![]() Part of the deal was that Rollo would help defend them from any future Viking raids. ![]() Claire-sur-Epte with the Frankish King Charles which gave Rollo and his men rights to settle in Normandy (Northman's Land). He is thought to have been born in either Norway or Denmark and began raids into France in the 9th century. The first Viking king of Normandy in northern France, Rollo was one of the few men who really left his mark on history. Statue of Rollo in Falaise Square - Wikimedia Commons Here are our top 10 picks for the most famous Viking Warriors you should know about: It is not surprising therefore that amongst the leaders of the Vikings there are some intriguing and unusual characters. The norsemen respected strength and bravery therefore being a viking leader was no easy task.įrom leading raids on the British Isles and Northern France to sailing into uncharted waters in some of the worlds most dangerous oceans, many of the Vikings exploits were not for the faint hearted. ![]() The 500 or so settlers established a colony that lasted until the mid-15th century.Īs for Erik, he died during an epidemic that swept through the colony a short while after his son, Leif Erikson, had set sail westwards on a voyage that would see him become one of the first Europeans to reach North America.History remembers the Vikings as fierce warriors and pioneers who lead raids throughout northern Europe in the 9th and 10th Century AD. He managed to persuade many people to follow him from Iceland to Greenland to establish a colony there, although only 14 of the 25 ships that left Iceland would survive the voyage. In the end, Erik would leave and go on to discover Greenland in around 982 AD and the sagas would credit him with founding the first settlement there. ![]() Another bloodthirsty rampage ensued when Erik returned from exile to retrieve some personal possessions. Soon Erik found himself in temporary exile after murdering two neighbours who killed his slaves. Brutality was clearly in his blood - at a young age, his family were uprooted and taken to Iceland after his father had been banished from Norway due to some killings. Perhaps the epitome of the archetypal bloodthirsty Viking, Erik the Red violently murdered his way through life.īorn in Norway, Erik gained his nickname most likely due to the colour of his hair and beard but it could also reflect upon his violent nature. Read more about: Vikings Three of the greatest Viking explorers that ever set sail ![]() His death marks the end of the Viking Age, making Harald the last great Viking ruler. Initial success couldn’t be sustained and Harald was defeated at the Battle of Stamford Bridge by the forces of Harold II, who would go on to lose to William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings a few weeks later.Īlthough Harald was said to have fought during the Battle of Stamford Bridge with the fury of a beserker, with no body armour on, an arrow to the throat felled him. The pair came to a compromise to co-rule, an agreement that lasted just one year as Magnus passed away, leaving Harald the new King of Norway in 1046.Īfter swiftly crushing any resistance to his reign, the formidable warlord turned his sights on the English throne, mounting an audacious invasion in September 1066. He then turned his sights to Norway, where Olaf’s son Magnus had recently been crowned king. Read more about: Vikings Harald Hardrada: The last Vikingĭescribed as cold, ruthless and aggressively ambitious, Harald soon amassed himself a large wealth. ![]()
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