How often do think about the Viking Empire?

[purplepoppy]

Lerwick, Scotland has just held its annual Up-Helly-Aa fire festival to celebrate its Viking heritage. There was plenty of raping and pillaging but it was all in good fun ending with the burning of a Viking longship and any evidence. For the first time, in an act of Viking wokery, women were allowed to carry burning torches in the parade.

Now we've all heard about the question, "How often do you think of the Roman Empire?" so let's twist that into, "How often do you think of the Viking Empire?"

Yes I know it wasn't technically an empire but let's not split hairs.

I blame my Viking genes for my criminal record

I thought I was going to Valhalla but it was a Van Halen concert. I'm a dyslexic Viking

Scandinavia should pay reparations for Viking crimes

The sins of my viking ancestors weigh heavily upon my soul

I can't be Viking I struggle with Ikea furniture

[GuyAnswersGirls123]

I went with, "I can't be a Viking, I struggle with Ikea furniture." 😅

I wish I had Viking genes though as I think they're totally badass. I got so hyped up when The Northman came out:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/oMSdFM12hOw

Especially that part when he catches the javelin and throws it back! I kept watching the trailer over and over. I didn't love the movie as much as I hoped I would but it was still very solid.

I wonder if I have any Norse ancestors on my mother's side. Their last name is "Warden" which might have some Anglo-Norman influence. Anyway, I've always been drawn to Vikings and Norse Mythology and just the overall sound of Old Norse.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/hZAwi6Asyks

[purplepoppy]

The name Warden is mostly found in North England south Scotland https://named.publicprofiler.org/

[GuyAnswersGirls123]

That's cool! I heard they came from England originally but didn't know it was North England. Also some Irish ancestry on my grandmother's side. They're American hillbillies though from East Tennessee with a very thick accent. There's lots of Nascar racing and moonshine on that side of my family's past. 😅

[abc3643]

Whenever I listen to this song...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApxnAr6pRt0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lih7A9OS2Ushttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8OtzJtp-EM

[abc3643]

"We come from the land of the ice and snow,
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow."

[abc3643]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQSCguXu2V0

[Miah04]

Pretty much everyday. I worry so much about them since they left for viking empire school. I hope they got clean clothes, and warm meals, and making lots of friends

[katiesmuff]

First time I ever had thoughts about Vikings unless we are talking about the Minnesota Vikings which I think a lot about between Sept and Jan each year.

[WhiteSteve]

What is this “Roman Empire” question about? I’ve heard it a few times and I’m like “why would I EVER think about past empires in my free time?” And I have a history degree, lmfao. Couldn’t be less interested in empires past, present, or future. History taught me that humans are incredibly stupid and selfish, and should not be looked to for direction or guidance in pretty much any area, lmfao. Like if humans are doing it, it’s probably wrong. So fuck all of our empires😂

[TheSpider]

Some history major you are. With a comtempt for the past. it's like being a doctor who hates sick people. IMHO.

[WhiteSteve]

@TheSpider It was the study of history that made me arrive at this conclusion. My contempt is more for humanity, BASED on what history has taught me. Humans don’t have many redeeming qualities, it turns out. I don’t have any real interest in history, I just wanted to coach football as an adult and figured I’d have to be a teacher if I wanted to do that. Decided everybody fucking sucks and I want to keep human interaction to a dull roar, so I abandoned all that and I just play sports way later into life than I reasonably should, lmao. I wish I could forget everything I learned and have an appreciation for humans again, but I just can’t un-ring that bell. This is just my assessment of what I’ve been given to analyze, I came in unbiased.

[TheSpider]

So all the grandeur nd pageant of history is just garbage to you. All the great music, art, literature. The Renaissance, Shakespeare, Mozart... Just garbage. With tat lpisy attitude you will always hate humanity. I feel sorry for you. I love history myself. I read everything I can about it.. and I didn't study it in college except as basic studies... but I have been reading world history since 3rd grade. And I never ever lost faith in humanity. Frankly if you are so offended by things from history, that I think you should seek help. Preferably from a Priest or a Classics professor.

[RebelinSteel]

The ‘Vikings’ collective bunch of pillaging rapists and slavers that had a huge influence on the creation of England, France, Ireland, Russia, obviously Scandinavia. The real world of these Vikings is fairly remarkable, discovering Spamland, discovering Greenland, Discovering Iceland, settling all those places, then as the Rus doing the trade and exploration thing. Then the stuff they did as ‘Vikings’ with Eastern Roman Empire as Varangian Guard. Then the Northmen becoming Normans and all the raids on Northern Europe. Viking raids on Paris and Northern England, the creation of the Danelaw. Then as the Normans (originally Vikings) they successfully attacked Italy, Mediterranean and England. The Vikings as a collection of raiding countries were very successful and helped shape Europe and Russia.

[Jackblue]

I am not sure the Vikings were ever a united Empire. They raped and pillaged yeah, but when it comes to history everything has to be seen in comparison to other things there has always been a lot of raping and pillaging in this world. The vikings cultivated some of the democratic features of Europe that had been lost in Rome after the Emperors came to power. The vikings didn't usually exterminate entire peoples whereas King Alfred the Unready of England, the Estonians during the St. George's Night uprising, and the Inuits in Greenland all committed genocide against the scandanavian settlers amongst them.

[RebelinSteel]

King Alfred the unready of England…. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Jackblue]

@RebelinSteel Pardon me his name was Aethelred the Unready, but my point still stands.

[RebelinSteel]

@Jackblue you need to rethink genocide idea, it was a massacre yes, no doubt about that, however it was on the fringes of the Danelaw and not the entire Danelaw. Was it unwise, yes, was it warranted, possibly as at the time it was a country fighting for survival and entire Anglo Saxon areas had been purged of there orginal inhabitants. Also the term democracy with the Vikings taking with them, yes for areas outside of Europe (isle man and Dublin excepted) then yeah, for France, England, nah not at all. Short version, it was an unwise attack, a massacre but not genocide.

[Jackblue]

@RebelinSteel I doubt Danelaw was purged of its original inhabitants or that region of England would be full of blonde blue eyed people today, same with Normandy. He couldn't kill the Danes in Danelaw because that region was outside his authority, but he killed all the Danes that he could.

[RebelinSteel]

It was purged, also the Angles had settled in the Danelaw, guess what blue eyes. The Romans named them originally. Sort of like why the region got its name. A number of the Anglo Saxons villages, settlements were destroyed and taken over the Dane’s, who then did that time old thing invaders do, they sold them back to the original owners to rent etc.

[lightbulb27]

A little, wasn't leif Erickson a viking? I know Fran Tarkenton was...

why haven't we changed the statute of limitation of rape going back 2000 years? need to get on that. I feel traumatized just looking at those brutes. Can you imagine what all those drunk smelly fisherman did to womens psyches? No wonder y'all are a little touchy at times.

[DJB72]

Among other genes I'm part Viking. Although I'm not a worshipper of Thor, Odin, Freya, etc I'm not sure pissing them off with the festival of wokeness is a great idea. Shieldmaiden was a valiant role essential to the success of the Vikings as a Warrior People.

[Paul09]

It's pretty messed up when you really think about it. Almost like admiring Hitler or pirates. Styles maybe be cool, and how they did things are very interesting. But in reality they were horrible people. So what are they celebrating? Do they rape and pilage in these festivals?

[Levin]

Frequently, but that's cause I listen to Amon Amarth. 'They await the battle, they await, without fear.'

https://www.youtube.com/embed/LEy9JJQD6VM

[Drewtate]

How much raping and pillaging did those vikings who ruled England from 1066 to the present do? In fact they built a huge empire and in just under a 1000 years raped and pillaged on a global scale.

[Guido]

A very interesting culture and while the men matbhave enjoyed all the raping and pillaging, with all the battles they fought, they had a very short life span. I am living a long life and feasting on the women they are too dead to enjoy.

[Passerby2]

Aloooot. You know the vikings and Scandinavians in general were larger than others. It's not a myth. It's not Hollywood. It's funny when people with shit genes get jealous and call facts fiction.

[handsomelad70]

Every time they play the Detroit Lions, because Fran Tarkenton (who'll be 84 tomorrow, Feb.3), Cuck Foreman, Bud Grant and the boys used to beat the Lions lie a drum !!!

[exitseven]

I am of Finnish decent and I already have plans to enter Valhalla someday

[ChicoFromThe305]

More than the normal human I think, did you know vikings were only like 5'4 ? 💀

[TheSpider]

I think about the Vikings all the time. I am reading Norse mythology and have read their mythology all my life.

[Kelly6]

@purplepoppy as Spain was once under Arab control, I think I don’t have Viking gene , but might have Arab genes

[douride2]

I blame my Viking ancestors for any trouble I get into.

[KostasKouvalis]

Not very often. Nowhere as much as other empires

[Squatting_Slav]

I do a lot, firece and bold. My favourite character from 'Vikings' Hvitserk

https://www.youtube.com/embed/GooypzTW21c

[Iron_Man]

Well I am a Swedish Viking

[purplepoppy]

Nah, your Portuguese

[Iron_Man]

I was born there, but on a United States Air Force Base. But my parents are Swedish.

[Kingofkings1992]

I’m the biggest baddest Viking warrior walking the planet

[NathanDavis]

Lagertha...

[Dargil]

Rarely, if ever. But Celts...

[CozyCoffin]

I love my heritage.

[Nifrayu]

I don't know. Almost never.

[OtterMan68]

They were slave traders

[Liketotry]

I blame the vikings

[Minahh]

Literally never