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The Vikings of The East

The Vikings of The East. Ambassador Jon Ramberg Baku History Club 24 January 2008. “ The Snake Stone” By Jason Goodwin.

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The Vikings of The East

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  1. The Vikings of The East Ambassador Jon Ramberg Baku History Club 24 January 2008

  2. “The Snake Stone”By Jason Goodwin “Exploded out of their fjords about 12 centuries ago. Ships carved like dragons. Primitive range of gods. Blood and thunder all summer: rape, murder and pillage. Long poems about it to keep them happy all winter. Tough wasn`t the word. They scuffed Europe into what we call the Dark Ages. Most notable product after widows: Russia.”

  3. Settlements in Scandinavia ca. 800

  4. Causes of Viking expansion • Population explosion • Technological breakthroughs • Lure of wealth (trade/plunder)

  5. The Oseberg Shipca. 800

  6. Key words RUS • ”Rotsi” – ”they who row” - Finnish tribes’ name for Swedish merchants? From late 10th century used about population of the Slavic/Rus state centered upon Kiev VARJAG(i) Gardarike/Russia VARANGI/Constantinople ”Sworn-in men”

  7. The whole of our “country is vast and rich , but there is no order. Come and rule over us!” Nestor Chronicle (1113-1118)

  8. Expansion in The East HOLMGARD KIEV BYSANTS

  9. The First Rus State • Adleigjuborg/Staraya Ladoga Holmgard/Novgorod • Rurik 862 • Arabian/Abbasidic caliphate, Baghdad 750 • Silver mines south of Aral Sea • Hides and slaves

  10. KIEV

  11. The Kiev State (880 -1240) • RUS from the North • Assimilation into Slav population 10th century, but ... • ...Old Norse spoken in Novgorod until 13th century

  12. Oleg (Helge) 882 – 912 • United Novgorod and Kiev 880 • Fought the Khazars • Attacked Constantinople • Died during Caspian raid 912?

  13. Igor (Ingvar) 913 - 945 • Trade treaties with Constantinople • Caspian plunder 913 and 944? • Killed while collecting tribute 945

  14. Olga (Helga) 945 - 962 • First ”legal reform” in Eastern Europe, on tribute • Converted to Christianity ca. 950

  15. Olga

  16. Sviatoslav 945 - 962 • Beat Khazars and Bulgars

  17. Yaropolk 972 - 980 • Killed in ambush by two of brother Vladimir’s Varangians

  18. Vladimir 980 - 1015 • Fled 977 to King Haakon of Norway to recruit Vikings • Baptised 988 after refusing Islam (”no gladness, no alcohol, no pork”); the Jewish faith (because of loss of Jerusalem) – and impressed by the splendour of Hagia Sofia • Hosted Olav Tryggvason (King of Norway 995 – 1000)

  19. Sviatopolk 1015 - 1019 • Killed brothers Boris and Gleb • Killed by brother Yaroslav’s Varangians

  20. Yaroslav ”The Wise” 1019 - 1054 • Relied on Scandinavian support against Bysants • Sheltered King Olav Haraldsson (”The Holy”) before Battle of Stiklestad 1030, sent soldiers • Married Swedish princess • Married off daughter Elizaveta (Elisiv) to King Harald ”Hardråde” - two others to rulers of Hungary and France

  21. BYSANTS

  22. BYSANTS • Varangians on both sides from early 10th century • Personal bodyguard of the Emperor • Harald ”Hardråde” – chief of guard after Battle of Stiklestad 1030 • Return to Norway 1045 • Fell at Stamford Bridge 1066 • Anglo-Saxons and Danes leaving England – Anglo-Varangian Guard 1088

  23. The Khazar State ( ca. 750-ca. 970 ) • Turkish origin, Jewish faith • Middlemen between the Caliphate and Rus • Crushed by King Sviatoslav 969

  24. -This is the area which Snorre is pointing at Thor Heyerdahl Azov, 2001

  25. Snorre Sturlason(1178-1241)

  26. Odin’s Journey according to Snorre and Heyerdahl

  27. *ATTEMPTS AT SOME SWEEPING STATEMENTS • The Vikings of The East were generally more peaceful than their colleagues who went West • They were certainly brutal, but so were the times • Romantic view of 19th century replaced by critical – today a balanced judgement • Apart from advanced maritime skills – poetry and sagas • Outer as well as inner expansion in Norway based on improved agricultural skills and trade • Most important for Norway: inclusion in Europe • Importance for contemporary relationship Norway – Azerbaijan?

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