INDEX

Abasgun 108

Abbasid Caliphate 106

Adam of Bremen 63, 122, 161

Advice to an Emperor 193

Aegir 18

Aelfgifu 184

Aelfheah, Archbishop of Canterbury 172

Aella, King of Yorkshire 74

Aesir 18, 21, 36, 38

Aethelred Unraed (‘Unready’) 121, 127, 128, 163–5, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173–5

Aethelstan (son of Aethelred Unraed) 174

Aethelwulf, King of Wessex 75

Afghanistan 105, 108

Africa, North 186, 192

Aifur 103

Åland 99

Alcis 34

Alcuin 50, 52

Alfheim, King of 58

Alfhild 58, 198

Alfred the Great 75–80, 129, 192

Alof 88

amber 25, 49

America, North, Viking landings in 13, 53–4, 143, 148–59, 222–8

Anatolia 192

Andersen, Magnus 53–4

Andover 129

Andvari 40–1

Angantyr 23

Angles/Angle-land 4, 6, 7, 12, 50

Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, The 7, 9, 48, 50, 125, 163, 164, 166, 169, 170, 173, 211–12

Anglo-Saxons 5–7, 129

language 50

Angul 24

Anna, Princess 114–15

Annales Bertiani 104

Annals of Ulster 69

L’Anse aux Meadows 151, 226–8

Anskar 61–2, 63

Arcadiopolis, battle of 113

archaeology 16, 226–7

linguistic 32, 101, 224

see also burial mounds; cemeteries; grave-goods; ship-burials

Arctic Sea 100

Argyllshire 216

Ari the Learned 143

Armagh 69, 72, 74

Arnarson, Finn 188, 203–4

Arnarson, Ingolf 141–2

Arnarson, Kalf 184, 204

Arnarson, Thorberg 203, 212

Arthur, King 6

Asa, Queen 57, 58

Asgard 39, 44

Asia Minor 191

Asleifarson, Svein 216

Assandon, Battle of 175–6

Astrid (daughter of Olof Skötkonung) 180

Astrid (mother of Crowbone) 124, 198

astronomy 17

Asvaldsson, Thorvald 145

Athelstan, King of England 78, 92, 93, 172

Athens 191

atrocities

English 12, 165, 167

Viking 12, 172

Aud the Deep-Minded 142–3

Aud (wife of Turgeis) 72

Audhumla 20

Aurelianus, Ambrosius 6

aurora borealis 27

Azerbaijan 108

Badon Hill 6

Baffin Island 150

Baghdad 11, 107, 114

Baku 108

Balder 41–3, 46

Baltic Sea 25, 59, 60, 98, 99

Basil II, Emperor (the Bulgar-Slayer) 114–15, 190, 191

Batavii 4

Bath 173

Beaduheard 50, 51

‘bear-shirts’ 26

beliefs, Viking 16–17, 36–7, 44–5

Benjahir 105

Beorhtic, King of Wessex 50

Beorhtric 169

Beothuk Indians 154

Beowulf 25, 41

Berda 108

Berezany 106

Bergen 218, 223

Bergljót 203

berserkir 26

Bifrost 33, 45

bird-arson 111, 192

Birka 61, 98–9, 106

Bjarnarson, Guthroth 116, 117

Bjarni Herjolfsson 148–50

Björkö 98

Bjorn (son of Fairhair) 91

Black Sea 4, 18, 102, 104, 106, 109, 196, 215

boar, worship of the 23

Bodvar the Wise 56

Boe 43

Boleslav 124, 160–1

Bosphorus 109, 196

Boudicca, Queen 1–2

Bragi 18–19

Brattahlid 152, 153

Brentford 175

Britain

Crowbone circumnavigates 124–5

and Iceland 221–2

kingdoms of 6–7

Roman rule 1–2, 4–5

Saxon settlement of 5–6

Vikings control eastern coast of 80

see also England; Ireland; Scotland; Wales

Brittany 7

Bructeri 3

Brusason, Rognavald 188–9

Brynhildr 27

Bulgars/Bulgaria 109, 112, 193

Buri 20

burial mounds 24

Byrhtnoth 126–7

Byzantine Empire 10–11, 13, 99, 103–5, 106, 108–13, 162, 190–6, 215

Caithness 68, 89, 143, 216

Cambridge 75

Canada 150–1, 217, 219

Canninefates 4

Canterbury 171–2

Canute the Great, King of England 167, 173–4, 175–9, 180, 181–4, 187, 194, 197, 207

Canute the Holy, King of Denmark (St Canute) 214

Cape Cod 152, 223

Carlingford Lough 73

Carpini, Friar 225

Caspian Sea 10, 106, 107, 108, 112

Celts 121, 142

cemeteries 71, 84, 101, 105

Cervianus, Aurelius 1, 2, 5

Charlemagne 52, 59–61

Charles the Bald 62

Charles the Simple 86

Chauci 3–4

Chicago World Fair 53

children, exposure of 144

China 11, 13, 225

Chippenham 77

chivalry 160

Christianity

echoes of in Viking sagas 44, 46–7

Viking conversions to 14, 61–3, 64–5, 78, 80, 95–7, 110–12, 114–15, 118, 120, 123, 129–30, 131–6, 179, 180

Christmas 95, 97

Cimbri 3, 23

Cirencester 192

clergy, as targets of Vikings 49, 52

Cleveland 209

climate, changes in 5, 44, 117, 217–18, 229

Clonmacnoise 72

Clontarf, battle of 216

Clyde, River 74

coins 105–6, 170, 214, 223

Columbus, Christopher 158, 223, 224, 225

Columcille 69

compasses, solar 55

Conrad, Emperor 183

Constantine VII, Emperor 112

Constantine IX, Emperor 195

Constantine Porphyrogenitus, Emperor 103

Constantinople 10, 83, 99, 104, 111–12, 114, 190, 191, 194, 195–6, 215

Viking attacks on 108–10, 112–13, 115

constellations 17

Copford 167

Cornwall 125, 163, 178

Crab Island 221

creation, myth of 19–20

Crimea 106, 115, 215

cross-dressing 56

Crusades 67

curachs 138

Cwichelm’s Barrow 167

Dan 24

danegeld 76, 122, 167, 181–2

Danelaw 78, 79, 80, 128, 165, 172

Daneskin 167–8

Danevirke 60–1, 63, 119, 120

Danube, River 110

Davis Strait 153, 159

days of the week 33–4

De Administrando Imperio 103

Delaware river 222

Denmark

attacked by Germany 119–20

burial sites 24

Christianity in 61–3, 64–5, 215

origin of name 24

place-names 19

power struggles in 64–5, 94, 215

raids on the Vik 94

Swedish control of 64

and trade routes 59

tribes 3–4

Viking raids on 197, 200–1

war with Franks 60–3

Derby 77

Derwent, River 211

Devon 163, 165

Diplomatarium Islandicum 143

dísir 36

divorce 56

DNA testing 14, 66, 228

Dnieper, River 101, 102, 103, 108

Don, River 18, 106

Dorset 76, 176

Dragon’s heads 54

dreams 36

Drevljane tribesmen 110–11

Dristra 113

drums, shamanic 35

Dublin 70–1, 73–4, 125, 142

Dunvegan Castle 217

dwarves 36, 40–1

Eadric Streona (‘the Acquisitor’) 168

East Anglia 6, 74, 79, 163, 165, 171, 176, 178

East Saxons 6, 125–6

Edda 16, 17, 45

Edgar the Atheling 215

Edgar, King of England 121

Edington, battle of 77

Edith (daughter of Aethelred Unraed) 171

Edmund I, King of England 93

Edmund, King of East Anglia 74–5

Edmund Ironside 174–6, 215

Edward the Confessor 177, 206

Edward the Elder, King of Wessex 78

Edwin, Earl 209

Eggertsson, Gunnar 227

Egil’s Saga 90

Eider, River 60

eiderdown 25

Einar Paunch-shaker 161, 162–3, 184, 202–3

Eindridi 203

Elfsborg 222

Elgar, Edward 8

Ellisif, Princess 190, 196, 203, 208

elves 36

Emma, Queen 128, 175, 177, 184

End-Times 44–6

England

Danes massacred in 12, 164–5

foundation of modern 79

invasion of 1066 207–12

navy 169

Norse place-names in 228

Viking raids on 121–2, 125–9, 163–78, 214–15

English Channel 4, 86, 121

Erik Bloodaxe 37, 90–4, 97, 116, 118, 163, 209

Erik, Earl of Trondheim 123, 161, 162–3, 176, 178, 179

Erik the Red 145–8, 150, 152, 154, 157, 219

Erik the Victorious 56, 119, 120, 122, 123, 124, 130

Erik’s Saga 152

Eriksson, Leif 223, 226–8

Eríkssonur, Leif xiv

Erp 143

Essex 6, 79, 125, 127, 175

Estonia xii, 12, 99, 124, 189

Eyjolf the Lame 56

Eystein the Bad 95

Eystein Orri 212

Eyvind Kelda 132

Eyvind the Plagerist 56

Faeroes 10, 54, 85, 140, 220

Fafnir 39, 41

family feuds 87–97, 160

family trees xiv, 123, 233–8

famine 166

Fárbauti 38

Fatimid Caliphate 192

Fenris 39, 44–5

Finland/Finns 12, 13, 14, 32, 37, 99, 99–100, 180–1

Finnmark 85

fires, sacred 35

Five Boroughs 76–7, 173

Fjorgynn 34, 35

Folkstone 125

Formosus, Pope 78

Franks/Francia 4, 6, 50, 59, 65, 104, 124, 129, 170, 173

alliance with Wessex 75

grant land to Vikings 86

war with Saxons and Danes 60–2

Frey 18, 23, 34, 45, 97, 144

Freya 18, 34, 39

Freydis (daughter of Erik the Red) 157–8

Freyfaxi 23

Frigg 18, 34, 42

Frisia 61

Funen 24

furs 25, 50, 100, 104, 108

futhark runic alphabet xiii

Fuzhou 11

fylgjur 36

Fyn 65

Gainsborough 173

Galti, Snaebjorn 146

Gandalf 82

gandir 36

Gannascus 4

Gardar the Swede 139

Garm 45

Gate Fulford 209

Gaul see Franks/Francia

Geira, Princess 124

Georgia 114

Germany 59, 112, 119–20, 218

Geysa, Thorkel 200–1

giants 35, 38, 45

Ginnungagap 19

Goda 125

Godard Point, Maine 214

Godfred 60, 61, 63

Godric 127

gods

German 34

Norse 18–33, 38–47

Godwine, Earl 175, 177, 206

Godwinson see Harold II

Gokstad ship 53–4, 58

Gorm the Old 64, 82

Goths 4, 23

Gotland 25, 64, 98–9, 106, 137

Graiae 21

grave-goods 24, 28, 53, 57, 67, 98–9, 105, 106, 108, 170

Great Army, Viking 75–6

Great Heathen Host 66–80, 164, 208

Greece 10, 21

Greek fire 109

Greenland

Christianity in 153, 218

colonisation of 147–8, 158–9, 217

discovery of 146–7

Inuits in 218–20

last Vikings in 218–21

under Norwegian rule 218

Greenlander Saga 149, 150, 151, 152, 156, 157

Greenwich 172

Gregory, Father 111

Grendel 25

Grimnismal 17

Grjotgarth 117

Gudrid xii, 152, 154–6

Gulathing Law 83

Gulf Stream 140, 147

Gunnbjörn’s Skerries 145, 146

Gunnhild Kingsmother 37, 56, 90–1, 93, 94, 97, 116, 117, 118, 123, 124

Gunnhild (sister of Forkbeard) 165

Gunnhilde (daughter of Canute) 183

Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue 128

Gunroth the Generous 58

Guthorm 81–2, 129

Guthroth the Radiant 87, 88, 92

Guthrum 75–8, 164, 192

Gytha (daughter of Forkbeard) 123

Gytha (daughter of Harold Godwinson) 215

Gytha (of Hordaland) 82, 85

Hadstock 167

Haetheyn 41

Hagia Sophia Cathedral 111, 191

hairstyles, Viking 50, 113

Haka Dale 82

Hakon IV, King of Norway 217

Hakon VII, King of Norway 216

Hakon, Earl 131, 184

Hakon the Good, King of Norway 92–7, 116, 133, 172

Hakon the Great, Earl 117–19, 120, 124, 129

Halfdan (Danish ‘king’) 63

Halfdan the Black 57, 58–9, 81

Halfdan the Black (grandson of above) 92

Halfdan Longshanks 87, 88–90

Halfdan the Stingy 58

Halfdan the Wide-Grasper 74

Hallgerd Long-legs 56

Halli the Sarcastic 56

Halogaland 180

Hamburg 62

hamingjur 36

Hanseatic League 218

Harald II, King of Denmark 174

Harald Bluetooth xiii, 64–5, 91, 94, 117, 118–20, 122, 123, 127

Harald Fairhair 59, 81–92, 116, 117, 131, 135, 141, 163, 170, 178–9

Harald Goldenbeard 59

Harald Grenske 118, 130, 131, 166

Harald Greycloak (Harald II, King of Norway) 116–18, 123, 163

Harald Red-Beard 58

Harald the Ruthless (Hardraada) 2, 186–213, 214, 217

Harald Wartooth 29, 30

Hardanger Fjord 50

Hardegon 64

Harold II, King of England (Godwinson) 177, 206, 207, 209–13, 215

Harthacanute, King of England 184, 194, 205–6

Hastings, battle of 213

Hebrides 49, 51, 68, 86, 124, 130, 139, 216, 217

Hedeby 60, 61, 62–3, 64, 98, 106, 119–20, 201

Hedin the Sorcerer 135

Heimdall 18, 33, 45

Heimskringla xiv, 8, 16, 18, 57, 58, 81, 82, 83, 84, 87, 90–1, 93, 96, 118, 124, 129, 131, 132, 143, 160–2, 170, 178, 179, 187, 188, 198, 201, 207, 223

Heithmork 58

Hel 19, 39

Helgi, King 64

Helsingaland 95, 181

Henry III of Germany 183

Henry VIII, King of England 221

Heorot 25

Herebald 41

heregeld 122

Heruls 4, 104

hidden folk 35–6

hides 168

hillingar effect 138–9, 145

History of the Danes 24, 29

History of the English 177

Hoder 42–3

Holand, Hjalmar Rued 223–4

Hollander, Lee xiv

Holmgard see Novgorod

homosexuality 56

Hordaland 25, 82

Horik the Elder 62, 63

Horik the Younger 62

horses, sacred 23, 144

Hrafn the Dueller 146

Hreidmar 40, 41

Hring 30

Hrodmarrson, Leif 141–2

Hrolf the Walker 86, 128, 129, 213

Hromund the Lame 55

Hrothgar, King 25

Humber, River 74, 209

Huntingdon, Henry 177

Husavik 139

Hygelac 23

Ibn Battúta 11

Ibn Fadlan xii, 107

Ibn Rustah 107

Ice Age 2

Iceland

Christianity in 46–7, 135–6, 143–5

climatic change in 217

discovery of 138–40

and English piracy 220

Irish settlers in 138–9, 142–3

later history of 221

place-names 19, 46

Scandinavian settlers in 10, 137, 141–3, 145–6, 200

under Norwegian rule 218

Igor (Ingvar), Prince of Rus 105, 108–10

Indians, North American xii, 153–7, 224, 226, 227

Ingigerd (daughter of Olof Skötkonung) 179–80, 184, 189

Ingjaldr 38

Ingstad, Anne Stine 227

Ingstad, Helge 226, 227

Ingvar the Widefarer 10

intermarriage 70

internecine wars 64, 90–3, 160–2, 171

Inuit 14, 27, 214, 218–19, 219–20

Iona 51

Iraq 106, 107

Ireland

Christianity in 68–9

clans 68

colonies 50

monks from 138

place-names 71

Viking raids on 49, 51, 68–70, 124, 216

Viking settlers in 69–74

Irish Sea 216

Irminsul 20, 60

Iron Age 23

Irpa 34

Islam 10–11, 13, 105

Islandbridge graves 71

Íslendingabók 143–4

Islendingur (replica ship) 227, 228

Isles of the West Men 142

Itil 106, 107–8

Ivar (brother of Olaf the White) 73, 74–5

Ivar the Boneless 74

Ivar Horse-Cock 56

Ivar the Wide-Grasper 100

Ivarsson, Hakon 203–4

James III, King of Scotland 217

Jamtaland 95, 181

Járnskeggi 134

Jaropolk, Prince of Rus 114

Jaroslav the Wise, Prince of Rus 180, 184, 185, 189–90, 195, 196, 203

Jarrow 51

Jelling 64

Jerusalem 191–2, 215

jewellery 56, 71, 101

Jolnir 29

Jomsvikings 12, 127

Jotnar 35, 38, 45

Jotunheim 35

Julian, Emperor 7

Jutes 4

Jutland 59, 64, 65, 90

Kainuans 32, 99, 100

Kalmar Union 216, 221

Karelians 32, 99

Karlsefni, Thorfinn 154–7

Kaupang 84

Keel mountains 31, 181

kenning 16

Kensington Stone 223–4

Kent 50, 75, 163, 164, 169, 170

Khazar people 106, 108, 112

Kiev 13, 102, 103, 105, 108, 110, 111, 112, 114, 115, 215

king, concept of 83, 84, 85, 96

King Harald’s Saga 200, 207, 212

Ladoga, Lake 100–2

Laing, Samuel 8, 223

landvoettir 36

language, archaeology of 32, 101, 224

Lapland 22, 32, 35, 37

Latvia 99

Law-Speakers, Icelandic 144, 145

legions, Roman 1–2, 4, 210

Leicester 77

Leif the Lucky 12, 150–3, 154–5, 157, 158, 218

Leo IV, Pope 75

Libya 192

Liffey, River 70

Limerick 71

Lincoln 77

Lindisfarne 2, 48–51

Lindsey 173

Lismore 69

Loki 19, 38–46

Lolland 24

Lombards 192

London 79, 170, 173, 175, 177–8, 211

London Bridge 170–1, 175

Long Serpent (warship) 162

Lothar (son of Louis the Pious) 62

Lough Owel 72

Lough Ree 72

Louhi 38

Louis the German 62

Louis the Pious 61, 62, 104

Louth 69

Low Countries 5

Macbeth 207

MacLeod, Clan 217

Mael Sechlainn 72

magic 37–8

Magnus II, King of Norway 208, 214

Magnus III King of Norway (Barelegs) 216

Magnus the Good, King of Norway 185, 194, 197–200, 201, 202, 205–6

Magyars 112

Maine 152, 214, 223

Mal, Prince of the Drevljane 110–11

Mälar, Lake 98

Malcolm of Scotland 207

Maldon, battle of 125–7

Man, Isle of 68, 124, 217

Maniakes, George 191, 196

manngjöld 40, 73, 165

mara 36

Margaret of Denmark 217

Maria (Byzantine noble-woman) 194, 195, 196

Markland 151, 159

masculinity, importance of 56

Médard, Bishop 48

Mediterranean Sea 191

Medway, River 163

Melkorka 142

Mercia/Mercians 6, 51, 75, 76, 79, 121, 168, 169, 175

Michael III, Emperor 104

Michael IV, Emperor 191, 193

Michael V, Emperor (Calaphates) 193–4

Michigan 222

Micmac Indians 154

Middle East, Viking trade with 11, 106–7

Midgard 20

Miklagard 103, 104

Minnesota 13, 222, 223

missionaries 61–3, 135, 136, 152, 153, 179

monasteries 49, 51, 68–9, 105, 109, 138, 216

Mongols 225

Mons Badonicus 6

Moon, the 20, 33

Møre 96

Morganwg 51

Morkere, Earl 209

Mukhâriq 11

Munster 68

Muslim world 10–11, 105–8, 112, 127, 191–2

Myrgiol, Princess 143

Mrkjartan 142

mythology, Norse 15–47

Naddod 139–40

Naglfar 45

Nanna 42–3

Napoleonic wars 216

navigation 17, 49–50, 54–5, 147

Nerthus 34

New England 151–2, 226–8

New Sweden 222

Newfoundland 151, 223, 225

Nicholas V, Pope 220

nicknames 55–6

Nissa, battle of 205

Njord 18, 34

Nordbrikt see Harald the Ruthless

Normans/Normandy 13, 86, 121, 128, 163, 168, 173, 192, 206, 209, 213, 215

Norns 21–2

North Sea 60, 61

Northern Crusades 215

Northey 126

Northumbria 6, 48, 74, 75, 93, 121, 124, 173, 176, 178, 207, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 215

Norway

Christianity in 65, 116–17, 130, 131, 132–6, 179, 180, 184, 201, 215

place-names 19

power struggles in 58–9, 81–3, 90–3, 116–18, 131, 178–9, 180–5, 194, 197–200, 201–4, 215–16

Nottingham 77

Nova Anglia 215

Nova Scotia 151

Novgorod 102, 110, 111, 114, 124

Odin 18, 19, 20, 25–31, 32–3, 34, 35, 39, 42, 45, 46, 80, 96, 97, 133, 144

Offa, King of Mercia 51

ogres 36

Ogvaldsness 132–3

Ohman, Olaf 223

Olaf II, King of Norway (the Stout, St Olaf) 166, 170, 171, 172, 173, 175, 178–85, 186, 187–9, 195, 202, 204

Olaf III, King of Norway (the Peaceful) 212–13, 214, 215, 223

Olaf (nephew of Hakon the Good) 95

Olaf (ruler of Denmark) 64

Olaf (son of Fairhair) 91, 92

Olaf ‘Crowbone’ Tryggvason 114, 123–36, 143–4, 160–3, 179, 183

Olaf Geirstatha-Alf 58

Olaf the White, King of Dublin 73–4, 143

Olafsson, Tryggvi 95, 116, 117, 123–4

old age, death in 28

Oleg, Prince of Rus 114

Olga (Helga), St 110–12, 115, 189, 192

Olof Skötkonung, King 121, 123, 161, 174, 179, 180

Onund Jacob, King of Sweden 180, 181, 182, 183, 185

oral tradition 15

Orkneyinga Saga 67

Orkneys 49, 86, 130, 180, 208, 209, 216, 217, 221

Viking settlement of 66–7, 85, 88–9, 93, 118, 141

Orosius 84

Osbert, King of Yorkshire 74

Oseberg ship 57

Oslo 8

Ospaksson, Ulf 187

Osraige 73

Ostmen 216

Otto I 119

Otto II 119, 120

Ouse, River 210

Oxford 165, 173

Padstow 125

pagan religions 36–7, 46, 62, 78, 95–7, 107, 116–17, 118, 120, 131, 133–4, 144–5, 201

Pecheneg tribesmen 104, 108, 110, 112, 113–14, 189

Pepys, Samuel 168

Picts 67

Piraeus 191

pirates 5, 11, 191, 220

Pirkkala 100

place-names 19, 32, 38, 46, 71, 80, 228

Poddle, River 70

Poland 99, 100, 124, 160–1, 189

Polotsk 115

Pope, the 163, 183

Portland 50

Prince Edward Island 151

protection money 68, 80, 85, 94, 111, 121–2, 199

Pytheas 137–8

Ragnarok 45, 46

Ragnhild (daughter of Goldenbeard) 59

Ragnild (daughter of Bloodaxe) 94

ram-god 33

Rathlin Island 51

Raumsdale 96

Raven-Floki see Vilgerdason, Floki

Ravenwood 23

Reading 75, 166

Regin 39, 41

Repton 76

Reric 60

Rhine, River 4

Richard the Fearless 86, 128, 163

Rimbert 63

roads, Roman 210–11

Rochester 163, 168

rock carvings 17

Rogned 115

Rognvald the Resourceful 86, 88–9

Rognvald the Straight-Limbed 87, 91

Roman Empire 3–6, 74, 210–11

Romanus I, Emperor 108, 110

Rome 183

Roskilde 24–5

Rouen 86

runes 30, 67, 99, 101, 103, 169, 191, 223–4

Rurik, Prince of Rus 102, 105, 110

Rus traders 101, 102, 104–8, 111–15, 228

Russia/Russians 13, 99, 100–4, 110, 115, 124, 180, 184, 185, 189, 195

Russian Primary Chronicle 101, 103, 110, 189, 192

sacrifices

animal 23, 25, 96, 97, 144

human 23, 25, 75, 89, 107, 133–4, 144

Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue 128

Saga of the Jomsviking 123

Saga of the People of Laxardal 66, 142

sagas 8–9, 222, 228

Christian influence on 44, 46–7

as source material 15–16, 170, 192–3

St Adamnan 68

St Clair-sur-Epte, treaty of 86

St Clement of the Danes 178

St Lawrence, Gulf of 151

St Olaf Stairs 171

St Patrick 73

Samanids 106–7

Sámi 12, 22, 32, 35, 37–8, 87, 99, 100, 180

Sampo 20

Sanday 66–7

Sandwich 125, 174

Santa Claus 29, 33

Saracens 99, 192

Saxo Grammaticus 24, 29, 41, 42–3, 192

Saxon Shore-forts 5

Saxons 4, 6–7, 12, 122

end of royal line 206

settlement of Britannia 5–6

and Viking attacks 75–80

war with Franks 60

Scandinavia

Christianity in 12, 61–3, 64–5, 130

fluid borders within 31–2

migration from 9–10, 13, 81, 85, 141, 200, 229

population increase 5

settlement of 2–3, 22–3

see also individual countries by name

Scarborough 209

Schleswig-Holstein 222

Schönbäck, Bengt 227

Scilly Isles 125, 129

Scotland

treaty with England 207

Viking raids on 51, 73–4, 124, 182, 216–17

Viking settlement in 68, 85

sea level, rise in 5

Serkland 105, 192

Severn, River 176

shamans 35, 36, 37

Shannon, River 70

shape-changers see transformers

sheep 66

Sherwin, Reider 224

Shetlands 49, 54, 66, 67, 86, 217, 221

ship-burials 57, 58, 66–7

ship-levy 83

ships 52–5

galleys 191

knorrs 54, 147

longships 54–5, 99–100

replica 53–4, 223, 227, 228

warships 54

Sicily 192, 193

Sigfred, Danish ‘king’ 63

Sigmund the Volsung 29

Sigrid the Haughty 56, 130, 166

Sigroth (son of Fairhair) 92

Sigurd 41

Sigurd, Earl 96, 97, 116, 117

Sigurd the Bastard 87

silver 105–6, 108, 112

Siward, Earl of Northumbria 207

skalds 16, 25, 26, 29, 37, 38, 55, 67, 117, 193

Skiringssal 84, 98

Skraelings 153–4, 155–7, 218–19

Skuld (Necessity) 21, 27

Skye, Isle of 217

slander 55–6

slave trade 11, 104, 106, 108

Sleipnir 26, 39

Snaefellsness 145

Snaefrid 87–8

Snilling, Ulfkell 165–6, 176

Snorrason, Halldor 187, 194

Snorri see Sturluson, Snorri

Snorri (son of Gudrid) 155–6

Sogn 58, 59

Somerled 216

Song of Roland 45

sorcery 37, 56, 87, 91

souls 36–7

South Saxons 168

Southampton 125

Southwark 170, 171, 175

Spain 4

Stamford 77

Stamford Bridge, battle of 211–12, 214

stars, as navigation aids 17

Steinunn 135

Stilkastad, battle of 185, 187–8

Stone Age 24–5

Stour, River 79

Sturluson, Snorri 15–16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 26, 31, 33, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46–7, 57–8, 81, 82, 87, 90, 96, 117, 131, 132, 143, 160–2, 170, 178, 179, 180, 187, 189, 192, 194, 196, 201

Styrbjorn 119, 123

Sun, the 20, 33

Sunday, observance of 96

Suomi 32, 99

Surt 45, 46

Sutherland 68, 217

Svasi the Finn 87

Svein, Earl 162, 179

Svein, vassal-king of Norway 184

Svein Estridsen 63, 197–201, 205, 206, 207, 214

Svein Forkbeard 108, 120–1, 122–3, 127–8, 129, 130, 131, 160, 161–7, 168, 169, 170, 172–3, 174, 177, 206, 207

Svold, battle of 161–2, 163

Svyatoslav, Prince of Rus 111, 112–14, 115

Sweden

burial mounds 24

Christianity in 61, 215

colonies in North America 222

place-names 19

power struggles in 64, 162, 179–80, 215

settlement of 23

Vikings look east from 99–104

Tacitus 34

Tadcaster 211

Tale of Thorvald the Far-Travelled 127

taxation

Saxon 168, 171

Viking 83–4 85, 90, 111, 181, 201, 205

Terebinthos, monastery 105

Thames, River 78, 79, 163, 170, 175, 176, 178

Thangbrand 135

Theodora 196

Thietmar of Merseburg 25, 161

Thor 18, 19, 25, 31, 34, 35, 38, 39, 42, 45, 72, 135, 144

Thora (daughter of Hakon the Good) 97

Thora (daughter of Thorberg Arnarson) 203, 214

Thora Morstrstong 92

Thorfinn Skullcleaver 94

Thorgerda 34

Thorhall the Hunter 155

Thorir (ship’s captain) 152, 153

Thorir the Hound 188

Thorir the Silent 88

Thorkatla Bosom 56

Thorkell the Tall 169, 171–2, 173, 176, 178

Thorkelsson, Thorgeir 144–5

Thorleif the Wise 88

Thorolf (associate of Raven-Floki) 141

Thorolf Lousebeard 124

Thorstein Shipbuilder 188

Thorsteinn (brother of Leif the Lucky) 152, 154

Thorsteinn The Red 143

Thorvald (bother of Leif the Lucky) 153, 154

Thule 137

Thyri 64, 123, 160–1, 165

Tiwaz 32–3, 42

Tostig, Earl of Northumbria 206–12, 215

trade 9, 10, 25, 49

from Denmark 59

from Norway 83–4, 85

from Sweden with East 98–108, 111, 112

with Iceland 83, 84, 136

In Middle East 11, 106–7

with North American Indians 155–6

through Lake Ladoga 100–2

transformers 26, 38, 39–40

Trelleborg 65

tribute 111, 121–2, 126, 127, 165–6, 167, 171, 181–2, 200

trolls 36

Trondheim xii, 19, 31, 118, 131, 133–4, 136, 160, 178–9, 183, 208, 213, 218, 221

earls of 85, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 116, 117, 120, 121, 161, 162, 181, 182, 184, 201–3

Turf-Einar 88–90

Turgeis 70, 72, 73

Turkey 192

twin deities 34

Tyne, River 5, 209

Tyr 19, 33, 34, 45

Tyrkir the Southerner 151

Tzimisces, John 112–13

Ubbi 74

Ui-Neill clan 68, 69, 73

Ulf (Canute’s regent) 182–3

ulfhednar 16

Úlfsson, Gunnbjörn 145

Ull 19, 34

Ullin 34

Ûngortoq 219

United States, Scandinavian settlers in 222, 223

Universal History 84

universality 16

Uppland 23, 24

Uppsala 24, 119

Urd (Fate) 21

Usipi 3

Valhalla 28, 45, 97

Valkyries 27–8, 42, 45

Vanir 18, 33, 34, 36

Varangians 114, 115, 190–2, 193, 194, 195, 215

Vatnsdale 38

Ve 20

Verdandi (Being) 21

Verdir 36

Verne, Jules 8

Veturlidi 135

Victorians, and Viking sagas 8

Vidar 45

Viful 143

Vigrid 45

Vik 7–8, 31, 58, 92, 93, 116, 205

Viking (replica ship) 53–4, 223

Vikings

adapt to new homes 13, 14, 79–80, 86, 128–9, 216, 228

alternative names for 7

fascination of 13–14, 228

origin of term 7–8

pagan religions 12, 32

rivalry between different groups 72–3, 86, 170

sailing skills 13–14

wane of Viking Age 200, 213, 214–17

who they were 9–13, 85

Vilgerdason, Floki 140–1

Vili 20

Vinland 13, 151, 153, 154, 155–9, 186, 214, 217, 222, 223, 225, 226–8

Vladimir the Great 114–15, 190

Vladimir II, Prince of Kiev 215

Volga, River 101, 106, 112

Wagner, Richard 41

Wales, Viking raids on 124, 163

war-bands 28, 30, 52, 59, 78–9, 80, 122, 125, 127

Wareham 76

Wars of the Irish with the Foreigners 69

Waterford 69, 71

weaponry 29

Wends 119, 124, 160, 161, 162

Wessex 6, 75–6, 77, 79, 163, 166, 169, 175

West Saxons 6, 75, 77, 169

Westmeath 72

Westminster Abbey 167

Wexford 71

Wicklow 69, 71

Widukind 60

Wight, Isle of 163

Wilde, William 71

William the Bastard (the Conqueror) 206, 213, 215

William Longsword 86

Wilmington, Delaware 222

Wiltshire 166

Winchester 173

winter bases 51

Wisconsin 222

witchcraft 72, 91

Woden/Wotan see Odin

‘wolf-skins’ 26

women

grave goods 28

nicknames of 56

role of 56–7

World Serpent 45

World Tree 17, 20–2, 46

Wulfnoth, Bishop 178

Wulfnoth (West Saxon leader) 169, 175, 177

Year of Battles 75

Yggdrasill 20, 46

Ymir 19–20

Ynglings 23

Yngvie see Frey

York 48, 74, 209–10, 211

Yuletide 95, 97

Zanj Rebellion 106

Zealand 24, 94

zodiac 18

Zoe, Empress 191, 193–4, 195