Vikings

 The Viking saga in Europe begin after The"Great Migration", who led to the settlement of various Germanic peoples in the territory of the former Western Roman Empire. In the VIII century, warlike tribes from the north began to carry out raids throughout Europe. These Scandinavian tribes were known by Western European chroniclers as Normans, and in the East as Varyags (from Russian chroniclers) or Varangians / Verings (from Byzantine chroniclers). The Scandinavians calling themselves "Vikings" - those among them who participated in military campaigns. These people came from the territories of present-day Denmark, Sweden and Norway, but their many victims did not distinguish between them. By these centuries the Scandinavian tribes had similar languages, a common way of life, religion and a passion for sea voyages for plunder, trade or conquest.

 The first Viking invasion of Britain was in 793, when they ravaged the monastery on the island of Lindisfarne in Northumbria, which was revered as the first Christian center in Britain. This event was the first Viking attack that caused confusion throughout the Christian West and marked the beginning of the "Viking Age". In the same century, Swedish Vikings traveled along the great rivers of Central Europe, reaching the territory of present-day Russia and from there to Constantinople - for which in the Scandinavian sagas are found many for great city "Miklagard", which was the Scandinavian name for "Great City", given by them for the Byzantine capital. It was the Swedish Vikings who established lasting relations with Eastern Europe and Asia Minor, creating the so-called road" From the Varyags to the Greeks, mentioned by the Russian chronicler Nestor. It was the Swedish Vikings, the "Varangians," who represented the elite Constantinople Imperial Guard, who also played an important role in the formation of the ancient Russian states around Novgorod and Kiev.

 In the troubled times after the death of Charlemagne, the expansion of the Normans became particularly large. Their fleet raided all coastal lands, and their sailors established small independent kingdoms along the coasts of France, the Netherlands, England, Germany, and Italy.

 The Danish Vikings conquered and settled large areas in England, France, managed to conquer Spain, reached southern Italy and Sicily. In 911, Danish Vikings besieged Paris. At that time it was the West French king Charles the Simple, who was forced to make peace with the Viking chief Rollo, as the surrender of lands at the mouth of the river Seine, reinforced Vikings in return obliged to give up these lands from a new invasion. Rollo was proclaimed duke, and a new duchy was named Normandy.

 The Vikings had a huge impact on the history of medieval Europe. They played a significant role in the weakening of the Carolingian Empire. The heirs of the settlers in Normandy had influence in Europe. They participated in all important events at that time. In 1060, Norman troops led by Robert Geiscard entered Sicily and southern Italy to support the pope against the invasions of Byzantium and the Arabs.