Charlemagnes Defeat of Widukind of Westphalia PDF Book

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Charlemagnes Defeat of Widukind of Westphalia PDF Book THE CONQUEST OF SAXONY AD 782-785: CHARLEMAGNES DEFEAT OF WIDUKIND OF WESTPHALIA PDF, EPUB, EBOOK David Nicolle,Graham Turner | 96 pages | 19 Aug 2014 | Bloomsbury Publishing PLC | 9781782008255 | English | Osprey, United Kingdom The Conquest of Saxony AD 782-785: Charlemagnes Defeat of Widukind of Westphalia PDF Book Starting in with a series of raids and incursions, the Carolingian campaign rapidly took on the character of a religious conquest, and may well have been the inspiration for the later crusades against both Islam and pagan peoples of Prussia and Livonia. Died 10 Nov [location unknown]. This worked, for a while. Limited by the available historical sources, but an enjoyable read. Many of the capitularies concern the business of the king: terms of military service, for example, or the administration of royal estates. I'm both. The writer was able to explain as accurate as possible despite the lack of information during that period. Jurisdictions overlapped; some duties and powers were military only, some were administrative or fiscal or judicial. In "Catalaunian Fields AD ", author Simon MacDowall brings the reader up to date on the battle, and provides some necessary context. He ruled the Franks from to , creating an empire that would be the envy and model for many an ambitious monarch after him. Charles proceeded then to claim for himself the iron crown of the Lombards and with this the Lombards fade into the background. Well researched and written, the authours arguements for his choice of the battle site are compelling. His sections on the opposing commanders, available forces as well as their weapons, armor and tactics seemed very good to me. Islamic military power peaked The author lives in Leicestershire, UK. It is certainly a dramatic account, although the author is quick to put the Battle in context, and quick to admit that it might not have been as momentous in its effects on Western Civilization as formerly thought. Campaign Series. The Song of Roland is a major work of medieval literature, but it is the story of an insignificant action during a retreat after an expedition whose success was mixed at best. Enabling JavaScript in your browser will allow you to experience all the features of our site. Sarcasm rated it really liked it Mar 14, Brandon marked it as to-read Nov 06, You should not picture this system as being rigid or consistent. Charles' Successors: Louis the Pious Charles had only one son who survived him: Louis, whose patronage of the Church earned him the nickname of Pious. Charles had a direct hand in a number of innovations and important developments regarding law, of which I emphasize two here. Was Charles simply demonstrating that anyone who accepted baptism would be welcomed into the fold? Charles now embarked on a policy to eliminate the Saxon threat forever. His settlement of their estates demonstrates how far the Franks still had to go in political understanding, for he divided the Frankish empire among the three of them, splitting what his forefathers had brought together with so much toil. No new Charlemagne emerged from these families to unite the lands anew, and many of the kings were outright incompetent. Above the counts were the provincial governors, whose duty it was to govern the principal divisions of the realm. They were a semi-nomadic people who lived in part by preying on farming communities and they were a sore thorn in Charles' side. Widukind or Wittekind was the leader of the Saxons and the first known by name Duke of the Duchy of Saxony. He is to the Franks what Arthur is to the Britons. Widukind first appears in history in , at the fateful spring assembly at Paderborn that launched King Charles on his path to Roncevalles. Lawrence rated it really liked it Sep 07, Charlemagne was no scholar, but he had a great respect for them and he genuinely desired to revive learning at his court. Wanting to provide properly for his three boys, he divided the titles and lands and privileges, as indeed Charlemagne would have done had his son Pepin survived. Search Records. But he was unable to win any great victory, was unable to negotiate anything substantial, and finally had to return to Gaul with not much accomplished. From there he sent a palace official named Amalwin back to Widukind and Abbio, along with hostages guaranteeing their safe passage. Southern Italy was still in Greek or Moslem hands. Again, Charles returned home, taking his army with him, leaving priests behind. Legislation Charles had a direct hand in a number of innovations and important developments regarding law, of which I emphasize two here. When the easy money dried up, Attila took an army of Huns and allies west into what is now France, seeking fresh tribute. Jur rated it really liked it Aug 19, According to legend, St. Friend Reviews. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Nicolle born 4 April is a British historian specialising in the military history of the Middle Ages, with a particular interest in the Middle East. The Conquest of Saxony AD 782-785: Charlemagnes Defeat of Widukind of Westphalia Writer Charles' great empire collapsed steadily, fragmenting into dozens of pieces. The seeds sown at Fulda and elsewhere took permanent root. Not thrilled about the layout, but had info that would be hard to gather together from anywhere else. Have you taken a DNA test? But it is the immediate ancestor to Europe. He was a fearsomely effective military leader, as we shall see, and must have been a powerful force in Saxon society. I would also like to say that Peter Dennis did another excellent job with the color plates - excellent illustrations. The more important of these is by Einhard. In , Charles again invaded Saxony and again defeated the army that was sent against him. Leo was attacked while in a procession, was beaten and imprisoned for a time. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Peat rated it it was amazing Nov 21, It marks the arrival of a new inheritor of Rome and a competitor to the Byzantines. Charles did not stem an invasion, he simply defeated a small army. Others say that Charles arranged the affair. In , Charles led a great army over the Pyrenees. There is France to the west, and Germany to the east. Remember that Charles entertained ambassadors from Sigfred while Widukind, who had already led several revolts, was given safe harbor by their king! Since Charles now ruled Bavaria, the task of fighting the border wars with the Avars fell to him. Thus, the territory won by Charles when he invaded Spain is called the Spanish March. So if your wanting to wargame the scenario And he fostered the collection of tribal laws that likewise have been an invaluable source for historians. As the king arose from prayer before the altar, the pope produced a crown and set it on Charlemagne's head. The capitularies are the primary source we have for the entire system of the missi dominici. Lupus, the bishop of Troyes, convinced Attila to leave the town be. Similar Products. Zack marked it as to-read Jan 01, This was also the most important of all Charlemagne's war for the future direction and character of European history and, paradoxically, it also began the long process of uniting the German-speaking peoples. Graham Turner Illustrator. Among these scholars was Alcuin. Fulda also produced Walafrid Strabo, who became a poet and scholar. Torture him to death? The institution of monarchy among the Franks was not equipped to deal with this situation. Life Very little is known about Widukind's life. He studied Latin and Greek, though he spoke only Frankish. Profile managers : John Atkinson [ send private message ], Paul Lee [ send private message ], Richard Ragland [ send private message ], and David Rentschler [ send private message ]. Conquests: Spain The final area of conquest that I will discuss here was Spain, and here again the issues and outcome were different. Paperback , 96 pages. Oddly enough, the battles we're looking at were mainly fought by "barbarians" and commanded by barbarians Attila and Aetius, yet this is "Rome's" last great battle? Lorsch Annals, year , King , Translated Sources, p. It involved 18 campaigns spread over 33 years, a great deal of lower-level fighting and the harshest final peace settlement that Charlemagne ever imposed upon a defeated foe. We will see this theme return more than once in this course. With a royal army nearby, no one could dispute the findings of the council. The Conquest of Saxony AD 782-785: Charlemagnes Defeat of Widukind of Westphalia Reviews The author lives in Leicestershire, UK. Here, Charles was not so successful. Charles had a direct hand in a number of innovations and important developments regarding law, of which I emphasize two here. Was he making up for his unfortunate temper tantrum in ? Every 'Roman' shelf should have one Bavaria was technically part of Charles' realm. Profile managers : John Atkinson [ send private message ], Paul Lee [ send private message ], Richard Ragland [ send private message ], and David Rentschler [ send private message ]. It was still in its rough infancy under Charlemagne, this new society, but it proved strong enough to withstand some terrible trials in its immediate future. Major, Tom, Feast of Blessed Widukind. Contents 1 Biography 1. The covering force was indeed ambushed and Roland and his men died while the rest of the Franks won free. Southern Italy was still in Greek or Moslem hands. At the close of the 18th century the Ottoman Empire still had huge military potential.
Recommended publications
  • The Early Intercourse of the Franks and Danes. Part II Author(S): Henry H
    The Early Intercourse of the Franks and Danes. Part II Author(s): Henry H. Howorth Reviewed work(s): Source: Transactions of the Royal Historical Society, Vol. 7 (1878), pp. 1-29 Published by: Royal Historical Society Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3677882 . Accessed: 30/12/2012 11:59 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. Royal Historical Society is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Transactions of the Royal Historical Society. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded on Sun, 30 Dec 2012 11:59:53 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYALHISTORICAL SOCIETY. THE EARLY INTERCOURSE OF THE FRANKS AND DANES. PART II. BY HENRY H. HOWORTH, ESQ., F.S.A., Fellow of the Royal HistoricalSociety. THERE is a passage in one of the Frankish annals which has not received the attentionwhich it deserves,and which I believe throws a great deal of light on the historyof the Danish revolutionsof the early part of the ninth century. This chronicle was writtenin verse by a Low Saxon monk some time during the reign of Arnulph, who died in 899.
    [Show full text]
  • The Cimbri of Denmark, the Norse and Danish Vikings, and Y-DNA Haplogroup R-S28/U152 - (Hypothesis A)
    The Cimbri of Denmark, the Norse and Danish Vikings, and Y-DNA Haplogroup R-S28/U152 - (Hypothesis A) David K. Faux The goal of the present work is to assemble widely scattered facts to accurately record the story of one of Europe’s most enigmatic people of the early historic era – the Cimbri. To meet this goal, the present study will trace the antecedents and descendants of the Cimbri, who reside or resided in the northern part of the Jutland Peninsula, in what is today known as the County of Himmerland, Denmark. It is likely that the name Cimbri came to represent the peoples of the Cimbric Peninsula and nearby islands, now called Jutland, Fyn and so on. Very early (3rd Century BC) Greek sources also make note of the Teutones, a tribe closely associated with the Cimbri, however their specific place of residence is not precisely located. It is not until the 1st Century AD that Roman commentators describe other tribes residing within this geographical area. At some point before 500 AD, there is no further mention of the Cimbri or Teutones in any source, and the Cimbric Cheronese (Peninsula) is then called Jutland. As we shall see, problems in accomplishing this task are somewhat daunting. For example, there are inconsistencies in datasources, and highly conflicting viewpoints expressed by those interpreting the data. These difficulties can be addressed by a careful sifting of diverse material that has come to light largely due to the storehouse of primary source information accessed by the power of the Internet. Historical, archaeological and genetic data will be integrated to lift the veil that has to date obscured the story of the Cimbri, or Cimbrian, peoples.
    [Show full text]
  • 3. the Movement South and South-T7est to 9542 the British Isles
    Tbe Mopemcnt Soatb and Soath-Wett t0 954 zos which, helped by a civil war instigated by the priest-king of Mun- srer, he spread his elbows to good effect throughout Ulster. By the capture of Armagh, at once a chief town of the north, the most important ecclesiastical centre oflreland, and one ofthe holy places ofwestern Christendom, he acquired wealth, power, reputation, and his place in Irish tradition. To him and his kind is attributed the esta^blishment of harbour-strongholds at Anagassan, Dublin, Wex- ford, Waterford, Cork and Limerick, with important consequences 3. The Movement South and South-T7est for the subsequent history of both Norse and Irish Ireland. He is to 9542 the British Isles, the Frankish Empire, the Mediterranean .r Io ror,r-ow rN DETATL THE vrKrNG oNSLAUGHT oN Europe whether nation b1' nationr decade, ninth-century r -decade.by or under thl fou.^ generally accepted heads of individual raids for plunder, expeditlons ol political significance and intention, colonial venture; seeking new land for settlement, and enterprises whose main concern was mercantile and commercial, would be a bis task-and in terms of this book a distorting one' It must be en"ough to trace it in general though one hopes indicative outline' We biein with Ireland in the 83os. thJ Irish coast had suffered sporadically from Norwegian plunderers ever since the first raid on Lambeyin Tg5rand sometimes ihe raiders had penetrated far inland. These were painful depreda- tionsrl but bearable, and left the character of country.and-people unchaneed. But nothing could ever be the same again after the arrival6f the famous Tuigeis from Norway shortly before 84o' Our knowledge of him, unfortinately, is at once inflated and diminished bv the leEendary material associated wjth him several hundred years aiter his"death, when he had become a favourite receptacle for Christian.indignation and alarm.
    [Show full text]
  • From the Viking Age to the Middle Ages
    Part III: Ritual Actions in Different Areas of Confrontation Hostages in peace processes The purpose of this part of the book is to elucidate how the giv- ing and taking of hostages can be understood within a ceremony (or several ceremonies). The analysis must in part be carried out as a reconstruction because the medieval writers sometimes saw the giving and taking of hostage as irrelevant during negotiations: there were more important events to describe, such as the con- version of heathens. At the same time it is important to under- stand the use of a hostage as a major or essential part of a wider context: the peace process. The central parts of ceremonies are also analysed in this part, the treatment of the hostages, and how they were valued as persons. These ceremonial patterns may have taken altering expressions – regulations, and procedures – in dif- ferent areas of confrontation and must therefore be understood by identifying their contextual factors. Initially Anglo-Saxon areas of confrontation are described and analysed, as well as some other contexts. In particular, it is emphasized that there were specific conditions for each individual conflict, with a subsequent peace, where personal interests may have been decisive for the outcome as well as other social mechanisms related to competitive group- ings. Additional examples will also be taken from other confron- tational areas involving Scandinavians: the Carolingian Empire, Denmark, and Norway. How to cite this book chapter: Olsson, S. 2019. Ritual Actions in Different Areas of Confrontation. In: Olsson, S. The Hostages of Northmen: From the Viking Age to the Middle Ages.
    [Show full text]
  • THE CONQUEST of SAXONY AD 782–785 Charlemagne’S Defeat of Widukind of Westphalia
    THE CONQUEST OF SAXONY AD 782–785 Charlemagne’s defeat of Widukind of Westphalia DAVID NICOLLE ILLUSTRATED BY GRAHAM TURNER © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com CAMPAIGN 271 THE CONQUEST OF SAXONY AD 782–785 Charlemagne’s defeat of Widukind of Westphalia DAVID NICOLLE ILLUSTRATED BY GRAHAM TURNER Series editor Marcus Cowper © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com CONTENTS INTRODUCTION: FRANKS AND SAXONS 5 CHRONOLOGY 19 OPPOSING COMMANDERS 22 Carolingian commandersSaxon commanders OPPOSING FORCES 32 Carolingian forcesSaxon forces OPPOSING PLANS 42 Carolingian plansSaxon plans THE CAMPAIGN 46 Carolingian defeat in the Süntel Hills, AD 782The Saxon defeat AFTERMATH 79 A continuing struggleImpact on the SaxonsImpact on the Carolingians THE BATTLEFIELDS TODAY 91 FURTHER READING 93 INDEX 95 © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com The Carolingian kingdom and its neighbours, c. AD 782 N 1. Willebrord of Northumbria’s mission to 7. Southern provinces of the Lombard the Frisians (c. ad 690–739). Kingdom of Italy divided between the 2. Boniface of Wessex’s mission to the Duchy of Spoleto (nominally Papal) and Frisians and Hessians (c. AD 716–754). the Lombard Principality of Benevento). 3. Willehad of Northumbria’s mission to the 8. March of Friuli established in AD 776. Saxons (AD 780–789). 9. Against Lombard Kingdom of Italy in 4. Territory south of the Teutoburger Wald AD 773–74. KINGDOM lost by Franks to Saxons in AD 695, 10. Against rebel Lombard Duke of Friuli reconquered AD 722–804. later in AD 776. OF THE 5. Bavaria under Carolingian overlordship 11. Against Saragossa in AD 778. SCOTTISH KINGDOMS PICTS from AD 778.
    [Show full text]
  • Ragnar Lothbrok and the Semi-Legendary History of Denmark
    RAGNAR LOTHBROK AND THE SEMI-LEGENDARY HISTORY OF DENMARK Senior Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the School of Arts and Sciences Brandeis University Undergraduate Program in the Department of History William Kapelle, Advisor In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts by RYAN HALL KACANI MAY 2015 Copyright by Ryan H. Kacani Acknowledgements I would like to thank Professor William Kapelle for advising me on this thesis, as well as Professors Gregory Freeze and Charles McClendon for serving on my defense committee. I would like to thank Nicholas Galinski for providing valuable eyes in the final stages of editing. And above all I would like to thank Rita, without whom this never would have been completed, and who not only guided me through this project, but guides me through life itself. CONTENTS Introduction 1 Chapter One: The History of Denmark and 5 Sweden to the Battle of Brávellir (c. 500-c. 750) Chapter Two: Expansion and the House of 22 Godfred in the Ninth Century (c. 750-867) Chapter Three: The Story of the Legendary 45 Ragnar Lothbrok Chapter Four: Reginheri and Other 64 Historical Ragnar Models Chapter Five: The Sons of Reginheri and 81 Lothbroka Conclusions 114 Appendix: Maps, Genealogies, and 117 Timelines Bibliography 129 INTRODUCTION From the late eighth to the late eleventh centuries, nearly the entirety of Europe was held at the mercy of Scandinavian raiders. These Viking warriors took countless riches from the kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon England and Carolingian France, and, when plunder was not plentiful, extorted thousands of pounds of silver from the regions’ rulers.
    [Show full text]
  • A History of the V-5
    L. The Scandinavian Community, t: Diversity and Unity (1 )o ,^o r* ouR AccouNT oF THE scANDTNAVTAN pEopLEs we have assumed that despite a threefold division inro Danes, Swedes, and Norwegians, and the internal division ofeach ofthese into tribes and regions, with a more or less constant pattern of neighbourly aggression, dynastic struggle, extra-territbrial con- quest, and folk migration--despite these things we have assumed that Scandinavia is an entity and have talked ofit as such. Before proceeding with the political history of the peoples we had better ask ourselves why. First there is the geographical position ofthe three countries in the north ofEurope. They are grouped together, it is true; but the grouping is less neighbourly than that of the countries of the British Isles, or the city states of Italy. The old Cimbric peninsula, modern Jutland, is an extension of the north German pliin, and a long run of wars from the beginning of the ninth ceniury to the middle of the twentieth has failed to draw what nature left undrawn, a definitive frontier. The flat and Grtile countryside of the Danish isles from Fyn to Z,ealand, of Bornholm, and Skine in Sweden, has more in common with lands south of the Fehmarn Belt and the Baltic than with Norway and Swedish Norrland. On the peninsula itse[ the upturned keel of mountains running south from Finn- mark almost to Stavanger and Vdrmland made vast areas ofeastern and western Scandinavia almost inaccessible to each other through- out the Middle Ages.l Eastwards there is no natural division r The two best lines of land communication between Norway and Sweden vere the Trondheim qap and the area south of Lake Miosa.
    [Show full text]
  • The Beginning of the Viking Age in the West
    Journal of Maritime Archaeology https://doi.org/10.1007/s11457-018-9221-3 ORIGINAL PAPER The Beginning of the Viking Age in the West Irene Baug1 · Dagfnn Skre2 · Tom Heldal3 · Øystein J. Jansen4 © The Author(s) 2018 Abstract During the Viking Age, Arctic Scandinavia was a source of exquisite furs, down, walrus ivory, and other commodities that met with high demand in England and on the Continent. Hitherto, the earliest frm evidence of this trade has been Ohthere’s account c. 890, but in light of this paper’s fndings, its history may be pushed further back in time. Geological analyses of whetstones retrieved in eighth- to early ninth-century Ribe, south-western Jyl- land, in present-day western Denmark, demonstrate that the majority were quarried near the aristocratic manor Lade (‘loading/storing place’) in Trøndelag, present-day central Norway, some 1100 km by sea to the north. Because of their high numbers and durability, whetstones retrieved in Ribe and other urban sites may be regarded as a proxy for long-dis- tance seaborne trade from the Arctic. The peak in this trade on the threshold of the Viking Age invites a reconsideration of the coinciding and conficting interests of Scandinavian long-distance traders, kings, and Vikings. It is argued that coalitions and conficts that arose from these interests, and new constraints and opportunities that emerged for these three types of agents, provide keys to understanding why and where Vikings raided over- seas up to the mid-ninth century. Keywords Vikings · Rock provenancing · Seafaring · Arctic commodities · Maritime economy · Early medieval trade Introduction Around AD 800, Scandinavians began setting of on Viking raids across the North Sea, an activity that continued over more than two centuries.
    [Show full text]
  • Horik Den Førstes Udenrigspolitik
    Horik den Førstes udenrigspolitik AF NIELS LUND Udenrigspolitik i klassisk forstand har til formål at varetage staternes interesser over for hinanden.1 Den er staternes forsøg på at nå eller fremme deres nationale mål. Nikolaj Petersen definerer i artiklen her- om i Den Store Danske Encyklopædi begrebet som »staters politik over for omverdenen«, og dens mål bestemmes som »dels indflydelse over de ydre omgivelser, dels autonomi i forhold til dem«.2 Danmarks udenrigs- politik har, skriver Hans-Henrik Holm i samme leksikon, »som mål at fremme dansk sikkerhed, at skaffe størst mulig økonomisk velfærd samt at fremme danske værdier vedrørende ret og uret«.3 Udenrigspolitik udspilles mellem stater, den forudsætter da eksistensen af stater og at deres interesser og mål kan defineres. Når politikken kommer til kort, søges målene nået ved hjælp af krig. Militærteoretikeren Karl von Clau- sewitz er ofte citeret for den udtalelse, at krig blot er en fortsættelse af politikken med andre midler – andre har vendt det om til, at politik blot er en fortsættelse af krigen med andre midler. At tale om dansk uden- rigspolitik i en tid, hvor Danmark endnu langtfra kan kaldes en stat,4 og hvor ingen havde monopol på at knytte forbindelser med udlandet, kan derfor umiddelbart synes temmelig futilt. Dette er ikke stedet at overveje forholdet mellem udenrigspolitik, international politik og transnational politik i vikingetiden eller at søge at betragte disse fænomener i samme periode under en teoretisk syns- vinkel. Det er jeg ingenlunde kvalificeret til. Ambitionen er alene at vise, at der forud for det første stykke dansk udenrigspolitik i betydnin- 1 Nærværende afhandling udgør en forelæsning holdt i serien Fakultetets Fredags Fore- læsninger på Københavns universitet den 28.
    [Show full text]
  • The Game of Thrones in the Early Kingdoms of Danmark
    The Game of Thrones in the early Kingdoms of Denmark By Ph.D. Mads Ravn Head of research, Vejle Museums 6/24/2019 1 • the ‘game of thrones’ of kingdoms in Denmark in the 6th-10th century First scene Denmark • from archaeology • contextualizing these events with events in the Frankish empire Second Scene Europe • Mainly from written sources • discussing why the Vikings attacked at this time Why 9th • nature of violence, the raids and their impact. century? 6/24/2019 2 South Scandinavia in 9th First scene century Viking warrior with standard gear around AD 800 From Ravn & Juel in SKALK 2018 6/24/2019 3 What is a kingdom ? • Not a state (17th Century) • A kingdom. To ‘dømme’ (DK) = ‘to judge’ (ENG). • Hence, a kingdom is not a territory, it a jurisdiction where the king’s word is law and over whom a king rules one or more peoples • This need not include territory 6/24/2019 4 Hypothesis 1: Danish kingdoms formed early – mainly from archaeological sources • AD 520 + • Rex Danorum mentioned by Gregory of Tours + studies of regionality • AD 700 • From archaeology and studies of 6/24/2019 regionality and styles5 Second hypothesis: influenced by historians ‘…even in the eighth and ninth centuries, and still more in the fifth and sixth, aristocratic economic dominance over peasant neighbours was not established in Denmark’ (Wickham 2005, p. 375). 6/24/2019 From Näsman 2006 6 Early towns – Ribe AD 700 indication of stronger polities 6/24/2019 After Jensen 1991 7 Christian graves in Ribe from the middle of the 800 years from Ansgar ? (855) 6/24/2019 8 Christianity at the the Jelling Stone • According to Wickham the kingdoms in South Scandinavia should be called pre-state systems (Wickham 2005, p.
    [Show full text]
  • From the Viking Age to the Middle Ages
    The Hostages of the Northmen From the Viking Age to the Middle Ages Stefan Olsson The Hostages of the Northmen From the Viking Age to the Middle Ages Stefan Olsson Published by Stockholm University Press Stockholm University SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden www.stockholmuniversitypress.se Text © Stefan Olsson 2019 License CC-BY First published 2019 Cover designed by Karl Edqvist, Stockholm University Press Cover illustration: Gerhard Munthe, Norges Kongesagaer, Heimskringla I, 1914, p. 435. Cover license: CC BY 4.0 Stockholm Studies in Comparative Religion (Online) ISSN: 2002-4606 ISBN (Paperback): 978-91-7635-107-9 ISBN (PDF): 978-91-7635-104-8 ISBN (EPUB): 978-91-7635-105-5 ISBN (Mobi): 978-91-7635-106-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.16993/bba This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/4.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 444 Castro Street, Suite 900, Mountain View, California, 94041, USA. This license allows for copying any part of the work for personal and commercial use, providing author attribution is clearly stated. Suggested citation: Olsson, S. 2019. The Hostages of the Northmen: From the Viking Age to the Middle Ages. Stockholm: Stockholm University Press. DOI: https://doi. org/10.16993/bba. License: CC-BY. To read the free, open access version of this book online, visit https://doi.org/10.16993/bba or scan this QR code with your mobile device. Stockholm Studies in Comparative Religion Stockholm Studies in Comparative Religion (SSCR) (ISSN 2002- 4606) is a peer-reviewed series initiated by Åke Hultkrantz in 1961.
    [Show full text]
  • On the Dark Age Ancestry of the Wells Family
    On the Dark Age Ancestry of the Wells Family Richard B. Wells © 2017 On the Dark Age Ancestry of the Wells Family Richard B. Wells © 2017 Introduction In 1066 AD a Norman knight named Ragemer, serving in the army of William the Conqueror under William's general Gilbert de Gant, took part in the Norman Conquest of England. Ragemer survived the campaign and as a reward for his service he was granted a fief in Lincolnshire consisting of the villages of Well, Claxby, and Withern. Known afterwards as "Ragemer of Well," this knight's descendants over the course of the following centuries blossomed into a very large American clan known as the Wells family. Not every person named Wells today is a descendant of Ragemer's, but his descendants served in the American Revolution and afterward spread across the American continent throughout the Midwest, the South, the Western United States, the Pacific coast, and the Inland Northwest [Wells (2016)]. The origins of Ragemer himself are unknown. He was born c. 1038 somewhere in northern Dark Age Europe, and a preponderance of evidence tells us that he was a descendant of Danish Vikings. Prior to the granting of his fief he was an utterly obscure soldier living at a time when the vast majority of Europeans were illiterate and kept no written records of their families. What knowledge we have of Ragemer is owed to records kept by literate churchmen of that age because he became a member of the gentry class in Norman England. Where he was born and how he came to be in the service of Gilbert de Gant, a Flemish adventurer who was a younger son of the ruler of Gant (present day Ghent in Belgium), is unknown.
    [Show full text]