Historic Replicas

One can imagine the legendary Wyatt stopping outlaws in their tracks more than a century after the historic gunfight at the OK Corral. One also wonders what those last thirty years must have been like for a man who saw the frontier close, gave up his western guns and horses, and became part of a world in which the changes made were total and spectacular, seeing the coming of electric lights, telephones, motion pictures, airplanes, automobiles, radio, machine guns, battleships, comic strips, neon signs, zippers, etc. At the time, these key players had no idea that they had just been involved in the most famous gun fight in the history of the wild and wicked West and that their pistols, clothing and hats would soon lead to many western replicas.

Throughout early American history, slavery weighed heavily on the hearts and minds of the infant nation’s people. Slavery was a complex issue, and few were indifferent to its implications. In the South, slaves were crucial to the agricultural economy. The Northern states were focused on industry and had been settled in some cases by more progressive people and organizations. Presidents and senators had staved off the conflict many times, often using violence civil war guns or civil war swords. Territories often became states two at a time, to maintain the balance between free and slave states in the Senate, and a series of slave law compromises were made.

The Vikings were a special breed, proud of their differences and often misunderstood. So what made them so different from other Anglo-Saxon groups?  Most would say that it was their failure to impose their culture on the people they conquered. They were content to rule and prosper, adopting the language and customs of the people they defeated.  This one element made them unqiue amoungst other warrior invaders of the time, and it also shorten their ruling years by not having as many viking axes working for them.

 The different branches of Viking invaders — the Rus, the Normans, the Danes in England, the Norse in Scotland and Ireland — became, after two or three generations, indistinguishable from the folk they conquered. When Danish Vikings swords swung down and invaded huge sections of England, the result was to cement the unity of the Anglo-Saxons against them.

I found this Viking timeline at http://bdaugherty.tripod.com/normandie/vikings.html

Thought it was an interesting listing of Viking replicas, conquests and important dates during the Dark ages.

789 - The first Viking attack on England.

793 - Vikings attacks the monastery at Lindisfarne.

794 - Vikings attacks the monastery at Yarrow, but fails.

795 - Vikings approaches the Irish sea and attacks on Ireland starts.

797 - Vikings attacks Lambay, Ireland.

798 - Vikings attacks Isle of Man (according to Ulster annals, but perhaps not correct).

798 - Vikings attacks on France (before 800) begins.

800 - Skiringsal and Birka trade centers are founded (approximately).

802 - Vikings attacks the monastery at the holly Columbas on the isle Iona of the Hebrides.

805 - Vikings attacks the monastery at the holly Columbas for the second time.

813 - The magnificent Oseberg ship is built (dated by dendrochronology).

820 - Vikings conquers the Isle of Man and establishes permanently.

820 - Vikings attacks Flanders and approches the moth of river Seine.

834 - The Oseberg ship is mounded (dated by dendrochronology).

834 - Vikings approaches the river Thames, England.

839 - Turgeis (Torgisl) and a big Viking fleet conquers Ireland and settles permanently.

841 - Vikings under the leadership of Turgeis founds Dublin, Ireland.

841 - Vikings burns Lillebonne, Caudebec and Rouen and destroys the abbeys of Jumieges and St Wandrille.

843 - Vikings of Vestfold establishes a power base at the isle Noirmountier (Loire) and raids Nates.

844 - A Viking raid on Seville is repulsed.

844 - Turgeis is killed by the Irish, drowned in Loch Nair.

845 - Viking chieftain Ragnar Lodbrok attacks Paris along a big fleet.

853 - Olaf the White conquers Ireland along a big Viking fleet.

857 - Vikings raids Paris again.

858 - Vikings captures the abbot of St Denis and claims ransome.

859 - Vikings raids in the Mediterranean for the first time.

860 - Rus (Sweds) Vikings attacks Constantinople (Istanbul).

861- The third big attack on Paris by Vikings.

862 - Novgorod in Russia is founded by the Rus Viking, Ulrich.

863 - Xanten demolished by Vikings.

866 - Danish Vikings establishes the kingdom of York, England.

870 - Harold Luva (Fairhair) starts his effort to gain full control in Norway.

871 - Alfred the Great becomes king of Wessex; the Danish advance is halted in England.

871 - Olaf the White returns to Norway, his brother Ivarr becoms ruler of Ireland.

874 - Ivarr the Boneless dies, his sons continues attacks on north-eastern England.

879 - Rurik establishes Kiev as power center of the Kievan Rus’ domains.

885 - A huge fleet of Viking ships attacks Paris, but fails in conquering the city.

885 - Harald (Luva) Fairhair finally unites Norway as one kingdom, first in Scandinavia.

886 - Alfred and the Danes splits England under the Danelaw pact.

890 - The Gokstad ship is built (dated by dendrochronology).

891 - The Vikings at Noirmountier (France) is finally beaten.

894 - Turf-Einar, son of Rognwald and half brother of Rollo, becomes earl of Orkney.

900 - Vikings raids in the Mediterranean again.

902 - The Irish regains Dublin from the Vikings, and rules for fifteen years.

911 - The Viking chieftain Rollo is granted land by the Frankish king and founds the Duchy of Normandy.

917 - Vikings defeats Dublin by military power and regains the throne.

928 - Kings Æthelstan and Harald Fairhair joins in a treaty to gain control of the Norse Vikings.

930 - The first democracy (Alltinget) of the world is founded at Thingvellir, Iceland, by Vikings.

940 - Harald Fairhair dies and his son Eirik Blood-axe struggle to gain full control of Norway, but fails.

941 - Rus Vikings attacks Constantinople (Istanbul).

947 - Eirik Blood-axe, son of Fairhair, gains control of York.

949 - Olaf Crovan defeats Eirik Blood-axe, who flees.

950 - Eirik Blood-axe regains control of York.

954 - Eirik Blood-axe killed at the Battle of Stainmore in York, Vikings defeated by King Edmund.

974 - Emperor Otto II of Germany attacks Denmark, but fails because of Norwegian help.

976 - Maccus Haraldsson, first known king of Man, dies, his brother Gudrød approaches throne.

976 - Angelsey (coast of Wales) is included to the Norse kingdom of Man.

980 - Vikings starts regular attacks to gain control of England.

984 - Viking leader Erik the Red discovers Greenland and starts settling.

985 - The Jomsvikings attacks Norway, lead by Earl Sigvalde, but is firmly defeated at Hjørungavåg.

986 - Viking ships sails in Newfoundland waters.

991 - Viking chieftain Olaf Tryggvasson, along 93 ships, defeats Byrhtnoth at Maldon (August).

991 - Æthelred II pays, the first Danegeld ransom, off £

10,000 in silver to stop Viking attck on London.

994 - Æthelred II pays off £16,000 in silver to stop Viking attcks on London.

995 - Olaf Tryggvasson conquers Norway and proclaims a Christian kingdom.

999 - Christianity reaches Greenland and Iceland by powers of Olaf Tryggvasson.

1000 - Leif Eriksson, son of Erik the Red, explores the coast of North America.

1000 - Olaf Tryggvasson dies in the Battle of Svolder (coast of Vendland); Norway ruled by Danes.

1002 - Brian Boru defeats the Norse Vikings and becomes king of all Ireland.

1009 - Viking chieftain Olaf Haraldsson (St. Olav) attacks London by river and destroys London Bridge.

1010 - Viking explorer Thorfinn Karlsefni attempts to found a settlement in North America.

1013 - Danes, helped by Olaf Haraldson, conquers England; Æthelred flees to Normandy.

1014 - The Vikings of Ireland are finally defeated in the Battle of Clontarf, but Brian Boru is killed.

1015 - Vikings abandons the Vinland settlements at the coast of North America.

1016 - Olaf Haraldsson regains Norway from the Danes; Christianity approaches Norway.

1016 - Danes, under Canute the Great, gains full control over England.

1018 - The coronation of Canute the Great, as King of England.

1026 - Kings Anund Jakob (Sweden) and Olaf Haraldsson (Norway) attacks Denmark, but fails.

1028 - Knut (Canute), king of England and Denmark, conquers Norway and Olaf flees.

1030 - Olaf Haraldsson returns to regain Norway, but is killed at Stiklestad.

1031 - Olaf Haraldsson becomes officially proclaimed a Saint, by Bishop Grimkel (August 3rd).

1035 - Canute the Great dies, Magnus, son of St Olaf, expels the Danes from Norway and regains the kingdom.

1042 - Edward the Confessor rules England, supported by Danes.

1042 - Magnus, king of Norway, becomes king of Denmark.

1045 - Magnus grants Harald Hardraada half of Norway, as a co-king.

1047 - Magnus, king of Norway & Denmark, dies; Hardraada sovereign king of Norway; Claims Denmark as well.

1047 - Svend Estridsson gains control of the Danish throne, but Hardraada won’t give up his claim.

1049 - Hardraada founds Oslo, Norway.

1050 - Hardraade raids Haithabu.

1062 - Hardraada defeats Svend Estridsson at the Battle of Nissen, but fails to gain control of Denmark.

1064 - Hardraada gives up Denmark and recognizes Svend Estridsson as legal heir to the throne.

1066 - Harold Godwinson defeats Harald Hardraada, who dies in the Battle of Stamford Bridge (Sep 25th).

1066 - William, Duke of Normandy, defeats Saxon king Harold in the Battle of Hastings (Oct 14th).

1072 - Vikings conquers Palermo.

1085 - Danish Vikings makes a final attempt to conquer England but fails.

I, along with many others, have always thought of the medieval knight as chivalrous, helpful and brave.  I was surprised to hear the real stories of the Dark Age knights and find out that they were nothing but thugs!

The medieval knights had more in commons with HBO’s Tony Soprano than they did with Sir Lance-A-Lot.  They were thugs, hired killers and villains who used medieval swords and historical weapons to intimidate peasants.  They represented the neighboring lords and castles of the land in their quest to concur more land and goods.  The lord’s that ruled the castle would send these knights out onto the villages to robe the peasants and force them to be obedient to their lords - basically they were paid bullies.  This is far from the imagery that exists in our fairytale books or movies, but it is the actual role that the knights played in the Dark Ages - middle of the 11th century

The Dark Ages were the most prosperous time for the Vikings.  They spent decades perfecting their sailing techniques, pillaging villages and torturing innocent captors.  From approximately 780-1080 A.D the Vikings raided regions as far and wide as the Middle East, Africa and even North America.  However their favorite place to pillage was Great Britain.  This was the area most hit by the Vikings and it was also the first place that they ever raided years prior.

There were many Viking warrior kings that marched across the lands, such as Ivarr the Boneless, Sven Estridsen, Canute the Great… They typically won against the English lords and kings, however there was one great English warrior that gave them a run for their money.  Sir Alex the Great.

Alex was the only lord in England that realized the key to defeating the Vikings - fortresses.  The Vikings with their Viking swords, Viking  battle axes and distinctive helmet,  were known for being swift, fast pillagers that wanted to get in and out of an area quickly.  They were not trained nor did they have the temperament to wage a long drawn out siege.  Alex the Great of England decided to built fortresses to prevent the Vikings from raiding his lands.  His people would build fortresses or wood, earth and steel to hide within.  They would take all of their belongings with them so that there would be nothing left for the Vikings to capture.  After hours of trying to enter the fortresses the viking warriors

would grow tired and either retreat or be the targets of Alex the Great’s targeted army.  A brilliant strategy that only he was able to perfect.

Over the next two or three centuries the relentless Vikings raided their way across Europe. From Greenland to Algiers, from Labrador to the Volga, the Vikings made their presence felt. From Sweden they crossed the Baltic and rowed up the rivers into Russia. They ported their boats across to the Don and the Dnepr and the Volga, and sailed to the Black Sea and the farthest reaches of southeastern Europe. (These Viking replicas - historic longboats can now be seen at museums across the world).  Rounding Gibraltar, Vikings raided the Mediterranean coasts of Iberia, Italy, and Muslim North Africa. The Vikings even had the rare distinction of taking Arabs as slaves. But, despite the conquest and slaughter, and unlike the Arabs (who were dedicated slave-traders), the Vikings did not generally take slaves during their raids. The killed with Viking swords taking very few prisoners. Perhaps the necessity of rapid movement by sea and the long passages through the cold northern waters discouraged the practice.The Vikings were otherwise dedicated traders, establishing fortified mercantile settlements wherever they went. The Norse Vikings, after plundering the many rich monastic targets in Ireland and northwestern Scotland, established trading centers which became Dublin, Limerick, and other major Irish cities. In their wake they left their blond-haired genes to supplement the black hair of the Celts.  Creating a new race of Norse warrior.

Growing up can be boring. Gone are the days when you could dress up like a super hero, or princess and play with your friends. You’re not being fair to yourself if you think dressing up is just for kids. In fact, why not plan a themed-costume party and ask everyone to dress as a pirate?

Your friends would love this. In addition to requiring everyone to wear pirate costumes, you can ask them to use a pirate voice. This party will be a blast. You may even want to give out pirate-themed prizes like eye patches and stuffed parrots! For appetizers think about serving Pirate’s Booty, dried meats and sardines.

Children shouldn’t have access to any guns in a house. Many parents keep their guns safe by locking them in hidden gun safes or lockers. But what about avid gun collectors who are also parents? Is it really fair that just because they have kids they have to stop showing off their prized possessions?

For those that just can’t bear to put their guns away, there’s another option. A gun display rack can be securely bolted to a wall and high enough to stay out of a child’s reach. It’s important, however, that the guns displayed on the rack are unloaded. In order to be totally out of a child’s reach the racks should be at least six feet up.

The traditional history of the Vikings is agreed upon.  It begins with a lightening raid on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne in 793 AD which killed many civilians and warriors. Although it is most likely that there had been at least one smaller raid before that time.  Then in 789, a Viking ship landed in England and killed the king’s trusted representative, burning and ravishing villages before they sent sail.In that pivitol year, when the monastery at Lindisfarne in northern England was attacked by the Vikings, it was recorded by the Northumbrian chronicler Alcuin as an event of unspeakable brutality. Visions of bloody Viking helmet and swords flying with women and children screaming for their lives.  Yet two and a half centuries earlier it was Alcuin’s ancestors, the heathen Saxons, who had shown that same brutality by slaughtering people with Viking battle axes and raping their way through the Christian cities across England.

It would seem that the Vikings were not too different from the other warrior factions at that time. Brutal and out for the spoils of conquest.