By: Aisling Bronach of House Shadow Drake

For the most part, the Vikings had seemingly no long term impact on Wales beyond that of establishing place names. (Loyn: 332) Until more recently, there was no archaeological evidence for rural Scandinavian settlements and the only available support was found in toponomy. (Fitzhugh: 101) However, Llanbedrgoch in Wales has now been identified as a Scandinavian settlement and contains a plethora of archaeological information. (ibid.) This is a noted difference from such larger trade areas and towns such as Chester.

Beginning in the later half of the ninth century and continuing though the eleventh century, Vikings attacks were common and a serious threat. (Loyn: 332) Unlike other cultures, the Welsh chroniclers did not use colors to distinguish different groups of Vikings but rather used terms of color indiscriminately among the various sects. (Jones: 77) The author of Breuddwyt Rhonabwy referred to the pure black troop of Denmark and the pure white troop of Llychlyn. (ibid.) Both the Norwegians of Ireland and the Danes of England were termed as being black. (ibid.) Such examples of these terms are as follows:

In 893, Alfred drove the Chester Danes out of the Midlands and forced them to move into Wales by destroying both of their corn and cattle. (Jones: 228) Alfred was a key point of resistance in England of the Danish Vikings. (Grant: 167) However, King Alfred also sent military support to Gwynedd during the second half of the ninth century to help suppress the Viking onslaught in exchange for submission from the Welsh kings. (Loyn: 332)

Between 918 and 952, Wales was fairly liberated from Norse aggression. (Jones: 355) This fortune ended after the death of the good king Hywel Dda, and the Norsemen of Dublin and Limerick seized upon the opportunity for profit and gain. (ibid.)

Since the 920's, the Welsh had always held hopes of an alliance between the Welsh and the Irish Norsemen, the Kymry a gwyr Dulyn (Welsh and men of Dublin), to drive the Saxons out of Britain. (Jones: 237) Although unhappy with the seizure of Northumbria by Athelstan, the Strathclyde Welsh did not take part in the Battle of Brunanburh which occurred in 937. (ibid.) The Battle of Brunanburh is related from the Egils Saga Skallagrimssonar and is called the Battle of Vinheid. (ibid.)

The Strathclyde and Cumberland Welsh were often easy targets for raiding Vikings in the middle of the ninth century. (Jones: 203) The raiding of the Wales intensified after 980 and the cathedral of St. David at Dyfed was sacked four times between 982 and 989. (Jones: 355) The Vikings began to set up a trade network in Wales along the southwest coastline where they could profit from small marts and towns. (ibid.) According to Snorri, Olaf Tryggvason was accredited with raiding Wales around 990. (Jones: 132) Olaf was also said to have been actively engaged in raiding the other neighboring areas of Cumberland, France, Hebrides, Isle of Man, Northumbria, and Scotland. (ibid.) During the eleventh century, it is believed that Gwynedd was possibly controlled by the Dublin Vikings. (Loyn: 332)

Resources

Fitzhugh, Willam. W. and Ward, Elisabeth I., eds. Vikings: The North Atlantic Saga. (WA: Smithsonian Institute Press, 2000.)

Grant, Michael. Dawn of the Middle Ages. (Maidenhead, England: McGraw Hill Book Company, 1981.)

Jones, Gwyn. A History of the Vikings. 2nd ed. (NY: Oxford University Press, 1984.)

Jones, Prudence, and Pennick, Nigel. A History of Pagan Europe. (NY: Routledge: 1995.)

Loyn, H. R. ed., The Middle Ages. (NY: Thames and Hudson, 1989.)