How Feudalism Grew from Viking Invasions

A big reason feudalism developed in Europe was because of the Vikings, also known as the Northmen. These adventurous people came from modern-day Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. For a long time, they lived peacefully, farming, fishing, and herding animals in their isolated homelands. Unlike other Germanic tribes that traveled south during the fall of the Roman Empire, the Vikings stayed in the north, worshipping their own gods and living simple lives. Things started to change when Charlemagne, a powerful European ruler, tried to spread Christianity by fighting nearby tribes like the Saxons. His actions brought Europe and Scandinavia closer together. Traders and missionaries from the south told the Vikings about the wealth of European cities, with their gold-filled churches and fertile lands. Curious and eager for adventure, the Vikings began traveling south by sea to explore and conquer.

Instead of moving by land like earlier tribes, the Vikings used the sea. Their rocky homeland wasn’t great for farming, so they looked to the water for opportunities. Over time, they became expert sailors, creating strong, fast ships called longships. These ships allowed them to travel far and wide, earning them the name "Vikings," which comes from an old word for a bay or creek. At first, Viking attacks were small. For example, during Charlemagne’s time, Viking ships raided a southern French city. People thought they might be traders, but Charlemagne recognized them as dangerous enemies. He even cried, saying he feared what these raiders would do to future generations. After Charlemagne’s death, Viking raids became much worse. They came in large fleets, attacking places like Germany, France, England, and Spain. The Vikings didn’t just stick to the coasts—they sailed up rivers and attacked towns deep inland. Monasteries, which held treasures like gold and silver, were often their targets because they were easy to raid.

Among the many Viking leaders, Hastings stands out as one of the most infamous. Some accounts suggest he was not Scandinavian by birth but a French peasant who joined the Vikings. Regardless of his origins, Hastings earned a reputation for his cunning, strength, and relentless plundering. For nearly five decades, he terrorized Europe, appearing in France, Frisia, England, and Spain. On one expedition, he sailed around the Iberian Peninsula and entered the Mediterranean, raiding southern France, North Africa, and Italy. Mistaking the small Italian city of Luna for Rome, Hastings devised a plan to infiltrate its walls. Pretending to seek baptism on his deathbed, he gained entry to the city. Once inside, he and his warriors launched a surprise attack, capturing Luna and adding it to his long list of conquests. Initially, Viking raids were seasonal, with the Northmen returning home before winter storms set in. However, this pattern soon changed. They began establishing winter bases on islands near river mouths, allowing them to raid year-round. Their relentless assaults inspired a desperate prayer in Christian churches: “From the fury of the Northmen, good Lord, deliver us.”

By the mid-ninth century, Viking incursions reached a critical point. Paris, an emerging city of strategic importance, became a focal point of their attacks. In 886, the city faced one of the most significant Viking sieges. Seven hundred Viking ships, carrying an army of 40,000 men, ascended the Seine. Despite overwhelming odds, Paris held out for eleven months under the leadership of Count Odo and the city’s bishop. Their resilience earned Count Odo widespread admiration, and his family became pivotal in the shifting power dynamics of France. After the Carolingian kings failed to address the Viking threat effectively, Count Odo himself was crowned king. Though the Carolingians later regained the throne, Odo’s legacy endured, culminating in the rise of the Capetian dynasty, which ruled France for over eight centuries.

In 911, a major change happened. A Viking leader named Rollo, known for his size and strength, made a deal with the French king. Rollo and his men were given land in northern France, which became known as Normandy. In return, Rollo promised to stop raiding, convert to Christianity, and be loyal to the French king. Though Rollo didn’t like giving up his independence, he accepted the deal. The Vikings in Normandy settled down, adopted French customs, and became landowners. Over time, they blended into French society.

Even after settling down, the Vikings and their descendants stayed adventurous. By the 1000s, they were conquering new lands, like southern Italy, where they founded the Kingdom of Sicily. They also played key roles in the Crusades. Vikings traveled far beyond Europe, settling in Iceland and Greenland and even reaching North America long before Columbus. In the east, they built settlements in Russia and served as elite guards for the Byzantine emperors in Constantinople.