
Birger Jarl, Treaty of LĂśdĂśse, and the Swedish Crusade in Finland, 1249
The twelfth-century Gesta Danorum (Deeds of the Danes) by Zealand scribe Saxo Grammaticus chronicles ancient hostilities between Vikings and Finnish tribes living between the Arctic and Baltic seas. However, the earliest relatively verifiable account of the Second Swedish Crusade against the Tavastians â a people who lived beyond the southwest Finns proper (Egentliga Finnar) region of Turku â appears in the anonymous fourteenth-century Erik Chronicle (ErikskrĂśnikan).
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Silent Anticipation and Idolized Soldiers: Life in Vienna in August 1914
People were filled with motivation, bravery, and strength. Like the upcoming war was one of the numerous battles the Habsburg Empire led before. A visitor or someone passing through the city like Kreisler could also encounter romantic scenes like the one with the reservists and his sweetheart.
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A âSimple Boyâ That Wasnât Naive: Julius Caesarâs Adventure with Pirates
Although Rome protected the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic seas, it was a mainland power and it was a challenge to go against the rising power of pirates, even for powerful Roman leaders just like Julius Caesar.
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Dublinâs King Sigtrygg Silkbeard and the Battle with Brian Boru at Clontarf, 1014
The legendary Battle of Clontarf at Dublin (Ath Cliath) in 1014 â instigated in part by the king of that realm, Sigtrygg Silkbeard Olafsson (c. 970-1042)Â â is known for fracturing Viking rule in Ireland but a litany of noblemen and kings on both sides were slain there â including Irelandâs elder high king Brian Boru.
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The Cursed Ring of Sigmundr Brestisson, Viking Chief of the Faroes, 961-1005
According to the unknown author of the FĂŚreyinga saga (Faroese saga) written in Iceland sometime in the early thirteenth century, Sigmundr Brestisson, the first Christian of the Faroe Islands, was an honorable and good man. At a young age he and his cousin Thorer (ĂĂłrir) were sold into slavery by a chieftain named Thrand (ĂrĂĄndr), who successfully plotted to have Sigmundrâs father killed in battle. Later as freemen, Sigmundr and Thorer fought bravely under Earl Hakon (Haakon Jarl) when he ruled Norway for two decades beginning around 975. One day together, Sigmundr asked Hakon for advice on how to avenge his fatherâs death. Hakon replied that he should put his trust in the old ways, as he did, and led him into a forest where there was a beautiful house with âa lot of idols inside, and many glass windows… A woman was in the innermost part of the entrance, and she was richly adorned.â When the two men entered the houseâŚ
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