Vikings in Denmark - Copenhagen Portal (original) (raw)

The Vikings
Viking Country has throughout the time, obviously always been associated with Denmark and the - Home of the Vikings – as well as the heartland of the great Viking society during the historical Viking age from around 800 to about 1050 AC - which is a very important part of Denmark’s history and culture that formed the way to build up the Danish kingdom. As a descendant of the Vikings - ethnic Danes are commonly coupled with the terms of being a Viking - coming from the "Barbaric North" with adventurous blood running through their veins.

Map showing how the Vikings in the 9th and 10th century expanded their territory by exploiting their seafarer and navigation skills to find new trade routes around Europe and North America, as far east as to Turkey and Russia and as far west as to Iceland – Greenland and Newfoundland.	Replica of the Sea Stallion (Havhingsten) Viking Ship that had a crew of 60-70 persons and was used for voyages to England and Ireland. The original ship was found at Roskilde Fjord in 1962 and now exhibited at the Viking Ship Museum. The vessel was the largest Viking ship ever built.

The Viking settlements The word Viking in Danish either means – People of the bay – or – Pirates – and their legacy was often as plundering barbarians scaring most of Europe or talented merchant traders. As great seafarers - the Viking settlements were usually placed alongside Denmark’s coastline – either as small villages or huge fortresses - where the fleets of Viking ships called “Long ships” for warfare and the smaller merchant ships called the “Knarr” were harboured at the shores of the Viking colony. The Viking settlements were centered around The “longhouse”, where families lived with their cattle in one large room - and it was from these locations the Vikings expanded their territory as traveling as far east to Turkey and Russia and as far west as to Iceland – Greenland and Newfoundland.

A typical Viking outfit with the tunica armour set - horned helmet and broad warrior sword.	Amber was the Viking gold and was used to make jewelry and other holly ornaments.	The Aggersborg ring fortress from 980 in North Jutland on the banks of the Limfjord.

Ingenious shipbuilders and runic alphabet
The Vikings were best known as ingenious shipbuilders and clever craftsmen, who invented the amber jewelry and wore horned iron helmets. They developed their own alphabet with 16 individual letters called runes and the runic stones carved with this script can be seen all over the countryside.

Heroic Vikings
In Denmark there are long traces after the legendary Danish Vikings as well as their culture and before the Danes turned towards Christianity about 960 - their ancestors professed to the Gods of the Nordic Mythology - Odin and Thor. Many historical landmarks are left after these heroic Vikings that can be visited and experienced several places in Denmark.

The Viking Centre Fyrkat from 980, with its circular fortress and houses placed in a square.	Lindholm Høje near Aalborg is the largest Viking burial area in Denmark, with over 700 plots.	Replicas of Viking ships at the Viking Ship Museum that was used to conquer England in 1015.

Viking Landmarks and Historical Venues

Jelling - Jutland

The Runic Stones in Jelling erected more than 1000 years ago – Jutland

Aggersborg - Jutland Aggersborg Ring Fortress built in 980 on the banks of the Limfjord – North Jutland

Lindholm Høje - North Jutland

Lindholm Høje – The largest Viking burial area with over 700 plots – North Jutland

Fyrkat - North Jutland
Fyrkat Viking Fortress built by King Harald Bluetooth around 980 – North Jutland

Viking Centre - Ribe -Jutland
Ribe Viking Centre built as a museum on the grounds of a former Viking marketplace – Jutland

Trelleborg Viking Fortress - Sealand
Trelleborg Viking Ring Fortress from year 980 with “longhouses” and artefacts – South Sealand

Viking Ship Museum - Roskilde - Sealand
Viking Ship Museum at Roskilde situated on the bay of an ancient Viking Settlement – Mid Sealand

The National Museum - Copenhagen
The National Museum - The voyages of the Vikings - Copenhagen