Bøger af Noah Tetzner

Fully illustrated, this absorbing study assesses the warriors fighting on both sides during the Vikings' attacks on the Frankish realm in the 9th century, as raiding escalated into full-scale siege warfare.On the eve of the 9th century, Vikings first raided the Frankish Empire on the coast of what is now western France. Although this attack ended in disaster for the Scandinavians, Charlemagne reportedly wept, not in fear of his own life, but for the ensuing bloodshed brought upon his successors. Mobile parties of highly skilled Viking warriors would continue to raid Francia for decades; as these attacking contingents grew more numerous they began to assail powerful centres, besieging Paris in 845 and again in 885. To combat the Viking threat, Frankish kings mustered scores of infantrymen, then subsequently transitioned to cavalry-based forces in the 9th century. The dynamic nature of Viking activity in Francia meant that numbers and mobility would determine the fate of Charlemagne's Holy Roman Empire.This study documents the evolving trial of strength between the Vikings and the Franks under Charlemagne and his successors. Through a careful synthesis of primary sources, expert analysis and the archaeological record, the author invites the reader to visualize the fighting men who fought one another in Francia, and offers a balanced assessment of their successes and failures over decades of warfare during the Viking Age.

Journey to the mythic worlds of the medieval Norse and discover the timeless legends that still live within us. The Poetic Edda comprises a mythology of gods and their human heroes who are driven by honor, lust, and wisdom, always seeking power and always settling a new dispute. The Edda begins with resourceful creator-gods crafting the universe out of a giant's corpse and a powerful seeress imparting details about the inevitable chaos of Ragnarok. This is followed by Odin's words of wisdom and a plethora of other poems describing the High One's never-ending quest for knowledge. The adventures of Thor and the god's unsavory encounter with Loki ensue, leading up to the death of Baldr and the first signs of Ragnarok. Poems about Helgi, Sigurth, and other members of the powerful Volsung family, comprise an excessive amount of blood feuds. The slaying of Fafnir and the ownership of the dragon's hoard creates an entirely new story amidst growing envy and constant betrayal. The Poetic Edda: A Study Guide, is an exceptional guide to the myths and legends of the medieval Norse.