Real-World History and Sources

         As you should have realized, this is a game set in an alternate history where Norse colonies in North America survived and grew over several centuries. Just for fun, most of the other pages are written as if this alternate history were true.

         In the real world, the Norse definitely settled in Greenland and almost undoubtably did visit North America, but any settlements there died out. There are extensive archeological sites in Greenland showing the Norse colony there, and there is a debated site in Newfoundland at L'Anse-aux-Meadows. The more important evidence is the Icelandic sagas written down 3 or 4 generations later, which tell about founding of the Greenland colony and attempted settlements in "Vinland". The Icelandic sagas are outstanding not only as a view into history, but as literature in their own right. Iceland developed a fairly unique literary culture within a century after this time.

         Below is a brief overview of the divergence; discussion of the real-world history of Iceland, Greenland, and Vinland; and a list of sources used.

• Real-world History
• The Divergence Point
• Iceland
• Greenland and Vinland

Real-World History

         For the full story of real-world history, see the sources list below. For purposes of this history, there are a few important points I should make:

• The Greenland colony was founded circa 985. Over the next few centuries it appeared to do reasonably well, with a peak population of around 3000.
• The first sighting of Vinland was in 985, and the first expedition was in 1000... about the same time that Iceland voted to convert to Christianity.
• The sagas describe two expeditions which travelled to Vinland and wintered there. Both encountered violence with the natives (aka "skraelingar") which convinced them to leave.
• During the mid-1300's a global climactic shift took place known as the "Little Ice Age", which lasted until around 1900. The dropping temperatures eventually made the sea between Iceland and Greenland impassable. The Greenland colony was cut off and faded away -- either starved or perhaps intermarried with the local Inuits.

The Divergence Point

         The divergence point for my alternate history is the voyage of Bjarni Herjolfsson in 985 or 986. In real-world sagas, he sighted the western lands but since his supplies were intact and he was determined to reach Greenland, he never landed there. In my alternate history (cf. Vinland History), his ship was damaged in a storm and they happened on land just in time to save them. There he found wood to repair his ship and went back to Greenland.

This one change then lead a curious sequence of events:

1. Another expedition to find these lands is undertaken within 3 years, confirming Vinland as an alternate source of wood for Greenland and potentially for Iceland.
   In the real world, it was not until 15 years later (circa 1000) that Lief Ericksson was to follow up with an exploratory expedition.
2. The heathen "miracle" of Bjarni's fortuitous discovery lead to a minor revival of heathen belief. While Iceland still converted to Christianity a few decades later, this period helped drive a wedge between Norway and Iceland.
   In the real-world, Iceland was predominately heathen at this time, but the Christian king of Norway Olaf made several efforts to convert them. In the year 1000 at the Althing, although most of them were heathen, Iceland's leaders did vote to become nominally Christian to end the religious conflict.
3. The issue of Vinland and its potential, along with the revival, made the Icelanders visiting Norway more cautious. When the king of Norway attempted to hold heathen visitors hostage while he sent his missionaries, Kjartan broke his authority and returned to speak against the kind and his religion.
   In the real-world, according to the Laxdaela Saga, Kjartan was nominally converted to Christianity. The king neverthelss held him hostage with the others while his missionaries spoke at the Althing.
4. Iceland slowly converted, but religious conflict caused much violence. A few prominent families moved to Greenland to avoid the conflict. Greenland also nominally converted, but while they practiced Christianity, the Greenlanders turned a blind eye to conducting heathen practices alongside it. Thus, somewhat like Iceland earlier, Greenland tended to get heathens, criminals, and malcontents.
   The real-world Greenland colony had a peak population of perhaps 3000. Not much is known of their religious practice, but while it was technically a bishopric often the bishop assigned did not actually go to that remote spot.
5. Greenland developed the colonies in Vinland over time. The Vinlanders carefully considered the violence in Iceland when they established their Althing. Their lawcode was stronger to deal with feuds and violence. This code helped their relations with the natives.
   In the real-world sagas, violence with the natives was a feature of both Vinland settlements -- and this was probably what deterred any further settlement. In contrast, early Dutch and English settlers in the region were often aided by friendly Algonquian natives. I postulate that a stronger law and greater will to move their could overcome the deterrence.

Real-World Iceland

         Iceland also remained non-Christian for longer than the rest of the Norsemen. From the start in 860, it remained heathen for some time. The Norwiegen king ??? sent missionaries there with mostly poor results. For example, a missionary named Thrangband went in 983 to Iceland. He apparently spoke well to several godi, but a number of Icelanders mocked his religion. In response, he killed two people and then fled the country. Undaunted, ??? sent two more distinguished men in 999 to Iceland. Meanwhile, he held five (?) other visitors as hostages during this time. Read the Laxdaela saga for the account of Kjartan and the other hostages at this time.

         The latter missionaries, ??? the Wise and ???, spoke before the Althing in 1000. The majority of Icelanders at that time were still heathen, but the Christian minority resulted in much feuding and division. Persuaded that this would restore order, the lawspeaker proposed to adopt Christianity and a vote confirmed this. At first this was purely lip service, for example saying that heathen sacrifices could still be done in private. However, after many years it soon became the norm.

         While Iceland was nominally Christianized and democratic, it was torn by regular blood feuds and strife. It was difficult to keep civil order with their political system. In addition, Iceland traded and intermarried with the mainland, resulting in allies of the Norweigen king often coming into power. Still, it remained independent and democratic until 1262 when they were persuaded to turn allegiance over to the King of Norway. The democratic rule was a proud one, but the bloody strife was too often uncontrollable.

Greenland and Vinland

         Around 980 A.D., Icelanders discovered in Greenland and began a settlement there, and also sighted lands to the west. The Greenland settlement lasted for several centuries and had a peak population of around 3000 people. While not massive, it apparently did reasonably well for itself.

         The sagas tell of both Lief's and one other attempted settlement in the western lands which Lief dubbed "Vinland" for the grapes (or simply berries) which grew there. They reported the land was rich with resources. Both settlers had violent encounters with the native "skraelingar" and left after two or three years. The latter settlers started some trade with the natives, but relations broke down. Other settlers were likely discouraged by the remoteness and possible violence from the natives.