Προσθήκη στα αγαπημένα
The story of the Norse Earls of Orkney, whose lands once covered much of Scotland, and whose reach extended as far as Scandinavia, continental Europe and even the Mediterranean.
Lords of the Salt Road reveals the dramatic history of the Norse earls of Orkney, who owed their allegiance to the Kings of Norway and ruled their own semi-autonomous empire with lands in mainland Scotland and the Western Isles. At their military height in the 11th century, they held a 400-mile swathe of territory, stretching from Shetland down to the Clyde Estuary.
Drawing on contemporary sagas as historical sources, and capturing some of their spellbinding narrative drive, renowned historian and Orkney native Angus Konstam describes how these Norse earls and their followers led Viking raids around the British Isles and even further afield. For over four centuries their warriors and longships battled alongside Scandinavian kings and Norse rebels, and as Norse kingmakers these warlike earls sometimes paid the ultimate price for dabbling in international affairs. They were the key players in Viking Britain.
Using a wide range of historical sources such as Celtic-Scottish, Irish, Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon chronicles, this is a spellbinding tale of love, war, triumph, tragedy, treachery, murder, rebellion and greed.
List of Illustrations and Maps
Dramatis Personae
Genealogy
Acknowledgements
Preface
IntroductionPart I: The Coming of the NorsemenChapter 1: Harald 'Finehair'Chapter 2: Origin MythsChapter 3: Land and PeopleChapter 4: The EarldomPart II: Carving Out a KingdomChapter 5: Earl Sigurd 'the Mighty'Chapter 6: A Tooth and an EyeChapter 7: Trouble on the Salt RoadChapter 8: Eirík 'Bloodaxe' and His BroodPart III: Glory, God and GoldChapter 9: The Phoenix from the AshesChapter 10: Earl Sigurd 'the Stout'Chapter 11: The Rise of Earl ThorfinnChapter 12: The Prince of the Salt RoadPart IV: The Great FeudsChapter 13: Thorfinn and RognvaldChapter 14: A Game of ThronesChapter 15: Hákon and MagnusChapter 16: Murder and MiraclesPart V: The Earldom's RenaissanceChapter 17: Kali KolssonChapter 18: The Light in the NorthChapter 19: Earl Rognvald the CrusaderPart VI: The Crumbling EarldomChapter 20: The War of the Three EarlsChapter 21: Declining FortunesChapter 22: The Last Earl and the Great Sea KingEpilogueNotesBibliographyIndex
Περιγραφή
The story of the Norse Earls of Orkney, whose lands once covered much of Scotland, and whose reach extended as far as Scandinavia, continental Europe and even the Mediterranean.
Lords of the Salt Road reveals the dramatic history of the Norse earls of Orkney, who owed their allegiance to the Kings of Norway and ruled their own semi-autonomous empire with lands in mainland Scotland and the Western Isles. At their military height in the 11th century, they held a 400-mile swathe of territory, stretching from Shetland down to the Clyde Estuary.
Drawing on contemporary sagas as historical sources, and capturing some of their spellbinding narrative drive, renowned historian and Orkney native Angus Konstam describes how these Norse earls and their followers led Viking raids around the British Isles and even further afield. For over four centuries their warriors and longships battled alongside Scandinavian kings and Norse rebels, and as Norse kingmakers these warlike earls sometimes paid the ultimate price for dabbling in international affairs. They were the key players in Viking Britain.
Using a wide range of historical sources such as Celtic-Scottish, Irish, Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon chronicles, this is a spellbinding tale of love, war, triumph, tragedy, treachery, murder, rebellion and greed.
