were known long before they acquired notoriety in Europe. The French called the Vikings Normans or various variations of this word (Norsmanns, Northmanns - literally “people from the north”); The British indiscriminately called all Scandinavians Danes, and the Slavs, Greeks, Khazars, and Arabs called the Swedish Vikings Rus or Varangians.

Danish Vikings

Wherever the Vikings went - to the British Isles, France, Spain, Italy or North Africa, - they mercilessly robbed and seized other people's lands. In some cases, they settled in conquered countries and became their rulers. Danish Vikings conquered England for some time and settled in Scotland and Ireland.

Norwegian and Swedish Vikings

Together they conquered a part of France known as Normandy. The Norwegian Vikings and their descendants created colonies on the North Atlantic islands of Iceland and Greenland and founded a settlement on the coast of Newfoundland in North America, which, however, did not last long. Swedish Vikings began to rule in the eastern Baltic. They spread widely throughout Rus' and, going down the rivers to the Black and Caspian Seas, even threatened Constantinople and some regions of Persia. The Vikings were the last Germanic barbarian conquerors and the first European pioneer seafarers.

Activity in the 9th century

There are different interpretations of the reasons for the violent outbreak of Viking activity in the 9th century. There is evidence that Scandinavia was overpopulated and many Scandinavians went abroad to seek their fortune. The rich but undefended cities and monasteries of their southern and western neighbors were easy prey. It was unlikely that there would be any resistance from the scattered kingdoms of the British Isles or the weakened empire of Charlemagne, consumed by dynastic strife.

In winter, robbery in summer by landowners

During the Viking Age, national monarchies gradually consolidated in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Ambitious leaders and powerful clans fought for power. Defeated leaders and their supporters, as well as the younger sons of victorious leaders, unabashedly embraced unfettered plunder as a way of life. Energetic young men from influential families usually gained prestige through participation in one or more campaigns.

Many Scandinavians engaged in robbery in the summer and then turned into ordinary landowners. However, the Vikings were not only attracted by the lure of prey.

The prospect of establishing trade opened the way to wealth and power. In particular, immigrants from Sweden controlled trade routes in Rus'.

Viking translation - man from the bay

The English term “Viking” comes from the Old Norse word vkingr, which could have several meanings. The most acceptable, apparently, origin is from the word vk - bay, or bay. Therefore, the word vkingr translates as “man from the bay.”

The term was used to describe the marauders who took refuge in coastal waters long before the Vikings became notorious in the outside world. However, not all Scandinavians were sea ​​robbers, and the terms “Viking” and “Scandinavian” cannot be considered synonymous. The French usually called the Vikings Normans, and the British indiscriminately classified all Scandinavians as Danes. The Slavs, Khazars, Arabs and Greeks who communicated with the Swedish Vikings called them Rus or Varangians.

Definitions from encyclopedias

VIKINGS (Old Scandinavians), Scandinavians - participants in maritime trade, predatory and conquests at the end of the 8th to the middle of the 11th centuries. to European countries. In Rus' they were called Varangians, and in Western Europe - Normans (Scand. Northman - “northern man”). In the 9th century captured North East England, in the 10th century. - Northern France (Normandy). Reached North America.

Encyclopedia of Cyril and Methodius

About three centuries from 800 to 1050 AD. e. Viking warriors sailed their ships, terrorizing Europe. They sailed from Scandinavia in search of silver, slaves and lands. The Vikings mainly attacked Britain and France while they were invading Russia. The Vikings explored many unknown lands while sailing the vast Atlantic Ocean.