22 XKTTLKMKST OF BRITAIN BY NORTHMEN. 



While the country of the Saxons was being conquered by 

 this Emperor, we find that the Saxons themselves had no 

 vessels on the Elbe or Weser in which, if defeated, they could 

 retire in safety, or by help of which they could prevent the 

 army of their enemies from crossing their streams. Such 

 tactics were constantly used by the Northmen in their in- 

 vasions of ancient Gaul, Britain, Germania, Spain, Arc. 



Thus we see that, though hardly more than three hundred 

 years had elapsed since the time when, according to the 

 Roman writers, the fleets of the Franks and Saxons swarmed 

 over every sea of Europe, not a vestige of their former 

 maritime power remained in the time of Charlemagne, and 

 the Saxons were still occupying the same country as in the 

 days of Ptolemy. 



Pondering over the above important facts, the question 

 arises, Were not the Romans mistaken in giving the names of 

 Saxons and Franks to the maritime tribes of whose origin, 



O ' 



country, and homes they knew nothing, but who came to 

 attack their shores ? Were not these so-called Saxons and 

 Franks in reality tribes of Sueones, Swedes, Danes, Norwe- 

 gians ? The Romans knew none of the countries of these 

 people. It seems strange, if not incredible, to rind two 

 peoples, whose country had a vast sea-coast and deep rivers, 

 totally abandoning the seafaring habits possessed by their 

 forefathers. 



It cannot be doubted that Ivar Vidfadmi, after him Harald 

 Hilditonn, then Sigurd Hring and Ragnar Lodbrok and his 

 sons, and probably some of the Danish and Swedish kings 

 before them, made expeditions to England, and gained and 

 held possessions there. Several distinct records, having no 

 connection with each other, being parts of different Sagas and 

 histories, with the archaeology, form the evidence. 



"Ivar Vidfadmi (wide-fathomer) subdued the whole of 

 Sviaveldi (the Swedish realm) ; he also got Danaveldi (Danish 

 realm) and a large part of Saxland, and the whole of Austrriki 

 (Eastern realm, including Russia, &c.) and the fifth part of 

 England. From his kin have come the kings of Denmark and 

 the kings of Sweden who have had sole power in these lands" 

 (Ynglinga Saga, c. 45). 



