Viking Conqueror of Men
[Vikings] invaded and conquered England in 1013.
I'm not familiar with what happened in 1013 -- does anyone have a little backgroung information to share?
"Among the items found in the graves were weapons, spurs, a bridle and a drinking horn, as well as a jet bracelet and a copper alloy belt fitting."
An as yet unidentified and empty container resembling a 'kitty box' (sic) was also found. It's use has yet to be determined but it is believed to have contained the remains of the viking's household 'pets', heretofore unknown to the western world but lovingly continued in Norse folklore.
Generations have come to know and love the "Viking Kitties".
Modern minds have, for many years, pooh-poohed the existence of such creatures ...
Magnificent though they may be.
No barrow-wights? I am disappointed.
here are the kitties:
http://users.wolfcrews.com/toys/vikings/
"Dark Ages" has an entire chapter on the Viking burial site that was uncovered in the '40's.
Viking Conqueror of Men
Viking Subduing Economic Girlie Men in 1013
Just stay away from the moors with your picks and shovels and sorting boxes.
And that was just a portion of my team.....oh when will they ever win!
Cris Carter was robbed!!!!!
And no kitties? How is that possible?
I have been impressed with the influence of Salic Law on the development of English Common Law as divergent from Roman Law. It is very evident in the notion of "foresting" in property law. Here are some of my notes on the presence of Vikings:
Gwyn Jones, A History of the Vikings, Oxford University Press, c1973.
By 862, nuisance raids of individual Viking leaders had develpoed into well-organized expeditions that exploited local divisions and lived off the invaded country for lengtheneing periods of time. By 865, a large heathen host or horde from about 500-1,000 arrived in England for a more sustained assault. Ledaers were Ivar(Yngvarr) called the Boneless, Ubbi and Halfdan. Legends indicate they were from Scandinavia and Ireland and that they came to avenge their father, Ragnar. These obtained horses in East Anglia and marched upon York. The kings of York and Northumbria were defeated and the kingdom of Deira passed to the Vikings. They then executed king Edmund and took East Anglia. The king of Mercia bought peace. at 218-20
In 870 Halfdan accompanied by a second king and many jarls rode on Wessex and seized and fortified the town of Reading. A truce was negotiated. The Vikings next turned to Mercia. During this time, king Ethelred died and was succeded by king Alfred to the throne of Wessex. Mercia collapsed in 874 and the Danish/Viking army split in two. Halfdan went to Deira and made war on the Picts and the Strathclyde Welsh to secure the northern border. Guthrum and two other kings went to East Anglia. In 876, Halfdan "shared out the lands of Northumbria, and they [the Danes] were engaged in ploughing and making a living for themselves." at 220-21
In 877, a second Danish distribution of territory took place. Ceolwuf, an English thane, had been left with the rule of Mercia by the Vikings. He received half the kingdom and the remainder was divided by the Vikings who had fought for it. Yorkshire, Nottingham, Lincoln, Derby and Leicester and maybe a portion south of the Welland
Jacqueline Simpson, Everyday Life in the Viking Age, Dorset Press c1967.
The "Viking Age" is attributed by Western Europe to the period beginning with the 790s. Actually, it is a continuation of expansion by Scandinavians of an earlier date, but unrecorded in written history. The first Scandinavians to become active abroad were from a large farmstead settlement at Gotland, a Baltic island. Colonies were set up in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and probably Finland in the early 700s. at23
In the eighth century, Norwegians killed a reeve in the reign of Beorhtic of Wessex (786-802.) In 193, heathen men landed on Lindisfarne island and slaughtered cattle. The Norwegian Floki attempted to establish a colony at Iceland 860s. In 874, Ingolf and Leif took womenfolk, Irish slaves and livestock to Iceland and established settlements. Ingolf's settlement survived and a detailed account of traditions and settlers was preserved in the 12th century book "Landnamabo'k" (The Book of Land Takings). The process of colonization lasted about 60 years. at 28
Settlers came in groups, whose leader was a chieftan or of good birth. These leaders staked a claim to large tracts of land, lighting beacons or setting up boundary marks as a farmstead. (process described in 13th century book "Egil's Saga.") First the chieftan explored the region, then set claim to a large area. Chose the spot of his own farm by omen. The rest of the area he parcelled out among kinsmen and dependents who had sailed with him from Norway, so that they could set up their own farmsteads. Such land was always held as a freehold, with no question of tenancy or feudal dues. Eventually, they would live by their cattle and sheep, but at first foraging was necessary. "Egil's Saga" states that "what livestock there was roamed the woods all winter, foraging for itself." Also, "At that time too there were many whales stranded, and whoever wished to spear them could do so." at 29.
Some Swedes and Danes also settled Iceland. Almost 12 percent came from the Norwegian colonies in the British Isles, introducing celtic racial characteristics. at 30
In the 830s and 40s, Danish raids spread through France and England. It is unclear whether the purpose of these raids was to extract Danegeld (extortion or protection money) or in finding land with enough money to establish themselves as farmers. Certainly by the 870s, settlement had become a major preoccupation of the Danes in England, and the famous treaty by Alfred the Great recognizing much of northern and eastern territory in England as Danish territory simply gave a legal basis to what was already accomplished fact. Already in 876, one group of Danish fighting men had withdrawn from the campaign and had "shared out the land of the Northumbrians and began to plough it." The following year, others did the same in Mercia and others in 880 in East Anglia. In 896, "the Danish army divided, one part going into East Anglia and the other into Northumbria, and those that were moneyless got ships and went south across the sea to the Seine." Allusions in the "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" show that these areas were organized on military lines, with key towns as strongholds. at 31
In an examination of place names (towns, parishes, fields and woods,) appears that Anglo-Saxons lived on their original sites in considerable numbers, even where Scandinavian settlement was thickest. It appears the Scandinavians settled by clearing land not already utilized. Many of these were up tributaries rather than in main valleys on the face of hillsides on the verge of thick woodland, on poorer solis or small patches of good soil. In some cases, the Danes did take over existing villages. The English adopted the English system of open field cultivation, although in the uplands, they probably took to sheep rearing as they had done in their homelands. at 32.
In many parts of the Danelaw at the time of the Domesday Book, there were many "soke-man" or landowning peasants, considerably more independent of their overlord than men under the manorial system elsewhere. Historian believe these to be descendants of Danish settlers whose status was much like that of small farmers in Scandinavia. at 34
There is evidence through place names of a gradual migration of settlers making their way inland from Lincolnshire coast and the Humber estuary, following the fanning out of the military. at 34.
From about 882-920, Vikings colonized Normandy. In 911 Charles the Simple ceded Normandy to Rollo. Most colonist were Danes and some had previously lived in the English Danelaw. at 35.
Wessex kings made war against the Danelaw and reasserted English overlordship over that territory, completing the process by 927. The Danes gave alliegance to English kings, probably because they wanted help against their rivals the Norwegians who had established in Ireland and north-west England. Meanwhile there was a consolidation of Vikings between Normandy and Iceland. at 35-36
The 980s were followed by two decades of intensive raids with extortion of "Danegelds," a tactic previously unknown in England. Swedes joined with Norweigans and Danes sailing around the coast, exacting silver. In 1002, Ethelred the Unready ordered a massacre "of all Danes in England," (i.e. in the south, not the Danelaw,) even those who were settlers or mercenaries in his own service. This was followed by greater attacks and substantial extraction of Danegeld. at 36
In 1013, Svein, King of Denmark returned to set about the wholesale conquest of England. The whole Danelaw accepted him and by Christmas, he was King of all England and Ethelred fled to Normandy. Svein died the following year and Ethelred returned. A two year battle between Canute the Great, son of Svein, and Ethelred culminated with Ethelred and Edmund Ironside's death and Cnut's becoming the sole king of England at 36-39.
Danish rule of England lasted from 1017-42. It is assumed that Danes of high rank were granted estates outside the Danelaw. Some remained but most of Cnut's men went home in 1018 with their portion of the last and greatest Danegeld levied in England. at 39.
Viking had settlements and a small kingdom along the English Channel coast, but they never controled all or most of England or any part of Whales or Scotland.