With the ongoing Winter Olympics, the cold winter, and my upcoming trip to Sweden I have decided now is the perfect time to embark on a study of Scandinavian history. Afterall the name Sundberg is Swedish and it is a portion of my heritage from my dad's side. My brother Andres is currently living there studying abroad for 5 months. I look forward to trying to understand the culture of Sweden and the Nordic countries as a whole before my trip there.
Scandinavia is often tied with the Nordic Countries which comprise of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland. They are northern islands of Europe covered with mountains, forests, and long harsh winters. It's a region of history I know very little about and the first thing that comes to my mind when thinking of Scandinavian history are the vikings.
These Norse warriors have been glorified in popular culture, literature, movies, television series, and even Minnesota sports. I am currently watching several shows about viking history such as The Vikings, The Last Kingdom, and the Norsemen. While I understand the viking age is only a portion of Nordic history, I am going to begin my study with this very intersting topic.
The Norsemen
It is unfair to label Vikings as a civilization from the Nordic Regions. They are rather bands of warriors and explorers from various Nordic tribes. These Norsemen were descendants of the German barbarians. Following the fall of the Roman empire Germanic tribes began to migrate and inhabit these northern lands of Scandinavia. During this iron age from about 500-800 AD, northern tribes began to create civilizations throughout the Nordic region.
They were a pagan people without any religious affiliations. They grew accustomed to the harsh lifestyle of the cold winters, constant sickness, and raids from other tribes. They were good hunters, warriors, and hard workers. Gold was one of their finest resources among their metal-works. The various Nordic tribes of this age included;
By the late 700s, these tribes began a new desire to explore, expand, and invade western Europe. There are many questions as to why this sudden desire to expand, however some general theories include a lack of women in their homeland and simply a character to steal more wealth and resources. They therefore were ultimately plunderers, raiders, and pirates seeking an advantage on the kingdoms of mainland Europe.
From Greenland came further exploration and settlements. In 999 Lief Erikson, the son of Erik the Red, went further than any European explorer had gone before when he reached the northern shores of present day Canada. He named this new discovery Vinland as it was full of vines and grapes. He established a Norse settlement along the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Newfoundland.
Vikings in Popular Culture
These Norse warriors have been glorified in popular culture, literature, movies, television series, and even Minnesota sports. I am currently watching several shows about viking history such as The Vikings, The Last Kingdom, and the Norsemen. While I understand the viking age is only a portion of Nordic history, I am going to begin my study with this very intersting topic.
The Norsemen
It is unfair to label Vikings as a civilization from the Nordic Regions. They are rather bands of warriors and explorers from various Nordic tribes. These Norsemen were descendants of the German barbarians. Following the fall of the Roman empire Germanic tribes began to migrate and inhabit these northern lands of Scandinavia. During this iron age from about 500-800 AD, northern tribes began to create civilizations throughout the Nordic region.
- The Danes
- The Faroese
- The Geats
- The Goths
- The Gotlanders
- The Icelanders
- The Norse-Gals
- The Norweigans
- The Swedes
The Rise of the Vikings
By the late 700s, these tribes began a new desire to explore, expand, and invade western Europe. There are many questions as to why this sudden desire to expand, however some general theories include a lack of women in their homeland and simply a character to steal more wealth and resources. They therefore were ultimately plunderers, raiders, and pirates seeking an advantage on the kingdoms of mainland Europe.
Their claim to fame, or notoriety, was their innovative long-ships which enabled them to quickly navigate thru deep and shallow waters. By the 790s these Vikings began their first raids on the Anglo-Saxons of England and the Frankish Kingdom of Charlemagne. They would mostly pillage monasteries and small towns on the coastlines of England, France, Italy, central Europe, and eastern Europe.
Viking Conquests and Settlements
One of the Vikings first most notable conquests included the territory of Normandy in the Frankish Empire. Throughout the mid 800s they lead various successful campaigns through Paris and parts of northern France led by a legendary leader named Ragnar Lodbrock. The French Carolingian dynasty would often have to bribe them to get them to leave. However by 911 the Danish viking leader, Rollo, established himself as the first duke of Normandy. Which would eventually become the Norman descendants of William the Conqueror.
In 865 groups of Danish vikings joined together to invade the Anglo-Saxons of England in an army that has been referred to as the Great Heathen Army. They successfully conquered lands in the north-eastern parts of England. By 874 the Anglo-Saxon king Alfred the Great defeated the vikings at the Battle of Edington. The Vikings were forced to leave Wessex however still maintained much of their land conquered in England.
They conducted various raids throughout Ireland pillaging it's monasteries and inhabiting it's lands. They founded numerous cities throughout Ireland including it's present day capital of Dublin. However by 1014 they were driven out by the Irish King Brian Boru at the Battle of Clontarf.
In 874 a group of Norseman vikings led by Ingolfr Armarson discovered Iceland and inherited the land that was inhabited by Irish monks without any struggle. They founded the capital city of Reykjavik and it became a new settlement for Nordic people.
In 986 Erik the Red led a band of Icelanders to discover and settle Greenland. The climate was sub-artic however they were able to form settlements along the warmer fjord valleys of the land. The naming of Greenland was an ironic ploy by Eric the Red as the land was rather a frozen tundra.
From Greenland came further exploration and settlements. In 999 Lief Erikson, the son of Erik the Red, went further than any European explorer had gone before when he reached the northern shores of present day Canada. He named this new discovery Vinland as it was full of vines and grapes. He established a Norse settlement along the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Newfoundland.
In 1003 the Danish viking tribes lead a series of raids against England under the leadership of Sweyn Forkbeard. By 1013 he lead a successful invasion that won him the English throne, yet he died shortly after. His son Cnut the Great thus became a powerful king of England, Denmark, and Norway for 20 years.
By the late 900s and early 1000s, Scandinavia had begun to establish it's own monarchies with Christianity. The viking raids thus began to slowly wither and assimilate into it's expanded regions throughout the north.
The year 1066 is often considered the end of the Viking age for two reasons. At the Battle of Stamford Bridge the Norwegian vikings under the leadership of Harald Hardarad, were defeated by the English armies. However 19 days later, William the Conqueror, a descendant of the viking king Rollo, led a separate invasion from his kingdom of Normandy and defeated the English at the Battle of Hastings. The Anglo-Saxons were thus defeated by the Norman armies and thus marked the beginning of the English Monarchy.
Famous Viking Leaders
- Ragnar Lodbrok: He was a legendary viking often associated with the early raids of France (865)
- Rollo: Danish viking and conqueror who became the 1st King of Normandy (911)
- Harald Fairhair: 1st King of Norway (872-930)
- Beowulf: Legendary Geat viking hero of Old English literature (975-1025)
- Erik the Red: Discovered Greenland (986)
- Olaf Tryggvason: King of Norway who brought Christianity to the Norse (995-1000)
- Lief Erikson: Son of Erik the Red; Discovered Northern Canada (999)
- Sweyn Forkbeard: Invader of England (1003-1013)
- Cnut the Great: Son of Sweyn Forkbeard, King of England (1013-1035)
- Harald Hardarad: King of Norway, invaded England yet lost at the Battle of Stamford Bridge (1046-1066)
- Der Ring des Nibelungen: Richard Wagner's famous opera about Valkyries and vikings
- The Lost Vikings: Nintendo game series I remember playing as a kid
- Vikings: Popular TV series about legendary viking, Ragnar Lodbrok
- The Last Kingdom: TV series about Danish vikings in England
- Norseman: Norwegian TV series about daily struggles of a viking village
- Beowulf: Numerous movies and tv shows about this legendary Geat hero
- Thor: Inspired from Norse mythology and viking tales; he is a comic book superhero included in numerous Marvel movies
- Lord of the Rings: JR Tolkein's fantasy novel was heavily influenced by Norse and viking mythology
- The Minnesota Vikings: NFL football team of Minneapolis that has incorporated everything about viking culture into their franchise. (Also division rivals of my Detroit Lions)
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