The Vikings in Dublin
Brief History
The Vikings were venturesome seafarers from Denmark, Norway and Sweden they spread through Europe and the North Atlantic in the period of vigorous Scandinavian expansion (AD 800-1050) known as the Viking Age.
Although they are often thought of primarily as raiders, the Vikings were also traders explorers and settlers. They left a legacy not only of archaeological remains, but also of family names, place names and fieldnames.
The First Vikings arrived in Ireland in 795. In 837 a fleet of sixty longships sailed up the River Liffey in Duiblinn (meaning Black Pool, from which the city of Dublin takes its name) and raided “churches, forts and dwellings”.
From that date, the Danes were a minor political force in Ireland, firmly opting for a commercial life. The rebellious Irish tried to gain control of Dublin from the Danes on a number of occasions during the next three centuries, notably in 1052, 1075, and 1124. In 1171 the Danes were expelled by the Anglo-Normans, led by Henry II, king of England.
Viking facts
Did you know?
- Only one Viking helmet has ever been found, in a Viking grave in south Norway. It did not have horns.
- The worst possible death for a Viking chief was to die peacefully in bed.
- At Viking victory celebrations, they drank draughts of their enemies' blood out of drinking vessels fashioned from human skulls. The toast "Skol!" may be derived from this custom.
- The world's oldest parliament is in Iceland, which first met in the year 930 when Viking chieftains met, outdoors, to argue their differences.
- Bluetooth, is named after a tenth-century king of Denmark and Norway, Harald Bluetooth. Harald was known for uniting various warring tribes in Denmark and Norway, as the technology is intended to unite various other technologies.
- A Viking longboat would require around 80 oak trees to build.
- Viking graves have turned up artifacts from as far away as North America and India, demonstrating the extent of their trading networks.
Viking Battles
Viking Games
