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The Orkney Jarls: Between Norway and Scotland
Ruling from windswept isles, the Jarls of Orkney were more than just medieval elites, they were living bridges between cultures, eras, and seas.6 months ago — History -
The Viking world in the year 1000: From the shores of Canada to the Caspian Sea
At the dawn of the year 1000, Viking societies were to be found from the shores of Canada to the Caspian Sea. We analyze this high-water mark of Viking control, characterized by plunder, power, and profit.8 months ago — History -
Who was Sigrid the Haughty, the legendary Queen of the North?
Sigrid the Haughty, a powerful figure in Norse sagas, was said to have been responsible for the Battle of Svolder, was married to two legendary Viking kings, and was wooed by another. Can we separate fact from fiction to uncover the true inspiration behind this legendary Queen of the North?2 years ago — History -
The St. Brice's Day Massacre: What really happened?
In 1002, Æthelred the Unready issued a royal decree that would result in terrible slaughter and eventually help lead to the fall of the House of Wessex.2 years ago — History -
Thorkell the Tall: Jomsviking chief, Viking lord, and Jarl of East Anglia
A key military leader and literal kingmaker was the Viking warlord Thorkell the Tall. As formidable on the battlefield as in the dirty game of political machinations, Thorkell's legacy is as monumental as his physical stature.2 years ago — History -
Olof Skötkonung: The Viking king who embraced Christianity and shaped medieval Sweden
Reigning at the threshold between the early and middle medieval periods, between the widespread worship of the Old Norse religion and the advent of Christianity in Sweden, was Olof Skötkonung, a famed Viking king.2 years ago — History -
Sigmundur Brestisson: The Viking chieftain behind the Christianization of the Faroes
It is not often that a single individual can cause a paradigm shift in a society. However, in the case of the mighty Viking chieftain, Sigmundur Brestisson, his decision to force Christianity upon the Faroe Islands caused historical repercussions to be felt centuries after his death.2 years ago — History -
The Viking history of the Baltic region
The Baltic region, especially comprising the three modern nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, has a long and proud Viking history. Whilst nearby Scandinavia gets all the credit as the birthplace of the Vikings, the Baltic region and its surrounds were a Viking "backyard."2 years ago — History -
Who was Olaf Tryggvason, the first genuinely Christian king of Norway?
Celebrated in Norway as the first truly Christian king of the realm, the founder of its first church, and the city of Trondheim, Olaf Tryggvason is one of the country's most important historical figures.3 years ago — History
