More reflections from The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings by John Haywood.
Iceland was first settled by the brothers Ingolf and Hjorleif. They made camp at the East Fjords, but left it only to return a few years later. After 3 years Ingolf made the permanent settlement of Reykjavik (which is now the capital of Iceland) Soon imigrants from Norway, Denmark, and Sweden were coming to make a new life.
It sounds like Iceland was a dangerous place to live. There were no laws in the early settlements and they usually settled disputes to the death.
Iceland can also be compared to Ireland in the way that it was isolated from outside influences. Ireland never had Roman rule, so the Celts were able to evolve their culture there. Iceland is the same. It was so isolated from Europe that the Germanic myths, legends, and storytelling survived. Like Irish literature most of the Icelandic was passed down orally. In the year 1263 all this changed when Norway took over rule of Iceland. Literature began to decline and eventually died out in the middle ages.
Reflections from the Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings by John Haywood:
I am not very familiar with North Atlantic/Great Britian geography so it was a great surprise that there were all these little islands all around!! The Faeroes islands are located 190 miles northwest of Shetland. They were first settled by the Viking Grimur Kamban. He apparently came from Ireland or the Hebrides, but many of the settlers that followed were directly from Sogn, Rogaland, and Agder. They could not raise grain crops here, but were able to raise cattle and sheep due to the great pasture land. The pictures of these islands in the book are just breath taking. I don't think I would like gathering the hay by hand and hanging it out to dry. The mountains look worn from glaciers and wind, they are very smooth looking. I live in scrub country with junipers and rampent locust trees. I can't imagine living on an island that didn't have any trees on it. All of the lumber to build houses or boats had to be shipped in. That in itself was quite a task.
THE ALTHING from www.encarta.msn.com
I know this is not the “THING” are book talks about , but this is similar and I thought it would be useful.
The Althing is Icelandic for general assembly. It is still the parliament of Iceland and is the oldest functioning legislature in the world. It started in 930 and met every summer in the town Thingvellir. During the old commonwealth of Iceland, the Althing served as the legislature and the court. When Iceland lost its independence to Norway in 1262 the Althing was dissipated of its powers and they were transferred to the royal authority. By the end of the 17th century the Althing lost all of its judicial powers and was just a novelty thing. It was stopped in 1800 and then reconvened in 1843, where it has since met in Reykjavik.
Postings from Viking. No
I found this website contained a lot of the same information as our books.
Canute the Great.
He was the son of Svein Forkbeard, Harald Bluetooth’s grandson, and King Gorm’s great-grandson.
In 1000, Saxon king, Aethelred, became the king of England. He issued an order for all Danish men to be killed. In this massacre, Svein Forkbeards sister and brother-in-law were murdered. This led Svein to England to seek revenge on their deaths. Along with him he brought his son Canute. Svein began conquering England and Aethelred fled for Normandy.
Svein passed away in 1014 and Aethelred came back to reclaim his country. He accomplished this and expelled Svein’s army, who was led by Canute.
In the year 1016, Canute returned with an army and won the battle of Ashingdon against Aethelred’s successor, Edmund ‘Ironside’. After this battle, Canute and Edmund drew up the Treaty of Olney. This left Canute with Danelaw and the English midlands, while Edmund received southern England. When Edmund died shortly after this treaty, Canute became the first Viking king of England.
In 1017 he married Aethelred’s widow and she bore him two children, Harthacnut and Gunhild. Even though a devote Christian, he still had a mistress, Aelfgifu, who gave him two sons, Harald and Svein.
In 1018 Canute’s brother, Harald king of Denmark, died. Canute traveled to Denmark to retain the crown. Within two years Canute had conquered Norway and put his mistress and son Svein in charge of it.
In the late 1020’ Canute became “king of all England, and of Denmark, of the Norwegians, and part of the Swedes.
Canute accomplished many great things during his rule. He united his entire kingdom together. This kept it free from internal and external unrest. He expanded trade, and allowed Anglo-Scandinavian art and Christianity to flourish. His respect for old English laws brought a sense of justice and he had a high regard for individual rights. Also during this time he did penance for his Viking forefathers by building churches and giving generous gifts to others.
In the year 1035 Canute passed away at the age of forty. He was buried in Winchester. Canute’s sons could not keep his kingdom together and it began to break up shortly after his death. His son Harald became king of England, but died in 1040. He was only known for his huge taxes he imposed. None of Canutes sons produced any heirs, so Aethelred’s son Edward “the Confessor” became the English king in 1042
