Black Danes (2024)

FAQs

What were black Vikings called? ›

Hjor and Ljufvina had two sons: the twins Hamund (Håmund) and Geirmund. They, too, had dark skin and were therefore nicknamed Heljarskinn; the “Black-Skinned”. Geirmund the Black-Skinned – the black Viking – never became king at Avaldsnes.

In History

The term "Black Danes" is derived from the Irish term "Dubgaill" (dark/black foreigners) which the Irish people used to refer to certain groups of Vikings. Various theories exists about the meaning of the phrase, from their hair color, the color of the shields, or the color of their sails.

The term “Dane” generally refers to the Vikings from Denmark, while “Norse” typically refers to Vikings from Norway.

Vikings in Ireland. France and Ireland as well. In these areas they became known as the "Norsem*n" (literally, north-men) and laterally as the "Vikings". They called themselves "Ostmen".

Old Norse didn't actually have a word for “black"; they used “blue" for both black and blue. Black Africans were known as “bluemen". Look at it this way: black people were well-known enough that we still know which word they used. Still, most people probably never saw one in their lives.

Geirmund Heljarskinn becomes the “Black Viking” – the most powerful settler on Iceland through times. Dark-skinned and with Mongolian facial features he was a pioneer in international hunting economy. Heljarskinn had hundreds of slaves; Christians from Scotland and Ireland.

Black Great Danes are a recognized coloration of the breed. This color variant has likely been around for a very long time. In fact, it was likely one of the founding colors of the breed.

Its people are called Danes. Ethnic Danes (who are Scandinavians) make up the vast majority of Denmark's population. Scandinavians are the descendants of the Vikings, and the four Scandinavian countries (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Iceland) all have a similar history and culture.

The Danes were a North Germanic tribe inhabiting southern Scandinavia, including the area now comprising Denmark proper, northern and eastern England, and the Scanian provinces of modern-day southern Sweden, during the Nordic Iron Age and the Viking Age. They founded what became the Kingdom of Denmark.

Yes, the ancient Norsem*n of the Viking Age were commonly known to have blue eyes. This distinct physical trait is often associated with the Scandinavian region and its historical inhabitants. While not all Vikings had blue eyes, it was a prevalent feature among them.

What are the physical signs of Viking ancestry? ›

Physical appearance: In general, having red or light hair and blue eyes could mean you have Viking genes. Robust facial features such as a prominent chin and a broad forehead indicate a possible connection with the Vikings.

If the Vikings can be broadly split into three distinct groups, the question becomes: what was the difference between the Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish Vikings? A quick precision: the evidence suggests Viking Age Scandinavians self-identified more granularly by their specific region of origin.

According to Origins of English Surnames and A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances, English surnames that have their source in the language of the Norse invaders include: Algar, Allgood, Collings, Dowsing, Drabble, Eetelbum, Gamble, Goodman, Grime, Gunn, Hacon, Harold, Hemming, ...

New research shows that the Irish definitely have their fair share of Viking heritage–in fact, the Irish are more genetically diverse than most people may assume. The Irish have Viking and Norman ancestry in similar proportions to the English.

A quick moment of Wikipedia will tell you that the Celts were a group at least since the iron age and were first recorded in 571 BC while the Vikings happened the 8–11th centuries AD.

From Old Norse svartr, from Proto-Germanic *swartaz, from Proto-Indo-European *swordo- (“dirty, dark, black”).

However, it is critical to base our understanding of Viking society on accurate historical and scientific findings to ensure that our view of the Viking Age is grounded in reality. The Vikings were not black, and there is no evidence to suggest otherwise.

Slaves or thralls were amongst the most important commodities traded by the Vikings.

While other characters are based on real people, Estrid Haakon is an invented character, whose Viking grandfather met her royal African grandmother while in the great trading city of Alexandria, Egypt. They fell in love and returned to Kattegat, eventually passing on ruling duties to her.