How the Vikings Became the Normans

How the Vikings Became the Normans. Get my book about the Crusades:
www.amazon.com/Why-Does-Heathe...
Support my work on Patreon:
/ realcrusadeshistory
Get the music used in this video:
www.amazon.com/Lit-Sky-Roman-...
Donate through PayPal:
www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr...
A documentary video exploring the evolution of the Vikings into the Normans, a people who came to define the 11th century.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Support this channel on Patreon: www.patreon.com/RealCrusadesHistory

[@johnrockwell5834]

The Norman's didn't lose their violence. It was only disciplined by Christianity and the Law that it represents. Masculinity that is wild and destructive became refined into just war and honorable combat.

[@noetrevino7055]

So how was he weak if he won in the end. I agree that most of us would choose to fight but Christianity beats everything. Even the Romans

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

@Thomas Thank you Thomas. Glad to have you on board for the historical analysis.

[@eedragonr1576]

@Bobby Allen the Church will always have the best warriors till the end.

[@Deus1Vult]

From the photo, it seems to me that the Vikings were transformed into Normans with a good shave......

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Ha!

[@teghem6723]

The normands adopted the frankish short hairstyle to distinct themself from the long haired anglo saxons.

[@williamjordan5554]

You have no idea. They even shaved the back of their heads so their chain mail hoods wouldn't pull on their hair.

[@williamjordan5554]

@@TheIamtheoneandonly1 technically, yeah.

[@syntaxerror8955]

Are there any evidence that vikings didn't shave? I couldn't quickly find any info, but I have this memory of having read that vikings were well groomed. A personal guess is that they were just as varied as Scandinavians today when it comes to facial hair.

[@syntaxerror8955]

In Swedish, "norrman" means "Norwegian". Originally, it just meant "north man". In fact, the Nordic region is called "Norden" which is just a borrowed German word meaning "The North". One rune stone here in Sweden talks about "Östman" (East man), and "Vestman" (older spelling of what means "West man") is a Swedish last name.

[@alexcore697]

Normans Men of the Northern Winds

[@benjaminj.m8531]

Same in danish

[@teutonalex]

As a German I can always pick out random words.

[@jeanfish7]

My great uncle was named Norman...Norwegian.

[@jeanfish7]

@Wiking Raider the Dutch are such a mix of Germanic and Scandinavian! Language Germanic, sensabilites Scandinavian.

[@christophedel2642]

Proud of my ancestors greetings from NORMANDY

[@christophedel2642]

@Anders ᛏᚺᛖ ᛚᛖᚷᛚᛖᛋᛋ Fran darkinn Danmörk hi my friend from Denmark our homeland

[@Bryan-ik8xw]

Hello from Washington state. Hope to visit soon.

[@pnpdynamic9720]

I am a Decendent of the Norman Knight Frissel who traveled to Scotland from the Province of Anjou in Normandy in the 12th Century. He is the father of Clan Fraser of Scotland. Long live the Celtic People of the North.

[@Bryan-ik8xw]

@@pnpdynamic9720 My family name is Fraisure. Our roots are from that area of the world. Might be related.

[@pnpdynamic9720]

@@Bryan-ik8xw Your family name is a Sept name of Clan Fraser of Scotland. Fraser came from Frizzell. They mean the same thing. Your family name is listed in the List of Septs for Clan Fraser. Your ancestors indeed come from that Clan. Fraser is spelled many different ways. Fraser Clan was one of the most powerful clans in Scotland. The First Frasers name was Ser Frisell of Anjou in Normandy. The Blood of the Northmen and The Scots indeed runs through your veins. Embrace it.

[@boondocks8002]

Great video! I am amazed how in these modern times Christianity is often left out of very important historical documentaries. Only True history can help us learn how to be a better people and not repeat the same mistakes! blessings!!!

[@danielpatrick3761]

Are you really amazed? When you look at the companies that produce these documentaries, and who owns them? They made a bio-pic about the strictly Catholic JRR Tolkien recently where there was ZERO mention of his faith... I wonder why...

[@64fairlane305]

This roman religion known as christianity is close to the opposite of the original who most people has forgotten

[@richardbenitez7803]

FREEDOM33 - sounds more like your parents were jerks.

[@boondocks8002]

@FREEDOM33 ...Leaders of the Catholic church will be judged harshly by God for misleading people. These leaders dont follow the word of God they make their own rules and demand its members follow their rules. Salvation is not rules and regulations of any religion or denomination but IS a personal relationship with the Son of God...Jesus Christ. Many blessings!!!!

[@nerdyguy1152]

Briefly speaking Rollo and other vikings failed to sack Paris (Odo of France fortified Paris) and Chartre (Robert the first defeated Rollo with his knights) but French wanted them to fend off other vikings, so the french proposed a deal to them, they then took it and settled in Normandy

[@jorgesicre8268]

And English has been unspellable since 1066!

[@plciferpffer3048]

Britons and the rest of Europe really need some vikings today.

[@emmashalliker6862]

@@plciferpffer3048 why?

[@Skindrift]

@P C truly. The Viking spirit left with us Americans. West Europe most lost it's ballsy nature instilled by the Vikings through conquest.

[@dewhatwhat3033]

Nathan Plimpton 😂😂😂😂😂 I’m from York the original a proper Viking Norman Anglo Saxon and Celtic city you Americans know nothing 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@Skindrift]

@@dewhatwhat3033 My ancestors are literally Irish, English, Norwegians and Swedish. I'm 6ft, blue eyed and red bearded. One of my bloodlines is a Grim line. A Viking line said to be Odin's lineage himself. My ancestors literally came across the ocean to farm here in the U.S. Viking blood is in my veins. Trust I know more than you think. You guys first gave up exploring and conquering. Then you gave up your weapons. Now you open your borders and help foreigners rape your women. The Viking spirit left you guys.

[@nerdyguy1152]

1. Why did Vikings settle down in Normandy? It’s because they couldn’t siege Paris from 885 to 886 (paris was defended by Odo of France) and was defeated by Robert 1 of France in 911 in Chartres. But the French couldn’t expel them out of France either. So Charles the Simple proposed this deal and Rollo accepted it. 2. Are Normans ‘French’? Yes, but not in modern sense. They were vassals to French kings. They pledged allegiance to Kingdom of France 3. What language did they speak? Norman French. It’s a variant of Old French / Langue d’Oïl. Back in the middle age there was no standard French. every region in France spoke their own dialect. They’re collectively regarded as dialect continuum. For example, English word ‘war’ came from Norman-French ‘wuerre’ which ultimately came from French ‘guerre’ 4. Did they adopt the French fighting style? Absolutely, they fought on horses but not on foot. 5. When did Normans become Frenchified? As late as the end of reign of Richard 1 of Normandy (in 996) 6. What language did William the Conqueror impose on England? Norman French. It became the language of nobilities, law and administration of England in the next 300 years. ‘dieu et mon droit’ is Henry V’s motto (featured in netflix series ‘the king’) and it’s still printed on every British passport nowadays. 7. What were the religious belief of normans? Christianity. For example Robert Guiscard built many chaptels and basilicas in Sicily. 8. Can Normans be regarded as Vikings? No. They had Viking heritage but they quickly became frenchified, they no longer spoke Norse or Dane or Swede, they became baptised and no longer believed in thor, odin etc. Last but not least, they never associated themselves as Vikings anymore.

[@Cobbido]

"never associated themselves as vikings anymore"? what is that even supposed to mean?

[@nerdyguy1152]

@@Cobbido that means they just considered themselves normans / norman french. Robert Guiscard and his band of warriors, for example, fought without mercy against vikings (who worked for byzantine) in southern italy

[@Cobbido]

@@nerdyguy1152 Yeah they considered themselves Norman. What exactly do you think that name means?

[@nerdyguy1152]

@@Cobbido that name showed their origin. And they got assimilated eventually. And one more important thing, quite few of norman nobilities intermarried the vikings, this is quite contrary to the nobilities of kievan rus’

[@robertoprestigiacomo253]

Most of what we have in Sicily has been built by Roger II, not Robert the Guiscard. The latter was more active in the northmost part of the 2 Sicilies (Apulia).

[@mattkemerait]

"Charles the Simple" That's the most Savage title ever bestowed on a monarch. Mounted Vikings?! History is bada$$!!

[@richardbenitez7803]

Marry cakes- I think Charles the simple was smarter than he’s given credit.

[@marloyorkrodriguez9975]

NPC #40249 it’s actually more along the lines that Charles used the Normans as a buffer against Vikings while also ensuring that the man is loyal to him through marriage but hey you can say it’s weak but it’s how things work then

[@nerdyguy1152]

NPC #40249 the fact is Charles the Simple was influenced by Robert the First (brother of Odo of France). Robert defeated the northmen at Chartre in AD911 and paved way for the treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte. This video has missed this important fact...!

[@whatabouttheearth]

It may of been "simple" as in the chrsitian way of seeing the word as a good thing.

[@elainegoad2111]

My ancestor on my maternal side, Adamle de Gourdun, came from Normandie as a knight, with William the Conquer (great great grandson of Rollo/Rolf, the Viking) in 1066 AD to conquer all of England. Adamle de Gourdun was awarded lands for his loyality and his descendants became the Gordon Clan of Scotland, Huntly Castle, Huntly, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

[@silversmith847]

A family member has also traced my mother's side back to coming with the conqueror and claims he was given land in Derbyshire for his services to William.

[@williamjordan5554]

Because of them, the English language is a combination of Germanic and French.

[@ww2wall561]

And latin and greek

[@williamjordan5554]

@@ww2wall561 to a lesser degree

[@ww2wall561]

No degree just less no limit

[@williamjordan5554]

@@ww2wall561 that's incoherent

[@ww2wall561]

@@williamjordan5554 indeed just like english without the thesaurus of greek and latin

[@RMJTOOLS]

“Normans came to embrace the law, and wielded it as a weapon even better then swords”. Seems very modern.

[@eddy_malouempereur_du_cong6536]

Normans was one of the best synthesis between the nordic/germanic martiality and the latin/christan faith

[@drillsargentadog]

Fantastic video. JSR--you're getting quite good at this :-) MOAR Norman content, please!

[@josva9124]

The vikings were already Normans from the start. They were the north men. Once Frank's had given Rollo land to call home they didnt need to go viking so they didnt have that JOB TITLE anymore. We became Conquerors.

[@hubertgenest3466]

Excellent review. Again, thank you.

[@shampar10]

Very interesting, I wish you could expand on this and the Northern Crusades

[@brianfuller7691]

This was a great video. I just sat through a respected writers trying to mumble his way through this topic, badly. Your history is spot on.

[@MarcPagan]

Good stuff...best wishes for continued success.

[@Joedoeswhat]

Nicely done good info good pace

[@marytica123]

THANKS FOR THIS VIDEO ! Public schools pay little attention to the origin of various historical groups - like the Normans.

[@christineevans4408]

Fablus voice thank you for being so clear..

[@danielblauw2978]

Great video 👌

[@unmemeable667]

Perfect timing I just started watching that vikings show yesterday lol

[@yeetdeets]

It's good in general, but women did not fight on the front lines and polyamory was not a thing. We had much more honor culture back then, with duels to the death springing from insults or even the right to marry especially attractive women.

[@jhewes.5923]

Brilliant show! Watch it all until Ivar

[@michaelroxby3937]

Great series but not historically accurate. Rollo and ragnar could not of been brothers as too many years separated them. But still brilliant, just finished watching it again myself.

[@marianohernangutierrez2525]

uhh, well this was a big spoiler then.

[@Katy-sh3ru]

Try The Last Kingdom, on Netflix. Partially based on history.

[@zeamagogu4029]

Good job. Beautiful and accurate.

[@FrenchViking466]

Nice video 👏🏻

[@shanebattles6132]

I so enjoy you're channel

[@robertmastnak581]

Great comment, great video! Thx...

[@kingslegion1]

sometimes i just like to come back and watch the classics like this one

[@IntoxikateASMR]

Love seeing this! I descend from "de la Haye."

[@rockynanach]

Kate de Haya De Cheney here .

[@petravazanska5707]

My boyfriend is norman, he is not like other french people. These people are very strong but also very grumpy and have a special sence of humour. I believe the are never sick.

[@smal750]

Normans are french wdym

[@veronicajensen7690]

@@smal750 yes but they still have some Scandinavian dna it's a mix

[@MT-jt5uo]

My ancestors were Normans who went over with William and become lords in Scotland, always thought the Normans have a interesting history. My last name most likely came from a town in French Flanders.

[@prometheus6413]

I just got a 23 and me and it shows that I had both 3% French/German and 3% Scandinavian and my Great Grandmothers maiden name was Vincent which turns out was a french name and first showed up in England her birthplace in 1066 during the Norman conquest so I think it’s safe to say I am also descended from Norman’s as well.

[@whitetiger39619]

My ancestors were also Normans and one of them is in all the records for fighting at the Battle of Hastings where we kicked the English's arses! Our ancestors are the same or fought side by side.

[@Anaris10]

Well done.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Thanks!

[@rollz4010]

Norman knights are badass!

[@robertkarp2070]

It's well know that all the territories that were conquered by Vikings, the Vikings didn't impose their cultures on the conquered people but instead blended in and were absorbed by the already existing cultures.

[@swordguy1243]

From vikings to crusaders

[@hydrogenmissle]

Thats my favorite part

[@gloriesnormaldude7513]

Very nice vid

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Thanks!

[@nerdyguy1152]

Also Charles the Simple was under great influence of Robert the First (Brother of Odo of France) who ALSO DEFEATED the vikings (led by Rollo) in Chartre in AD911 and paved way for the later baptism of Rollo. (The Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte)

[@thomassimmons1811]

A tale I have always held as very special. It is a tale of savage wolves of the North who became some of the greatest of Christendom's knights, fulfilled as hounds in service to Heaven.

[@scubaremastered]

If you knew anything about the Vikings, you wouldn't call them "savage."

[@thomassimmons1811]

oScubaGamer If you had any sense of context, you'd know the word here refers to them in battle. Try again.

[@jenniferleebrett5335]

Proud of the fact, that my father side of the family, is related to William the Conqueror, there also crusade history with King Richard lion heart as part of the personal guard . My mom from the Basque that were exiled by the french, they survived the great displacement, are ancestor was Micheal Deveau. Make for some interesting family tree . Always found Vikings fascinating, was very please, wen I discovered, there was ancestry connections !!!!!!!

[@AliShah-er7iu]

The Basque people are the original Europeans, not only linguistically (Basque isn't an indo-european language) but also according to DNA testing, it is quite interesting.

[@ivanenhaced1751]

So?

[@hydrogenmissle]

LUCKY!!

[@tilesetter1953]

Proud of something you had nothing to do with? Proud of descending from anyone is silly, and your ancestor was cruel, hungry for land and power.

[@Mercuryretrograde11]

@@tilesetter1953 jealous much

[@danielr1843]

J Stephens you are a full fledged Historian, thank you!

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

well thanks to you sir!

[@jdruze7]

More on the battles of the Normans! Please

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Here's a lot of them! kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZ-tnWSFfd5oetE

[@electronhop616]

The Vikings were in North America 500 to 1000 years before Columbus. Norse runes overlap with Osage Indian alphabet characters. The reason we have Crow and Kaw Tribes is because of Odins ravens.

[@electronhop616]

The BrotherHood I research for fun. I have the curiosity of a 5 year old, and the internet satisfies it quickly. Specifically the Norse runes that represents ‘sun’ and the one representing ‘inheritance’ / ‘prosperity’ / ‘estate’ are also utilized in the Osage alphabet, however now represent a single letter, and no longer a complete word.

[@electronhop616]

The BrotherHood ok go to google images, search for Norse Runes, look for an image with definitions of the characters. Take a screen shot. Now go to images of the Osage alphabet. Take a screen shot and compare the two for the similarities. Read up or watch a video on Odin, and his ravens, Huginn and Muninn. Huginn based on etymology is a ‘huge colorful genie’. Actually it is DMT released by the pineal gland during meditation. Odin only has single eyesight, aka the third eye. In the scriptures. Peter is the rock and holds the keys to the kingdom. The kingdom,the temple is the third ventricle, it is where we meet the creator, at pineal in the theta mental state, to be carried to delta is the baptism by fire Johnnthe Baptist spoke of, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego experienced.

[@electronhop616]

The BrotherHood I put on a track, run with it or walk away. I’m not your researcher, do your own research, make up your own mind. I don’t trust religion, academia, governments, media or medicine. You shouldn’t either. Learn to learn, be a student for life.

[@joemailloux]

Wow! Terrific synopsis for a layman of Norman decent such as myself. Thank you for this inspirational dose of MY OWN history!!!

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

You're very welcome.

[@prophez23]

I'm as Norman as it gets. My greatest granddad William Mallet is one of the few documented companions to William the Conqueror. My lineage can be traced back to around 900 AD. I have a Norse king granddad and many other nobles in my family. My granddad is on the Beaux tapestry. I'm very proud of the blood that flows in my veins. My last name is Mallett..

[@RhysapGrug]

Of course you can soft lad! And I'm a direct decendant of King Arthur pendragan. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@skiteufr]

Normandy was always a part of the Kingdom of France but with a lot of autonomy. Normans and their dukes were vassals to the King of France, which created problems when they invaded England and took the crown of England

[@louisxix3271]

Great video. Always wanted to know this cause I'm descended from normans who settled in Ireland, hence the name de Morisco became Morrissey.

[@salsalero1277]

A Spanish Moor is called a morisco.

[@therealmcgoy4968]

Same my surname is powers and my haplogroup is from Norway

[@prof.heinous191]

Now that's what I call Norman Wisdom...

[@paulielacqua8834]

I knew Rallo of Watts, he was friends with Sanford and Son. Lol

[@davidanderson7782]

Fred was the ruler 🤣🤣🤣

[@712dal]

Lol 😂

[@rockoalvarez8651]

Man i thought the sam thing pimpish rallo from sanfordson how bout lemont big dumy

[@rockoalvarez8651]

Where the puerto rican

[@nigelfarage4119]

Awesome post!

[@seeker5738]

So England in 1066, suffered two norse invasions. One from Norway which was defeated, the second from Normandy which took England.

[@fiddibelow]

DeSPoTNemanjaS Thats arguable but ok

[@christophedel2642]

@DeSPoTNemanjaS i'm from NORMANDY we spoke old norse in Cotentin until 14 century

[@cardett75]

@@fiddibelow the normans were a bunch of northern french, the normans themselves were mixed with gaulish or frankish, or had zero viking blood, they were also breton and flemish french from the north of France.

[@fiddibelow]

@@cardett75 sounds like bullshit seeing as the Norman's were danish

[@TheMrjohannes1995]

@@fiddibelow Rollo was most likely (in my opinion ofc) the secound son of some Scandinavian king and therefor his only chance to rule his own kingdom was to counquere one for himself.

[@Evansdrad8515]

5:14 where can I find that awesome fanart?

[@weeevan3078]

According to the history channel Rollo was Ragnar's brother. Lol

[@dannydeluca5365]

Sergeant Danelarton, Rollo and Ragnar where many years apart, maybe a century or two. You can look it up!

[@sherlockholmes8872]

@@dannydeluca5365 He knows that and was just kidding

[@dannydeluca5365]

Sherlock Holmes, ok Sherlock. Lol

[@cambs0181]

No that was in the series Vikings and no they weren't brother's.

[@HA-208]

@@cambs0181 he knows that already. And the history channel made Vikings.

[@mattygee37]

Why I live in England the place is called Normanton I imagine it meant Norman town at a point in time.

[@silversurfer8212]

C the barbarian. Yes, there are quite a lot of Norman tons in England. In Sheffield there is a Norman dale in the outskirts of the city.

[@sebastianpye9328]

interesting fact: apart from normandy, vikings had a part to play in the formation of ireland, scotland, england, russia, and ukraine. and obviously iceland but thats a no-brainer.

[@WarDogMadness]

Brittany as well and the island around the UK shetland orkneys

[@utherlightbringer3868]

@@WarDogMadness Brittany how?

[@WarDogMadness]

@@utherlightbringer3868 the viking Danes invaded and control Brittany from the 850ds to the 950ds they influence the culture used as a base for raiding the medatrian and South England and Wales contributed to the gene pool and brought alot of Scandinavian folklore to the celtic Britani folklore and culture and influences the cultural dialect of birtany which is closer to Welsh than French but has distinct norse adpated words.

[@b1laxson]

You forgot Greenland... oh wait...

[@wulfocrow5549]

Vikings formed Dublin, not Ireland. Ireland was founded by the milesians, iberian celts.

[@nhmooytis7058]

My 9 times great grandfather came from Caen to Montreal in the 1650s.

[@jabinshem1110]

The beginning of the end of the viking spirit... I can't help but think that Rollo traded the Norse spirit for worldly gain. He may have just seen it as a pragmatic choice but he in actuality led him and his people away from the old gods. A few generations down the line they were still fierce warriors, but then they seized to exist: because their identity, their spirit, was gone.

[@jabinshem1110]

@rhonda rae Lawrence lol what are you talking about?

[@silversmith847]

@@jabinshem1110 something you clearly are too ignorant to understand.

[@silversmith847]

@rhonda rae Lawrence Hail Odin !

[@jabinshem1110]

@@silversmith847 I don't call wishful thinking "understanding", if you're talking about asatru that's one thing, if you're talking about Normandy specifically I am happy to get information about any "rekindling of Norse spirit"

[@halvdan7978]

@rhonda rae Lawrence SKÅL!

[@salsalero1277]

My maternal paternal great grandfather is from Rouen, last name is Pepin.

[@robertoprestigiacomo253]

I'm from Sicily, blue eyed, I have pale skin, and when I was a child I was blonde. I honestly don't know whether my ancestors where more Normans, Romans, Greeks, and so on. Now I live in Denmark and I always tell my Danish friends that we must have common ancestors through the Normans.

[@richardbenitez7803]

I find it interesting the Norman’s became stridently Catholic. Certain tribal groups adapt readily to certain religion. I guess the Catholicism Adapts well with military campaigns, banners, heroic saints, blessings on military adventures.

[@thefiringsquadtfs6392]

True. I can imagine these Vikings view the crusades as an alternative to viking raids.

[@monkeymoment6478]

Catholicism is a continuation of the Roman legacy. It adapted the warlike and assimilative tendencies of their spiritual predecessors. Catholics “baptized” (made Christian) useful aspects of pagan spirituality and destroyed the rest.

[@pgetheelderscrollsturkiye68]

@@thefiringsquadtfs6392 Yes they were actually are, the goal for spreading the christianity was just an excuse, they wanted bloodshed, influence and gold from the middle east, which many are, yes you guessed right, viking traits, and at the end they got it, which later they founded antiochia, and antioch in modern times still have lot of north european and greek heritage even tho they are muslims now, (for example alawites (which is a branch of islam but with heavily european influence instead of middle eastern) in antioch have rituals like letting the teen drink a holly liquid and step into adulthood, and they also see people like alexander the great and many greek philosphers as prophets)

[@TheGirlgamer321]

My people!

[@JB-gw5gl]

No, my...

[@anointingofseer2596]

How Vikings became normies!

[@user-vs8kj7pl8p]

I didn’t know normies were one of the most successful crusaders

[@anointingofseer2596]

@@user-vs8kj7pl8p ,well a day isn't wasted when you learn something!

[@Kneedragon1962]

One group of Vikings moved south, and became the Normans. Another group moved west, and became slave traders in Ireland. They sold Irish and Scots salves in the markets in Constantinople, to the Muslims. Another group went east, and terrorised and dominated the tribes of what would become Russia. They became known as the Cossacs. Others went to Constantinople, because of wealth, and hired out as bodyguards. On the wall, in the Muslim black box holy-of-holies, scratched into the stone with the point of a dagger, there is a piece of Viking graffiti. Loosely translated it says "Jo went to lunch and he's not back yet, and I'm sick of this." but it's written in pure Viking runes. The only way that particular piece of writing could exist, is that one or more of the Caliph's personal guard, was a viking warrior/mercenary. Should we mention who discovered the magnetic compass? Who found and named Iceland, Greenland and Newfoundland? Or that successful Vikings were known to be buried with valuable artifacts, including having their bodies wrapped in silk, which could only have come from China...

[@kaloarepo288]

I know there are Viking (Varangian guard) graffiti in Hagia Sophia church in Constantinople (Istanbul) but have never heard of graffiti on the Mecca Kaaba -the Islamic caliph would have lived in Baghdad or Damascus and not Mecca -unless he was doing the hajj or pilgrimage.

[@Kneedragon1962]

@@kaloarepo288 ~ Kalo, your memory may be better than mine. Perhaps it is the Hagia Sophia, maybe I have a wire crossed. The way I heard the story, it's in viking runes and it must have been carved by a Viking bodyguard or security, a mercenary. And he must have been employed by the Caliph, the Sultan of Sultans. And he may have been the only Viking in 500 miles but he more likely was part of a platoon or team. That was my understanding of the story. I thought it was the black cube, the inner sanctum holy-of-holies of Islam.

[@kaloarepo288]

@@Kneedragon1962 I think you will find it was the huge hagia Sophia church in Istanbul -once the capital of the Christian Byzantine Empire until it fell to Turkish invaders in 1453.The Christian Byzantine Empire also known as the Roman Empire of the east employed elite Viking and Anglo-Saxon mercenaries as bodyguards -called the Varangian guard -most would have been from Kievan Russia.Ottoman Turkish sultan also became the Islamic caliph when the Arab caliphate (Abbasids) ceased to exist -hence perhaps your idea about the runes.

[@sonofamun8122]

hence Rollo brother of ragnar and uncle of bjorn ironside became my favorite duke

[@robertkarp2070]

Also note that it was only the first half of the Viking era where Vikings were conquerors, the second half of their era was setting up trade routes and trading.

[@vestty5802]

I’m Irish with quite a bit of Norman heritage so i find this very interesting

[@leannenitheimhneain7517]

Yes me too, I descend from William de Burgh, who was an anglo-norman and originated in Normandy before he came to England and then to Ireland in 1185 with King Henry II. Ive been doing a lot of reading on the history and the origins of my maiden family name, so fascinating

[@Evansdrad8515]

@@leannenitheimhneain7517 I am unsure of individual names but I am a descendant of Cambro-Norman and Anglo-Norman individuals. Proud of my Norman heritage.

[@nhmooytis7058]

“The Simple” wasn’t exactly meant as a compliment I gather?

[@stevenstanley1411]

Dupreynes Contracture (Viking disease) runs in my family. I am beginning to get it. I find it interesting that even with a bad case, my uncles could still hold swords or battle axes if they so chose.....

[@nullentry6032]

Lets also point out that the Normans brought the lessons they learned about the wars with Muslims in Italy with them. Not to mention that Normans brought Jews to the British Isles which the Magna Carta specifically addressed

[@nicolasdemarchenoyr3700]

"Not to mention that Normans brought Jews to the British Isles" nobody is perfect

[@pappabear4977]

The Franks didn’t see them digging the pits?

[@vonbleak101]

The pits were pretty far away from the city...

[@akdurden1879]

One of the many proud descendants of Rollo.

[@CharCanuck14]

Maybe we're related? If my research is correct then Rollo was my 34th great grandfather.

[@akdurden1879]

@@CharCanuck14 more than likely Cousin. 🙋‍♂️ You've also probably got some Crusader Knights in your tree as well. Pretty Rad stuff! Be Well.

[@CharCanuck14]

@@akdurden1879 Crusader Knights? I should be so lucky Thor but unfortunately my tree went the route of nasty old John "Lackland" Plantagenet :-( Hello from Canada Thor!

[@zrkszrk8768]

Same here

[@marcpadilla1094]

I had a neighbor reminded me of a Viking.Tall and lean,all arms and legs with hands as big as his feet and wrists as thick as his ankles.

[@swarnadeepsen9123]

Just like St. Paul's transformation.

[@hydrogenmissle]

There is a resemblance

[@keng293]

Hello from a norman(from le havre)

[@Razzor012YT]

Since I’m southern Italian based on genetics is there a chance I may be Norman

[@StephenMortimer]

By my name you can see I am

[@MarcelineTheWitch]

Well you arent norman because the Normans arent really a people anymore. But you are guaranteed to have some norman ancestors yes.

[@StephenMortimer]

@@MarcelineTheWitch From "Lisors" near Rouen, Normandy, France but we left around 1100 AD

[@funzjag]

Yes, you might indeed have Normandy genes. My ancestors are from Bovino, Foggia in southern Italy. Drago the Norman liberated our village from the muslims. There's a Norman built castle that still stands in Bovino. My great grandfather was the only person in my entire town with blue eyes. I've always seen that as an indication that I have some Norman blood.

[@roms4154]

@@funzjag normans are a mixt between vikings , franks and celtics people !! normans is part of french identity !

[@MrKlaudiosable]

The two lions on this flag represent Normandy.

[@christophedel2642]

Is it the Scottish flag basically

[@teghem6723]

They are actually 2 rampant leopards

[@MrKlaudiosable]

@@teghem6723 From now on I will sound less dumb thanks to you teg **leopard*

[@toninpolenta3449]

I'm a Italian from the south italy (bari) descent of Normans too

[@gregoriotauro4469]

Normans like others invaders on the Italian peninsula left almost no genetic marks as their numbers were insignificant to the local populations. It basically amounts to popular folklore to attributes Norman descendancy particularly to people with a fair completion in southern Italy, which i find perplexing how many people still believe that. Southern Italians don't need to attribute their greatness to some links with Normans. You were always great.

[@manitheman0806]

@@gregoriotauro4469 Well said!!!!!!!

[@BradleyGearhart]

Great summery of the normans!

[@claesbergqvist4159]

I have always learn that Rollo or Gånge-Rolf (who he was called in scandinavia) was Norwegian but the Danish claims he´s from Denmark. I hope you could take on the still infected history about the Goths and Swedes. Swedish television and radio still puts out false history programs about the past, They claiming that everything started with the Swedes in the nordeast in Uppsala and Birka , This has been an ongoing fight since the power grow strong in Stockholm Uppsala way back in the 14- 15 century maybe even futher back in history, but it´s not the true story of the past. It is a commissioned fairytaled history for the kings in Stockholm. Anyway you´re doing a great work!!!

[@maksdorleans8051]

Recently discovered that i have normans ancestors and my last name is supposedly an old french reference to the longships Norsemen used, do y’all think this mean i have Norsemen ancestries?

[@keng293]

What's your last name? Im from normandy

[@keng293]

@@maksdorleans8051 yes, it seems to be an old norman name, but most of us have french names though.

[@christophedel2642]

@@maksdorleans8051 I m from Normandy I knew a roberge in my class room there are a lot family name coming from Norse Renouf burnouf anquetil osmond onfray turgot etc etc..

[@wmatth8750]

I took one of those Ancestral DNA tests back aways, looking for Norman blood. First time in, the machine Blew up. Second time round it read "Unknown". And the Third said " Martian" ! Guess I'm in Big trouble.

[@BUSHDID-dk4us]

Isn't really right to say rollo was a pirate. He wasn't , him and alot of other Vikings had already found the advantages and prosperity of settling and trading instead of raiding.

[@KroM234]

Great documentary, but I can't help to notice one serious mistake. When you state than Germanic people were lawless and didn't care about law. Ancient Germans and Scandinavians were obsessed with laws. Just not written ones. But laws and customs ruled the entire life of Northmen, even Vikings (i.e. pirates often outlawed in their own country) obeyed laws, like reparations, inheritance, property amongst themselves, age and so on...

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

I never said that. I said that the feudal law the Normans adopted from the Franks was more sophisticated than anything they'd practiced as Vikings. The lawlessness I referenced was in relation to Norman practices during their early tenure as a part of Christendom, especially in areas like southern Italy, where they often behaved almost like highwaymen. This is in stark contrast to their high enthusiasm for legalism which they would manifest as they began to build up their own state institutions.

[@KroM234]

@@RealCrusadesHistory Thanks for clarification! It sounded a bit confusing to me to be honest. And yes they established in Southern Italy at first as robber barons before the 15th century, they often seized a small castle or tower then raided the region from there or sold themselves off through local feuds indeed.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

They began to establish a stable state well before that, really by the mid eleventh century once they gained formal titles and feudal territories. Under Robert Guiscard the Norman presence in Italy evolved into something fairly resilient and coherent.

[@KroM234]

@@RealCrusadesHistory Sorry I meant "robber barons" as the 15th century model of the robber knight based on a small castle and forced into banditism by dwindling treasury, I wasn't implying that Normans were bandits up to the 15th century! I was talking about very early 11th century in Southern Italy indeed, when the first Norman adventurers called upon fellow Normans as they witnessed the opportunities of the country.

[@CrimsonRaven51]

Manu K. The idea of a jury is Germanic in origin. Because they were illiterate and couldn’t write laws down, when there was a trial, they would call upon 12 elderly men who could remember the laws they established and could then judge guilt or innocence based on a civil debate among themselves regarding memory and interpretation of their laws. To this day we are judged by a 12 person jury of our peers. Thanks 🙏.

[@JamesThomas-pj2lx]

Normans are my favorite historical peoples..... and I'm Irish/welsh....

[@eddiesid1149]

The Norman's started the colonisation process of Ireland and Wales.

[@robertdavis5464]

I'm English and we don't like the Norman's

[@jackieblue1267]

Normans were the start of the colonisation of Ireland although they were invited in by Dermot MacMurrough King of Leinster to try and get his lands back after it was taken off him by the High King Rory O'Connor.

[@Mia-dh4ev]

I'm Welsh & I have no love for them.

[@keng293]

@@robertdavis5464 not true, many englishmen like us : ) hello from normandy

[@lukewhite8930]

9/50 Norman males have a Norse paternal line. For the most part they were of Carolingian stock. Some were Bretons

[@gontrandjojo9747]

Carolingian? It's a dynasty. You mean Frankish I guess...

[@fayezdota]

So basically where the Norse failed attacking Britain from the north they succeeded from the south as Normans.

[@monkeymoment6478]

In a way yes. Even though the Normans weren’t really norse anymore, they were a product of norsemen. They still carried on the martial legacy of the norse, sailing far for land and gold.

[@darthcheney7447]

Refreshing to hear the narrator correctly pronounce cavalry, and not calvary, like I hear on so many docs, too much irritation. Nice vid, as well.

[@mauriciotoz]

3:38 Bathory Hammerheart im quarter Normand

[@halojoe21]

Norman bloodlines represent :)

[@rockynanach]

The_Borg Rollo is my 32 grandfather.

[@akdurden1879]

Hey Cuz 👋😎

[@georgebaccett9951]

By the way modern Italians are a mixture of: Romans + Germanic Tribes (Lombards, Ostrogoths, Herulos and Normans).

[@pow3redthebest]

And Greeks

[@monkeymoment6478]

@@pow3redthebest And North Africans

[@mar0z]

These channels are better than the history one

[@ricciluigi2592]

The most common name in Sicily and in Southern Italy is Russo, which comes to us via the Byzantine Greek from Rus the word for a Norseman (In French a Norman) The Byzantine language was the one spoken in Sicily when the Vikings from the West first arrived. The Varangian Rus were there 100s of years before them. The Greeks, Sicilians and Arabs called all norsemen Rus. Russo means a member of the Rus and in Scandinavian the word means He Rows or the Men who Row. It is also the only word of Scandinavian origin that the Normans left us in Italy. The Normans were busy translating everything to Latin and writing that word Russo, later Italian writers didn't recognize the word as Greek, thought it to be merely some ignorant Sicilians trying to say Red. The name Russo meant a Norman long long before it ever came to mean a Russian.

[@gregoryguidry7447]

I've done no deep research into this, but it's interesting to think that the Acadian people of Canada and their Cajun cousins in Louisiana, many of whose ancestors were from Normandy, as well as Brittany, Picardy and Poitou, my have a blood tie to the Vikings. It explains our fiery temperament and fierce sense of independence!

[@marianohernangutierrez2525]

Gregory Guidry nope. Your temperament is mainly and fierce thrive for independence is cultural, historical, not genetic. Think abaout scandinavians societies today (almost 100% viking dna): the most pacific and gentle people.

[@gregoryguidry7447]

sum body Wow, thanks - I had no idea!!! You should win a Nobel Prize for genetics and a Pulitzer for your command of English!

[@phampshire6864]

The brutality of the Norman conquest of England even shocked medieval Europe

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Even more amazing, it shocks the modern world...the most violent era in history.

[@christophedel2642]

It proves that they were still Vikings at this time

[@teghem6723]

All the wars are brutal, but it was in the aftermath of the conquest that the normans were shockingly brutal when in relatively small numbers, they had to affirm and maintain their power.

[@ScorpionZam]

What happened to them

[@swiftcee266]

One man - ROLLO. His descendants? the Earl Henry Sinclair of Orkney and Rosslyn.

[@DidierDidier-kc4nm]

THX for the vid .. Normans were less cinematografic than their vikings ancestors but military speaking there is no compétition !!Normans were the best of their time !!

[@christophedel2642]

For this reason England became the most powerful country in the world

[@Mondo762]

I once knew a guy from a Sicilian family that was very blond and had plenty of attractive girlfriends. How does that happen? I think I know.

[@mariano98ify]

@El loco holandes errante coño un camarada español!! que tal colega?? saludos desde las islas Canarias.

[@mariano98ify]

plenty?? you mean he has more than one "girlfriend" at the same time??

[@Mondo762]

I saw him with a number of gorgeous ladies with him at one time. Don't know his relationship with each one.

[@mariano98ify]

@@Mondo762 then doesnt mean they are his girlfriends...

[@torrvic1156]

And I saw a black guy which had a lot of blonde chicks. What so special about it? This is goes against laws of morale and church anyway. This does not bode well both for the unscrupulous ladies and guys. Horrid stories.

[@Enigmatt_eu]

Interesting indeed 👌 Like nr 4100+

[@duanesarjec6887]

in less 30 years the sons of th viking had french first name robert richard rené raoul raymond guillaume except in Bayeux no one spoke the noirois . Thorille and Odinville became trouville and deauville . but it is the sams thing for all the germans franks burgondions alans and wisigoths

[@getwulf9293]

@ Duane... According to Dudo the chronicler of the Normans they were Goths or Getae from Dacia... He is ignored by most modern historians and is passed off as "confused". If you haven't read the Gesta Normannorum I suggest you do. According to that early text most of the Normans were Goths from Dacia/(what is today Romania) and East Anglians. It's a pretty good bet that they felt related to Visigoths.

[@duanesarjec6887]

the goths came from scandinavia the burgondions came from Bornholm island the others goths are gone in scythia Odoacer is a skyre but no one can say if the skyres are samartians or goth . all the germans came from scandinavia the other became the west germans , myself I have burgondion and sarmatian blood more franks blood the Isle of france is the south true frontier of the franks

[@eedragonr1576]

@@getwulf9293 yes after the Romans conquered Dacia they applied their classic romanization politics: took the young Dacians in the Roman legions and sent them till Roman Britain. What was an enormous strategical mistake: the barbaric Asian tribes violently invaded the Eastern regions of the Empire. The Romans called the mercenary Gothic cavalry to defend the Roman Eastern borders.

[@eedragonr1576]

@@getwulf9293 he was normally confused: the Thracians with the northern hegemonic tribes: Dacians and Getaes are fair people, blue eyed and blond and are called by the Greeks also "hiperboreans" like the Vikings. They are today dark eyed and have dark hair in the south west, south and south east where they were more Latinized. Surprisingly they always had very good relations with the Germanics including the Vikings. The confusion was also between the names of the Goths and of the Getaes.

[@jaads7910]

Rollo