The Intriguing Connection: How Did the Vikings Know About the Roman Empire?

Introduction

The Vikings, renowned for their seafaring prowess and extensive trade networks, had an intriguing relationship with the Roman Empire long before the height of their piratical activities. Contrary to common misconceptions, there is substantial evidence suggesting that Norsemen were well-informed about Roman culture, albeit through indirect means.

Shared Trade and Military Relations

Trade and military relations between the Norses and Romans date back to at least 500 years before the Viking era, marking a significant prelude to the more formalized conflicts that would follow. This connection was evident in the use of runes, a writing system that precursored the Viking Age. The earliest forms of runes, dating from far before the Viking Age, were adapted from the Roman alphabet, allowing the Norse to etch messages into stone and possibly to write on perishable materials.

Norse people were also enlisted in the Roman army, alongside Germanic and Gothic peoples, fighting against each other. This close interaction would have provided a firsthand glimpse into Roman military tactics, architecture, and culture, even if these experiences were not widely documented.

The Enigmatic Norse Sagas

Despite the extensive engagement between the Norses and the Roman Empire, the primary source of documentation for Norse history, the sagas, rarely mention Roman figures and events. The oldest historic figure recorded in the sagas is Attila the Hun, who is mentioned only briefly and inaccurately. This lack of direct reference to the Romans is not surprising, given that the surviving sagas overwhelmingly focus on local and recent history, rather than ancient world history.

The Unforgotten Roman Legacy

Although the sagas do not extensively document the Romans, there is compelling evidence of a broader awareness among Norse peoples. Many Norse settlers ventured as far as the Mediterranean, where they found employment as mercenaries, particularly in the Byzantine Empire. These mercenaries often referred to Constantinople as "bigtown," reflecting the enduring influence of Roman culture.

Over the years, many of these mercenaries were stationed in Italy, where they witnessed firsthand the remnants of the Roman Empire. Due to the many revolts at the empire's fringes, it is not unlikely that Italian towns saw Norse governments leading to local administrations. This phenomenon suggests that many Norsemen were indeed familiar with the Roman Empire and its legacy, despite the lack of direct documentation in the sagas.

Archaeological Evidence and Uninhabitable Norway

The archaeological record further supports the Norse knowledge of the Roman Empire. Europe's prodigious archaeological findings after the fall of Rome show that Norse settlements emerged in the 5th century, indicating that the Scandinavians were gradually stepping into areas previously inaccessible. The discovery of Germanic gold alongside Roman artifacts in graves indicates that the Scandinavians were moving north and west, even while the Roman Empire was collapsing.

However, it is also important to note that the Norse sagas, which were mainly written and survived in small numbers, reflect a bias towards local history. Only a tiny minority of Norse sagas were written down, and even fewer made it to the printing press, further limiting the documentation of Roman knowledge among the Norse.

Conclusion

In summary, while the Norse sagas do not extensively document the Romans, other forms of evidence, including archaeological findings and the personal experiences of mercenaries, suggest that many Norsemen were indeed knowledgeable about the Roman Empire. This connection provides a fascinating glimpse into the complex relationship between the Nordic and Roman worlds, long before the formalization of the Viking era.