MotF 120: Let's Go A-Viking

After the Normans attack the Fatimids, they go after Africa as well. What would become Tunisia was freed soon after, while a Norman dynasty held on to the region of Tripolitania. More history in the post below.

Kingdom of Sudurgardr

Viking Conquest of the Taman Peninsula as a staging point into Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

In the 900s AD constant Viking raids on the western coasts of the Umayyad Dynasty eventually resulted in a great many Norse settling there. Known as the "Marmans" by the locals, or Seamen, the Marmens conquest of most of Lusitania resulted in the collapse of Umayyad power in Iberia. Quickly adopting Christianity and generally assimilating into the Hispanic Christian culture of the area the Duchy of Marmandy grew quite powerful for its relatively small size. However to its east was the was the fragile Sultanate Caliphate, constantly assailed by Christian invasions from the north and revolts from the inside. In 1119 the Marman Duke, Leon de Marmandia, invaded the Cordoban Sultanate with support from his allies in Galicia and Aragon. The Islamic kingdom collapsed entirely and the minor Iberian power of Marmandy suddenly became a major player not only in Iberia but also in the Mediterranean. However despite being crowned King, Leon the Conqueror has seen his power severely curtailed by an ambitious nobility whose influence also grew substantially after the Conquest

Viking Invasion of Caspian Sea

The Viðirmen Kingdoms of the 1300s



“Heart will hold, heroic,

in a hawk-keen torso:

doughty, daring, though I

don’t shout out about it,

nor snakes nor beady serpents

sit in my eyes spiralled."

- The Tale of Ragnar's Sons

In 860 AD two of the sons of Ragnar Lothbrok, King Bjorn Ironsides and his brother Hastiens, sailed with a great fleet to raid the rich cities of the Mediterranean. His fleet gathered untold wealth raiding down the spanish coast, fighting through Gibraltar, and scouring the southern coast of France. Finally, King Bjorn captured Pisa, and used it as a base of operations to launch an attack on the city of Luna, which he believed was Rome. Unable to take the city’s great walls, Bjorn concocted a cunning ruse.

He sent a message to the bishops of the city, claiming that he was on his deathbed and had converted to Christianity. When he was brought into the city walls with his grieving companions, he lept from his bed, swept off the white shroud that cloaked him, and slaughtered his way to the gates, letting in his horde.

However, that very night, a fearsome storm sank most of Bjorn’s ships. Trapped in Pisa as he was, Bjorn consulted the Gothis and the Oracles, and determined that the Gods had given him this land as his own. Quickly consolidating his power, he sent his brother in one of his remaining ships back to their northern homeland to bring back as many men as he could, and to entreat with their brothers to sail their fleets south. Meanwhile, Bjorn Ironsides took advantage of the instability of the Holy Roman Empire to carve out a kingdom. Indeed, Emperor Charles the Bold, realizing that he had neither the support nor manpower to retake these lost lands, attempted to save face by granting them in perpetuity to Bjorn and his descendants, so that they may guard the south.

The Bjorning, as Bjorn’s men were know, quickly established themselves over their subjects, intermixing and imposing their language and culture over the northern italian natives. The Success of the Kingdom of the Beornings, as they come to be called (Linguistically shifting to Bedzoren over time), and, later, the Kingdom of Nordnithr (Shifting over time to Neurdnatir) carved out by Hastiens upon his return, established a concerted tradition of Scandinavian adventurers and heroes trying to carve out their own kingdoms in the much richer territories of the mediterranean. By the end of the eleventh century, numerous Viðirmen kingdoms and petty kingdoms dotted the shores of the Mediterranean, though over time the flow of adventurers slowed.

The cultural exchange was not completely one sided, the viking kingdoms of the Mediterranean often adopted the religions of their neighbors, and the mid thirteenth century, they were all either Christian or Muslim.

Finally, in 1268, the Kings of Portugal, Aragon, and Castille, determined to finally drive the hated Moors off the Iberian Peninsula, forged an agreement with a number of the disaffected younger nobles of the various Viðirmen realms before launching a final assault on the Granadans. By 1300 AD, the Moors had been expelled from Iberia, and were slowly being pushed back in North Africa by the Viðirmen, who had established the Kingdoms of Andalmark and Murabjod, and Iberian coalition.

List of Viðirmen lands:

Kingdom of Markawin
Kingdom of Moreweran
Sultunate of Varga
Kingdom of Bedzoren
Kingdom of Neurdnatir
Kingdom of Helland
Principality of Felland
Kingdom of Pumunto
Jarldom of Granzalbrok


The Barrow of King Hrothgar of the Beornings

Might as well post it.
in 900, various Viking raids start to bear down upon the eastern Mediterranean. The Varangian guard rebels, but is forced out of Constantinople. What happens is known in Scandinavia as the Jorsalagang (Jerusalem War) and the "New Foederati" in the byzantine Empire.

My entry....Basic POD is Vikings colonize the Canaries and Azores. From there, storms blow some to South America. This changes things.

The Vikings have brought metalworking, ship-building tech, and other crazy ideas to the area (as well as prepping it with plagues). This map is 200 years after that first landfall and the Viking innovations have been adapted by many.

Anu Federation of Allies: A collection of native groups that have bonded together to resist Viking coastal onslaught. Now mostly trading nations, the lifeline is the massive inlet of OTL Maracaibo.


Tanio Empire:A strong tribe from OTL Hispaniola who have adopted many modern ship-building techniques and are building a trading, slaving empire in the Caribbean. Currently extending influence over OTL Cuba.

Jarldom of Danehamr: The first original Viking kingdom, right on the Amazon. Originally cobbled together out of native Amazonian city states by Norsemen, they have long since created a stable and mostly native power structure. The second strongest power in South America (Inca are number one). A very wide-ranging trading people. The worship a strange mix of native and Norse gods.

Jarldom of Fuglbjod: A somewhat most isolated and remote Viking colony. Here there are still families of white Europeans, and even some Norse god followers, worshiping in the old way (although they are dying out). More removed from the trade scene, Fuglbjod has long remained more true to their roots mostly living on plunder and raids. Recently, due to Portuguese expansion, they have been engaging in far more trade.

Mayan City States: Drawn by the Viking led trade, the Mayans have set up several trading cities in the Caribbean, especially in the valuable OTL Panama region. This crux between Norse know-how and Incan metals has generated wealth for over a century. It has recently been bypassed by Incan tribute states however, and many Mayans worry about this change in trade routes....(and Taino raids).

Inca Empire: Suprcharged by Norse knowledge, the Incan empire is a vast and strong power, easily the powerful state in South America. Exporting resources to the metal-starved Amazon has proven to be a huge boon for the economy and allowed the Incan Emperor to build a strong and stable government. Recently expanding north to bypass the Mayan trade cities.

Portuguese Brazil: The most recent power, Portugal has only recently discovered Brazil, and it's collection of nations. Despite the shock of finding long-lost Norseman, they have eagerly seized lands for sugar plantations (and valuable Brazil-wood). They have engaged in massive trading with the other states and other European powers are coming up fast.

Tarihalve: The Varangian Trade Empire



Founded circa 1050 CE by Ragnar the Black after his time in the Varangian Guard. He started his empire with a few loyal men and founded a port that would later be known as Thingvellir. From here Ragnar would spread his empire, conquering the Gothic inhabitants of Crimea and the Bosporus.

However, their conquests were quickly slowed and eventually crawled to a halt from opposition by the Khazars and other Turkic forces. Ragnar however continued on his adventures, raiding many coastal cities all over the Mediterranean and modern day Russia. This can be seen as Tarihalve's "trader" origins, granted most "trade" was one way and was combined with an unhealthy amount of death and destruction.

When Ragnar the Black died, his kingdom was split between his sons, who were notorious for their hatred of each other, however unwilling to fully split their father's kingdom they agreed to work together to run the entire realm, with one of them being the "King" of Taurihalve, chosen by the brothers. This system has been widely compared to the republics of Italy.

The brothers fought each other for fame and glory, in trade, conquest, and exploration, eventually the brothers would form their own families, further likening it to the systems of the Italian Republics. Whom they had become major competitors with on the Mediterranean. However, because of the Norse shipbuilding technology the Tauri were able to move up and down rivers, and trade as far away as the Baltics.

By 1100 the "Kingdom's" nobility had mostly converted to the Eastern Creed forming Friendly relations with the Russians and Byzantines, and when the Mongols invaded Europe Tarihalve narrowly escaped destruction by paying tribute to the Khans, who for the most part left the Kings alone, and even encouraged the trade to strengthen and unify their empires. However during this time a few adventurous Taris took this opportunity to invade and take control of Dobruja from the Cumanians, strengthening their control of the Black Sea trade.

By 1300 the Kingdom of Tarihalve and the Empire of Trebizond agreed to merge their empires, by now Tarihalve had become relatively Hellenized, and Trebizond was at threat from the Ottoman Empire, and with careful diplomacy, Tarihalve was able to play favorites with both the Ottomans and the Russians, using their long trade history to keep the two on their toes and never fully willing to let the other have total control.

Finally in 1543 Suleiman the Magnificent Invaded Trebizond and Dobruja, formally ending the centuries long peace between Tarihalve and the Ottomans. The Kingdom fearing complete conquest by the Muslim Turkish Empire, swore loyalty to Moscow and submitted to Orthodox Russian Rule. Thus ending Tarihalve's Trade Empire. However, many Nordic influences remain in the peninsula today.

Kingdom of Smerte i Ræva

As the Vikings raid and pillage the monasteries of Ireland, they find the journey home through the wild Northern seas too rough and the rugged coastline and climate of Ireland to their liking. Soon they find a cozy little "fjord" to settle in. The townsmen of Dubhlind (later called by some English historians "Dublin"), never suspected that the raiders would come to stay. As more arrived, the southern Uí Néill clans residing in the region realized that they've come to stay and mount a joint force against them. They are easily crushed. The Norsemen move further inland and in time establish an actual firm political unit, the Kingdom of Dyflin, subjugating the rural Irish folk into a lower peasant caste. Meanwhile, hearing of the successful ventures of their compatriots on the Green Isle, more Norse land further south and establish settlements at Vedrarfjorðr and Veisafjorðr, straight in the center of the Laigin state ruled by the Uí Dúnlainge. When attempting to expand north, the Vikings of Dyflin encounter the first tough resistance in the form of the northern Uí Néill clans and are finally stopped on the river Erne during a bloody battle where the Vikings achieve a Pyrrhic victory and are forced to stop. Finally meeting their match, they instead turn their attention further west and ravage Connacht at about the time that their southern brethren are done with Munster and look for new claims. As minor skirmishes in Connacht turn into a full-on war on land and sea both sides find each other equally matched. However the resourceful Dyflin side decides to do something rather un-Viking of them. They offer an alliance to the Uí Néill who have taken the chance as the Norsmen battle each other and consolidated their lands into the Kindgom of Ailech. In return for their help, the Norse of Dyflin will forever respect the borders of the lone Irish kingdom. This being better than anything the Irish expected of the Vikings, they accept and together push back the southerners. The war is won and a united Norse state proclaimed in Ireland, ruled from Dyflin. Again the Norse looked for new places to pillage and found them on the coast of England and Wales. The newly fledged Kingdom of England ruled by the Wessex was still consolidating itself when the Vikings hit them unprepared. When King Æthelstan heard of the western raiders, he is said to have shouted all manner of obscenities. The Norsmen of Ireland took this to heart and made sure to consider them when choosing a name for their new land.


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