Vikings “Saved” Europe – Not Charlemagne

[renaissance12]

Not true. The pagan ceremonies at the Externsteine made by SS were surely not greco-roman.

Nazis used people like Wagner that were heavily involved in protecting and preserving germanic myths and mythology. Nothing to do with any greco-roman element.

Hitler liked Wagner for 2 reasons... 1) Great opera and music ( i agree ).. 2) Wagner disliked very much the jews..( 50/50)

[Pedro Ruben]

The Iberian Peninsula had several Viking attacks, in Christian and Muslim territories to obtain slaves and wealth.
Regarding the Normans, who followed in the Second Crusade, made up of Flemish, Norman, English, Scots and some Germans, I think the main reason for the participation in the Reconquista, I refer to the example of Lisbon, was the same, to obtain slaves and other wealth. Much of the population massacred in Lisbon was Christian, even if Arabized, the Moçarabes ... The Mozarabic Bishop of Lisbon himself was murdered by the crusaders and the way the population was treated badly and massacred. The Islamic Lisbon massacre impressed with its brutality and destruction...

[PaleoEuropean]

The Iberian Peninsula had several Viking attacks, in Christian and Muslim territories to obtain slaves and wealth.
Regarding the Normans, who followed in the Second Crusade, made up of Flemish, Norman, English, Scots and some Germans, I think the main reason for the participation in the Reconquista, I refer to the example of Lisbon, was the same, to obtain slaves and other wealth. Much of the population massacred in Lisbon was Christian, even if Arabized, the Moçarabes ... The Mozarabic Bishop of Lisbon himself was murdered by the crusaders and the way the population was treated badly and massacred. The Islamic Lisbon massacre impressed with its brutality and destruction...

Several Normans married into the Spanish nobility such as Tosny, Spain was basically the last place to get glory in Europe and make a name for yourself in the new Norman order of Europe. Anglo and Frankish Normans participated in the Reconquista. The Vikings though aren't a single group so it's hard to compare. Vikings started out as criminals and exiles and later became your more standard pirates and eventually colonizers. Vikings ever only really colonized that which was close to them because of supply issues, the colonies were actually backed by Kings and other nobility as opposed to raids. I would agree with most of what you said though. I also think that the powers behind the Reconquista wanted some of their own people to be slaughtered because it struck fear into their newly acquired subjects, I imagine they didn't wan't anyone challenging their right to rule; the climate would have been volatile for the Spanish nobility. The Normans had the same shock tactics in Greece, Italy and the Holy Land. The tactic works for the most part, look at Shock and Awe today; it's an effective tactic.

[Dick]

Norman’s are the reason why Britain became a naval superpower and a world empire, making English a lingua France and the Apricity an English speaking forum

[PaleoEuropean]

Norman’s are the reason why Britain became a naval superpower and a world empire, making English a lingua France and the Apricity am English speaking forum

Also a trading power too really, the Vikings that once raided the shores of England became traders; also took place in France in Norman colonies.

[Dick]

Also a trading power too really, the Vikings that once raided the shores of England became traders; also took place in France in Norman colonies.

Yes. The reason for all of that is due to Anglo-Normans replacing the native English nobility

[Dick]

DJ Noble Snownigger is right, only in Western Christianity Vikings are seen solely as rapists. In Eastern Christianity they are seen as regretful rapists, for example here is an illustration from Skylitzes Chronicles when Vikings were employed to kiss the ass of the Eastern-Roman emperor.



An illumination of a scene from the Skylitzes Chronicle, depicting a Thracesian woman killing a Varangian who tried to rape her, whereupon his comrades praised her and gave her his possessions.


Clearly shows noble warrior spirit and unity among the Viking group, similar to modern rape gangs.


Meanwhile, Charlemange was rising from something more than a Frankish tribesman to conquer half of Europe, claim the Byzantine throne from Irene of Athens and building huge palaces in the process(like the one of Aachen). Not as eco-friendly as Viking Turfs.

Ironically English refugees became a predominant element in the Varangian guard after the Norman conquest. They even had colonies on the Black Sea such Londina

[Morena]

[Samnium]

Robert de Hauteville, that conquered Southern Italy :

[PaleoEuropean]

Ironically English refugees became a predominant element in the Varangian guard after the Norman conquest. They even had colonies on the Black Sea such Londina

The original Varangians Chads.