THE VIKING NORSE INVASIONS

THE VIKING NORSE INVASION

 Origin and Nature of the Vikings

The Vikings were closely related to the Germanic tribes in racial stock and

language. The Vikings were originally pagans who could be traced to the Scandinavia regions. These regions later became the kingdoms of Denmark,
Norway and Sweden. As pirates they raided the lands along the Fords, and for this reason they were collectively called the
Vikings (men of the fords). They were the best sailors and ship builders in
Europe of that period, around the 9th century A.D. they started to pillage and plunder the coasts of Europe. They launched numerous raids all over Europe in the west in the ninth century, and as this developed into major invasions, the Vikings became the first major barbaric invaders of the west since the German migrations of the fifth and sixth centuries A.D. The causes of their expansion was not known, but many scholars attributed the situation to over population, internal wars and conflicts, their shipbuilding skills and their love for adventure. 
In the process of their invasion they were exceedingly cruel and
rapacious in their attacks. They carried off the women during their military
raids. As fearless adventurers, they sailed very far way up to North America in
the West and to the Caspain sea in the east.

THEIR INVADING GROUPS

Among their invading groups were the Danes who were the most advanced in culture. Their population was also very numerous. They constantly raided the east coast of England and the shores of Germany, France and Spain. In fact they sailed as far Ireland and were responsible for the major invasions of England. Having reached Constantinople, and made contacts with Persia they moved eastward across the Caspian Sea, in fact, at times the Danes and the Norwegians mixed with their methods of invasion on the continent of Europe

CHIEF EFFECTS OF THE VIKING INVASION 

Ireland was depopulated as a result
of the Vikings raids and invasions. The Celts who had been Christianized in the fifth century A.D. by St. Patrick were also affected terribly by the raids. A
Viking kingdom was established in the area of Dublin in the ninth century A.D
and it lasted until the eleventh century. The Vikings were finally defeated in
1014 A.D.

France received the greatest impact
of Viking raids. Mixed groups of the Vikings sailed up to the River Seine and
repeatedly looted and burned Frankish cities including Paris in the ninth
century A.D. Later in 885 A.D. the Count of Paris led a heroic defense that withstood the Vikings siege of Paris which lasted for more than a year. The grant of Normandy as a fief was actually a peace treaty by which Paris and Charles the simple’s holdings were effectively protected”. Robert and the Viking settlers were then known as Normans after being baptized and he became the first Duke of Normandy.

Contributed by:
OSUJI JULIETH .O.

07014498068

HISTORY AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

IMO STATE UNIVERSITY

OWERRI,
NIGERIA.