Vikings Archives - History Chronicle Mon, 06 May 2024 09:19:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 Facts About the Fearsome Viking Ragnar Lothbrok https://historychronicle.com/facts-about-the-fearsome-viking-ragnar-lothbrok/ Sun, 05 May 2024 16:54:00 +0000 https://historychronicle.com/?p=3720 A Swedish and Danish king who overthrew his own uncle, Ragnar Lothbrok was one of the most fearsome Vikings to ever walk the face of the earth. One of the most famous raiders across the British Isles and the Frankish Empire, here are some thrilling facts about the notorious 9th-century Viking known as Ragnar Lothbrok. […]

The post Facts About the Fearsome Viking Ragnar Lothbrok appeared first on History Chronicle.

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A Swedish and Danish king who overthrew his own uncle, Ragnar Lothbrok was one of the most fearsome Vikings to ever walk the face of the earth. One of the most famous raiders across the British Isles and the Frankish Empire, here are some thrilling facts about the notorious 9th-century Viking known as Ragnar Lothbrok.

Winning His Wife

A powerful earl decided to give his daughter, Thora, a snake as a gift. Unfortunately, the viper grew up to become a deadly beast. As it terrorized the land, the earl became so desperate that he offered his daughter’s hand in marriage to whoever could kill the snake. Once Ragnar slayed the serpent, he earned a new wife.

Betrayal

While Ragnar had three wives, he had a son named Ubbe with another woman. Although he grew up to become a fearsome warrior who led the Great Heathen Army in its conquest of England, Ubbe reportedly had a disloyal side. After he and his grandfather Esbjørn once tried to rise up against Ragnar, the mighty warrior brought down the law of the land on his disloyal son, teaching him a tough lesson.

Tough Tests

Many Viking leaders would send their sons on daring missions far away in order to prevent them from uprising or betraying them. Ragnar was no exception. He sent his son, Bjorn Ironside, to raid and pillage villages and cities across Europe, with the young warrior making it as far as the Mediterranean.

The post Facts About the Fearsome Viking Ragnar Lothbrok appeared first on History Chronicle.

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3 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Vikings https://historychronicle.com/3-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-vikings/ Sat, 27 Apr 2024 10:05:00 +0000 https://historychronicle.com/?p=3678 The Vikings have a reputation that has fascinated historians and enthusiasts for centuries. However, beyond their fierce raids and exploration, there are many lesser-known aspects of Viking culture that paint a more nuanced picture. Here are three intriguing facts about Vikings. Vikings Were Skilled Craftsmen and Traders While Vikings are famous for their pillaging, their […]

The post 3 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Vikings appeared first on History Chronicle.

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The Vikings have a reputation that has fascinated historians and enthusiasts for centuries. However, beyond their fierce raids and exploration, there are many lesser-known aspects of Viking culture that paint a more nuanced picture. Here are three intriguing facts about Vikings.

Vikings Were Skilled Craftsmen and Traders

While Vikings are famous for their pillaging, their skills as craftsmen and traders are often overlooked. Vikings were adept at crafting high-quality goods such as jewelry and weapons. These tools were used both domestically and as valuable trade items. 

Vikings Had a Democratic Tendency

Contrary to the typical image of a chaotic and barbaric lifestyle, Vikings had systems of governance that were remarkably democratic for their time. The Norse societies were organized around “Thing.” This was a general assembly in which all free men could participate. These assemblies allowed Vikings to make major decisions, settle disputes, and elect their leaders.

Hygiene Was Important in Viking Culture

The stereotype of the wild and dirty Viking is far from accurate. Archaeological finds and historical texts suggest that Vikings placed a high importance on personal hygiene. Combs, razors, tweezers, and ear cleaners made from animal bones and antlers have been commonly found at Viking sites, indicating that grooming was a significant part of their daily routine.

The post 3 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Vikings appeared first on History Chronicle.

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Magnet Fisher Finds a 1,100-Year-Old Viking Sword in the UK River https://historychronicle.com/magnet-fisher-finds-a-1100-year-old-viking-sword-in-the-uk-river/ Tue, 12 Mar 2024 16:46:00 +0000 https://historychronicle.com/?p=3108 Back in November 2023, UK magnet fisher Trevor Penny pulled out a rusty sword from the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire. After being examined by experts, the item was authenticated as a Viking sword and dated to be around 1,100 years old. According to Penny, he immediately knew that he had found something valuable when he […]

The post Magnet Fisher Finds a 1,100-Year-Old Viking Sword in the UK River appeared first on History Chronicle.

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Back in November 2023, UK magnet fisher Trevor Penny pulled out a rusty sword from the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire. After being examined by experts, the item was authenticated as a Viking sword and dated to be around 1,100 years old.

According to Penny, he immediately knew that he had found something valuable when he saw the sword. A quick Google search told him that it could be a Viking sword, meaning that he had the obligation of contacting the local finds liaison officer and presenting his findings.

The Oxfordshire county liaison office employed experts to examine the sword, who found that it was forged between 850 and 975 AD and likely belonged to a Viking warrior. During that period, Vikings frequently raided the British Isles and even claimed some of its parts as their territory before British kings recovered it in the 10th century.

The Viking sword recovered by Penny is currently in the possession of the Museum of Oxford and could be displayed as part of its collection in the future.

“It really did feel quite amazing – it’s the oldest thing found in this county magnet fishing,” Penny said via UK media outlet Metro. “The officer said it was archaeologically rare to find whole swords and treasures of historical importance still intact … It was a proud moment to find it.”

The post Magnet Fisher Finds a 1,100-Year-Old Viking Sword in the UK River appeared first on History Chronicle.

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Archaeologists Believe They Found a Marketplace From the Viking Age in Norway https://historychronicle.com/archaeologists-believe-they-found-a-marketplace-from-the-viking-age-in-norway/ Sun, 03 Mar 2024 10:39:00 +0000 https://historychronicle.com/?p=2982 Norway’s Klosterøy island is known for being the location of Utstein Abbey, the best-preserved monastery from the medieval age in the country. But the place appears to have more historical significance than experts previously believed and might contain remains of a marketplace from the Viking Age. During recent examinations using ground-penetrating radar, a team of […]

The post Archaeologists Believe They Found a Marketplace From the Viking Age in Norway appeared first on History Chronicle.

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Norway’s Klosterøy island is known for being the location of Utstein Abbey, the best-preserved monastery from the medieval age in the country. But the place appears to have more historical significance than experts previously believed and might contain remains of a marketplace from the Viking Age.

During recent examinations using ground-penetrating radar, a team of archeologists from the University of Stavanger’s Museum of Archaeology discovered several pit houses and other constructions like cooking pits and boathouse foundations, which made them believe the island was home to a Viking marketplace at some point. These pit houses, which have floors below ground level, were common for the Viking age and can be found all across Scandinavia and Europe.

Their theory is supported by various items found by a metal detector on previous occasions, including weighs and coins.

“We have received numerous metal detector finds from Utstein in recent years, including items associated with trade, such as weights and coins. One of the things we wanted to investigate with the ground-penetrating radar was whether there could be additional traces of trade activity. I am therefore not surprised that the results now indicate that Utstein was indeed a marketplace in the Viking Age and early Middle Ages,” said Hakon Reiersen, associate professor at the University of Stavanger, in a conversation with Science Norway.

In order for scientists to confirm their theory, further research is needed. However, it is unlikely it will be anytime soon, considering that the site is on private land and that the project would require significant funding.

The post Archaeologists Believe They Found a Marketplace From the Viking Age in Norway appeared first on History Chronicle.

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Fun Facts About Vikings You Probably Didn’t Know https://historychronicle.com/fun-facts-about-vikings-you-probably-didnt-know/ Sat, 24 Feb 2024 16:41:00 +0000 https://historychronicle.com/?p=2419 Thanks to their unusual history and way of life, Vikings have always been an important part of pop culture. That appears to be especially the case in recent years as we are witnessing an increasing number of Viking-themed TV shows, movies, and video games. But despite this, there are still a lot of things that […]

The post Fun Facts About Vikings You Probably Didn’t Know appeared first on History Chronicle.

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Thanks to their unusual history and way of life, Vikings have always been an important part of pop culture. That appears to be especially the case in recent years as we are witnessing an increasing number of Viking-themed TV shows, movies, and video games. But despite this, there are still a lot of things that people don’t know about Vikings.

Vikings Bleached Their Hair

As surprising as this might sound, not all Vikings were blonde. However, they sure tried to be. To keep up with the beauty ideals of their people, Viking men and women used various techniques to bleach their hair.

Most Vikings Were Actually Farmers

It is easy to believe that all Vikings were raiding and pirating seafarers. However, the truth is that only a small number of them were dedicated to this life. The majority of Vikings were actually farmers who worked the land and raised cattle.

Vikings Never Had Horned Helmets

When most people think of Vikings, they think of horned helmets. And there is nothing wrong with that except the fact that Vikings never wore those kinds of helmets. This is actually a modern myth that somehow stuck around.

Skiing Was Beloved Activity for the Vikings

Vikings loved skiing and engaged in it as both recreation and a way to travel around. They even had a God of Skiing named Ullr.

Vikings Had a Great Sense of Hygiene

Considering all their pillaging, you would think that Vikings didn’t have much time to worry about hygiene. However, it was quite the opposite. They not only bathed at least once a week, which was a lot for that era, but also had various beauty tools like combs, razors, and ear cleaners.

The post Fun Facts About Vikings You Probably Didn’t Know appeared first on History Chronicle.

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ersion="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> Vikings Archives - History Chronicle Mon, 06 May 2024 09:19:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 Facts About the Fearsome Viking Ragnar Lothbrok https://historychronicle.com/facts-about-the-fearsome-viking-ragnar-lothbrok/ Sun, 05 May 2024 16:54:00 +0000 https://historychronicle.com/?p=3720 A Swedish and Danish king who overthrew his own uncle, Ragnar Lothbrok was one of the most fearsome Vikings to ever walk the face of the earth. One of the most famous raiders across the British Isles and the Frankish Empire, here are some thrilling facts about the notorious 9th-century Viking known as Ragnar Lothbrok. […]

The post Facts About the Fearsome Viking Ragnar Lothbrok appeared first on History Chronicle.

]]>
A Swedish and Danish king who overthrew his own uncle, Ragnar Lothbrok was one of the most fearsome Vikings to ever walk the face of the earth. One of the most famous raiders across the British Isles and the Frankish Empire, here are some thrilling facts about the notorious 9th-century Viking known as Ragnar Lothbrok.

Winning His Wife

A powerful earl decided to give his daughter, Thora, a snake as a gift. Unfortunately, the viper grew up to become a deadly beast. As it terrorized the land, the earl became so desperate that he offered his daughter’s hand in marriage to whoever could kill the snake. Once Ragnar slayed the serpent, he earned a new wife.

Betrayal

While Ragnar had three wives, he had a son named Ubbe with another woman. Although he grew up to become a fearsome warrior who led the Great Heathen Army in its conquest of England, Ubbe reportedly had a disloyal side. After he and his grandfather Esbjørn once tried to rise up against Ragnar, the mighty warrior brought down the law of the land on his disloyal son, teaching him a tough lesson.

Tough Tests

Many Viking leaders would send their sons on daring missions far away in order to prevent them from uprising or betraying them. Ragnar was no exception. He sent his son, Bjorn Ironside, to raid and pillage villages and cities across Europe, with the young warrior making it as far as the Mediterranean.

The post Facts About the Fearsome Viking Ragnar Lothbrok appeared first on History Chronicle.

]]>
3 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Vikings https://historychronicle.com/3-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-vikings/ Sat, 27 Apr 2024 10:05:00 +0000 https://historychronicle.com/?p=3678 The Vikings have a reputation that has fascinated historians and enthusiasts for centuries. However, beyond their fierce raids and exploration, there are many lesser-known aspects of Viking culture that paint a more nuanced picture. Here are three intriguing facts about Vikings. Vikings Were Skilled Craftsmen and Traders While Vikings are famous for their pillaging, their […]

The post 3 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Vikings appeared first on History Chronicle.

]]>
The Vikings have a reputation that has fascinated historians and enthusiasts for centuries. However, beyond their fierce raids and exploration, there are many lesser-known aspects of Viking culture that paint a more nuanced picture. Here are three intriguing facts about Vikings.

Vikings Were Skilled Craftsmen and Traders

While Vikings are famous for their pillaging, their skills as craftsmen and traders are often overlooked. Vikings were adept at crafting high-quality goods such as jewelry and weapons. These tools were used both domestically and as valuable trade items. 

Vikings Had a Democratic Tendency

Contrary to the typical image of a chaotic and barbaric lifestyle, Vikings had systems of governance that were remarkably democratic for their time. The Norse societies were organized around “Thing.” This was a general assembly in which all free men could participate. These assemblies allowed Vikings to make major decisions, settle disputes, and elect their leaders.

Hygiene Was Important in Viking Culture

The stereotype of the wild and dirty Viking is far from accurate. Archaeological finds and historical texts suggest that Vikings placed a high importance on personal hygiene. Combs, razors, tweezers, and ear cleaners made from animal bones and antlers have been commonly found at Viking sites, indicating that grooming was a significant part of their daily routine.

The post 3 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Vikings appeared first on History Chronicle.

]]>
Magnet Fisher Finds a 1,100-Year-Old Viking Sword in the UK River https://historychronicle.com/magnet-fisher-finds-a-1100-year-old-viking-sword-in-the-uk-river/ Tue, 12 Mar 2024 16:46:00 +0000 https://historychronicle.com/?p=3108 Back in November 2023, UK magnet fisher Trevor Penny pulled out a rusty sword from the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire. After being examined by experts, the item was authenticated as a Viking sword and dated to be around 1,100 years old. According to Penny, he immediately knew that he had found something valuable when he […]

The post Magnet Fisher Finds a 1,100-Year-Old Viking Sword in the UK River appeared first on History Chronicle.

]]>
Back in November 2023, UK magnet fisher Trevor Penny pulled out a rusty sword from the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire. After being examined by experts, the item was authenticated as a Viking sword and dated to be around 1,100 years old.

According to Penny, he immediately knew that he had found something valuable when he saw the sword. A quick Google search told him that it could be a Viking sword, meaning that he had the obligation of contacting the local finds liaison officer and presenting his findings.

The Oxfordshire county liaison office employed experts to examine the sword, who found that it was forged between 850 and 975 AD and likely belonged to a Viking warrior. During that period, Vikings frequently raided the British Isles and even claimed some of its parts as their territory before British kings recovered it in the 10th century.

The Viking sword recovered by Penny is currently in the possession of the Museum of Oxford and could be displayed as part of its collection in the future.

“It really did feel quite amazing – it’s the oldest thing found in this county magnet fishing,” Penny said via UK media outlet Metro. “The officer said it was archaeologically rare to find whole swords and treasures of historical importance still intact … It was a proud moment to find it.”

The post Magnet Fisher Finds a 1,100-Year-Old Viking Sword in the UK River appeared first on History Chronicle.

]]>
Archaeologists Believe They Found a Marketplace From the Viking Age in Norway https://historychronicle.com/archaeologists-believe-they-found-a-marketplace-from-the-viking-age-in-norway/ Sun, 03 Mar 2024 10:39:00 +0000 https://historychronicle.com/?p=2982 Norway’s Klosterøy island is known for being the location of Utstein Abbey, the best-preserved monastery from the medieval age in the country. But the place appears to have more historical significance than experts previously believed and might contain remains of a marketplace from the Viking Age. During recent examinations using ground-penetrating radar, a team of […]

The post Archaeologists Believe They Found a Marketplace From the Viking Age in Norway appeared first on History Chronicle.

]]>
Norway’s Klosterøy island is known for being the location of Utstein Abbey, the best-preserved monastery from the medieval age in the country. But the place appears to have more historical significance than experts previously believed and might contain remains of a marketplace from the Viking Age.

During recent examinations using ground-penetrating radar, a team of archeologists from the University of Stavanger’s Museum of Archaeology discovered several pit houses and other constructions like cooking pits and boathouse foundations, which made them believe the island was home to a Viking marketplace at some point. These pit houses, which have floors below ground level, were common for the Viking age and can be found all across Scandinavia and Europe.

Their theory is supported by various items found by a metal detector on previous occasions, including weighs and coins.

“We have received numerous metal detector finds from Utstein in recent years, including items associated with trade, such as weights and coins. One of the things we wanted to investigate with the ground-penetrating radar was whether there could be additional traces of trade activity. I am therefore not surprised that the results now indicate that Utstein was indeed a marketplace in the Viking Age and early Middle Ages,” said Hakon Reiersen, associate professor at the University of Stavanger, in a conversation with Science Norway.

In order for scientists to confirm their theory, further research is needed. However, it is unlikely it will be anytime soon, considering that the site is on private land and that the project would require significant funding.

The post Archaeologists Believe They Found a Marketplace From the Viking Age in Norway appeared first on History Chronicle.

]]>
Fun Facts About Vikings You Probably Didn’t Know https://historychronicle.com/fun-facts-about-vikings-you-probably-didnt-know/ Sat, 24 Feb 2024 16:41:00 +0000 https://historychronicle.com/?p=2419 Thanks to their unusual history and way of life, Vikings have always been an important part of pop culture. That appears to be especially the case in recent years as we are witnessing an increasing number of Viking-themed TV shows, movies, and video games. But despite this, there are still a lot of things that […]

The post Fun Facts About Vikings You Probably Didn’t Know appeared first on History Chronicle.

]]>
Thanks to their unusual history and way of life, Vikings have always been an important part of pop culture. That appears to be especially the case in recent years as we are witnessing an increasing number of Viking-themed TV shows, movies, and video games. But despite this, there are still a lot of things that people don’t know about Vikings.

Vikings Bleached Their Hair

As surprising as this might sound, not all Vikings were blonde. However, they sure tried to be. To keep up with the beauty ideals of their people, Viking men and women used various techniques to bleach their hair.

Most Vikings Were Actually Farmers

It is easy to believe that all Vikings were raiding and pirating seafarers. However, the truth is that only a small number of them were dedicated to this life. The majority of Vikings were actually farmers who worked the land and raised cattle.

Vikings Never Had Horned Helmets

When most people think of Vikings, they think of horned helmets. And there is nothing wrong with that except the fact that Vikings never wore those kinds of helmets. This is actually a modern myth that somehow stuck around.

Skiing Was Beloved Activity for the Vikings

Vikings loved skiing and engaged in it as both recreation and a way to travel around. They even had a God of Skiing named Ullr.

Vikings Had a Great Sense of Hygiene

Considering all their pillaging, you would think that Vikings didn’t have much time to worry about hygiene. However, it was quite the opposite. They not only bathed at least once a week, which was a lot for that era, but also had various beauty tools like combs, razors, and ear cleaners.

The post Fun Facts About Vikings You Probably Didn’t Know appeared first on History Chronicle.

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