Skip to main content

1066 - French horsepower broke England

Peter Nicolai Arbo England 5th January 1066 , The English king Edward the confessor and then earl Harold Godwinson was proclaimed king at Westminster Abbey the day after the 6th. Edward the confessor  had promised both Harold and William "Bastard" of Normandy the seat of the throne before he died. Both men were distant relatives to the childless Edward the confessor. When William heard of it he quickly raised an army. Harald Hardrada also claimed the English throne and he was faster than William the bastard and on 8th September,1066  240-300 Viking ships landed on the beaches of Scarborough and began an attempt to gain the English throne. 20th September,1066  Battle of Fulford : Harald Hardrada defeated the English earls Edwin and Walther. 2 days later Harald Hardrada attacked and conquered York. 24th September,1066 Harold Godwinson arrived after marching from London. 25th September,1066 Battle of Stamford bridge Battle of Stamford bridge Harald...
Post a Comment

821 Vikings raided Howth

Ireland
The raids on Ireland were resumed with an attack on Howth, in which a large number of women were captured for ransom. The monasteries on the islets of Wexford Harbour. This would not have been so easy back home in Scandinavia, where women were more independent.

Legendary Queen Thyra inspecting Dannevirke
Females in Viking society
Females were highly respected in Scandinavian society, but originally females could not inherit. This changed when Sweyn Forkbeard became king, she now could inherit a half part together with her husband.The wives were originally meant to join her husband at the pyre, but that changed so it would be a thrall woman. The female were rulers of the household, she learned to sew and spin clothes, but she also learned the art of healing and the knowledge of healing herbs and treatment of wounds. Women were the doctors whom treated wounds. They were also seers and valas and had huge influence. The Muslim and eastern custom of segregation between men and women did not exist in Scandinavian society, the females entered the companionship of males and bid them a cup of the finest mead.

In the late heathen period, where the ancient rigid rules were loosened that set the women free. In the males armor, women participated in the battle and struggles of men and did brave deeds.The women were named shield maiden. The respect these women were shown lifted her own consciousness and strengthened her character. The abilities which she showed off,and her beauty caused the warrior to fall in love with her and respect her. It was a mentality shift from the cynicism which saw only at the maidens family's wealth and reputation. A suitor had to have the acceptance of the maidens parents or if they were dead her brothers or other still alive family members. If a suitor got an yes answer, if was a tradition with a bride run. It was named bryllup, which had it`s origin that a man robbed his bride. Later it became custom that the male paid a sum of money to the brides family, that sum were called mund. It became only a formality, because the male would get the sum back in equipment and the male would also receive a dowry. The wedding were held at the father of the brides house and they were wed under the hammer of Thor.
Vikings reactions to abuse of women and consequences
 
Among Vikings, it is unacceptable to stalk a free woman or touch her in an inappropriate way or without her consent. If this happens to you, inform your husband or father immediately. Usually, sexual harassment of this kind will prompt them to seek blood vengeance on your behalf.

Women were also protected from abuse at home: no violence against a free woman will be tolerated. If your husband beats you, you can quickly divorce him. The judges will simply ask you to describe three cases of violence before granting a divorce.

This right also applies if your husband is no longer able to provide for the family or has
emigrated, or when sexual intercourse has ceased  then you are allowed to find a new breadwinner. The woman's status in the local community is not diminished by divorce.

Note that your husband may also demand a divorce. This can happen if you do not give him
children or you commit adultery.

Sources: The Icelandic sagas described marriages, The 13th-century Swedish Gutalagen law book lists penalties for different crimes, including fines and the death penalty.
Labels:
Location: Howth, Dublin, Ireland

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

954 - Eric Bloodaxe killed in ambush

England Eric Bloodaxe was expelled from York and he was killed in an ambush. According to English sources, Eric died a death on the road, “treacherously killed by Earl Maccus”. But Scandinavian sources tell another tale:  Eric met his enemies as the leader of an outnumbered army and there on the high, wind-scoured pass, he died the glorious death. A poem paid for by his wife told that Eric arrivied at Valhalla, welcomed by Valkyries, to feast by Odin’s side. Erik Rex - Bloodaxe coin Eric Bloodaxe was the son of Harald Fairhair and the Danish royal daughter Ragnhild and he succeeded his father on the Norwegian throne, but because of his cruel and atrocious rule he was driven out of Norway and his younger brother Haakon chosen as king of Norway. Stainmore After the murder on Eric Bloodaxe, Northumbria was again brought back to Edred the Anglo-Saxon king and England was united. The widow of Eric Bloodaxe, Gunhild sailed to Denmark with her sons. They received a warm we...
Post a Comment
Read more

825 - Grímur Kamban arrived at Faroe islands

Faroe islands Grímur Kamban arrived at Faroe islands, he had Irish slaves with him, and did not come from Norway, Kamban is a Celtic name. On these island the only inhabitants he found was sheep and birds, he chose to settle at Funningur at Eysturoy. Irish monk Dicuil wrote that it took 2 days sail there from Ireland, and that the islands had been inhabited by Irish hermits for hundreds of years, but that Norwegian Vikings had forced them out. Thirty years before this was written, Norse ships arrived among the islands. The hermits chose to leave the islands as the solitude they sought was lost. On the outskirts of Torshavn free men of Faroe Islands would meet once a year at Tinganes, 6 local courts, "thingsteads" met each spring. Faroe Island viking settlement England Kingdom of Sussex and Essex was absorbed by Wessex Germany In Aachen a new peace treaty was signed by Franks and Danes. Denmark Danish coinage in Hedeby began, the coins were copies of Frank...
Post a Comment
Read more

789 and before the infamous Lindisfarne raid

150 A comb found in Vimose, Denmark, features runes on a bone comb, which was the man's name Harja. The name is thus the oldest Norse name.Archaeologists in Denmark have discovered a small knife inscribed with the country’s oldest runic inscription, hirila, meaning ‘Little Sword’ 400 Oldest runestone in Øverby,SE Norway. 500 Radiocarbon dating reveals that the first walls of Dannevirke was build around 480-500 and some older walls were from around 400. In September 2021 a treasurehunter found a 1 kilo gold treasure of coins and jewels buried outside Jelling. 512 The Greek Procopios a secretary at the Byzantine general Belisarius told that emperor Anastasius Dicorus gave permission to Heruli to settle in Illyria, because the Longobards had driven them out from the area between Donau and Dniester. Here they killed their king Onchon and sent some of their people back to Thule to recruit a new king among their fellow tribesmen. They had free passage through the land of the ...
Post a Comment
Read more