Vikings

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Vikings were seafaring Scandinavians who pillaged and traded with their northern neighboring countries during the Early and High Middle Ages. This period of time from the late 8th century to the early 11th century eventually became known as the Viking Age. While the raiders often counted Norse people among their number, a fact for which the ethnolinguistic group became the archetypal example in modern culture, they also included Danes and Swedes.

History

In 793, during the Lindisfarne raid, a Viking raider fought against and defeated an Anglo-Saxon warrior, whom he then offered the chance to join his clan. However, the Anglo-Saxon was overcome by grief, crying out that God had abandoned his people and that nothing remained but chaos. Feeling pity for him, the Viking raider killed him without a second thought.

Nearly a century later in 873, the Vikings returned to Great Britain to expand. One such Viking was Eivor Varinsdottir, a shieldmaiden of the Raven Clan and ally of the Hidden Ones. They were met with opposition from King Alfred of Wessex, the Grand Maegester of the Order of the Ancients. During this period, Anglo-Saxons broadly referred to all Viking invaders as Danes, whether they were of Danish descent or not.

Another century later in around 984, the Viking Hidden One and skald Þórvaldr Hjaltason participated in the Battle of Fýrisvellir against Styrbjörn the Strong. In 986, the Vikings sailed west of Greenland to further expeditions for food and trade opportunities with the Inuit tribes, though the decreasing temperatures brought these ventures to a halt.

Other Vikings settled eastwards, establishing the Kievan Rus', laying the foundations of modern Russia, and sailing down the Dnieper River to raid Constantinople, only to be driven back by the Byzantines. Despite the Vikings' losses, the Byzantines allowed the Rus Vikings to trade in the city. In 988 CE, the Byzantine Emperor Basil II received a force of 8,000 Rus Viking mercenaries to serve as his bodyguards. These warriors became known as the Varangian Guard, and were active well after the Fall of Constantinople. In the early 16th century, the Italian Assassins' Mentor Ezio Auditore encountered several Varangians employed by the Byzantine Templars during his search for the Masyaf Keys in both Constantinople and Derinkuyu.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Revelations (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed: Revelations novel
• Assassin's Creed: Pirates (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Rogue (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Unity (mentioned in Database entry only)
• Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Fate of the Gods (first appearance)
• Echoes of History
• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Song of Glory
• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
  • Wrath of the Druids
  • The Siege of Paris
• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga
• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla (webcomic)
• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Blood Brothers
• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – The Hidden Codex
• Discovery Tour: Viking Age
• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Sword of the White Horse
• The World of Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Journey to the North – Logs and Files of a Hidden One (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Daughter of No One