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Hi Everyone! You know I have shared Viking History with you. And I will still do that soon! But there are some great Music out there that are based on Norse Culture. If you know about some please add them Here

Hi Its a long time since I have posted any chess Lessons. Recently I have started to play Dutch Defense against D4. And I like it alot. Here are some Material I just found that I want to share.

Canute (Knud) The Great From Viking warrior to English king –Canute (Knud) The Great ‘THE KING WHO COULD NOT STOP THE SEA BUT STEMMED THE VIKING TIDE ON ENGLAND’S SHORES’ Written for The Viking Network by Barrie Markham Rhodes Canute the politician “Let all men know how empty and worthless is the power of kings. For there is none worthy of the name but God, whom heaven, earth and sea obey”. So spoke King Canute the Great, the legend says, seated on his throne on the seashore, waves lapping round his feet. Canute had learned that his flattering courtiers claimed he was “So great, he could command the tides of the sea to go back”. Now Canute was not only a religious man, but also a clever politician. He knew his limitations – even if his courtiers did not – so he had his throne carried to the seashore and sat on it as the tide came in, commanding the waves to advance no further. When they didn’t, he had made his point that, though the deeds of kings might appear ‘great’ in the minds of men, they were as nothing in the face of God’s power. Canute the Viking Who was this man, who started his adult life as a Viking warrior and went on to become the ruler of an empire which, at its height, included England, Denmark, Norway and part of Sweden? Canute (who is known as Knud in Denmark and Knut in Norway) was the son of Svein Forkbeard Canute’s grandfather was Harald Bluetooth and his great-grandfather was King Gorm. In England, in the year 1000, the Saxon King Aethelred plundered the Isle of Man and parts of The Danelaw, to try to crush the independently-minded Scandinavians living there. Aethelred always feared a resurgence of Viking power in England. In 1002 he married Emma, sister of Duke Richard of Normandy. This marriage was probably a ‘political’ one. But Aethelred’s fear of the Scandinavians caused him to make a serious mistake. In the year of his marriage to Emma, perhaps feeling more secure in his new links with the Norman ruling dynasty, he ordered the massacre of all ‘Danish’ men in England. Svein Forkbeard’s sister and his brother-in-law, Pallig, were amongst those killed and this brought Svein to England to avenge their deaths. Svein raided south and east England throughout the years 1003 and 1004, but took his army back to Denmark in 1005 when they could no longer support themselves because of a great famine in England. Svein carried out many more raids for several years after this, extracting vast amounts of silver as ‘Danegeld‘. In 1013 he returned with his son Canute, for a different purpose. This time he intended to conquer England. Though he landed his forces in southern England, he made The Danelaw his first objective, probably recognising that, being ‘Scandinavian’ in character, this province would accept him without too much resistance. He went on to conquer the rest of the country and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle recorded that “…all the nation regarded him as full king”. Aethelred fled to Normandy. Svein, though, died the next year and Aethelred saw a chance to regain his kingdom. He returned from Normandy and managed to expel Svein’s army, now under Canute’s leadership. Canute the king In 1016 Canute returned and was victorious at the Battle of Ashingdon (Ashingdown) over Edmund ‘Ironside’, Aethelred’s eldest son and successor. Canute and Edmund drew up the Treaty of Olney, which allotted The Danelaw and the English midlands to Canute, while Edmund retained control of southern England. This was almost a repeat of what had happened between King Alfred the Great of Wessex and the Vikings in the ninth century. Edmund died shortly after this treaty and so Canute found himself the first Viking king of all England. In 1017 Canute married Aethelred’s widow, Emma. But her two sons by her first marriage remained in Normandy (which was to have far-reaching consequences for England later). Emma had two children by Canute, Harthacnut and Gunhild. Canute was a Christian and very religious-minded. However, this did not stop him having an English mistress, Aelfgifu, who bore him two sons, Harald and Svein A Viking empire emerges Canute’s brother, Harald, King of Denmark, died in 1018 and Canute went to Denmark to secure his hold over that realm. Two years later, Canute started to lay claim to Norway, eventually capturing it and putting his son Svein and his mistress Aelfgifu to govern it. Scotland also submitted to Canute and, by the late 1020s, Canute was able to claim to be ‘king of all England, and of Denmark, of the Norwegians, and part of the Swedes’.Canute was anxious to consolidate political unity in England and, as part of his drive towards this, he razed some of the burghs which had been created to defend southern England against The Danelaw Vikings, and vice versa. It is thought that defensive walls and ditches at Cricklade, Lydford, South Cadbury and Wareham were destroyed as part of this move. Canute’s achievements Most people think of Canute in connection with the story about him commanding the tide to halt. But he should be remembered for more than this. He was perhaps the first king to successfully rule over a truly united realm of England, free from internal and external strife and unrest. Because he also ruled the Viking homelands, he was able to protect England against attacks, maintaining twenty years of badly-needed peace during which trade, Anglo-Scandinavian art and Christianity were able to flourish. Canute had great respect for the old English laws, to which he brought a keen sense of justice and a regard for individual rights. As part of his promotion of himself as an ‘English’ king, he did penance for the wrongdoings of his Viking forefathers, building churches and making many generous gifts to others. The passing of Canute and the Viking empire Canute died in 1035, a relatively young man by today’s measure, aged about forty. He was buried in Winchester, the former capital of the Saxon kingdom of Wessex and a town where he was often in residence. Canute’s sons, unfortunately, were not made of the same stuff as their father so, on his death, the Anglo-Scandinavian empire he had acquired began to break up. Aelfgifu’s son, Harald, became king of England but died in 1040. Harthacnut then ruled for only two years before he, too, died, leaving behind little to remember him by other than the huge taxes he imposed. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle said of him, “He did nothing worthy of a king as long as he ruled”. None of Canute’s children produced any heirs and it was one of Emma’s sons by Aethelred, Edward (later to be known as ‘the Confessor’), who returned from Normandy to ascend to the English throne in 1042.

Chess Video: Dirty chess trick: Tennison Gambit vs Scandinavian Defense

This will be our opponentes in DIVISION D: Bogor #417 hrs ago DIVISION DELTA (10 PLAYERS): Sub-Division Delta 1: HNK Rijeka, SK Lukavac, Team Peru, Team Philippines United, The United States Chess Club, Vladimir Kramnik Club Sub-Division Delta 2: DEORLS!, GOTHIC, Levski Sofia, Pecatur Indonesia, Pinoy Chess Philippines, The Volga Team Sub-Division Delta 3: Croatian Chess Temple, Dansk Fury, Friendship (Дружба), UKM CATUR INDONESIA, VALHALLA, Warriors of the Rainbow

Hi Everyone. Many of you like the TV Show Vikings! I just love it! 30th November the Second Part of Season 4 is back! Season 4 part 11. Please share and discuss your thoughts about this show. I will add some Videos here. RuneTonseth #27 min ago LAST EPISODE Season 4: TIMEJUMP! RAGNAR LOTHBROOK HAVE BEEN AWAY FOR 12 YEARS! now he RETURNS! RuneTonseth #37 min ago NEW SEASON TRAILER! RuneTonseth #42 min ago CHARACTER CATCH UP BJORN IRONSIDE: CHARACTER CATCH UP: CHARACTER CATCHUP! UBBE: CHARACTER CATCHUP: SIGRUD CHARACTER CATCH UP: ROLLO: CHARACTER CATCH UP: FLOKE

Wardruna – Helvegen Lyrics Norwegian—————————————————--English translation Hvem skal synge meg—————————————Who shall sing mei daudsvevna slynge meg———————————-into the death-sleep sling menår eg på Helvegen går————————————When I walk on the Path of Deathog dei spora eg trår er kalda, så kalda—————--and the tracks I tread are cold, so cold Eg songane søkte——————————————-I sought the songsEg songane sende——————————————I sent the songsdå den djupaste brunni————————————when the deepest wellgav meg dråper så ramme——————————--gave me the drops so touchedav Valfaders pant——————————————-of Death-fathers wager Alt veit eg, Odin———————————————--I know it all, Odinvar du gjømde ditt auge————————————where you hid your eye Hvem skal synge meg—————————————Who shall sing mei daudsvevna slynge meg———————————-into the death-sleep sling menår eg på Helvegen går————————————When I walk on the Path of Deathog dei spora eg trår er kalda, så kalda—————--and the tracks I tread are cold, so cold Årle ell i dagars hell—————————————-early in the days endenn veit ravnen om eg fell——————————--still the raven knows if I fall Når du ved Helgrindi står ———————————When you stand by the Gate of Deathog når du laus deg må riva———————————-And you have to tear freeskal eg fylgje deg———————————————--I shall follow youover Gjallarbrua med min song—————————--across the Resounding Bridge with my song Du blir løyst frå banda som bind deg!———————--You will be free from the bonds that bind you!Du er løyst frå banda som batt deg!————————--You are free from the bonds that bound that you! *Quote from Håvamål -- The High Ones Speech, Poetic Edda Døyr fe, døyr frender——————————————-Cattle die, kinsmen dieDøyr sjølv det sama——————————————--You yourself will also diemen ordet om deg aldreg døyr——————————but the word about you will never dievinn du et gjetord gjevt—————————————--if you win a good reputation Døyr fe, døyr frender ——————————————--Cattle die, kinsmen dieDøyr sjølv det sama———————————————-You yourself will also dieEg veit et som aldreg døyr————————————I know one that never diesdom om daudan kvar——————————————-the reputation of those who died

The Varangian Guard The Vikings in Byzantium The Varangian Guard in Byzantium is one of the very few mercenary units whose history can be counted in centuries. The length of their service and the number of battles in which they fought is perhaps only surpassed by the Swiss in the pay of the French. But while the Swiss had only to journey into neighboring France, in times when there were already well-established and regular postal routes and diplomatic missions, the Norsemen had to travel far beyond the boundaries of their known world. From the point of view of the Byzantines, these Norsemen came from a distant land, Thule, told of only in myths and legends. By the 9th Century, Swedish Vikings had travelled along the great rivers into modern-day Russia. They came as traders or as raiders, depending on how they calculated their chances of making profit. They quickly constructed their first fortified trading posts and began subduing the local population. By 850 they had founded their own principalities in Novgorod and Kiev, and the small ruling elite which they managed to form intermarried with Slavic noble families to consolidate their power. The Slavs called the Norsemen "Rus" and soon the word became synonymous for the whole realm united under the leadership of Kiev. The name "Varangian" was also often used, which meant a stranger who had taken military service, or a man who belonged to a union of traders and warriors. Though sometimes both terms were used interchangeably, it became common to use "Rus" as a designation for the established Nordic Slavic nobility who reigned in eastern Europe, while "Varangian" was used for the foreign warriors still arriving from Scandinavia to trade, or offer their swords for hire to the Rus. In their wars and internal feuds the princes of the Rus preferred to recruit new fighters from the north, which was facilitated by existing trade routes and old alliances. Since the Rus came originally as traders and pirates, it was natural that they pushed further down the Dnieper from Kiev. They reached the Black Sea, crossed it and discovered in the riches of Constantinople the true object of their desires. Already by 860 they had made their first attack, followed by others until the last great assault in 1043. But between these unsuccessful attacks the Kievan princes traded with Byzantium, married Byzantine princesses and supplied the Byzantines with mercenaries. It is therefore unsurprising that the sources mention "Russian" mercenaries in Byzantine service even more than they do the numerous Russian raids in the area. This was in the best Viking tradition: if you couldn't conquer your opponent, you traded with him or took his money as a mercenary. In Byzantium the Varangians encountered the only state in medieval Europe whose fiscal organisation permitted regular paying of mercenaries. Besides troops, which were provided by the military districts, the so-called "themes" or "themata", the Byzantines routinely contracted foreigners: Normans, Hungarians, Turks, Lombards, Georgians, Armenians, Arabs, Slavs and many others. The first Rus mercenaries are mentioned in 902 as part of an expedition to Crete. Since the recorded names are all of Nordic origin, it can be assumed that this 700-strong auxiliary force consisted mainly of Varangians. More followed and it appears that the Varangians soon became an integral part of the multi-ethnic conglomerate of the Byzantine army. As a result of internal fights in Kiev the Varagians became firmly established in Byzantium. There Vladimir the youngest of three brothers and pretenders to the throne was forced to flee "across the sea", meaning to Scandinavia. But with the aid of a relative he was able to recruit numerous Varangians who helped him conquer the throne of Kiev. After that he was apparently confronted with the problem that he could not pay his allies, who nonetheless showed little desire to return to their homes. It is said that they impetuously demanded to be shown the way to "Miklagard", as the fabulous Constantinople was called in Scandinavia. It was probably a relief, then, when Basisl II, emperor of Byzantium, asked for military assistance to suppress some serious rebellions. Vladimir sent 6,000 of his restless, quarrelsome warriors to Basil, who was able to consolidate his power with their help. From then on, the Varangians, or the "axe-bearing barbarians", formed the core of the Imperial Bodyguard. In the following years the Varangians fought in Syria, Armenia and Sicily. Not all arriving Norsemen entered the Imperial Guard automatically however. This was a very exclusive unit, whose members received higher pay, could be among the first to loot after a victory, and even had the privilege of plundering the emperor's palace after his death. Moreover, one can well imagine that the Byzantine court offered other important sources of income for people who could possibly reach the Emperor's ear. Positions in the Guard were therefore sold for good money, and many newcomers from Scandinavia served in other units until they had collected the necessary capital. In battle the Guard proved itself again and again, quickly earning a reputation for being the elite of the Byzantine army. Thus a Byzantine chronicler tells of the fighting in southern Italy in 1018 against Lombards and Normans: "When the Emperor learned that brave knights had invaded his country, he sent his best soldiers against them. In the first three battles the Normans were victorious. But when they encountered the Rus, they were defeated and their army was completely destroyed." In the Battle of Beroe (1122) against the Pechenegs, when all other troops had failed to break the circled wagon train of the Pechenegs, the officers cried finally for the "Emperor's wineskins", as the guardsmen were sometimes called due to their habit of heavy drinking. Although heavily outnumbered they broke the circle and slaughtered numerous enemies. They were especially appreciated, however, for their loyalty. According to Anna Comnena, the Greek princess and a major source of information regarding Byzantine history, they passed down this loyalty from generation to generation almost like a sacred heritage. As foreigners, they didn't have much to do with the cabals and intrigues at the Byzantine court. In addition, they were probably brought up from childhood to be loyal and faithful to those who paid and rewarded them. And of course one should not underestimate the exotic charm of a Guard of such barbaric giants with their foreign weaponry amidst the highly ceremonial Byzantine court. Even the Roman Emperors Caligula and Nero kept a Germanic guard, which they appreciated for courage, loyalty and above all, height. When the Varangians had become a permanent institution, the connections between Scandinavia and Byzantium proved ideal for the recruitment of mercenaries. On the one hand there was the rich empire with its constant need for reliable troops, and on the other the poor rural regions of Scandanavia where the warlike population was looking all over Northern Europe for ways to make their fortune. The Varangians from Sweden were soon joined by those from Denmark and Norway. Some even made their way from distant Iceland. A number of inscriptions on runestones in Scandinavia bear testament to the fate of these lost sons. One reads, for example: "In memory of Folkbjôrn who died in Greece"; and another: "Raised by Vefar in memory of her brother, who died in Arabia." Fewer, however, record the good fortune of those like a certain Mursi: "He made a lot of money for his heirs in Greece." Nevertheless it seems that those who returned with a fortune were the best advertisement for new recruits seeking to enlist. So the Icelandic Laxdaela Saga tells of a certain Bolli Bollason who went to Byzantium and there climbed the ranks to become an officer of the Varangian Guard. His homecoming in 1030 is described in the following way: "Bolli brought back with him much wealth, and many precious things that lords abroad had given him. Bolli was so great a man for show when he came back from this journey that he would wear no clothes but those made of scarlet and fur, and all his weapons were bedight with gold: he was called Bolli the Great. [...] Bolli rode from the ship with twelve men, and all his followers were dressed in scarlet, and rode on gilt saddles, and all were a trusty band, though Bolli was peerless among them. He had on the clothes of fur which the Garth-king (Emperor) had given him, he had over all a scarlet cape; and he had Footbiter girt on him, the hilt of which was dight with gold, and the grip woven with gold; he had a gilded helmet on his head, and a red shield on his flank, with a knight painted on it in gold. He had a dagger in his hand, as is the custom in foreign lands; and whenever they took quarters the women paid heed to nothing but gazing at Bolli and his grandeur, and that of his followers." One can imagine the repercussions of such stories in poverty-stricken Iceland, where, even as recently as the 20th century, people were living in caves, dried fish were a staple food and boiled sheep heads a delicacy. But poverty wasn't the only reason for the long journey. Byzantium also became a hideaway for those who were on the run from the law or a blood feud, or those who had to go into exile after a change of power at home. The most famous of these was Harald Sigurdsson, later better known as Harald Hardrada, King of Norway. He was the younger half-brother of the Norwegian King Olaf II and had to flee after the latter was defeated at Stiklestad in 1030. Like many of these princes in exile who tried their luck as leaders of mercenaries, in time he gathered around him some retainers and was able to rally other émigrés. This freed him from starting his career as a simple mercenary and provided him with a whole troop of experienced warriors loyal to him alone. From Sweden Harald went first to Kiev where he stayed for several years in the service of Prince Jaroslav, until 1034 when he arrived with 500 men in Byzantium. Harald wasn't accepted into the Varangian Guard straight away, perhaps because he couldn't pay the fee or he tried to bring too many of his followers with him. Instead he and his men were used in the navy to fight Arabian pirates. After, from 1038 to 1041, they fought under the famous Byzantine general George Maniakes in Sicily against the Arabs. The wealthy towns there offered many opportunities for pillaging. One Saga in particular relates how Harald's men stormed a town, "killing the men, plundering all the churches, and taking immense booty." Harald become famous in the course of the war and most likely entered the Guard as an officer after his return to Constantinople. In the meantime he had amassed great riches. The Heimskringla tells that he sent a huge quantity of treasure to Prince Jaroslav of Kiev for safekeeping. A good part of it came from Sicily, but he had also made a lot of money fighting against the pirates. After the war in Sicily he fought in Bulgaria, and was then used along with his unit as a tax collector, which also offered great opportunities for enrichment. It seems that Harald took advantage of this extensively, because he was finally thrown into prison for embezzlement. Two Icelanders who served as officers in the Guard shared his fate. The Guard, who considered such misappropriations as their given right, was apparently outraged, for it is reported that the new Emperor Michael V replaced his Varangian bodyguards with Scythian slaves. Through these events the Varangians lost a lot of influence. They remained in their barracks sullenly while their officers conspired against the new government, and an opportunity soon presented itself. When Michael V ousted the brother of the deceased emperor, the powerful eunuch John, and the Dowager Empress Zoe, he incited huge popular uprisings in Constantinople, which some Varangians apparently joined. Accounts of even the first attack on the palace mention warriors with axes. While the battle raged around the palace, conspirators freed some of the most important prisoners, among them Harald, so as to ensure the loyalty of the Guard. In the meantime the defenders of the palace had been able to drive back the masses with the help of archers, and soon received reinforcement from troops arriving from Sicily. It is probable that there were also Varangians among these reinforcements, so that they now fought on both sides. It would have been Harald's job and that of the other officers to persuade the newcomers to switch sides and join the rebellion. It seems they were successful, as the palace was finally taken after a particularly bloody battle. The Varangians formed the spearhead, forcing their way to the chapel with their axes, where they seized the Emperor and his uncle at the altar. Shortly after, the two were blinded according to Byzantine tradition. It's quite likely that the Varangians carried out this mutilation as a kind of vengeance and to demonstrate their loyalty to the new emperor. In some Nordic poems it's even stated that Harald did it himself:Stung tho Greek emperor's eyes both out:The Norse king's mark will not adorn,The Norse king's mark gives cause to mourn;His mark the Eastern king must bear,Groping his sightless way in fear. It's little surprise that thereafter Harald regained all of his former titles and no one dared to speak of his previous embezzlement. He took advantage of the fighting for the palace and the subsequent purge to plunder and amass still further riches. Soon after he learned that the son of his deceased brother Magnus had claimed the Norwegian throne. He apparently came to the conclusion that he himself, as an experienced warrior, would be better suited to the position and set out for Norway. According to the legends the Emperor wouldn't allow him to leave and he had to escape in secret with the help of a lover. But it's more likely that he used a campaign to clear out with his troops to Kiev. There he remained for some time and married the daughter of Prince Jaroslav until he returned to Norway, where he became king in 1047. In 1066 the old warrior fell in the Battle of Stamford Bridge in the attempt to conquer England. Harald's example illustrates that the Varangians were sometimes drawn into internal struggles for power. That they took side against the emperor remained an exception that can only be explained by the fact that they were previously deprived of privileges and some popular officers were thrown into prison. When the Byzantine army went in 1071 to the disastrous Battle of Manzikert, the Frankish and Norman knights mutinied while still on the march, and succeeded later in avoiding the battle itself. The Varangians, however, on that day fell, almost to the last man, guarding the emperor, who was subsequently taken prisoner. Also in 1081, during fighting for the imperial crown between Nicephorus and Alexius, the Varangians were almost the only ones who remained loyal to Nikephoros, while his German mercenaries secretly opened a door to Constantinople for Alexios. The reign of Alexios brought some important changes. It seems that the traditional supply route along the Russian rivers and from Kiev dried up slowly. Later the state of the Kievan Rus disintegrated into various rival regional powers. On the other hand, pilgrimages to the Holy Land became more popular as the maritime routes from Northern Europe to the Mediterranean developed. Of course, there were still Varangians arriving from Kiev, but the share of Slavic-speaking warriors among them was growing rapidly. Many were pure Slavs, while others were the descendants of former Norsemen who had by then been living for generations in Eastern Europe. Nonetheless, warriors with a different origin began to arrive on the scene. After the Normans had conquered England in 1066, many of the established families preferred to seek their fortune in foreign lands. At first it seems that most of these exiles from England had Danish origins from the so-called Danelaw, and they subsequently followed the footsteps of their Danish cousins to Byzantium. But soon many Anglo-Saxons followed also, often making up the majority of the Guard. A chronicler at this point distinguishes between "Inglinoi", "Rhos" and "Vrangoi", ie between Anglo-Saxons, Russians and Scandinavians. But the most significant change was with the arrival of the Normans in Italy, when Byzantium encountered a new and particularly dangerous opponent. Like the Kievan Rus the Normans had their origin in Scandinavia, but had settled in Normandy were they adapted more quickly than the Rus to the country's language and customs. From there, some had made their way to southern Italy, where they - much like the Varangians - first tried to loot the Byzantines and when that didn't work, served them as mercenaries. Harald Hardrada fought under the command of the Byzantine general George Maniakes side by side with the three sons of Tancred of Hauteville, Drogo, William Iron Arm and Humphrey. Meanwhile the Normans had not only displaced the Byzantines from Apulia and Calabria, but also conquered Sicily. Far from satisfied, they spotted in the Byzantine Empire, hard-hit by the Turks and exhausted from the internal struggles, a really worthwhile prey. After Robert Guiscard (another son of Tancred) had united all Norman domains under his rule, in 1080 he began to muster a strong invasion force mobilizing nearly all men who could carry weapons in southern Italy. The following year he ferried his army over to Dalmatia and besieged Dyrrhachium (Durazzo). The Emperor Alexius finally brought up a relief army including the Varangian Guard as the backbone, in which many Anglo-Saxon exiles who had fled their country after the Norman conquest were serving. In the ensuing battle the Byzantine troops were driven back or routed and only the Varangians, who formed the left wing, attacked with such zeal that the Normans began to retreat. One can imagine that more than anything the Anglo-Saxons enjoyed the opportunity to settle some old scores with the Normans. Soon the whole Norman wing was on the run from the fierce onslaught of the axe-swinging Varangians. Only the personal intervention of Roberts Guiscard's wife, the Lombard princess Sikelgaita, saved the day. Like a true Valkyrie she fought in full armour, rallying the fleeing Normans. Meanwhile Robert came up with the reserves and attacked the far advanced and exhausted Varangians in their flank. Cut off from the rest of the army and attacked from several sides, they retreated to a nearby church, which was then set on fire by the Normans, so that most of them perished in the flames. The battle was lost and Alexius was lucky to escape with the rest of his army. Byzantium survived this crisis as well, funding uprisings in southern Italy and a new expedition to Rome by the German Emperor. Nevertheless the demand for warriors from the north remained unchanged. But at this time no more recruits arrived via Kiev and this traditional supply route was replaced by the Crusades. Scandinavians in transit could be easily recruited, sometimes even whole units. It is reported that a Danish prince called Sveno entered the Imperial service with 1,500 men. It seems that the Byzantines employed Varangians as agents, who searched the port cities for compatriots, distributed wine and presents and painted serving the Emperor in the brightest colors. When, for example, the Count of the Orkney Islands passed through with six ships during the Second Crusade all his men were enticed away. The Count himself received lavish gifts and finally returned by land to his own country. If enough men couldn't be recruited among Crusaders and pilgrims, Varangian officers were sent as ambassadors to the kings of Norway, Sweden and Denmark to ask for warriors. But the Crusades also brought about the end of the Varangian Guard. In 1203 Venice succeeded in using the whole crusader army for the conquest of Constantinople. As a consequence of the usual internal intrigues the only reliable troops on the Byzantine side where the foreigners: the Guard - mostly English and Danish by this time - and the Pisans, who defended their trade privileges against Venice. When the Crusaders managed to enter the city in their first major assault, they suffered heavy losses and were driven back by the Varangians. As so often happened, the rot started at the top. When Emperor Alexius III snuck away from Constantinople with his treasures, the Varangians were persuaded by the Imperial Treasurer to free the blinded opponent Isaac II from jail. Then Isaac's son, who was the Venetian candidate for the throne was crowned as Alexius IV. Unfortunately he had already made the Crusaders huge promises of land and money. While he tried to raise the necessary money, the Crusaders plundered the surrounding countryside, and in the city a profound hatred of the Latins and their protégé Alexius IV grew. Finally there was a palace coup in which, with the help of Varangians, a new candidate won the throne as Alexius V. He had secured their assistance by explaining to them that they would otherwise be replaced by Frankish knights. Because the prior promises of Alexius IV with the Crusaders were now revoked, the Crusaders started their final assault in April 1204. When they entered the city at various points, the Varangians retreated with the Emperor to the palace. Here they held their ground until the emperor and large parts of the nobility secretly left the city. After negotiations they surrendered to the Crusaders, and one can assume that many of them found further employment there. Afterwards there is no more firm evidence of the use of Scandinavians in Byzantine service. The Imperial Guard was later formed by Cretans.

#1011 hrs ago

ROLF KRAKE Hrólfr Kraki From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia "Rolf Krake" redirects here. For the warship, see Danish ironclad Rolf Krake. Hrólfr Kraki spreading gold to escape the Swedes, by Jenny Nyström (1895). Hrólfr Kraki, Hroðulf, Rolfo, Roluo, Rolf Krage (early 6th century[1]) was a legendary Danish king who appears in both Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian tradition. His name would in his own language (Proto-Norse) have been *Hrōþiwulfaz[2] (famous wolf). Both traditions describe him as a Danish Scylding, the nephew of Hroðgar and the grandson of Healfdene. The consensus view is that Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian traditions describe the same people.[3] Whereas the Anglo-Saxon Beowulf and Widsithdo not go further than treating his relationship with Hroðgar and their animosity with Froda and Ingeld, the Scandinavian sources expand on his life as the king at Lejre and on his relationship with Halga, Hroðgar's brother. In Beowulf and Widsith, it is never explained how Hroðgar and Hroðulf are uncle and nephew, but in the Scandinavian tradition, Halga conceived Hroðulf by raping Yrsa, not knowing that she was his own daughter. Contents [hide] 1Beowulf 1.1Hrólf and Hroðulf 1.2Beowulf and Bjarki 1.3Hrothgar and Hróar 2Widsith 3Chronicon Lethrense and Annales Lundenses 4Gesta Danorum 5Hrólfr Kraki's saga 6Skjöldunga saga 7Skáldskaparmál 8Ynglinga saga 9Gróttasöngr 10Gautreks saga 11Modern references 12Notes 13Bibliography and external links Beowulf[edit] Hrólf Kraki Tradition Hrólf Kraki's saga Ynglinga saga Lejre Chronicle Gesta Danorum Beowulf People Hrólfr Kraki Halfdan Helgi Yrsa Adils Áli Bödvar Bjarki Hjörvard Roar Locations Lejre Uppsala Fyrisvellir The poem Beowulf introduces Hroðulf as kinsman.[4] Later, the text explains that Hroðulf is Hroðgar's nephew and that "each was true to the other".[5] Hroðgar is given three siblings, brothers Heorogar and Halga and an unnamed sister, all the children of Healfdene and belonging to the royal clan known as the Scyldings.[6] The poem does not indicate which of Hroðgar's siblings is Hroðulf's parent, but later Scandinavian tradition establishes this as Halga. Hroðgar and queen Wealhþeow had two young sons, Hreðric and Hroðmund, and Hroðulf would be their guardian in case Hroðgar dies. In a deliberately ironic passage[7]it appears that the queen trusts Hroðulf, not suspecting that he will murder her sons to claim the throne for himself: --Ic minne can glædne Hroðulf, þæt he þa geogoðe wile arum healdan, gyf þu ?r þonne he, wine Scildinga, worold ofl?test; wene ic, þæt he mid gode gyldan wille uncran eaferan, gif he þæt eal gemon, hwæt wit to willan and to worð-myndum umbor wesendum ?r arna gefremedon.[8] --For gracious I deem my Hrothulf, willing to hold and rule nobly our youths, if thou yield up first, prince of Scyldings, thy part in the world. I ween with good he will well requite offspring of ours, when all he minds that for him we did in his helpless days of gift and grace to gain him honor![9] No existence of any Hreðric or Hroðmund, sons of Hroðgar, has survived in Scandinavian sources (although Hreðric has been suggested to be the same person as Hroerekr/Roricus, a Danish king generally described as a son or successor of Ingjald.[10]) This Hroerekr is sometimes said to have been killed by Hrólfr, vindicating the foreshadowing in Beowulf. The Scyldings were in conflict with another clan or tribe named the Heaðobards led by their king Froda and his son Ingeld. It is in relation to this war that Hroðulf is mentioned in the other Anglo-Saxon poem where he appears, Widsith. Hrólf and Hroðulf[edit] A common identification is that Hrólf Kraki is the same as the character Hroðulf(Hroðgar's nephew) in Beowulf. There seems to be some foreshadowing in Beowulf that Hroðulf will attempt to usurp the throne from Hroðgar's sons Hreðric and Hroðmund, a deed that also seems to be referred to in Saxo Grammaticus's Gesta Danorum (Book 2), where we find: "... our king, who laid low Rorik, the son of Bok the covetous, and wrapped the coward in death." Rorik is the form we would expect Hreðric to take in Danish and we find personages named Rorik or Hrok or similar in most version of the Hrólf Kraki tradition but differently accounted for, seemingly indicating that Scandinavian tradition had forgotten who exactly Hreðric/Rorik/Hrok was and various story tellers subsequently invented details to explain references to this personage in older poems. The future slaying of Hreðric may be the occasion of the future burning of the hall of Heorot in the beginning of the poem – though some take it instead to refer to the legendary death of Hrólf Kraki, who in Icelandic sources is said to have died in the burning of his hall by his brother-in-law Hjörvard. Beowulf and Bjarki[edit] The standard view is that, if Beowulf himself has a 'cognate' character in Rolf Kraki's story, it is Bödvar Bjarki (Bodvar Biarke),[11] who also has a younger companion, Hjalti (Hialte) – perhaps matching the Beowulf character Wiglaf. Beowulf comes from Geatland (= Götaland) and one of Bödvar Bjarki's elder brothers, Thorir, becomes a king of Götaland. Moreover, like Beowulf, Bödvar Bjarki arrives in Denmark from Götaland (Geatland), and upon arriving in Denmark he kills a beast that has been ravaging the Danish court for two years. The monster in Hrólf Kraki's saga, however, is quite unlike the Grendel of Beowulf; but it does have characteristics of a more typical dragon, a creature which appears later in Beowulf. Just as Beowulf and Wiglaf slay a dragon at the end of Beowulf, Bödvar Bjarki and Hjalti help each other slay the creature in Denmark. Proponents of this theory, like J. R. R. Tolkien,[12] argue that both the names Beowulf(lit. "bee-wolf", a kenning for "bear") and Bjarki are associated with bears. Bodvar Bjarki is constantly associated with bears, his father actually being one. In some of the Hrólf Kraki material, Bödvar Bjarki aids Adils in defeating Adils' uncle Áli, in the Battle on the Ice of Lake Vänern. In Beowulf, the hero Beowulf aids Eadgils in Eadgils' war against Onela. As far as this Swedish adventure is concerned, Beowulf and Bödvar Bjarki are one and the same. This match supports the hypothesis that the adventure with the dragon is also originally derived from the same story. Hrothgar and Hróar[edit] As for the king of the Danes, Hroðgar, he is identical to Hróar or Ro, the uncle of Hrólf Kraki who in other sources outside of Beowulf rules as a co-king with his brother Helgi. But in those sources it is Hróar/Hroðgar who dies before his brother or who departs to Northumberland to rule his wife's kingdom leaving Helgi/Halga the sole rule of Denmark. In Beowulf Halga/Helgi has died and Hroðgar is the primary ruler with Hroðulf son of Halga as a junior co-ruler. Furthermore, the Swedish kings referenced in Beowulf are adequately matched with the 5th and 6th century Swedish kings in Uppsala (see also Swedish semi-legendary kings): This has obviously nothing to do with a common origin of the Beowulf and Hrólf Kraki legends in particular but simply reflects a shared genealogical tradition. Beowulf Hrólf Kraki, Heimskringla etc. Relation Ongenþeow Egil (Angantyr) father of Ottar and Ale Ohthere Ottar brother of Áli Onela Áli brother of Ottar Eadgils Adils son of Ottar Widsith[edit] The poem Widsith also mentions Hroðgar and Hroðulf, but indicates that the feud with Ingeld did not end until the latter was defeated at Heorot: lines 45–59: Hroþwulf ond Hroðgar heoldon lengest Hroðulf and Hroðgar held the longest sibbe ætsomne suhtorfædran, peace together, uncle and nephew, siþþan hy forwræcon wicinga cynn since they repulsed the Viking-kin ond Ingeldes ord forbigdan, and Ingeld to the spear-point made bow, forheowan æt Heorote Heaðobeardna þrym. hewn at Heorot Heaðobard's army. This piece suggests that the conflict between the Scyldings Hroðgar and Hroðulf on one side, and the Heaðobards Froda and Ingeld on the other, was well known in Anglo-Saxon England. This conflict also appears in Scandinavian sources, but in the Norse tradition the Heaðobards had apparently been forgotten and the conflict is instead rendered as a family feud (see Hrólf Kraki's saga and Skjöldunga saga). Chronicon Lethrense and Annales Lundenses[edit] Heoroweard and Hrólfr Kraki, by Jenny Nyström (1895). The Chronicon Lethrense and the included Annales Lundenses tell that Haldan (Healfdene) had two sons, Helghe (Halga) and Ro (Hroðgar). When Haldan died of old age, Helghe and Ro divided the kingdom so that Ro ruled the land, and Helghe the sea. One day, Helghe arrived in Halland/Lolland[13] and slept with Thore, the daughter of one of Ro's farmers. This resulted in a daughter named Yrse. Much later, he met Yrse, and without knowing that she was his daughter, he made her pregnant with Rolf. Eventually, Helghe found out that Yrse was his own daughter and, out of shame, went east and killed himself. Both Helghe and Ro being dead, a Swedish king, called Hakon in the Chronicon Lethrenseproper, and Athisl in the Annales – corresponding to Eadgils – forced the Danes to accept a dog as king. The dog kingwas succeeded by Rolf Krage. Rolf Krage was a big man in body and soul and was so generous that no one asked him for anything twice. His sister Skulda was married against Rolf's will to Hartwar or Hiarwarth (Heoroweard), a German earl of Skåne, but reputedly Rolf had given Skulda to him together with Sweden. This Hartwar arrived in Zealand with a large army and said that he wanted to give his tribute to Rolf, but killed Rolf together with all his men. Only one survived, Wigg, who played along until he was to do homage to Hartwar. Then, he pierced Hartwar with a sword, and so Hartwar was king for only one morning. Gesta Danorum[edit] The Book 2 of the Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus contains roughly the same information as the Chronicon Lethrense and the Annales Lundenses, i.e. that Ro (Hroðgar) and Helgo (Halga) were the son of Haldanus (Healfdene). When Haldanus died of old age, Ro took the land and Helgo the water. One day during his sea roving, Helgo arrived at Thurø, where he found and raped the young girl Thora, which resulted in Urse (Yrsa). When Helgo after many years returned to Thurø, Thora avenged her lost virginity by sending Urse to Helgo who, unknowingly raped his own daughter. This resulted in Roluo, who was a gifted man, both physically and intellectually and as brave as he was tall. After some time Helgo repelled a Swedish invasion, avenged Ro by killing the Swedish king Hothbrodd, and made the Swedes pay tribute. However, he committed suicide due to shame for his incestuous relationship with Urse. Roluo succeeded him. The new king of Sweden, Athislus (Eadgils), thought that the tribute to the Daner might be smaller if he married the Danish king's mother and so took Urse for a queen. However, after some time, Urse was so upset with the Swedish king's greed that she thought out a ruse to run away from the king and at the same time liberate him of his wealth. She incited Athislus to rebel against Roluo, and arranged so that Roluo would be invited and promised a wealth in gifts. At the banquet Roluo was at first not recognised by his mother, but when their fondness was commented on by Athisl, the Swedish king and Roluo made a wager where Roluo would prove his endurance. Roluo was placed in front of a fire that exposed him to such heat that finally a maiden could suffer the sight no more and extinguished the fire. Roluo was greatly recompensed by Athisl for his endurance. When the banquet had lasted for three days, Urse and Roluo escaped from Uppsala, early in the morning in carriages where they had put all the Swedish king's treasure. In order to lessen their burden, and to occupy any pursuing warriors they spread gold in their path (later in the work, this is referred to as "sowing the Fyrisvellir"), although there was a rumour that she only spread gilded copper. When Athislus, who was pursuing the escapers saw that a precious ring was lying on the ground, he bent down to pick it up. Roluo was pleased to see the king of Sweden bent down, and escaped in the ships with his mother. A young man named Wigg was impressed with Roluo's bodily size and gave him the cognomen Krage, which meant a tall tree trunk used as a ladder. Roluo liked this name and rewarded Wigg with a heavy bracelet. Wigg, then, swore to Roluo to avenge him, if he was killed. Roluo later defeated Athislus and gave Sweden to young man named Hiartuar (Heoroweard), who also married Roluo's sister Skulde. Skulde, however, did not like the fact that her husband had to pay taxes to Roluo and so incited Hiartuar to rebel against him. They so went to Lejre (a town which Roluo had built) with arms hidden in the ships, under the pretense that they wanted to pay tribute. They were well-received, but after the banquet, when most people were drunk asleep, the Swedes and the Goths (i.e. the Geats) proceeded to kill everyone at Roluo's residence. After a long battle, involving Roluo's champion Bjarki, who fought in the shape of a spirit bear until he was awakened by his comrade Hjalti, the Geats won and Roluo was killed. Hiartuar asked Wigg if he wanted to fight for him, and Wigg said yes. Hiartuar wanted to give Wigg a sword, but he insisted on receiving it by taking the hilt. Having the hilt in his hand, Wigg pierced Hiartuar with the sword and so avenged Roluo. Swedes and Geats then rushed forward and killed Wigg. The Swedish king Høtherus (based on the god Höðr), the brother of Athislus, succeeded Roluo and became the king of a combined Sweden and Denmark. Hrólfr Kraki's saga[edit] In Hrólfr Kraki's saga, Halfdan (Healfdene) had three children, the sons Helgi (Halga) and Hróarr (Hroðgar) and the daughter Signý. The sister was the eldest and married to Sævil Jarl, with whom she had the son Hrókr. Halfdan was murdered by his own brother Fróði (Froda) and the two brothers had to seek refuge with a man called Vivil on an island, until they could avenge their father and kill Fróði. Whereas Hróarr moved to Northumbria and married the king's daughter, Helgi (i.e. Halga) went to the Saxonswanting to woo their warlike queen Oluf. She was, however, not interested and humiliated Helgi by shaving his head and covering him with tar, while he was asleep, and sending him back to his ship. Some time later, Helgi returned and through a ruse, he kidnapped the queen for a while during which time he made her pregnant. Having returned to her kingdom, the queen bore a child, a girl which she named Yrsa after her dog. Yrsa was set to live as a shepherd, until she was 12 years old, when she met her father Helgi who fell in love with her, not knowing it was his daughter. Oluf kept quiet about the parentage and saw it as her revenge that Helgi would wed his own daughter. Helgi and Yrsa had the son Hrólfr. Learning that Helgi and Yrsa lived happily together, queen Oluf travelled to Denmark to tell her daughter the truth. Yrsa was shocked and although Helgi wanted their relationship to remain as it was, Yrsa insisted on leaving him to live alone. She was later taken by the Swedish king Aðils (Eadgils) as his queen, which made Helgi even more unhappy. Helgi went to Uppsala to fetch her, but was killed by Aðils in battle. In Lejre, he was succeeded by his son Hrólfr. Hrólfr soon assembled twelve great berserkers named Hrómundr harði, Hrólfr skjóthendi, Svipdagr, Beigaðr, Hvítserkr inn hvati, Haklangr, Harðrefill, Haki inn frækni, Vöttr inn mikilaflaði, Starólfr, Hjalti inn hugprúði and Bödvar Bjarki. After some time, Bödvar Bjarki encouraged Hrólfr to go Uppsala to claim the gold that Aðils had taken from Helgi after the battle. Hrólfr departed with 120 men and his twelve berserkers and during a rest they were tested by a farmer called Hrani (Odin in disguise) who advised Hrólfr to send back all his troops but his twelve berserkers, as numbers would not help him against Aðils. They were at first well received, but in his hall, Aðils did his best to stop Hrólfr with pit traps and hidden warriors who attacked the Danes. Finally Aðils entertained them but put them to a test where they had to endure immense heat by a fire. Hrólfr and his berserkers finally had enough and threw the courtiers, who were feeding the fire, into the fire and leapt at Aðils. The Swedish king disappeared through a hollow tree trunk that stood in his hall. Hrólfr Kraki and his warriors leap across the flames. Illustration by the Danish Lorenz Frølichin a 19th-century book. Yrsa admonished Aðils for wanting to kill her son, and went to meet the Danes. She gave them a man named Vöggr to entertain them. This Vöggr remarked that Hrólfr had the thin face of a pole ladder, a Kraki. Happy with his new cognomen Hrólfr gave Vöggr a golden ring, and Vöggr swore to avenge Hrólfr if anyone should kill him. Hrólfr and his company were then attacked by a troll in the shape of a boar in the service of Aðils, but Hrólfr's dog Gram killed it. They then found out that Aðils had set the hall on fire, and so they broke out of the hall, only to find themselves surrounded by heavily armed warriors in the street. After a fight, king Aðils retreated to summon reinforcements. Yrsa then provided her son with a silver drinking horn filled with gold and jewels and a famous ring, Svíagris. Then she gave Hrólf and his men twelve of the Swedish king's best horses, and all the armour and provisions they needed. Hrólfr took a fond farewell of his mother and departed over the Fyrisvellir. When they saw Aðils and his warriors in pursuit, they spread the gold behind themselves. Aðils saw his precious Svíagris on the ground and stooped to pick it up with his spear, whereupon Hrólf cut his back with his sword and screamed in triumph that he had bent the back of the most powerful man in Sweden. Hrólfr lived in peace for some time. However, his half-elven half-sister Skuld was married to Hjörvarðr (Heoroweard) one of Hrólfr's subkings, and she began to turn her husband against Hrólfr. Under the pretext that they would wait three years before paying the accumulated tribute at one time, Skuld assembled a large army which included strong warriors, criminals, elves and norns. She used seiðr (witchcraft) to hide the great muster from Hrólfr and his champions. They then arrived at Lejre one yule for the midwinter celebrations, with all the weapons hidden in wagons. A fight started and like in the account found in Gesta Danorum, Bödvar Bjarki fought in the shape of a spirit bear until he was awakened by Hjalti. Skuld used her witchcraft to resuscitate her fallen warriors and after a long fight Hrólfr and all his berserkers fell. Skuld became the ruler of Denmark but did not rule well. Bödvar Bjarki's brothers Elk-Froði and Þorir Houndsfoot went to Denmark to avenge their brother. The Swedish queen Yrsa gave them a large Swedish army headed by Vöggr. They captured Skuld before she could use her magic and tortured her to death. Then they raised a mound for Hrólfr Kraki where he was buried together with his sword Skofnung. Skjöldunga saga[edit] Hrólf's parents Halga and Yrsa, by Jenny Nyström (1895). The Skjöldunga saga[14][15] relates that Helgo (Halga) was the king of Denmark together with his brother Roas (Hroðgar). Helgo raped Olava, the queen of the Saxons, and she bore a daughter named Yrsa. The girl later married king Adillus (Eadgils), the king of Sweden, with whom she had the daughter Scullda. Some years later, Helgo attacked Sweden and captured Yrsa, not knowing that she was his own daughter. He raped her and took her back to Denmark, where she bore the son Rolfo. After a few years, Yrsa's mother, queen Olava, came to visit her and told her that Helgo was her own father. In horror, Yrsa returned to Adillus, leaving her son behind. Helgo died when Rolfo was eight years old, and Rolfo succeeded him, and ruled together with his uncle Roas. Not much later, Roas was killed by his half-brothers Rærecus and Frodo, whereupon Rolfo became the sole king of Denmark. In Sweden, Yrsa and Adillus married Scullda to the king of Öland, Hiørvardus (also called Hiorvardus and Hevardus, and who corresponds to Heoroweard in Beowulf). As her half-brother Rolfo was not consulted about this marriage, he was infuriated and he attacked Öland and made Hiørvardus and his kingdom tributary to Denmark. After some time Adillus requested Rolfo's aid against king Ale (Onela) of Oppland, and Rolfo sent him his berserkers. Adillus then won the war, but refused to pay the expected tribute for the help and so Rolfo came to Uppsala to claim his recompense. After surviving some traps, Rolfo fled with Adillus' gold, helped by his mother Yrsa, and "sowed" it on the Fyrisvellir. Hiørvardus and his queen Skullda rebelled against Rolfo and killed him. However, Hiørvardus did not live long after this and was killed. Rolfo was succeeded by his father's cousin Rörek, who, however, had to leave Skåne to Valdar and could only keep Zealand. Skáldskaparmál[edit] "Rolf Krake sår guld på Fyrisvall" (1830) by Huge Hamilton. Hrolf Kraki fleeing the Swedish king Adils on the Fýrisvellir. In the Skáldskaparmál by Snorri Sturluson, the story of Hrólfr Kraki is presented in order to explain why gold was known by the kenning Kraki's seed. Snorri relates that Hrólfr was the most renowned king in Denmark for valour, generosity and graciousness. One day a poor boy called Vöggr arrived and expressed his surprise that such a great king would look like a little pole (kraki). Hrólfr said that Vöggr had given him a name and gave Vöggr a golden ring in recompense. In gratitude Vöggr swore to Hrólfr to avenge him, should he be killed. A second tale was when the king of Sweden, Aðils (Eadgils), was in war with a Norwegian king named Áli (Onela), and they fought in the Battle on the Ice of Lake Vänern. Aðils was married to Yrsa, the mother of Hrólfr and so sent an embassy to Hrólfr asking him for help against Áli. He would receive three valuable gifts in recompense. Hrólfr was involved in a war against the Saxonsand could not come in person but sent his twelve berserkers. Áli died in the war, and Aðils took Áli's helmet Battle-boar and his horse Raven. The berserkers demanded three pounds of gold each in pay, and they demanded to choose the gifts that Aðils had promised Hrólfr, that is the two pieces of armour that nothing could pierce: the helmet battle-boar and the mailcoat Finn's heritage. They also wanted the famous ring Svíagris. Aðils considered the pay outrageous and refused. When Hrólfr heard that Aðils refused to pay, he set off to Uppsala. They brought the ships to the river Fyris and rode directly to the Swedish king's hall at Uppsala with his twelve berserkers. Yrsa welcomed them and led them to their lodgings. Fires were prepared for them and they were given drinks. However, so much wood was heaped on the fires that the clothes started to burn away from their bodies. Hrólfr and his men had enough and threw the courtiers on the fire. Yrsa arrived and gave them a horn full of gold, the ring Svíagris and asked them to flee. As they rode over the Fyrisvellir, they saw Aðils and his men pursuing them. The fleeing men threw their gold on the plain so that the pursuers would stop to collect the gold. Aðils, however, continued the chase on his horse Slöngvir. Hrólfr then threw Svíagris and saw how Aðils stooped down to pick up the ring with his spear. Hrólfr exclaimed that he had seen the mightiest man in Sweden bend his back. Ynglinga saga[edit] The Skjöldunga saga[15] was used by Snorri Sturluson as a source when he told the story of Aðils (Eadgils) and Yrsa, in his Ynglinga saga, a part of the Heimskringla. What remains of the Skjöldunga saga is a Latin summary by Arngrímur Jónsson, and so the two versions are basically the same, the main difference being that Arngrímur's version is more terse. Snorri relates that Aðils betook himself to pillage the Saxons, whose king was Geirþjófr and queen Alof the Great. The king and consort were not at home, and so Aðils and his men plundered their residence at ease driving cattle and captives down to the ships. One of the captives was a remarkably beautiful girl named Yrsa, and Snorri writes that everyone was soon impressed with the well-mannered, pretty and intelligent girl. Most impressed was Aðils who made her his queen. Some years later, Helgi (Halga), who ruled in Lejre, attacked Sweden and captured Yrsa. He raped Yrsa, his own daughter, and took her back to Lejre, where she bore him the son Hrólfr. When the boy was three years of age, Yrsa's mother, queen Alof of Saxony, came to visit her and told her that her husband Helgi was her own father. Horrified, Yrsa returned to Aðils, leaving her son behind, and stayed in Sweden for the rest of her life. When Hrólfr was eight years old, Helgi died during a war expedition and Hrólf was proclaimed king. Snorri finishes his account by briefly mentioning that the Skjöldunga saga contained an extensive account of how Hrólf came to Uppsala and sowed gold on the Fyrisvellir. Gróttasöngr[edit] Fenja and Menja at the mill The Gróttasöngr contains a stanza (nr 22) sung by the giantesses Fenja and Menja. It only names Yrsa and the situation that her son and brother (i.e. Hroðulf) will avenge Fródi (Froda): Mölum enn framar. Mun Yrsu sonr, niðr Halfdanar, hefna Fróða; sá mun hennar heitinn verða burr ok bróðir, vitum báðar þat. Let us grind on! Yrsa's son, Hálfdan's kinsman, will avenge Fródi: he will of her be called son and brother: we both know that.(Thorpe's translation) This piece cannot refer to Hrólfr Kraki's saga where Froda was the half-brother of Healfdene because this Froda was killed by Hroðgar. It can, however, be interpreted through the Skjöldunga saga in which Hroðulf's uncle Hroðgar was murdered by his half-brother Froda. Gautreks saga[edit] Hrólfr Kraki is mentioned briefly in Gautreks saga, written around 1300, when the adventurer Ref comes to him with a gift consisting of two dogs. In return for this gift Hrólfr gives him a helmet and a chainmail, both made of red gold. Modern references[edit] Danish playwright Johannes Ewald wrote a play about Rolf Krage (1770), based on Saxo's version of the story in Gesta Danorum. Danish poet Adam Oehlenschläger wrote a poem, Helge: et Digt (1814). The American writer Poul Anderson used this story in his novel Hrolf Kraki's Saga(1973). Anderson's story begins in earlier generations and differs in some events from the account given here. The book was well received by many fantasy fans. However, it has been criticized on the grounds that its frequent explanations, especially of the characters' feelings and motives, are incompatible with the saga traditions. "Sellic Spell', a fictionalized treatment of the story by J. R. R. Tolkien, was published in Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary on May 22, 2014,[16] Tolkien himself explaining that his was "a limited...attempt to reconstruct the Anglo-Saxon tale that lies behind the folk-tale element in Beowulf".[17] The Danish Navy's first ironclad warship was named Rolf Krake.

VIKING HISTORY! BJORN IRONSIDE Bjorn Ironside was one of the kings of Sweden who lived in the 9th century and was assumed to be one of the founders and the first ruler of the protohistoric Swedish dynasty named the Munsö Dynasty. Bjorn Ironside’s Parentage and Family On the contrary to how it was depicted in History Channel’s TV show, Vikings,Lagertha the Shieldmaiden was not Bjorn’s mother. Lagertha and Ragnar had a son but he was named Fridleif. Bjorn was one of the sons of Ragnar Lothbrok and Princess Aslaug. Also, as another conflict with the TV series, Bjorn was not their eldest son. It was Ivar the Boneless and Bjorn was the second eldest son. Bjorn Ironside had three brothers Ivar the Boneless, Hvitserk and Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye and three half-brothers Agnar, Eric and Fridleif. Bjorn Ironside’s Raids and Success As a fearless warrior and fierce ruler as his father, Björn Ironside raided and pillaged many places including France, Spain, Italy, England, Wales, cities in Mediterranean Sea like Sicily and coasts of North Africa. According to historical accounts, Bjorn and Hastein (who is assumed to be either one of Ragnar Lothbrok’s sons or someone Ragnar assigned to mentor Bjorn) raided France and set sail into Mediterranean. After raiding the coasts of Spain, they returned to pillage France more before and carried on to the city of Pisa, Italy. They could not progress more when they arrived at the gates of the city of Luna which they thought to be Rome at first. Eventually, conquering Luna became one of Bjorn Ironside’s most significant deeds. He managed to capture the city using his intelligence, one of the aspects that made him one of the most famous Vikings in the history. How he conquered the city is important since it contains SPOILERS about the TV show. So, you should skip reading the following part if you still have not watched Season 3 of History Channel’s Vikings. How Bjorn Ironside Breached Luna’s Walls and Captured the City Having difficulties breaching the walls of Luna, Bjorn had to think of a guileful way to gain entry to the city. He sent his men to let the bishop of the city know that he died but he converted to Christianity before he died and wanted to be buried on consecrated ground. The city allowed his “body” to be brought in by a small group of guards (who, according to some accounts, carried swords under their robes). After entering the church, Bjorn came out of the box surprising everyone and fought his way to the city gates. He then opened the gates to let his army in and captured Luna. This trick Bjorn used was attributed to Hastein in some historical accounts and (SPOILERS) it was shown as if Ragnar Lothbrok himself used this trick to enter Paris in the TV Series, Vikings. After Luna, Bjorn and his Viking fleet raided Sicily and the coasts of North Africa. On their way back home, they encountered navy forces of Al-Andalus at the Straits of Gibraltar. This was an unfortunate encounter for Bjorn and his men as they were hit by a really powerful weapon called Greek fire (an incendiary weapon which can continue to burn even on the surface of water – similar to [SPOILERS] “wildfire” we saw on Game of Thrones ) that took out 40 of the ships in the Viking fleet. Ragnar Lothbrok’s Jealousy of His Sons & Death After the huge success his sons Ivar the Boneless and Bjorn Ironside achieved throughout many raids all over Europe and Mediterranean Sea, Ragnar Lothbrok became jealous of his sons and did not want his sons to rule Sweden. He assigned Eysteinn Beli as a surrogate king and set on sail to raid the Kingdom of Northumbria and defeat his long-time nemesis, King Aella. Feeling belittled by what his sons achieved, Ragnar did not think thoroughly and attacked the Kingdom of Northumbria with a very small force. In a somewhat different version of the story, it is written in Tale of Ragnar’s Sons (Ragnarssona þáttr), the reason Ragnar decided to take on King Aella was because he was insulted by and upset with his wife Aslaug and his sons Bjorn and Hvitserk since they avenged their brothers Eric and Agnar without Ragnar’s help. Eric and Agnar wantedEysteinn Beli to submit to them as they were Ragnar’s sons and Eysteinn Beli told them he would ask Swedish chieftains for their opinions. The chieftains refused Eric and Agnar’s wish and ordered an attack on them. As a result, Agnar was killed and Eric was captured only to be executed later – at his own request since he did not want to live after such defeat. Ragnar Lothbrok fell victim to his hubris and was captured and executed by King Aella. Some accounts tell us that he was thrown into a pit of snakes by the king while other accounts has Ragnar Lothbrok die of a mysterious disease (which is believed to be dysentery). Becoming the King of Sweden and Avenging Ragnar Lothbrok’s Death After defeating Eysteinn Beli, Bjorn Ironside became the King of Sweden and he and his brothers attacked the Kingdom of Northumbria to get revenge for their father. However, these efforts were in vain and King Aella’s forces managed to beat the Viking forces. Ivar, the oldest brother, who is also known to be a wise ruler in the Vikings’ history, told his siblings that he knew from the beginning that this would be Ragnar’s fate and he would ask King Aella for reconciliation. As a result, King Aella gave some land to Ivar on which he built the city of York. Through the years, Ivar strengthened his position among Englishmen and when he deemed appropriate he called his brothers to attack the Kingdom of Northumbria once again. Joined by some Englishmen rallied by Ivar, the Viking forces raided Northumbria and captured King Aella alive. The brothers decided that “the blood eagle” would be a suitable punishment for King Aella. They cut and opened King Aella’s spine, broke his ribs and pulled his lungs out as the brutal ceremony of blood eagle required and watched the king die. After their father died, Ragnar’s sons divided the kingdom which resulted in Bjorn Ironside becoming the ruler of Uppsala and Sweden. Bjorn had two sons, Refil and Erik Björnsson and Erik became the next king of Sweden after Bjorn’s death. Bjorn Ironside founded the House of Münso in Sweden, which is known as the Old Dynasty and which ruled Sweden for many generations until one day they were thrown out of Sweden after a long period of civil war through the end of the 10th century. The Münso Dynasty became the ruler house of Denmark in time. The name Münso was derived from the island where there is a hill claimed to be Bjorn Ironside’s grave. GRAVE OR BJORN IRONSIDE

The Incredible Life Of Harald Hardrada: The Last Of The ‘Great Vikings’ POSTED BY: DATTATREYA MANDAL SEPTEMBER 5, 2015 In the middle decades of the 11th century, the Vikings had reached the twilight of their raiding and plundering days. After their defeat and humiliation at the hands of King Alfred the Great, the Vikings (or rather Danes) did manage to invade and even conquer much of England, under the leadership of Danish ruler Cnut. In fact, this military action briefly established a Scandinavian ’empire’ that fused England, Denmark and Norway in 1027 AD. But all of the lands were soon divided and became independent (Ireland was already free by 1014 AD), while the Anglo-Saxons reasserted their dominance in the English realm by just 1041 AD. This was a result of an already established trend where disparate Vikings raids were frequently defeated by the professional frontier soldiers in both England and France. Furthermore, the pagan ‘intensity’ of the Vikings had also been dulled by the arrival of Christianity in the core Northmen lands of Denmark and Norway. *Note – Most of the ‘history and story’ of Harald Hardrada is taken from the accounts of The Heimskringla: A History of the Norse Kings, a collection of sagas which was penned in Old Norse by Icelandic poet and historian Snorri Sturluson, in early 13th century. 1. The first brush with violence – Painting by Peter Nicolai Arbo. During this nadir period of the Viking Age, Harald Hardrada (Old Norse: Haraldr Sigurðarson) was born in Ringerike, Norway, in the year of 1015 AD (or possibly 1016 AD). His father Sigurd Syr was already a very strong chieftain from the Uplands of Norway (the rich agricultural regions to the north of Oslo), and as such Harald’s family even claimed descent from the great ruler Harald Fairhair, who was considered as the very first king of Norway. Such claims might have been purported after the actual lifetime of Harald Hardrada, so as to legitimize his actions during the early period of his life. Though it should be noted that Harald’s half-brother Olaf (Ólafr Haraldsson) did establish himself as the nominal king of Norway by 1015, after being supported by five petty chieftains. In any case, Harald’s family was in loggerheads with the Norwegian crown that had been taken by the renowned (and aforementioned) King Knut of Denmark in 1029 AD. This resulted in disputes between the new king’s supporters and Harald’s family, and ultimately led to the exile of Olaf. However, Olaf made his triumphant return in 1030 AD, and then planned for the crown of Norway with his retainers. Harald supported his half-brother’s claim, and as such gathered around 600 men from the Uplands. The brothers rendezvoused at the Battle of Stiklestad on 29 July 1030, but were unfortunately defeated, with Olaf losing his life and 16-year old Harald being badly injured. 2. The exile and ascendancy (1031 AD) – Tormented by the grave injuries and sidelined by his relative inexperience, there were very few places the teenage Harald could escape to. In spite of such odds, he managed to locate to an inconspicuous remote farm in Eastern Norway. After a month or so of recuperating, he then made his way to the north and boldly crossed the Swedish mountains. Finally, after an year since the disastrous Battle of Stiklestad, the young Harald Hardrada desperately forced his way into the realm of Kievan Rus (possibly by arriving at the town of Staraya Ladoga orAldeigjuborg). Rusin itself pertained to a loose federation of Slavic trading towns and villages spread across Russian and Ukraine, and these settlements were ruled by the Rurik dynasty – who were originally Swedish, but had since mixed with the local populace. Fortunately for Harald, the Rus Grand Prince Yaroslav the Wise welcomed the Norseman with open arms – since he recognized the young Scandinavian as being the half brother of Olaf (who previously took refuge in Kievan Rus, during his exile). Moreover, Yaroslav also proceeded on to employ Harald as one of his military captains, given the sad state of the Kievan Rus army and its organization in the early 11th century. Under this newly acquired title, Harald Hardrada made a name for himself and his company, by fighting a slew of engagements against enemies, including Poles, Estonian Chudes and even the nomadic Pechenegs. There are also accounts of how the young Harald tried to court one of Yaroslav’s daughters (probably a woman named Elisiv), albeit unsuccessfully. 3. The path to adventure, glory and imprisonment (1034 AD) – Near-contemporary depiction of Eastern Roman Varangian Guardsmen. However, in spite of his local renown, Harald Hardrada grew restless with his limited prospects in Kievan Rus. So, by the time he turned 20, he took a brilliant gamble, and selected a group of around 500 followers. This rag-tag band made its way to the regal city of the Constantinople, which was already known as the fabledMiklagard to the Vikings. The long-shot venture paid off, with Harald managing to get himself (and probably his followers) employed as the famed Varangian Guard, the elite bodyguard corp of the Eastern Roman emperor. And, as was his nature, the ‘Viking’ steadily rose up the ranks by taking part in far-flung campaigns. According to his skald Þjóðólfr Arnórsson, these conflicts took the still young Harald to Asia Minor and Iraq, where he had successfully fought off Arab pirates. After reportedly capturing around eighty Arab strongholds, the Scandinavian even made his way to Jerusalem, to probably oversee a peace agreement made between the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire and the Fatimid Caliphate in 1036 AD. By 1038 AD, Harald was appointed as one of the (probably nominal) leaders of the expeditionary Roman force that would invade the Emirate of Sicily, which was still under Muslim control. The now-experienced Varangian Guard fought alongside Norman mercenaries such as William Iron Arm. Their strategies and military acumen allowed the conquering of over four crucial Sicilian towns from Muslim hands. However, the success was short-lived with a combined Norman-Lombard uprising taking place in southern Italy. The rebels quickly defeated the Eastern Roman forces (on whose side Harald must have played his supporting role) in successive battles, thus wresting control of Sicily from the Romans. So, by 1041 AD, the Varangian Guards were unceremoniously called back to Constantinople. In that very same year, Harald Hardrada played his important (and vicious) role in putting down a Bulgarian uprising led by Peter Delyan – which supposedly gained Harald the nickname of “Devastator of the Bulgarians” (Bolgara brennir). However, by the end of 1041, Byzantine politics caught up with the rambunctious Viking, especially after the death of his patron emperor Michael IV. In the ensuing struggle between the new emperor Michael V and the powerful empress Zoe, the young Norseman was imprisoned due to charges that vary according to different sources. These implicating charges range from ‘defrauding the emperor’, ‘defiling a noble woman’ to ‘murder’. In any case, Harald once again managed to escape from his prison, and joined the rebel Varangian Guards against the new emperor. And once again, fortune shined upon him, with Michael V being ultimately defeated and then blinded (a brutal task supposedly achieved by Harald himself) – thus allowing freedom for the revolting forces. 4. The escape, riches and marriage (1042 AD) – Penny minted by Harald. It only took a few months before Harald was once again in disfavor of the crown, this time initiated by the new empress Zoe, who ruled alongside co-emperor Constantine IX. Comprehending his precarious position in Byzantine politics, the Viking decided to leave Constantinople for his homeland in Norway. And, when Zoe refused to allow the Varangian Guard to leave his duty, Harald Hardrada decided to finally escape the Eastern Roman empire by the Black Sea. He and few of his followers chose two ships for the daring escapade, but one of the ships was sunk by the famed cross-strait iron chains of Constantinople. But as usual, Harald had luck and presence-of-mind, and so he managed to evade the clutches of the Romans by expertly maneuvering his undamaged ship and then reaching the shores of Kievan Rus in 1042 AD. It should be noted how the sagas persistently talk about the riches and spoils that Harald had accumulated over the years in the Byzantine court and proximate wars. According to some sources, he was even elevated to Manglabites, a position which consisted of an elite corps of bodyguards ranking even higher than the Varangian Guards. In addition to such wealth and titles, Harald is also said to take part inpolutasvarf – which might have been an illegal way to plunder the royal treasuries on the death of the emperor. Many of his riches and financial documents were sent over the years to the Grand Prince Yaroslav the Wise, for the purpose of safekeeping. And on returning to the land of Rus, Harald Hardrada once again put forth his proposal to marry Yaroslav’s daughter Elisiv. Impressed by the Viking’s prospects and fortune, Yaroslav decided in favor of giving his daughter’s hand in marriage to the Norseman, in spite of Harald not holding any official title of ‘prince’. 5. The Return of the King (1046 AD) – Finally, the experienced Harald Hardrada decided to return to his homeland via major Kievan cities like Novgorod (Holmgard) and Staraya Ladoga (Aldeigjuborg). From the Ladoga port, he took a ship (supposedly burdened with gold and treasures) and arrived by sea in the town of Sigtuna in Sweden, by 1046 AD. Unfortunately for the expat Scandinavian, much had changed in the political landscape of Norway and Denmark, especially over the years when Harald was making his military mark in the other parts of the world. To that end, both sons of King Cnut were dead, and the Norwegian throne once again passed to Olaf’s bloodline, in the hands of Magnus the Good (who was Olaf’s bastard son). What’s more, Magnus was regarded as a competent king, who even managed to defeat a royal pretender named Sweyn Estridsson. These circumstances put Harald Hardrada in an oddly severe position, primarily because his claim to the Norwegian throne was superseded by that of Olaf’s successor – a scenario which was even supported by the Harald himself in his teenage years. In any case, the boisterous Viking still decided to challenge his nephew, and thus promptly made an alliance with the Swedish king Anund Jacob and the other royal claimant Sweyn Estridsson. Their combined forces made lightning raids along the Danish coast, a tactical ploy that harassed the enemy while also demonstrating the ineffectiveness of Magnus’s retaliation (and capacity to protect) to his subjects. Troubled by these hit-and-run naval actions, the advisers to the king decided on a political compromise that would allow Harald to rule over Norway, while Magnus was to rule over Denmark and also act as the combined-realm’s overlord (which made his title higher to that of Harald). As a result, the two kings made their separate courts, and seldom met in person to discuss the affairs of the state. However, in the year 1047 AD, Magnus was dead without leaving any male heir. But given his dislike for the exploits and intrusion of Harald Hardrada, Magnus the Good had already named a successor to the throne of Denmark before his death, and his name was Sweyn Estridsson – the one-time ally of Harald. This unsurprisingly led to a major political turmoil – with both Harald and Sweyn vying for the throne of the united kingdom of Denmark and Norway. As expected, it was Harald Hardrada who made his first move by hatching a scheme to invade Denmark itself. Quite regrettably, the grand plans didn’t follow through, and the Viking decided on a series of attrition maneuvers that mainly involved fast raids along the Danish coast (much like during Magnus’s time). These were followed by plundering and localized invasions – but to no avail, as Sweyn remained steadfast in his throne. And, after 15 long years of constant warfare and chaotic engagements, Harald finally had the opportunity to vanquish Sweyn and his forces at the Battle of Niså on 9 August 1062 AD. In spite of being outnumbered, the Norseman made use of his eastern-inspired tactics (involving archery barrages) and defeated the soldiers of Sweyn. But still the engagement only resulted in a Pyrrhic victory, with Sweyn managing to escape from the battle with many of his trusted men and ships. Years of protracted warfare and their severely increasing costs and casualties finally took the toll on the unpopular Norwegian crown. So, by 1065 AD, the 50-year old Harald Hardrada decided to make a truce with his longtime adversary Sweyn Estridsson. This freed up both his time and resources for a grander scheme, thus ultimately leading to the last ‘great Viking’ invasion of rich England. 6. The last ‘great Viking’ invasion of England (1066 AD) – While the concocted truce gave Harald the much needed breathing space from his desperate military affairs against Denmark, there was also a practical side to this scheme. Coming to the realization that he couldn’t conquer Denmark with his strength and strategies, the enterprising Norseman turned his attention towards England, a resource-rich realm coveted by many a Viking for more than 250 years. In many ways, such an action would hark back to the olden days of pillaging and plundering from across the seas – but this time around, the man behind the invasion set his mind to a greater endeavor that could solidify the ‘permanency’ of Scandinavian presence in the English provinces. But as usual, the political climate in England was far more complex than it had been two centuries ago. To start things off, the English lands were once again united under Anglo-Saxon rule, after the death of King Cnut’s sons. And the civic situation for Harald Hardrada was further exacerbated, since the new king of England Harold Godwinson (Old English: Harold Godƿinson) was both born and bred in his native lands, and thus was immensely popular with the local people. To counter this potentially ethnic fallout, the Viking readily allied himself with Harold’s brother Tostig Godwinson – who had been previously dispossessed of his earldom of Northumbria by Harold’s predecessor Edward the Confessor. He was further joined by other chieftains and soldiers in Shetland and Orkney (both under Norwegian rule), namely the Earls of Orkney and probably Malcolm III of Scotland (the King of Scots) who may have furnished Harald’s invasion force with two-thousand Scottish troops. Finally, Harald Hardrada’s Viking invasion force with around 10,000 men made its landing at the River Tees (in northern England) in the year of 1066 AD, and went onto plunder the proximate coasts in typical Norsemen fashion. Then he proceeded towards the town of Scarborough, and torched it after a brave bout of resistance being offered by the townsfolk. This brutal action certainly had a psychological effect on the other settlements of Northumbria, most of which went on to surrender to the rampaging Vikings. And, by September, growing wary of these bold Scandinavian incursions, a 5000-strong Anglo-Saxon force from York met head-on with the Vikings at the Battle of Fulford. But the marshes around the battlefield, along with Harald’s superior deployment, handed the Viking forces their first real victory in a pitched battle – since their invasion had begun. However, more than just results, the battle had serious implications when it came to the strategic outlook of the now-desperate Anglo-Saxons. In fact, the defeat forced King Harold Godwinson himself to march to the front-lines. And he did so with a heroic tenacity – when his chosen English army covered a distance of over 190 miles (310 km) in just a week’s time to surprise the Vikings at Stamford Bridge. 7. The end of the Viking Age – Painting by Peter Nicolai Arbo. As is often the case with Harald Hardrada’s life, most accounts of the Battle of Stamford Bridge come from King Harald’s Saga penned by Snorri Sturluson. And, what can be salvaged from his descriptions (that also tend to confuse the encounter with the Battle of Hastings) in a realistic manner, pertains to how the Vikings were actually ‘shocked’ to see another English army approaching them, after their hard won victory in the previous Battle of Fulford. This might have been because of an earlier agreement that entailed the exchange of hostages between the two forces. However, the Norsemen saw that instead of straggling hostages, it was a well-equipped 15000-strong English army (supposedly with a “gleam of handsome shields and white coats-of-mail”) approaching them from over the ‘bridge’. Harald’s predicament was further exacerbated since his Norwegian army was taking it easy – with many already removing their heavy armor; and hence his forces were scattered on both sides of the River Derwent. So, when the revengeful English army charged through these loose ranks, the rattled Norwegians were scarcely able to make their way across the bridge on the further bank. One celebrated incident mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chroniclerelates to a how single Norwegian stood firm on the bridge, thus making a choke point for the overwhelming English forces. He supposedly even managed to slew 40 of his enemies, before being stabbed through his mail corselet from under the bridge. In any case, this brave defensive measure might have provided the Vikings (on the other end of the bank) with the time to regroup and form their famedskjaldborg (or shield-wall). The advancing English army still managed to hurl itself against the mass of overlapping Vikings shields and their shaken carriers. In the consequent engagements of chaotic pushing and shoving (when the Norwegian army was tending to break), Harald Hardrada is said to have invoked hisberserkergang(the state of going berserk). He viciously rushed forth, madly hacking and hewing his way through his foes, until struck by an arrow in his throat. And, thus ended the incredible life of the last ‘great Viking’ – with the Battle of Stamford Bridge marking the conclusion of the Viking Age in 1066 AD. This is what King Harold Godwinson had to say about his enemy (before the battle), when asked about what was to be Harald’s fate –

VIKING JOURNEYS!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTmIKkWBgPY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1Nka-7fs2A Viking: The Berserkers The Vikings are the bad guys in this historical drama. Real bad guys!

This is a place to introduce yourself to your fellow warriors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI1fvXiIfVg PBS’s award-winning science series NOVA reveals what may be the first new Viking site discovered in North America in over 50 years. A groundbreaking co-production investigating the truth behind the legends of the Vikings and their epic journey to North America unveils the find and follows the search for evidence at what could be the furthest known point of the entire Viking expansion. NOVA'S two hour special, "Vikings Unearthed" ("Vikings Uncovered" in the UK), traces their dramatic exploits in Europe, their extraordinary voyages across the Atlantic and the incredible story of the new discovery. While infamous for their fearsome conquests, the Vikings were also expert seafarers, skilled traders, and courageous explorers who travelled far and wide from Scandinavia to Europe and into Asia. To date, we know of only one other Viking site in North America, found in the 1960s on the very northern tip of Newfoundland, at L’Anse aux Meadows. The discovery rewrote history; for centuries no one knew for sure if the Norse had actually made it to America, as suggested in the Vinland sagas. But are there more? Using satellite technology, excavation and investigation of archaeological evidence, space archaeologist Dr. Sarah Parcak (National Geographic Fellow, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and winner of the TED 2016 prize), archaeologist Douglas Bolender (University of Massachusetts, Boston), historian Dan Snow and a team of leading experts from around the globe have discovered, excavated and examined a new archaeological site at Point Rosee, located in southern Newfoundland. The new site is the first found in 55 years that has merited closer examination and excavation. It could be the beginning of an exciting period of discovery revealing new insights into the remarkable journeys of the Vikings, who were the first Europeans to set foot in North America — 500 years before Columbus. View the full episode at the link above. You do not need to be an archeologist to enjoy the history and process.

I posted this topic in Open Discussion Forum too. regi-mental wrote: I like your stories. Do you have any about Thor? Yeah, let me just refresh my memories. Well, there are 3 major metaphysical facts. Thor is an elemental deity belonging to the Realm of Paravayu. Paravayu is one of Great Elementals of the Multiverse responsible for all atmospheric phenomena on stars, brown dwarves and planets. Thor was the demiurge of the Nordic paradise Valhalla which was at its climax about 1000 years ago . He was one of deities who guided the evolution of Nordic civilizations. The arrival of Christianism progressively stopped the development of Valhalla. Nowadays, Valhalla belongs to the bouquet* of undevelopped metacultural paradises. It's still possible to a true believer in radiant Nordic deities to attain this paradise. Thor now dwells in higher paradises and he's no more related to the evolution of human civilisations. Thor with his magic hammer Mjolnir in Valhalla is fully analogous to Indra with his magic weapon Vajra in Hindu paradise Meru. Just a brief summary. *Bouquet (transcosmology): A collection of universes (parallel worlds) close to each other and related by a certain cosmic law or principle.

Here is a half-hour episode from "History Buffs" about the television series, "Vikings." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBehjjt6V70

Hello fellow warriors of Valhalla! It is I, Brunnhilde (also known as Brynhildr), Valkyrie and daughter of Wotan (AKA Odin), and I need your help! Recently I asked for some more Vote Chess games, and they were started (thanks again JamieDelarosa ), but so far I am the only person on the Valhalla team who has joined either of them. There is a bug on Chess.com that prevents messages/alerts from being sent automatically to group members whenever a Vote Chess game has been started. This probably contributed to the fact that I am the only person playing in the newest Vote Chess games. Here are the links to them: https://www.chess.com/votechess/game?id=96226 https://www.chess.com/votechess/game?id=96228 Please mount your horses and ride with me into battle against the Chess Camp group; please join the Vote Chess games! P.S. I like Online/Correspondence Chess, and I especially like Vote Chess because then people can interact with, learn from, and help each other. Thus I do not want to play Vote Chess games alone; if no one else has joined the new Vote Chess games by next week, then I would like to request that the new Vote Chess games are aborted, please and thank you. I apologize if I have been a nuisance.