Vikings in Italy
The Vikings are well known for their exploration of the North Atlantic. School children learn about the discovery of Greenland and what would later become North America by the Vikings. There is even a Spongebob Squarepants episode about Leif Ericson day. However Viking expansion in the East is a relatively unknown topic by most people today. The Vikings did in fact have a large presence in the east, primarily in the form of the Varangian guard. I would like to explore primarily the Viking influence in Italy, looking at how they arrived there and the effect that Vikings have had on the area.
Vikings, being in the sailing and raiding business, had long dabbled in exploration. Once they had raided most of the water accessible Northern parts of the European continent, it was only natural that they would move on into the Mediterranean. First the Vikings attacked Spain in 844 with 100 ships, until a Muslim army eventually defeated them. Later in 859 the Vikings returned with 62 ships, and continued on through Spain and Africa as, “Algecrias was sacked, then the coasts of Morocco, Murcia, the Balearic Islands and Rousillon”. They then wintered in Camargue, before moving on. Once reaching Italy the Vikings “sacked Luna (believing it to be Rome) and sailed up the River Arno to sack Pisa and Fiesole”. After this they went further Middle East, and were again defeated by a Muslim army. Haywood claims that these raiding trips were too costly and that Vikings never returned to the Mediterranean. This is untrue, what he means is they did not raid the Mediterranean anymore.
The Varangian guard was very active in Italy, although it was based primarily in Byzantine. The name Varangian only dates from the mid-10th century and comes from “Old Norse várar, pledge or oath and means ‘man of the pledge’”. They were a band of “mercenary soldiers” from Scandinavia who either came “by the ‘East Way’ also called the ‘Varangian Way’, they came down through Russia by way of the Dnieper and the Black Sea to Constantinople”. Later on they traveled from the West and “opened a path across Europe, either over the Alps or by way of Provence, and so through Italy”. They began as pirates, then traders and evolved into “the most trusted guards of the imperial person”. Later on in the history of the guard more recruits came from other places, specifically England, but in the beginning they were undeniably Scandinavian and Viking.
The Vikings are well known for their exploration of the North Atlantic. School children learn about the discovery of Greenland and what would later become North America by the Vikings. There is even a Spongebob Squarepants episode about Leif Ericson day. However Viking expansion in the East is a relatively unknown topic by most people today. The Vikings did in fact have a large presence in the east, primarily in the form of the Varangian guard. I would like to explore primarily the Viking influence in Italy, looking at how they arrived there and the effect that Vikings have had on the area.
Vikings, being in the sailing and raiding business, had long dabbled in exploration. Once they had raided most of the water accessible Northern parts of the European continent, it was only natural that they would move on into the Mediterranean. First the Vikings attacked Spain in 844 with 100 ships, until a Muslim army eventually defeated them. Later in 859 the Vikings returned with 62 ships, and continued on through Spain and Africa as, “Algecrias was sacked, then the coasts of Morocco, Murcia, the Balearic Islands and Rousillon”. They then wintered in Camargue, before moving on. Once reaching Italy the Vikings “sacked Luna (believing it to be Rome) and sailed up the River Arno to sack Pisa and Fiesole”. After this they went further Middle East, and were again defeated by a Muslim army. Haywood claims that these raiding trips were too costly and that Vikings never returned to the Mediterranean. This is untrue, what he means is they did not raid the Mediterranean anymore.
The Varangian guard was very active in Italy, although it was based primarily in Byzantine. The name Varangian only dates from the mid-10th century and comes from “Old Norse várar, pledge or oath and means ‘man of the pledge’”. They were a band of “mercenary soldiers” from Scandinavia who either came “by the ‘East Way’ also called the ‘Varangian Way’, they came down through Russia by way of the Dnieper and the Black Sea to Constantinople”. Later on they traveled from the West and “opened a path across Europe, either over the Alps or by way of Provence, and so through Italy”. They began as pirates, then traders and evolved into “the most trusted guards of the imperial person”. Later on in the history of the guard more recruits came from other places, specifically England, but in the beginning they were undeniably Scandinavian and Viking.
