Originally posted by Wrageowrapper
Did they get into a lot of conflict with Pagan
Vikings and Christian Scandinavians from 1000ad till around 1600ad or
not. Were there any major battle between Germanic Scandinavians and
Sami. Did Sami join the vikings, are Sami vikings. I dont know...please
tell me. |
There is no detail historical records of the Viking Age in Sweden. Those
merely deals with Danes and Norwegians. Earlier, Icelandic sagas
(sometimes called 'Norse sagas') was cited very much without criticism.
It is a matter of opinion if you want to include Sami as "Vikings." It is,
however, possible that "viking ships" are of Uralic origin if it not is
Slavic... It was shared by all ethnic groups in Nordic during the Viking
Age. Most ships excavated are, however, found in North Scandinavia
(Svea- and Norrland/Finland) and North Polen (Pomerania).
The Norwegian Otthere, messenger to King Alfred the Great of England,
mention that Quens (Cwens), i.e. rulers over the far North, sometimes
attacked Norwegians, sometimes Norwegians attacked Quens. Sometimes
it was peace. Here is the Quen Sea believed to be Gulf of Bothnia, that's it,
northern Baltic Sea. It is possible that Otthere count Sami amongst
'Suedes' (Swedes), it is possible they are not mentioned at all. Some
considers his report about Fenni adheres to Laplanders, althought he
located Fenland the east of Gandvik (White Sea) which is non-Sami
territories. The Icelandic sagas mentions in one tale that the relation
between Fenni (Sami) and Norwegian (Vikings) was tight due to an earlier
coincident.
The Norwegian law from around 1150s forbidden Norwegian interaction
with Sami, due to the latter might had heathenry influence on them. It
state that the man who take medical treatment (blood-stagging, etc.) or
advice (supernational answers, etc.) from magicians (shamans) will get
punished.
When Sweden was founded, Laplanders was really adored by writers such
as Olaus Magnus (1550s). He concluded; the colder, the cruler peoples.
He even used this region in some kind of propaganda that stated it was
part of the paradise, i.e. the highest level of human civilisation
development, where e.g. no money was used, no wars, etc. In reality,
these groups were still heathenry, money was abscence due to un-trust,
etc.
When Sweden was a much larger country that it is now, some Germans
etablished rumours that Swedes used 'Sami magic' to raise their warfare
capability. This was the start of the great work done by Johannes
Schefferus in 17th century. Its aim was to meet these rumours and show
that Sami was not Swedes, but adapted and abridged editions quickly
appeared in Germany et al with more rumours about so-called 'Sami
magic'. [This is commented in the Swedish edition of Lapponia.]
Just a short summary :-)
P.S. Cwen is considered to be root for King, so if you want we can divide
Scandinavia into Kings and Vikings. :-). D.S.