Norsemen in the Low Countries |
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concerning the the Early Middle Ages (all in Dutch) |
| Vroegmiddeleeuwse binnenvaartschepen in onze streken Spiegel der Zeilvaart Jg. 35-1 (feb. 2011) webpage Spiegel der Zeilvaart |
In the Early Middle Ages two types of ships sailed on the rivers and lakes in our regions: flat-bottomed barges and proto hulcs. Recently specimen of both vessels were discovered in a former channel of the Rhine in the Utrecht suburb Leidsche Rijn. The barge turned up to be almost without mayor damages. The proto hulc has been dated in the 8th century and is much older than other finds of this vessel. illustrations were made by Arne Zuidhoek |
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| Danish rulers in the Over-Betuwe Power struggle in the river area in the ninth century Bijdragen en Mededelingen Gelre
web page Vereniging Gelre |
In the Early Middle Ages the Frankish rulers expanded their empire to the neighbouring area's. In our country they encountered the dogged persistence of the Frisians. Especially in the Dutch central river area there was a sustained struggle during the seventh and eighth century. Afterwards especially the Over-Betuwe stayed of military-strategic interest because of its position near two bifurcations of main rivers and junctions between the royal palace of Nijmegen and the royal estates Elst, Arnhem and trading centres like Dorestad. New tensions occurred: Saxon noblemen from Hamaland and other places tried to get influence in the area. During the rule of Charlemagne and Louis the Pious these noblemen managed to enlarge their authority in the Over-Betuwe. However after the death of Louis the Pious his sons created new frontiers through the river area which weakened the Saxon positions in the river delta. When the Carolingian monarchs gave leading positions to Danish noblemen in the Dutch river area, the situation became more complicated. The Danes started to play a role in the power struggle. As we shall see their appearance had its consequences. For the Saxon influence was forced back by their coming and benefitted other potentates, mainly Frisian noblemen. |
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| Norsemen in the Low Countries Merchants, Mercenaries and Masters Kampen/Louvain 2008
publishers: |
At the beginning of the ninth century Charlemagne completed the conquest of Saxonia. With that event the Frankish empire and Denmark became neighbours. The Danish king was well acquainted with the harsh reputation of the Frankish emperor who was aiming at expansion of his kingdom. The tension that built up in the next years, exploded in 808, now exactly 1200 years ago. The war that started in that year was the beginning of a long sequence of hostilities between the Norsemen and the Frankish empire. Especially the Low Countries played an important role in the process because of the strategic location in between both parties and the attitude of the population. As medieval monks did, we still often consider the Norsemen as demonic raiders from the North. But it is somewhat simple to depict the colourful procession of merchants, exiles and adventurers of all kind in this way. In this book the limited view on these looting pagans is rather distinguished. A vigorous picture of this very turbulent period is described in detail. The past society of the inhabitants of the Low Countries and Scandinavia, the political influence of the neighbouring countries, the drive of expansion of the Norsemen, these issues are all treated exhaustively. |
More about this book |
| Birka and the Frisian trade Sverige Kuriren nr.2 and 3 / 2008 publication of the Swedish-Dutch Association web page |
In Lake Mälar, west of Stockholm, on the Island of Björkö, Birch Island, the remains were excavated of a prosperous settlement. This place, called the trading centre Birka, did emerge at the end of the 8th century as the most important trading town of the Svear. It remained one of only a few 'urban' places in Northern Europe during two centuries. In a short time Birka attracted merchants from the Frisian coastal areas. In those days the Frisians did not only occupy the modern province of Friesland, but they lived in most parts of the Dutch coastal area. Their main harbour was Dorestad, favourably situated on the bifurcation of the Rivers Rhine and Lek at the modern town of Wijk bij Duurstede. |
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| Danish rulers and the Frisian cog in the Early Middle Ages - Part 2: The cog organization and the role of the Danish rulers Spiegel der Zeilvaart Jg. 31-10 (dec. 2007) web page Spiegel der Zeilvaart |
In the former article we tried to imagine the Frisian cog in the early Middle Ages. We mainly based a reconstruction of these vessels on early discoveries of wrecks and pictures on coins, probably minted by Frisians in the trading center of Haithabu. However there is large gap in time between these coins from the early ninth century and the discovered remains of cogs from the twelfth century. In this second part we look for the occurrence of this kind of ships in the written sources, that can fill up the period in-between. On that account we follow a connection of a military duty with ships, the so-called 'cog organization, named after these vessels. We take a look at the Danish rulers introducing this ship duty in the Frisian coastal areas. illustrations were made by Arne Zuidhoek |
A shortened (English) version of this articlecan be found on this page |
| en Johanna Maria van Winter Rondom Egmond Denen en West-Friezen in Kennemerland Holland Historisch Tijdschrift Jg. 39 (dec. 2007) web page Historical Society 'Holland' |
In the ninth century rulers from Denmark like Hrœrekr and Guğröğr got control over the western part of Frisia. Around 850 they were appointed by the Frankish kings to look after their interests in general and to defend the coastal areas in particular. At the end of the ninth century the governance by the Danish rulers was taken over by the West Frisian count Gerulf and his successors. Among the Danish rulers it was Guğröğr who settled in Kennemerland, while Hrœrekr also frequented the area. Especially the location of Egmond must be considered, as is explained in this paper. The West Frisian counts moved the centre of their power from the area near the mouth of the Oude Rijn to the vicinity of Egmond after the Danish rulers had disappeared. In this paper we try to imagine how the Danish rule passed to the West Frisian counts. |
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| Danish rulers and the Frisian cog in the Early Middle Ages - Part 1: The Early Medieval cog Spiegel der Zeilvaart Jg. 31-9 (nov. 2007) web page Spiegel der Zeilvaart |
In the High Middle Ages apart from the hulk the cog was a popular cargo vessel in the Frisian coastal regions. Although there are clues for predecessors of both types of ships, only possible forerunners of the hulk were found. Archaeological discoveries of remains before the twelfth century are lacking until this day. As we search for the Early Medieval roots of this kind of vesels, we follow the trail of the Frisian merchants with their cogs to Scandinavia. While doing so we try to imagine the Early Medieval cog. illustrations were made by Arne Zuidhoek |
A shortened (English) version of this articlecan be found on this page |
| Danes at the gates of Utrecht Tijdschrift Oud-Utrecht vol. 80-4 (August 2007) web page Oud-Utrecht |
The first time the Norsemen came to our region, they sailed by Utrecht to Dorestad. Utrecht also played a role at the last time we learn about their arrival in our country. And just like the first time no damage to Utrecht was reported. The houses of the portus, the quarter of the merchants, were indeed burned down. But they were set to fire by the inhabitants themselves - as we can read in the chronicle of Alpertus of Metz - preventing to give shelter to the Norsemen besieging the nearby episcopal stronghold. According to Alpertus the Norsemen did not come to plunder but to visit the churches of Utrecht. After admittance was refused they just went on, while they easily could have seized the place. This astonishing story demands a critical consideration of the described events. |
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| Danish raiders on the shore: Walcheren in the ninth century Nehalennia 151 Spring 2006 Koninklijk Zeeuwsch Genootschap der Wetenschappen |
In the ninth century the shores of the North Sea were harassed by Danish pirates. It is understandable that medieval chroniclers were rather more interested in their targets, yet something can be told about the origin of these plunderers. For if we map out the different raids in the North Sea area in the period between 834 and 864 - the period in which most transmarine pirate activity is recorded - then the central position of the former Island of Walcheren in the present Dutch province of Zealand is striking. Is it possible that a nest of pirates could have maintained on this island for some decades? A shortened (English) version of this article can be found on this page. |
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| Danes in Dorestad. The Danish role in the decay of Dorestad Jaarboek Oud-Utrecht 2005 web page Oud-Utrecht |
The famous Early Medieval trading town of Dorestad was ruled by Danes for a number of decades. The Frankish king granted them this town after a series of viking raids. Thereafter they rather managed to secure Dorestad from attacks, but their presence must have been a heavy burden for the local population. The position of Dorestad already was declining because the long-distance trade was diminishing. This process carried on after the trading town was added to Middle Francia and placed under the rule of the Danes. The realm of King Lothair II, a part of Middle Francia, went down after his death and Dorestad got under the influence of King Charles the Bald of West Francia. So the place was cut off politically from the hinterland, that traditionally was important for Dorestad. In this process the Dane Hrœrekr, a confidant of the West Frankish king, played a key-position. So in a way the position of the Danish rulers determined the fate of Dorestad and not the viking attacks. A shortened (English) version of this article can be found on this page. |
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| Ferrum paganorum incanduit. The iron of the pagans shines 80 pages Turnhout 2005 |
In sources from the ninth century we meet some Danes that played a political role in the Low Countries: the expelled Danish King Klakk-Haraldr, his brother Hemmingr, his son Guğröğr, his nephews Haraldr 'junior' and Hrœrekr, further we meet Hróğulfr, Guğröğr the Younger, and Ragnarr. Most of them provably belonged to the same clan. A clan with royal power in Denmark. Separate profiles are given of all these Danes with the exception of Hemmingr of whom we hardly know anything. Lothar already used the vikings as an excuse to mobilize an army, Charles the Bald used them for his propaganda. Relics of saints were moved under threat of viking raids and the required removal was employed by the king to gain supporters for his own struggle. The raids were actually used to cover up the theft of these relics. While the clergymen mourned that they constantly encountered the shining iron of the pagans (ferrum paganorum incanduit) they secretly disappeared with the precious relics. |
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| A Dane in the Betuwe? De Ravenbanier Spring 2004 |
Sometimes different clues can lead to an explanation without getting sufficient certainty. Usually such a thought will not be published. Still it sometimes can be useful to write something so that others can search for more clues. It may at least inspire others. Eventually the study of history is a quest for pieces of the jigsaw puzzle as well as fitting them together. That is why I want the reader to become a participant of the reasoning that led to the possibility that Count Ansfrid from the Betuwe could have been of Danish origin and one of the Danish rulers in the Low Countries. This possibility did not lead to any conclusion in this case. |
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| Did the Utrecht bishops Hunger, Odilbald and Radbod went in exile because of the Norsemen? Jaarboek Oud-Utrecht 2003 web page Oud-Utrecht |
The idea that halfway the ninth century the bishop of Utrecht had to run away from his episcopal chair and was exiled for more than 60 years because of the continuous viking raids gives only a rough and in fact a wrong representation. Rough because the circumstances were different for the three prelates Hunger, Odilbald and Radbod. Wrong because their exile was less continuous than is suggested and the cause can rarely be found in a viking attack. Although Utrecht was far from a prominent town somewhere in the border zone of the duchy of Frisia, the place must have been worth mentioning as an episcopal chair. Therefore it is remarkable that any contemporary reference to Utrecht is lacking as far as raids of Norsemen are concerned, apart from one isolated and suspicious account. Nevertheless Utrecht is firmly established in the Dutch historiography concerning this kind of attacks. The raid of 'evil barbarians' on Utrecht, executed in 857, grew to almost mythic dimensions. We have to establish that the Frankish anti-Danish historiography fooled historians until the present day. Only for the period 834-850 it can not be excluded that Norsemen visited Utrecht on some occasions. The viking raids in the diocese of Utrecht, represented as excessively wicked but nevertheless rarely occurring, can be counted to the minor 'discomforts' that characterized this turbulent period. Accordingly we must not exaggerate the destructive influence of the viking raids on Utrecht. |
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