The Vikings

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, originating in Scandinavia, the Vikings were water-born warriors of Denmark, Norway and Sweden who conquered much of the British Isles, pillaged the coast of France, sacked Paris, drove the Frankish overlords from Normandy, traveled the great rivers of Europe, overwhelmed the Slavs in Russia, took command of Kiev and even battled with the Greeks at the doorstep of Constantinople. The author points out that many scholars believe that the Vikings were far more than barbarians whose only aim was to plunder and burn their way through Europe. The Vikings greatly influenced many cultures and countries, much like the ancient Romans during their days of glory and power almost one thousand years earlier. The paper concludes that, when the Vikings power came to the end, conquered through much violence and bloodshed, their property was broken up into contesting kingdoms, such as the Franks, the Burgundians, the Visigoths, the Anglo-Saxons and the Lombards.

From the Paper:

"In 885 A.D., a huge naval fleet of Viking ships sailed up the River Seine and thus penetrated the very essence of France. In command of this vast naval raid was Sigfred and Orm, two Viking chieftains who had been instrumental in the earlier raids in the Frankish kingdoms. Before long, the Viking fleet, raiding and pillaging as they proceeded, were within eyesight of the walls of Paris, but in order to sake this great city, they Vikings had to first take two fortified bridges that spanned the River Seine. Charles the Fat, the dominant ruler of Paris and the great-grandson of Charlemagne, appears to have ignored this Viking threat, due to being concerned with other more local skirmishes which in effect left the city of Paris without any substantial defense."

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