The vikings are renowned throughout history as adventurous individuals from Scandinavia and Denmark. The term “víkingr” was commonly used among the Northmen to praise a great seafarer, and “í víking” referred to their preferred activities of trading and plundering across the seas. Using the term “Viking” to refer collectively to the three northern peoples, or to describe the Viking nations or Viking Period, is a modern adaptation of the word.
In ancient times, the term “Viking” was not commonly mentioned in the records of the Roman empires, Celtic and Saxon annals, despite being used in Scandinavia, Denmark, and the Germanic north. It was only much later that scholars recognized its significance in historical accounts, particularly in describing the notable period of the northern lands.
The Northmen used the term “viking” to refer to someone who traveled by sea for commerce and war, but it later evolved to mean “robber” or “brigand.” Among the Frisians and English, “viking” was synonymous with a marauder from overseas, and in England, it was used to describe a raider long before the traditional Viking Period began.3 The original meaning of the term, whether ‘men of the camps’ or ‘men of the creeks’, is disputed. It is also unclear whether the term originated from Norse, Frisian, or English. The term was commonly used among Germanic people to refer to sea raiders. It is now a modern historical convention to associate the term with the people of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark during their expansion into Christian territories.
Referring to the Norwegians, Swedes, and Danes collectively as Vikings at a specific historical period is widely accepted and should not be disputed. Viking enterprise was not a unique occurrence during this period. The Vikings did not originate the practice of sailing the seas in search of wealth and excitement, nor were they the first shipbuilders in the northern regions or the first major seafaring people in these waters. Piracy was common in the dark Germanic culture, with seafarers frequently raiding the Baltic and North Sea coasts since the early Christian era.
The Angles, Jutes, and Saxons, known for raiding the Saxon shore, were once vikings. In the fifth century, the Heruls from Denmark raided France and Spain. In A.D. 516, long before the Viking Period, Scandinavian Hygelac raided Frisia, attacking the lower Rhine area, devastating part of Theuderic’s kingdom, and capturing many prisoners and loot before being defeated by Theuderic’s son.
The Viking Period in history does not include early exploits but starts at the end of the eighth century when Scandinavian peoples and the Danes show increased activity and boldness in their sea raids. The historical records indicate that the Northmen first appeared between the years 786 and 793 during the reign of King Beohtric of Wessex. Three Norwegian boats arrived on the Dorset coast, and the crews killed the king’s reeve. In 793, the Lindisfarne monastery on Holy Island was plundered and destroyed, and some of the monks were massacred.
The Norsemen’s attack shocked and scared the English. Alcuin, a Northumbrian scholar in the court of Charlemagne, expressed disbelief at their ability to make the voyage. He stated that in the three hundred and fifty years of their presence in Britain, such a terrifying event had never occurred before.
It was the ominous declaration that a period of terror had started; in 794, the monastery of Jarrow was looted and Monkwearmouth was also targeted; raiding Northmen arrived in Scotland, Ireland, and Wales in 795, and in the Isle of Man in 798, and in the Aquitaine region of France in 799.