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Built as a christian church, nowadays a mosque, in Constantinople (Istanbull). A nordic rune inscription was found in Hagia Sofia in 1964. It was written on the edge of one of the marble balustrades. The inscription, that is very worn, consists of about 20 characters, but only the first can be intrepreted with any higher degree of certainty. They form the common nordic name 'Halvdan'. The inscription is probably made in th 11:th century. At this time the nordic men still served as väringar in the byzantium life guard. It ca not be ruled out that Halvdan was a member of this guard, but it is also possible that he was a man participating in of the Viking caravans going eastwards.
In 831, one yar after Ansgars return from Birka, the german ruler Ludvig installed him as bishop in the new Dioecese Hamburg-Bremen. It was from this Episcopate the nordic missionaries would be conquering the nordic countries. In 832 Ansgar was apointed archbishop by Gregorius the IV. A fortress and church was built. The church was in wood, placed in what nowadays is the center of Hamburg. The only thing reminding todays generation about this church is the name of the road, 'domstrasse'. in 845 Hamburg was attacked and destroyed by danish vikings. The destruction was total and instead of rebuilding Hamburg, The Diocese was united with Bremen, thus the new Bishopric Hamburg-Bremen was created. Hamburg was rebuilt, by Adaldag, but yet again destroyed, this time by the slavic people in 983. The town was once again rebuilt, by Unwan. In 1040 the buildings was made in stone, erected by Bezelin. Bezelin also built the still existing cathedral in Bremen, it was built to replace the old cathedral that burnt down in 1041. When archeological excavations was carried out in the 1970, a large number of Bishop and arch bishop graves was found. Many of these graves have been identifid, partly due to a gravemap from the 12:th century and in part by lead plates burried with the bodies.
During the time when the north was governed from Hamburg several attempts to reach independence for the nordic churches was made (Osmund, Isleif Gizursson), but the first successfull attempt was made in 1103 when Erik Ejegod managed to persuade Paschalis II to promote Lund to head church for the north and the north atlantic isles. Asker was to become the first bishop.
Bishops in Hamburg:
One of the sons to Gudrun Gjukadotter (married to king Jonaker). Hamder was persuaded by his mother to take revenge on his halfsisters, Svanhild, grim destiny. Svanhild had been accused for unfaithfullness and she had therefore been killed by being thrown in front of galopping horses on the command from the Gothic king Ermanariks (or Jörmunrek).
Erp, an illegitimate son of King Jonaker, wanted to help them in their revenge, "as one foot helps the other". However, his halfbrothers wasn't interested in the help he could give, saying "we are the arms, and we do not need any help from the feets". They therefore killed Erp.
As the goth was having a good time in the hall (drinking, singing...) when the two brothers arrived they didn't hear the approaching horses until the guards signal horn gave warning. Ermanarik wasn't to worried about the whole thing and promised that he would tie the brothers with bow strings. His mother (Hrodglöd) however, warned him, and pointed out the fact that most of his fellow warriors was drunk and thus of little help in a battle.
Hamder and sörle managed to break their way in, cutting down warriors on their way to the king himself. The king lost both hands and both feets, but kept his head a both of the brothers was killed regretting that they had slayed their halfbrother which otherwise propbably would have finished the job.
English king, son to jarl Godwin. His mother was danish. Harald inherited his father position and was a good advicer to king Edvard the confessor. Harald was declared king after Edvards death in 1066. He defeated Harald Hårdråde and his brother Toste Godwinson at stamford Bridge only to be killed shortly there after in the battle of Hastings against WIlhelm the conqueror, this was in 1066.
Harald Gormsson Blåtand (dead aprox. 985)
One of the biggest kings in the nordic countries. He wa sking over Denmark from 940 and onwards. He also became king of Norway, a country which he ruled with the help of his foster son Harald Grå,fäll. When his foster son denied him the revenue from the taxation of Norway he managed to persuade his nephew, Gull-Harald Knutsson, to kill Gr&arinig;fäll. When the murder was done done, Gull Harald in turn was killed by Håkon Sigurdsson (on order from Harald Gormsson). As payment for his deed Sigurdson became Jarl over the northern part of Norway. Harald Gormsson was baptized in 960, whereafter he founded the first cathedral in the North in Roskilde. He also founded the viking fortress JOmsborg at the mouth of Oder. He also tried to invade Sweden when he gave order to Styrbjörn, jomsjarlen, to start a war against swedish king Erik Segersäll. Styrbjörn failed in his task. Gormsson also failed to stop Otto II from crossing Danevirket and enter Jylland. Gormsson was killed in a war against his own son, Sven Tveskägg when got badly hurt at Helgenäs. He died in Jomsborg.
(dead in 1066) Norwegian king, son to Sigurd Syr and Åsta (widow after Harald Grenske). He was halfbrother to Olav Haraldsson. Harald participated in the battle of Stiklastad after which he went to Holmgård. After having lived for a while in Holmgård he moved to Bysans where he did service in the emperors lifeguard. In 1043 he returned to Norway where he got some power in the kingdom in return for sharing his considerably wealth to king Magnus den gode. As king Magnus died in 1047 Harald became the sole king over Norway. After the death of Edward bekännaren (Edward the confessor) he was went to england where he was defeated by Harald Godwinson in the battle at Stamford bridge.
Lived between 850-933. The uniter of the norwegian kingdom. Son to Halvdan Svarte. At the age of ten he became king at the death of his father. The first thing he did was to break down the resitance from the smaller kings which already had been incorporated in the kingdom by his father. He then gave an oath where promised to not cut his hair until all of Norway had been conquered; thus his name 'Harald with the Mane'. He wen't over the mountains of Dovre, took Norway west of the mountains and took the county of Värmland. In 872 he managed to defeat te last of the 'small kings' in the battle of Havsfjord. He then had carried out his oath and cut his hair whereafter he was called 'Harald with the beautyfull hair'. He put taxes on the farmers and took their right to their land. The result being that many of the farmers moved form the country down to Normandy, the scottish islands and Iceland. He rearranged the administration of the kingdom vy dividing it into counties, each and everyone with a Jarl as chief. This 'Jarl' could take up to 30% of the taxes collected as long as he could put 60 well armed men at the disposal of the king. Each of the Jarls had 4 to 6 Hersar that each had the job of running a farm (called Kungsgård). They in their turn had to supply the Jarl with up to 20 armed men. To the end the emmigrant plundering he also took possesion over the Orkney and the Shetland Islands. In 930 he splitted Norway between his 20 sons (poor mother!) and choosed Eirik Blodyx executive king. At his death in 933 he was burried at Hauge in Haugesund.
Harbardsljod
A song about the old Norse gods from the Eddas. The song is written in the old metre 'Malahatt'. The song is 60 verses long and tells an amusing story about the dialogue between Thor and the 'ferryman' (is that the right word for it?) Harbard, Odin in disguise, who won't take Thor across the river Rådsösundet.
Odin is depicted with his usual elegance, wits and intelligence while Thor (who loses the fight) is honest, and perhaps, a bit naive.
Abbasidian Caliph, He gathered renowned artists and scientists in Bagdad. Harun was on friendly terms with Karl the great (Charles the great, or Charlemange) which he sent an elephant.
A small community on the English south coast. It was here the normands, led by Vilhelm the conqueror, defeated the English king Harald Godwinson. THe battle was fought on the 14:th of October, 1066. The battle is pictured, in great detail on the Bayeux tapestry. King Haralds army was exhausted after having fought, and won, other invading forces in Yorkshire (Northern England). The Viking boats used by Vilhelm was able to put men and horses ashore as their need of water depth wa neglible. The attack forced the English army to the exhaustive and hasty march from Yorkshire. After a long and hard battle the invaders defeated the defending army that did not possess any cavallry. The englishmen fought with swords and axes while the invaders used relatively advanced longbows and cavallry attack the defence.
Originally a danish merchant town situated about 2 kilometers south of nowadays Schleswig. Hedeby was central town for the trading between the north sea and the baltic sea. Hedeby was surrounded by a wall, 1300 meters long and at places up to 11 meters high. The area enclosed was about 28 ha. THe wall is still visible. On a natural hill north of the city a small fortress was located.
About 900 a swedish viking chief visited the town (Olof), and in 934 his son, Gnupa, became king over Hedeby. In 948 the town became Cathedral City. In 974 a german fortress was built. Harald Gormsson Blåtand invaded Hedeby in 983, and hedeby now belonged to the danish people.
There are many remains from buildings of different kind in Hedeby. The buildings appears to have been of varies types, both nordic types of building and german types are present. There are two graveyards in Hedeby, one with large timbered graves: the other grave yard has 4000 coffins placed in straight rows.
The craftsmen with their workshops was located in the north part of the town. These craftsmen made their work on more or less industrial basis, manufacturing metall works, pottery and all kinds of households apliances. During the 10th century Hedeby had grewn to the largest town in northern europe. It was three times as large as Birka, but it's moment of greatness soon passed...
Heimdall was the son of nine Giantesses, proably the daughters of the giant Ägir as their names ar closely related to the seawaves, at the borderline of the earth (remember, the earth is flat! :-). His second name is 'Hallinskide' (Something like 'The leaning stick'). He is also mentioned as 'the white Asa' and 'GullenTanne'. Heimdall rides a horse with the name Gulltopp.
As the god of light H. is the sworn enemy of Loke, which is the god of Night. Heimdall lives in Himingbjörg (which perhaps can be translated to something like: 'The mountains of heaven'). Snorre Sturlausson calls him 'great, holy'.
One of Heimdalls main features is his drinking horn 'Gjallarhornet'. Through which the river Gjöll falls down the well of Mimer. At the end of the world (Ragnarök) it's said that the river Gjöll alters it's reaches and Gjallarhornet dries out. As the horn dries out it starts a fire which spread to the world tree which is rooted above the well of Mimer.
Short facts:
| Wife: | - |
| Children: | - |
| Main features: | Gjallarhornet, his horse Gulltopp |
| Lives: | Himingbjörg |
| Other names: | Hallinskide, GullenTanne, |
Icelandic history chronicle abot the norwegian kings from oldest time and upto about 1177. The name comes form the first word that begins the 'Ynglingasaga', 'Kringla heimsins', 'The round disc of the world'. It is written by the Icelandic chief and author Snorre Sturlausson in about 1230. The Ynglinga saga comes right after the Prologue. It is a tale that has been written to explain the relationsships between the Norwegian kings and the lengendary Ynglinga family in Sweden. Other chapters are the sagas about Olav Tryggvesson and Olav Haraldsson the holy. In his writings Snorre often mentions the issues handled by the Nowergian, Danich and Swedish rulers. Heimskringla is therefore a very important piece of writing in order to undestand the ancient nordic times. One of the most famous chapters are the one that is writtn about the Battle of Svolder in 1000. Here the three nordic kings/rulers, Olav Tryggvasson, Sven Tveskägg and last but not least, Olof kötkonung, battled each other.
As sources Snorre used earlier written tales about Kings And jarls, genealogical works, and legends that he and his fellow authors considered to be accurate. Or as he says (a free translation):
"mostly we have written what has been told by the poets for the chiefs themselves or in for their sons. We have taken their tales about their travels and their vendettas. Even though it is common among poets to better the tales for their masters, they can not tell them or their party anything hte audience can see as just talk or outright lies."
Snorre used his sources in a rational and focused way to build complete and readable sagas. His way of dealing with his material and his consisstence way of choosing things that srves his purpose has tinted his reputation in regards truthfullness and compliance actual events.
The name of the kingdom of death, as well as its rules, the godess Hel. She was the result of ameeting between the giantess Angerboda and Loke. She has two brothers in Midgårdsormen and Fenrisulven. Hel is partly blue and partly meat coloured. She was choosen by Oden as ruler over the kingdom of death, where all people who have died of sickness and old age goes. In hels people lives like they did when the lived in the real world. On ican also die here, in which case you advance on step further down, to Niefelhel, a place located far beneath the the first kingdom of death.
Helbor
Residents in Hel.
Captain of Birka during Angars stay there in aproximately 830. Among the critened in Birka Hergeir is the one who is best described in Vit Ansgarii. He was baptized soon after Ansgars arrival and he erected his own church. During the periods when Birka was without a priest he acted keep the christians together, allthough he was not popular at all times.
Rimbert gives description of wonder performed at a ting: 'When the skyes let down a mighty rain the heathens got so wet that it looked like they had fallen in to a river, and leafs fell from the hut. But Hergeirs and the ones who was with him didn't get wet.'
At an other occasion Hergeir was said to have been cured from his leg pain. 'He left the church on his own legs because he got well. He thanked god and his faith got even stronger. Wherever he went he preached openly, he gave advices, condemned and taught about the true faith. He fought valiantly to the end". Praise indeed from rimbert. At his side he had support from Ardgar.
Son of Odin. Rode in nine nights through dark valleys to Hel on the horse Sleipner to bring back Balder from the kingdom of the dead. Hel agreed, on condition that all living creatures where to cry over Balder. Averyone except woman calling herself Tökk (believed to have been loke in disguise) did so.
Greek writer who lived somewhere around 800-700 bc. He is considered to be the author of Theogony, Works of days. He is also believed to be the author of The Shield of Heracles.
'Theogonoy' delves in to the greek mythology, great stuff but quite dull to read due to the somewhat dry poetry it is written in. 'Works of days' is very different, it is actually so different that many scholars are of the opinion that the Hesiod can't be the man behind both of these works. 'Works of days' is centered around the advice given from an old farmer to his brother.
As in the case of Homer is it debatable whether or not Hesiod actually existed. His name can be translated with 'the one who tells'.
It is doubtfull whether or not this person can be considered to be a real asa god. He is supposed to have been kidnapped together with his sister by Måne (Moon). Må needed two helpers to steer the moon on it's complicated path around the earth. It is Hjuke together with his sister (Bil) that produces turns the moon from new moon to full moon.
Homer was a great writer in ancient greece. He lived around 800-700 before christ. He wrote the 'Illiad' and 'The odyssey', classics of all times. It is however debatable whether or not he existed in flesh or if the name refers to a poet collective writing the books mentioned, He was living at the same time as Hesiod, another greeek writer of importance.
A black (all black) warrior stud that, according to Ynglingasagan, was ridden by Västergötlands last king, åle Oppländske in his battle against Adils in (aproximately) 550. Åle was killed and his kingdom crushed and incorporated into Svitjod. Snorre Sturlausson tells: 'king Adils loved good horses very much and he owned the best horses in his time. One of these was called Slögver and another Hravn. Hravn he had taken from Åle after his death. From Hravn another horse was begat, also called hravn. This horse was given as a gift to king Gudgäst in Hålogaland and Gudgäst rode it but couldn't stop it and fell off and broke his neck'. The story about Adils conquest of Hravn is also told in Allsvinmal and Torgrimsthulan.
Hyrrokin was the giant woman that came riding on a wolfe with a serpent as reins to Balders funeral. She was the only one strong enough to put Balders ship to sea.
Häner was Odens brother. He lived in Asgård. He lived with the vana family as he was exchanged together with Mimer to them as a peace offering.
Brother to Balder. Blind He was tricked by Loke to shoot an arrow, made by a misteltoe, and thus killing him.
Höner
See Häner.
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