Europe in Turmoil: Foreign Influences on Tenth Century Europe

The Viking and Hungarian invasions across the European continent during the Ninth and Tenth centuries left a dramatic impact upon the continent. These two separate cultures would rampage across large swaths of Europe, bringing with them a wave of terror and fear. Their actions are now things of legend, but their military triumphs exist within the historical sphere as well. The purpose of this paper is three-fold: first, we will examine why these invasions were so damaging to Europe, second we will determine which one was ultimately more destructive, and third we will discuss how these invasions effected Christianity and spiritualism across the European continent. The Vikings hailed from the modern day Scandinavian countries of northern Europe, and their tireless efforts to pursue land and wealth by sea and land would take them on journeys from the Newfoundland coast to almost every major area of the European continent. Although the Viking presence in the British Isles is well documented, perhaps their ferocity and influence can best be seen with their encounters with the Franks. The Franks, who inhabit modern day France, would defend against almost constant Viking attacks by sea and land through most of the ninth century. An example of Viking influence in France still remains today. The Viking leader Rollo was made an offer by the Frankish King in 896; if he converted to Christianity and protected the Franks from other invaders, he would give Rollo and his men a large parcel of land. Rollo accepted, and the area of France given to him still bears that history; Normandy, or the land of the Northmen.[1] Rollo would become Duke of Normandy in 911, forever changing the face of Europe.[2] This example also shows how these invasions had religious implications as well. The Viking invasions were so damaging to Europe because they battered and submitted the various weaker tribes along the shores of the British Isles, and terrorized the entire continent of Europe. Just as Viking invasions began to taper off at the end of the Ninth century, a new group of invaders swept in to take their place; the Magyars. The Magyars hailed from modern day Hungary and began their quest for European dominance in the twilight of the Ninth century. Leaving their homes in the upper Danube in 899, the highly skilled archers and horsemen of the Magyar tribes swept into northern Italy and ravaged the countryside. Soon following their success in Italy the Magyars began to conduct raids into Germany. These Germanic raids would continue on an almost constant basis until 955, when King Otto would crush the Magyars in the Battle of Lechfeld.[3] Never again would the Magyars harass Germany, but the damage had been done; almost fifty years of constant warring across Central and Southern Europe has changed the landscape forever. If it were quantifiably possible, which one of these invasions could we say was more destructive to Europe? The size and scope of the Viking invasions far outweighed those of the Magyars, but in many cases Viking “invasions” were more spurred on by curiosity and wanderlust. It was common for Vikings to settle throughout Europe wherever they landed, and assimilate their own culture with those of the indigenous cultures.[4] This cultural syncretism had a positive effect on Europe. The Magyars however were much more insulated in their motives. They were much less likely to spread their own rich culture or intermingle with the neighboring Europeans. Because of this, I would say that the Hungarian invasions were more damaging to Europe, despite their smaller scale in comparison to those of the Vikings.
Another interesting question is did these invasion have any impact on European Christianity. Rollo was forced to convert to Christianity as part of his treaty agreement. This would have a ripple effect throughout the Scandinavian world and the Normandy coast, as Christianity was swallowed into the cultural fold of those tribes. The attacks by the Magyars and especially those by the Islamic Arabs and Moors from Africa and the Near East would become the catalyst for the Crusades. Therefore, the invasions of the Ninth and Tenth centuries would solidify Christianity’s hold on Europe. The solidarity gained by brother nations fighting side by side in the name of the Church would cement Europe as a bastion of Christianity for the next 1,000 years.

Works Cited

1. E.L. Skip Knox. “The Tenth Century; Muslims in the Western Mediterranean”,18 December 2000. Available as published lecture online. http://history.boisestate.edu/ westciv/ 10thc/03.shtml. Accessed May 12, 2008

2. Robert S. Hoyt, Stanley Chodorow, Europe in the Middle Ages (New York, Javonovich, Inc.,1976).

3. Maurice Keen, A History of Medieval Europe (New York, Praeger Publishers, 1967).

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[1] E.L. Skip Knox. “The Tenth Century; Muslims in the Western Mediterranean”, 18 December 2000. Available as published lecture online. http://history.boisestate.edu/ westciv/ 10thc/03.shtml. Accessed May 12, 2008
[2] Robert S. Hoyt, Stanley Chodorow, Europe in the Middle Ages (New York, Javonovich, Inc.,1976), p.192.
[3] Maurice Keen, A History of Medieval Europe (New York, Praeger Publishers, 1967) p.262-63.
[4] E.L. Skip Knox. “The Tenth Century; Muslims in the Western Mediterranean”,18 December 2000. Available as published lecture online. http://history.boisestate.edu/ westciv/ 10thc/03.shtml. Accessed May 12, 2008