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Maps of the nordic world
vikings in the nordic...
Norway
Norway consisted of several small kingdoms, so called fylken, and local jarls or kings governed them separately, but Harald Fairhair in the 9th century swore that he would not cut his hair off until he had united Norway. He took over fylke after fylke, and when he was victorious in 885 at the battle in Hrfnsfjord he had oppressed all his opponents. By now large number of Norwegians immigrated to Iceland to escape Harald's anger and soon after Iceland had up to 20.000 inhabitants. Norwegians raided the coast of Britian and settled Ireland, Outer Islands, Hjaltland (Shetland) Faeroe and Scotland, they plundred Franker riket (France) and established Valland or Nord man diet (Normandy) and they were keen on fighting with the Danes.
Ingolf Arnsson is said to have been the first settler of Iceland in 875, even though Vikings discovered the country in 860, and he built his home at Reykjavik. Iceland was divided into four regions, each with their local Thing (assembly/court of law) and one Allthing at Tingvalla (for the whole nation). Within those four regions, small "kingdoms" popped up called "godord". They were run by a "gode" whom controlled the trade and tax in his godord and it was up to the people to choose what godord they wanted to belong to. All together there were 38 godord in Iceland.
Sweden never became united but consisted of smaller arias much like fylken. The most important were Gotaland which was the region which was the richest and most cultivated, Smaland were the outlawed people sought safety in the big woods, and Svitjod were the worriers lived and were the pagan believes had their strongest centre, in Ubsla. The Swedes were people who traded in the east as well as raiding the coast of the Baltic Sea or even lay in war with the mighty Danes. In the 10th century they even gained control of Hedeby. Vestgutaland were another important area but it fell under Denmark rather than Sweden, not officially but Politically.
Denmark was the strongest of the three/four Viking countries, they were united and had a good army, but they were also the most suppressed. Not just the Norwegians and the Swedes wanted their wealth and power but the Germans who came from Saxland and Vendland wanted to crush the Danes to eliminate their threat. The Danes soon took advantage of this and became Saxlands allies. Now they could concentrate on uniting Norway and Denmark and establish their power in Skaane and Vestgotaland without having to defend themselves from the Germans, they also took Northumbria in Bretland (Britain) and called it "Dane lagen".
The inhabitants of Gotland were important tradesmen who travelled eastward to seek silver and gold. They, together with the Swedes (who took control of Gotland in the 17th century), reached as far east as Bulgar and south on the river-system to Miklagard (Istanbul) and Jorsala (Jerusalem). They gradually took over the trade in Saltet (the Baltic sea) and made Birka shrimp and soon this Swedish town sized to exist. The Swedes than tried to replaced Birka with Lund but never managed the get such power again. The Gutes (the inhabitants of Gotalnd) continued to hold their power (into the 13th century) and later became a very important member of the Hansa trade union.
Birka, Hedeby, Vastergarn and Skiringsasal:
Birka was the Swedish trade-centre near what we now a days called Stockholm. Itflourished with trade from the east, and archaeologist have come across object such as a Buddha statuette from the remote east and silver coins from as well Bretland as Byzantium. Birka is were Ansgar launch his first missionary "attack" and started to pary Chritianity in the 9th century.
Vastergarn, or Paviken as some refer to it, is the most important trade-centre of Gotlan, even though Vi (Visby) would past Vastergarn later on. Archaeologists have come across more coins from England (of this era) in Gotland than in England itself, all togeather over 52.000 coins. Many Byzantine coins have also been found and it seems like Gotland traded with the remote north parts of Sweden, made a bargain, and shipped it further soouth to sell for lots more than they paid.
Hedeby is the Danish city with almost 2500 inhabitants (biggest town in Scandinavia at this time). It was a strong defended city with a wall, Danevirke, stretching from Hedeby all across Jutland and served as good defence towards Saxland. Swedes and Gutes traded with Hedeby and sold their goods there rather than ship it around Jutlan. The Danes than took it, by road, down to Holstein and sold it further to Frislan and their inhabitants ( whom possessed good ships, much like the Vikings themselves). Those people than sold their goods in Bretland and Franker riket.
Skiringssal, or Kaupang, is Norway's most important trade-centre with just a few permanent inhabitants but several hundreds of tents with traders from all across Scandinavia. It' placed in the Oslo fjord.
