Vikings Iberia

The Vikings in Iberia

The middle of 900 A.D. was the start of the Vikings raids through the coasts of the Kingdom of Asturias. This kingdom, established by King Pelayo, was a Christian community in the Iberian Peninsula.

The Iberian Peninsula is located on the Southwestern part of Europe. However, the Viking attacks were mostly concentrated on the northwest part of the Iberian Peninsula. Under the rule of Alfonso III, the Viking attacks damaged his reign and leadership because during that time, the lines of communication between the province of Galicia and the rest of Europe was already dismal. From 844 to 858 A.D., the Scandinavian warriors attacked and raided their coastlines.

The Vikings frequently attacked monasteries and religious places during that time, and in 968 A.D., they killed a prominent bishop in Compostela. These Scandinavian warriors sailed through an inner town in the Iberian Peninsula called Lugo where they continued the raids.

In 1015 A.D., the daughters if Amarelo Mestaliz were captured and held for ransom. This signaled the onslaught of raids and attacks on the leaders of small kingdoms through the rest of the Iberian Peninsula.

The Vikings, however, are not just known for raiding and pillaging. They also settled and traded on the lands. Some of places in Iberian Peninsula where they settled include Povoa de Varzim, located in the northernmost part of Portugal.

The colourful Viking saga continued from the coasts of Iberia through the rest of Europe for a time. The raids did not end with one particular event, however by 1066, with the death of King Haraldr of Norway, the last of the major Scandinavian raids were seen. This signals the end of the Viking Age.