Hall of Fame
The Vikings were notorious throughout Europe as ruthless Scandinavian warriors, but they were also remarkable explorers
Cnut Danish, c.990 – 1035
Sometimes known as Cnut the Great, this Danish triple monarch was the son of Sweyn Forkbeard. He first became king of England in 1016 after invading and conquering the Anglo-Saxon kingdom. He ruled England firmly for almost 20 years but also expanded his power to become king of Denmark in 1018 and king of Norway from 1028. The three kingdoms (along with a small part of Sweden) were briefly united under Cnut with his territories being known as the ‘North Sea Empire’.
Despite his power, Cnut is best known today as the subject of the apocryphal legend ‘King Canute and the tide’.
SIGRID THE HAUGHTY
A semi-legendary queen named in several sagas, Sigrid was married to King Eric the Victorious of Sweden. When Eric died in c.995, Sigrid ruled alone. Sigrid was also reputed to have married Sweyn Forkbeard, although some historians believe she may be an amalgam of several historical Viking (or possibly Polish) women. However, some medieval Danish landholdings in Sweden were called “the legacy of Sigrid” which might point to her historical existence.
Olga of Kiev
A Varangian (Viking) woman, Olga was born in what is now Pskov, Russia in the Norse state of Kievan Rus’. She married the Varangian Prince Igor of Kiev aged 15 but Igor was murdered by the Drevlians, a neighbouring Slavic tribe, in 945.
Olga became regent of Kievan Rus’ on behalf of her infant son. She avenged Igor’s death by defeating the Drevlians and enforced heavy tributes on them. Olga also converted to Christianity and visited Constantinople where she was well received by the Byzantine emperor. She is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
ERIK THE RED
A Norwegian explorer, Erik initially settled in Iceland but he was exiled from the island in c.982. Sailing west, he explored Greenland and founded the first European settlement there. This colony was successful and numbered thousands of people by the year 1000.
Erik is reputed to have coined the name “Greenland” for the island in order to make it sound more appealing to Norse settlers. He was also the father of Leif Erikson.
SWEYN FORKBEARD
King of Denmark from 986 and king of Norway from c.999-1000, Sweyn seized his Danish throne from his father Harald Bluetooth. He harboured a longstanding ambition to conquer England and in 1013, Sweyn launched a full-scale invasion. After a brutal campaign, the kingdom submitted to him and he became the first Danish king of the English. However,
