Did Norwegians Serve in Roman Legions?

[Strengthandhonour]

Did Norwegians Serve in Roman Legions?

Archaeological findings have strengthened notions amongst scholars that quite a few Norwegians, from the farthermost north of Europe, in all likelihood served as soldiers in the Roman legions.

Ancient weaponry, cups and coins all points towards a more extensive cultural exchange between Norway/Scandinavia and the Roman Empire than previously assumed, an assumption, (article in Norwegian only), Professor Heid Gjøstein Resi at the Cultural Historical Museum, at the University of Oslo also seems to agree with.

Yes, I believe Norwegians served in Roman legions," he says, and continues;"We have been able to confirm that artifacts found in old graves in Norway, which at first were believed to have originated elsewhere, do indeed have their origins from the Roman Empire."

In 1895, during the excavation of the grave of a Norwegian warlord, dating back to 200 A.D, buried near the little village of Avaldsnes on the west coast of Norway, scientists found a sword with a silver ornamented scabbard, a silver ornamented shield, bracelets and four gold rings, artifacts and weaponry that indicates very well that this warlord might have served in the Roman legions, according to Professor Lotte Hedeager at the Institute of archeology, Oslo University.

It is a well known fact that people from so called barbaric tribes like the German tribes up north, were recruited into the Roman legions and that some of them even ended up as Generals and Leadersof the Roman legions themselves.

"Warriors that chose to return to Norway, after 10-15 years in service, brought back not only Roman artifacts and coins but some even brought back artifacts typical for a man serving in the legions," says Laszlo Berczelli, a retired scholar from the Cultural Historical Museum.

One artifact typical for soldiers in service of the Roman army was vessels made of bronze for drinking and eating, an artifact found in many graves excavated in the eastern parts of Norway.

On an ending note, the scientist Svein Gulli, at the Cultural Historical Museum, asks somewhat rhetorically;

"It is a historical fact that Vikings served as mercenaries in the service of the Byzantine emperor, why then couldn't they have served in the Roman legions?"

source: Bits of News - Did Norwegians Serve in Roman Legions?

[Menydh]

I don't know about Vikings in the service of Rome in ca. 200 AD, it sounds a bit unlikely although not completely impossible.

The Varangians were in the service of Byzantium in ca. 850 AD.

There were also Scandinavians serving the Caliphate of Cordova, in the Slavonic Guard. These were Libertos, i.e. prisoners freed and converted to Islam.

[Strengthandhonour]

Well, technically I think its impossible for actual vikings to have served in the legions since the term had never been used before the 800-900's. The evidence is very small at this point, but can prove something. But just because they have those artifacts dosn't mean they belong to them, they could have easily looted them or taken them. But then again that is unlikely since they would need to have made large excursions to Roman lands to get them. Also, interesting but the vikings adopted the Roman sword, the "Sphata".
Also, it was Roger II of Sicily(of viking background) who got the thumbs up by the pope to go into Sicily and sweep off the Saracens.

[Menydh]

Originally Posted by Strengthandhonour

Well, technically I think its impossible for actual vikings to have served in the legions since the term had never been used before the 800-900's.

Let alone "Norwegians".

[Carnyx]

Indeed, it's an anachronism. I don't remember Viking incursions started so early in history (200 AD).

Vikings were those who left Scandinavia for some expeditions in Europe, not those who stayed at home. So who were the people living in Scandinavia at that time? What were those Northern Germanic tribes? The Goths? I don't know much about Scandinavia.

[Sergius]

Originally Posted by Carnyx

Vikings were those who left Scandinavia for some expeditions in Europe, not those who stayed at home. So who were the people living in Scandinavia at that time? What were those Northern Germanic tribes? The Goths? I don't know much about Scandinavia.

That's not entirely true. The vikings did travel a lot, but mostly for burning, pillaging and raping...and trading, but the term doesn't just refer to the travellers, but to the population of Scandinavia as a whole. Apart from the Rus, who went to the East and founded Russia, the Goths and a few others, most East Germanic tribes were permanently living in Scandinavia. The distinction between Danes, Swedes and Norwegians is not defined until around 800-900. Up to that point, they were just...Norsemen, I suppose.

[Carnyx]

Originally Posted by Ljubomir

That's not entirely true. The vikings did travel a lot, but mostly for burning, pillaging and raping...and trading, but the term doesn't just refer to the travellers, but to the population of Scandinavia as a whole. Apart from the Rus, who went to the East and founded Russia, the Goths and a few others, most East Germanic tribes were permanently living in Scandinavia. The distinction between Danes, Swedes and Norwegians is not defined until around 800-900. Up to that point, they were just...Norsemen, I suppose.

Hoh, that's what I'd heard. So basically, they just called themselves "Vikings"... Right.

[Sergius]

I can't tell if you're being ironic, but no, I'm pretty sure that they didn't. According to my Danish dictionary, viking refers only to tradesmen and seafaring warriors, but the English term is an overall name for all Scandinavians at this time. Oh, I don't know...But this was much later anyway. At 200 AD, Scandinavians were rather primitive either way.

[Carnyx]

Originally Posted by Ljubomir

I can't tell if you're being ironic, but no, I'm pretty sure that they didn't. According to my Danish dictionary, viking refers only to tradesmen and seafaring warriors, but the English term is an overall name for all Scandinavians at this time. Oh, I don't know...But this was much later anyway. At 200 AD, Scandinavians were rather primitive either way.

Er... no, my comment was not meant to be ironical.

According to my Danish dictionary, viking refers only to tradesmen and seafaring warriors

That's what I meant. I heard some Vikings specialist once who didn't speak otherwise.

but the English term is an overall name for all Scandinavians at this time.

Maybe still unaccurate, it seems.

[Menydh]

I heard from a Scandinavian that the Viking was a phenomenon caused by booms in population. Under the pressure of a population increase, where the first borns would inherit, the second borns had to search for alternatives for themselves.

This was not unusual in other places. Only the methods employed would make it characterisitical.

[Strengthandhonour]

Mynydd is correct. The population began to grow and most of the Norselands were heavily wooded at this time. If I am not mistaken, the event that sort of pushed the Norsemen to move out was the "Blaze in the northern sky". One night they saw what was probably a comet or a meteor on the sky and they took it as a sign from the gods to move out and explore in order to survive.

[Pagandawn]

Originally Posted by Mynydd

I heard from a Scandinavian that the Viking was a phenomenon caused by booms in population. Under the pressure of a population increase, where the first borns would inherit, the second borns had to search for alternatives for themselves.

This was not unusual in other places. Only the methods employed would make it characterisitical.

Yes, this is a theory that is probably correct. In the old norse law of inheritance. The oldest son got everything. The younger had to seek their luck elsewere.

But, I'm sure there were other reason as well.

Piracy, was not a viking speciality. Everybody did it. The vikings were just so much better, because of their marine technology.

I also think that the vikings as Pagans felt the pressure from christian Europe.

[Sergius]

Originally Posted by Pagandawn

I also think that the vikings as Pagans felt the pressure from christian Europe.

They surely did feel something, but I'd like to question if religion was the main reason that they would feel pressured from their neighbours to the south. But then again, how can a Christian non-viking understand what it was like...

[Menydh]

Originally Posted by Pagandawn

Yes, this is a theory that is probably correct. In the old norse law of inheritance. The oldest son got everything. The younger had to seek their luck elsewere.

But, I'm sure there were other reason as well.

As I mentioned, a population boom.

They surely would hear travellers speaking of other lands and the usual cities and kingdoms.

Piracy, was not a viking speciality. Everybody did it.

It is apparently a common mistake to think that Viking was equal to pirate or raider. Some would be, others not. As you said earlier, there were trading Vikings too.

I suspect that what made people fear the Vikings in particular is that their attacks were unexpected. In many they were successful, but in many others they were unsuccessful. And one can guess that anything in the middle too.

The vikings were just so much better, because of their marine technology.

Not that I am aware of any technology that made them better to others. I believe that they used a mainly coastal navigation technique. Even river navigation. But rarely in the open seas. As a side note, some speculate that the Odissey was probably in part as a result of long periods of calmed winds. There is nothing worse than a prolongued total calm of days under a strong sun. Not even a storm.

Being Atlantic seamen, they would sail with favourable winds since constant winds --both in direction and intensity-- is a characteristic of the Atlantic Seas. More technical would be the navigation in the Mediterranean Sea, where winds change direction several times during a same day and their intensity varies constantly and without previous warning.

Whereas a storm or strong winds in the Atlantic can be predicted days in advance, in the Mediterranean you are sailing at full sails one minutes and before the next minute the storm is over you and a calm and peaceful day becomes a wild party.

I also think that the vikings as Pagans felt the pressure from christian Europe.

Must be those Gregorian chants which were being heard in Scandinavia and disturbed their siesta.