The Vikings in Francia

Our regular listeners and viewers will know that we have been chasing vikings in the Frankish Empire for a while on Vikingology. C.J., as a Frenchman, has researched them extensively, Matt Ponesse who specializes in the monasteries they raided in France was one of our very first guests, and Christian Cooijmans has also weighed in about early viking activity in the Frankish realm. But that’s about it! Scholars who delve deeply into the vikings in what is now France and Germany are a bit thin on the ground. Luckily, we have one in our own backyard!

Daniel Melleno is a historian of the medieval and pre-modern periods at the University of Denver. He has researched and published a lot on the Norse and their activities in what was then the Carolingian Empire, as well as the Frankish area even before the Carolingians showed up. He is the author of Franks and Northmen: From Strangers to Neighbors which explores the interactions between the Scandinavians and their Continental neighbors to the south. Raiding and pillaging? Yes. But their contact involved so much more.

We talked about the different regions and ways that vikings affected (or didn’t) the Franks as well as the problems and considerations that historians must contend with regarding our sources. A really fascinating chat about a subject that needs much more attention in Viking Studies. Thanks Daniel! We could have talked to you for hours. Please come back again and tell us more!

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