Chapter IV: Section I: In England, France, and Ireland

EARLY EXPEDITIONS OF THE NORTHMEN TO THE COASTS OF THE ROMAN
PROVINCES.—CAUSES WHICH LED TO THEM:—POVERTY OF THE SOIL, FAMINE,
COURAGE.—DOMESTIC PIRACY.—TRIBES OF PIRATES.—INVASION OF ENGLAND BY
THE SAXONS AND DANES.—AUTHORITY OF SAXO GRAMMATICUS.—DEPREDATIONS IN
ENGLAND PRIOR TO THE REIGN OF ATHELSTANE.—VICTORY OF THAT
MONARCH.—RAVAGES OF THE NORTHMEN IN FRANCE.—HASTINGS.—ROLLO THE
GREATEST OF THE SCANDINAVIAN PIRATES.—HIS CONQUEST OF NORMANDY, OF
WHICH HE WAS THE FIRST DUKE.—THE NORTHMEN IN IRELAND.—EARLY
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE IRISH AND THE NORTH OF EUROPE.—FIRST RAVAGES
OF THE NORTHMEN.—THEIR ALARMING PROGRESS IN THAT ISLAND.—VICTORY
OBTAINED OVER THEM BY KING BRIAN.—THEIR SUBSEQUENT DEPREDATIONS AND
DECLINE.

Early Appearance of the Scandinavian 276
Pirates on the Coasts of the Roman
Provinces and in Ireland

Causes which led to the voluntary or 278
compulsory Expatriation of the
Northmen:—Poverty of the Soil,
Insufficiency of Food, Expertness in
the Management of small Vessels

Progress of Piracy in the North 279

Domestic Piracy gives rise to maritime 280
Expeditions into the South

The Roman Provinces the chief Objects of 283
Plunder at a very early Age

Expeditions of the Saxons and Northmen 283
to England

Foundations of the Saxon Kingdoms in 285
England

On the Degree of Reliance to be placed 286
in the Statements of Saxo Grammaticus,
respecting the early Communications
between Denmark and England

Extract from Mr. Turner, on this 287
Subject, and Comments thereupon

794–806 Depredations in Northumbria; Danish 289
Kingdom in that Province; heroic
Behaviour of the Coldingham Nuns

868–876 Graphic Account of the Destruction of 291
Croyland Monastery

870–924 Transactions in Northumbria 294

924–934 Splendid Victory of Brunanburgh 296

400–840 Earliest Depredations of the Northmen in 296
France

840. Hastings, the Veteran Pirate, arrives in 297
France

842–844 Havoc in France and Spain 298

845–859 Ravages in France; Hastings sails to 299
Italy; he surprises the City of Luna

858–863 Numerous piratical Bands in France; 301
Hastings returns, and on the Condition
of renouncing Piracy, is created Count
de Chartres

863–876 Continued Excesses in the different 303
Provinces of France

Early Life of Rollo 304

876–888 His Expedition to France 306

888–896 Faithlessness of the Normans 308

896–909 Great Successes of Rollo 308

910–912 He is created Duke of Normandy 310

Advantage of the Policy of the French 311
Court in this respect

First Appearance of the Northmen in 312
Ireland

795–820 Their early Progress was rapid, and for 314
some Time they met with little
Resistance

820–848 Progress of the Northmen 315

842–879 Various Successes, with alternate 317
Reverses

872–1000 Rapid Decline of the Scandinavian Power 319
in Ireland

1000–1014 Its ultimate Destruction 320

APPENDIX 321

FOOTNOTES 328

------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE

HISTORY

OF

SCANDINAVIA.

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