THE VIKINGS AND THE ANGLO-SAXONS
I.
VIKING INVASIONS
A.
GENERAL REMARKS
1.
REVIVAL OF LEARNING, RELIGION & ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENTS UNDER
NORTHUMBRIANS & CAROLINGIANS
2.
SUFFERED SERIOUS SETBACKS BY VIKING INVASIONS
3.
COMING OF VIKINGS IN LATE 8TH C TO ENGLAND & LATER 9TH C TO
CONTINENTAL EUROPE
4.
DRAMATIC TIME FOR MEDIEVAL MAN
5.
TO MEDIEVAL CHRISTIANS, W/THEIR THEOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION OF
DISASTER
6.
ARRIVAL OF VIKINGS MEANT GOD TAKING VENGEANCE ON A SINFUL
POPULATION
7.
VIKINGS C800-1100 PLAYED DECISIVE ROLE IN MANY PARTS OF EUROPE
B.
WHO WERE THE VIKINGS?
1.
NO CONTEMPORARY SOURCES OF VIKINGS THEMSELVES
2.
VIKING WAY OF LIFE CAN BEST BE STUDIED IN ICELANDIC SAGAS OF 11-12TH C.
a.
IN MIXTURE OF HISTORY & LEGEND
b.
DEEDS OF GREAT SCANDINAVIAN WARLORDS
(1)
SAGA OF GUNNLAUG
3.
GERMANIC PEOPLE FROM SCANDINAVIA
a.
NORTHMEN - DANES, SWEDES, NORWEGIANS
C.
VIKING SOCIETY
1.
VIKINGS AT HOME HAD SOPHISTICATED POLITICAL, SOCIAL & LEGAL SYSTEM
2.
TIERED SOCIETY LIKE ALL WE HAVE STUDIED
3.
FREE CLASS AT TOP
4.
HEADED BY WEALTHY CHIEFTAIN CALLED JARL
a.
SOURCE OF ENGLISH EARL
b.
LEADERS CHOSEN FROM MOST WEALTHY LANDHOLDERS
5.
EVERY FREEMAN MET PERIODICALLY W/HIS NEIGHBORS IN PUBLIC ASSEMBLY
KNOWN AS
a.
THING
(1)
RUDIMENTARY PARLIAMENT FOR MAKING LAWS & COURT FOR
TRYING INFRINGEMENTS
6.
LARGER JURISDICTIONS MADE UP OF REPS FROM LOCAL THINGS
7.
NEXT STEP UP - REGIONAL KING & THEN SOVEREIGN OF NATION
8.
1ST VIKING MONARCH TO UNITE A COUNTRY
a.
THIS CASE NORWAY - HAROLD FAIRHAIR
9.
SWEDEN & DENMARK WOULD BE UNITED CENTURY LATER
10.
UNDER FREEMEN - SERFS & SLAVES
11.
CERTAIN CRIMES PUNISHABLE BY SLAVERY
12.
MOST OF VIKING EXPEDITIONS PURPOSE TO CAPTURE SLAVES
a.
WOMEN COMPRISED LARGEST NUMBER OF CAPTIVES
b.
WOMEN SLAVES WOULD BE KEPT, SOLD, OR EXCHANGED FOR RANSOM
13.
MANY FREE WOMEN HAD INDEPENDENT AUTHORITY WHEN MENFOLKS GONE
a.
WOMEN IN CHARGE OF FAMILY & FARM
14.
ROYAL DESCENT ON MOTHER'S SIDE SUFFICIENT TO ESTABLISH LEGITIMATE
CLAIM TO THRONE
a.
AS IN ANCIENT EGYPT
15.
VIKING WOMEN HAD RIGHT TO DIVORCE
16.
IN DENMARK MEN PUNISHED BY DEATH FOR ADULTERY
17.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR RAPE OF VIRGINS
D.
VIKING RELIGION
1.
PAGANS = NON CHRISTIANS
2
2.
3.
E.
F.
G.
BELIEVED IN VARIETY OF NORDIC GODS & GODDESSES
THOR, GOD OF THUNDER
a.
MOST POPULAR OF GODS
b.
THURSDAY DAY SACRED TO THOR
4.
CHIEF GOD, ODIN
a. PRESIDED OVER VALHALLA, WARRIOR'S HEAVEN
b.
DEATH IN BATTLE MOST HONORABLE DEATH
c.
ONLY THAT DEATH COULD NORTHMAN ENTER VALHALLA
d.
BUT VALKYRIES, FEMALE FIGURES WHO SERVED DEAD WARRIORS IN
VALHALLA
e.
ALSO MADE DECISION WHO WAS TO DIE OR WIN AS ODIN SENT THEM INTO
EVERY BATTLE
5.
MANY OF OUR DAYS OF WEEKS COME FROM VIKINGS
a.
ANOTHER NAME FOR ODIN IS WOTAN
(1)
WEDNESDAY IS WOTAN'S DAY
b.
ODIN'S WIFE FRIGGA OR FRIGG
c.
FREYJA OR FREYA
(1)
GODDESS OF LOVE & MOST BEAUTIFUL OF ALL WOMEN
(2)
FRIDAY IS NAMED AFTER HER
VIKING BURIAL CUSTOMS
1.
MAN'S WIFE OR FEMALE SLAVE SOMETIMES SLAIN TO PROVIDE HIM COMPANY IN
DEATH
2.
BUT WOMAN ALSO TOOK SLAVE TO DEATH WITH HER
a.
MALE OR FEMALE SLAVE
3.
OF ALL SPLENDID GRAVES ARCHAEOLOGISTS HAVE DISCOVERED
4.
WOMAN'S GRAVE AT OSEBERG IN SOUTHERN NORWAY MOST MAGNIFICENT
5.
EVERYTHING NEEDED IN HEAVEN (SEPARATE ONE FROM MEN) TAKEN ALONG
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS RE VIKINGS
1.
MAIN FESTIVALS PRESIDED OVER BY CHIEFTAINS NOT PRIESTS
2.
SACRIFICE OF ANIMALS & SOMETIMES HUMANS PLAYED GREAT PART IN THESE
CEREMONIES
3.
NB FEATURE OF SUCH FESTIVALS & SCANDINAVIAN LIFE IN GENERAL WAS
EMPHASIS ON CHANTED OR SPOKEN WORD
4.
TO NORSE WORDS HAD GOD-GIVEN MAGIC POWER
5.
WHILE NO WRITTEN LAW CODE UNTIL 1100
a.
LAWS MEMORIZED & TRANSMITTED BY MOUTH
6.
VIKINGS EVEN HAD THEIR OWN SYSTEM OF WRITING
a.
THE RUNES
(1)
16 LETTERS IN RUNIC ALPHABET
(2)
DERIVED IN LARGE PART FROM LATIN & OTHER SOUTHERN
EUROPEAN ALPHABETS
(3)
MADE BY COMBINING VERTICAL & DIAGONAL STROKES
(4)
EASILY SCRATCHED ON STONE, BONE OR WOOD
(5)
RUNES IMBUED WITH MAGIC
7.
VIKING MUSIC HAS ALSO SURVIVED
8.
POPULARITY OF SONGS THEMSELVES EVIDENCED BY FREQUENT APPEARANCE IN
CONTEMPORARY WRITTEN SOURCES
9.
INSTRUMENTS SUCH AS PANPIPES, LYRE, BONE FLUTE SURVIVE INTACT OR IN
PIECES
WHY DID THE VIKINGS BEGAN ROAMING & RAIDING?
1.
LATE 8TH C STARTED ROAMING FARTHER AFIELD
2.
DUE TO VARIETY OF REASONS
a.
NO CONSENSUS BY HISTORIANS
b.
OVERPOPULATION
3
(1)
(2)
H.
I.
USUALLY CITED AS PRIME FACTOR
AS 7-8TH CENTURIES NORWAY & DENMARK POPULATION
EXPLOSION
c.
NOT ENOUGH LAND TO GO AROUND
d.
COMPETITION AMONG POWERFUL JARLS
(1)
MANY LEADERS OF RAIDS POWERFUL MEN
(a)
WHO KING HAD EXILED
(2)
OR FAILED CLAIMANTS TO A THRONE
e.
DESIRE FOR BOOTY & RICHES
f.
DESIRE FOR ADVENTURE
HOW WERE THE VOYAGES POSSIBLE?
1.
BOATS STARTED BEING EQUIPPED W/ MAST & W/SAILS NOT JUST OARS
2.
SO COULD GO LONGER DISTANCES IN SEARCH OF BOOTY & RICHES
2.
SCANDINAVIANS PRIZED THEIR SHIPS ABOVE ALL OTHER POSSESSIONS
3.
THEY LAVISHED ON THEM THEIR FINEST ART WORK
COURSE OF RAIDS
1.
LATE 8TH C STARTED LEAVING EVERY SUMMER TO RAID
2.
ENGLAND ATTACKED FIRST
3.
VIKINGS HAD HEARD ABOUT GREAT WEALTH OF MONASTERIES IN N. ENGLAND
4.
FOUGHT W/BOWS & ARROWS & BATTLE AXES
5.
ACCOUNTS OF THESE RAIDS HAVE SHOWN VIKINGS
a.
EXCEEDINGLY CRUEL
6.
SYMBOLIZED IN OUTLANDISH NAMES GIVEN BY OTHERS
a.
ERIC BLOODAXE
b.
SIGURED SNAKE-IN-THE EYE
7.
BUT REMEMBER ACCOUNTS OF THESE RAIDS RECORDED BY CHURCH
a.
WHO TENDED TO RECORD ONLY VIOLENT EVENTS
8.
VIKINGS WOULD SUDDENLY APPEAR IN SMALL GROUPS TO KILL MEN, WOMEN &
CHILDREN
a.
RAPED WOMEN FIRST
9.
THEN LOOTED, & BURNED CHURCHES & MONASTERIES
10.
SO MANY NUNNERIES DESTROYED IN ENGLAND THAT BY TIME OF NORMAN
CONQUEST LAST 11TH CENTURY
a.
ONLY 9 HOUSES OUT OF 76 FOR WOMEN REMAINED
11.
SOME INHABITANTS CARRIED OFF TO BE SOLD INTO SLAVERY OR RANSOMED
12.
VIKINGS SO QUICK THEIR DEEDS DONE BEFORE EFFECTIVE MILITARY
OPPOSITION COULD BE FORMED
a.
AS MONKS & NUNS UNABLE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES
13.
STORIES ABOUND OF MONKS & EVEN NUNS FLEEING WITH THEIR PRIZE RELICS
OF SAINTS
14.
ALL AREAS ENGLAND INVADED & SEIZED EXCEPT WESSEX W/IN 100 YRS
15.
WESSEX UNDER LEADERSHIP KING ALFRED STOPPED VIKINGS
16.
HE NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT ALLOWING VIKINGS FREE REIGN IN N. ENGLAND
a.
DANELAW
17.
VIKINGS TURNED TO CONTINENT AFTER BREAK-UP OF CAROLINGIAN EMPIRE
a.
FRANCE, LOW COUNTRIES REGION
18.
SHOWING THEY MUCH AWARE OF POLITICAL CIRCUMSTANCES
19.
IN LATE 9TH C. PLUNDERED NORTHERN COASTLINE OF EUROPE THOROUGHLY
20.
ATTACKED ALSO IRELAND, SPAIN, ITALY
21.
MANY STORIES ABOUND OF THEIR TREACHERY
22.
COUNTS & WARLORDS ABLE TO DEFEND THEIR PEOPLE AGAINST VIKINGS
GAINED TREMENDOUS PRESTIGE
23.
COUNTS OF PARIS WHO SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDED THAT CITY MADE KINGS NOT
LONG AFTERWARDS
4
J.
II.
24.
ADVENT OF FEUDALISM AS RESULT
VIKINGS SETTLE IN PERMANENTLY
1.
BY MID 9TH C. ATTACKS ON ENGLAND BECAME CAMPAIGNS OF CONQUEST
2.
VIKING ESTABLISHED NEW TOWNS LIKE DUBLIN IN IRELAND
3.
OR REESTABLISHED ROMAN TOWN LIKE YORK
a.
RENAMED YORVIK
4.
TODAY IN YORK, YORVIK EXCAVATED & TOURIST CENTER
5.
BY 10TH C. ASSIMILATION BETWEEN VIKINGS & CONQUERED POPULATION HAD
OCCURRED
6.
PARTICULARLY IN NORMANDY IN FRANCE & DANELAW IN ENGLAND
7.
VIKINGS TRADING EXPEDITIONS TO RUSSIA & SOUTHERN POINTS
8.
ALSO MEANT EVENTUALLY THEY SETTLED IN PERMANENTLY
a.
KIEVAN STATE IN RUSSIA
b.
RUS - BRANCH OF SCANDINAVIANS
(1)
EVENTUALLY BECAME RUSSIA
9.
ICELAND, GREENLAND, S. ITALY, SICILY
ANGLO-SAXONS & BEGINNINGS OF ENGLAND
A.
BEGINNINGS OF ANGLO-SAXON ENGLAND
1.
500-1066 ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD OF ENGLISH HISTORY
a.
VERY OBSCURE - NO SOURCES
2.
RAPID INVASION OF ANGLO-SAXONS & JUTES PORTRAYED IN CHRONICLES
3.
IN FACT A GRADUAL PROCESS OF SETTLEMENT
4.
BRITAIN NOW BECAME KNOWN AS ANGLE LAND = ENGLAND
5.
BY 7TH C. ENGLAND EVOLVED INTO VARIOUS KINGDOMS
a.
WITH KING IN EACH AREA
6.
SAXON KINGDOMS OF
a.
WESSEX = WEST SAXONS
b.
SUSSEX = SOUTH SAXONS
c.
ESSEX - EAST SAXONS
7.
ANGLO KINGDOMS OF
a.
EAST ANGLIA= EAST ANGLES
(1)
NORTH FOLK, SOUTH FOLK, NORFOLK, SUFFOLK
b.
MERCIA
c.
NORTHUMBRIA = NORTH OF HUMBER RIVER
8.
JUTE KINGDOM OF KENT
9.
3 MAJOR KINGDOMS TOOK TURNS BEING SUPREME
a.
NORTHUMBRIA 7TH C
(1)
DESCRIBED EARLIER FLOURISHING CELTIC CHRISTIAN CULTURE
b.
MERCIA 8TH C.
c.
WESSEX
B.
MERCIA
1.
MERCIA 1ST EMERGES INTO LIGHT OF HISTORY W/ACCESSION GREAT KING,
PENDA 632
a.
WHENCE WORD PENNY COMES FROM
2.
KING OFFA, SUCCESSOR TO KING PENDA
a.
GREAT KING
b.
OUR KNOWLEDGE OBSCURE ON HIM
c.
CONTEMPORARY OF CHARLEMAGNE
(1)
EXTANT TREATY BETWEEN TWO DEMONSTRATING NB OF
COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES BETWEEN THEIR KINGDOMS
d.
DELINEATED HIS WESTERN FRONTIER BY CONSTRUCTING
(1)
OFFA'S DIKE
(a)
LARGEST ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONUMENT IN BRITAIN
5
(2)
III.
150 MILES LONG
WESSEX 9TH-10TH C
A.
ALFRED GREAT 871-99
1.
UNIFICATION DUE TO EFFORTS OF ALFRED THE GREAT & HIS DIRECT
SUCCESSORS
2.
SUBDUER OF VIKINGS IN ENGLAND
3.
GREATEST KING ANGLO-SAXONS EVER PRODUCED
4.
CHURCHILL OF ANGLO-SAXON ENGLAND
a.
HE SAVED WESSEX IN HER DARKEST HOUR
5.
UNIFIED ENGLISH PEOPLES & BEGAN RECONQUEST OF DANELAW
6.
HIS REIGN GREAT WATERSHED ENGLISH HISTORY
7.
ALFRED & HIS DESCENDANTS CREATED W/ESTABLISHING ENGLISH MONARCHY
a.
THAT CONTINUES TODAY
B.
HOW DID ALFRED SUBDUE VIKINGS?
1.
ALFRED ESTABLISHED FLEET TO HELP DEFEAT VIKINGS
a.
BEGINNING OF CONCEPT OF ENGLISH NAVY
2.
HE THEN PROCEEDED TO CONSOLIDATE HIS AUTHORITY OVER OTHER ENGLISH
KINGDOMS
C.
POLITICAL ORGANIZATION OF ENGLAND
1.
ENGLAND DIVIDED INTO SHIRES OR COUNTIES
2.
SHIRE ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICTS
a.
EARL & SHIRE REEVE OR SHERIFF IN CHARGE
b.
SOME OF SHIRES CORRESPOND TO OLD KINGDOMS
(1)
NORFOLK, SUFFOLK, KENT, SUSSEX
c.
OTHERS ORGANIZED AROUND IMPORTANT TOWNS
(1)
CAMBRIDGESHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE
3.
WITHIN 50 YRS AFTER ALFRED'S DEATH
a.
BY REIGN OF EDGAR - MID 10TH C.(959-75)
b.
ENGLISH MONARCHY MOST HIGHLY DEVELOPED IN EUROPE
D.
EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS
1.
LIKE CHARLEMAGNE NB TO HAVE EDUCATED MEN
2.
SO RESOLVED ANCIENT LITERATURE BE TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH
a.
HELPED CONTINUE BEDE'S PROMOTION OF "ENGLISH"
3.
ENCOURAGED WRITING OF ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLES
a.
HISTORY OF ENGLISH PEOPLE SO VALUABLE TODAY FOR HISTORIANS
E.
OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS
1.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO CHRISTIANITY
a.
BUILT CHURCHES, MONASTERIES ETC
2.
LAW REFORMS
a.
SELECTED FROM VARIOUS GERMANIC LAW CODES ONES HE FELT MOST
EQUITABLE & JUST
F.
ANGLO-SAXON SOCIETY
1.
RECONSTRUCTION OF ANGLO-SAXON VILLAGE OF WEST STOW
2.
HAS ADDED TO OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR LIFE
3.
MOST FARMERS
4.
DID NOT LIKE LIVING IN TOWNS
5.
MAINLY HAMLETS OR SMALL VILLAGES
G.
WOMEN IN ANGLO-SAXON ENGLAND
1.
ONE OF MEANINGS OF "WOMAN" IN OLD ENGLISH IS FREOTHUWEBBE = WEAVER
OF PEACE
2.
DAUGHTERS OF ROYAL HOUSE USED TO HEAL ENMITY BETWEEN PEOPLES OR TO
CEMENT FRIENDSHIPS
3.
OR TO RULE IN HUSBAND'S ABSENCE, ILLNESS OR DEMISE
6
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
SERVED AS REGENT FOR YOUNG SON TOO
EDWARD THE ELDER, ALFRED'S SON
ABLY ASSISTED BY HIS SISTER, AETHELFLAED
AETHELFLAED IS 1 OF FEW ENGLISH WOMEN WHO PERMANENTLY INFLUENCED
COURSE OF HISTORY
WHILE MARRIED TO KING OF MERCIA
SHE HAD IN FACT RULED FOR YEARS AS HER HUSBAND SICK & INCAPACITATED
SHE KNOWN AS LADY OF THE MERCIANS
WHEN HER FATHER DIED, SHE ASSISTED HER BROTHER IN REINFORCING &
ESTABLISHING NEW MILITARY SITES & FORCES TO ENABLE HER BROTHER TO
ENFORCE HIS AUTHORITY UPON VIKINGS IN ENGLAND
SHE EVEN DIRECTED BATTLES AGAINST VIKINGS
MANY WOMEN RESPONSIBLE FOR RUNNING LARGE ESTATES
& EVEN HAD TOWNS & VILLAGES NAMED AFTER THEM
WOMEN COULD WILL THEIR LAND TO WHOMEVER THEY WISHED
EVEN BYPASSING THEIR SONS
MANY SCHOLARS CONCLUDE ANGLO-SAXON MEN & WOMEN LIVED ON TERMS
OF EQUALITY WITH EACH OTHER