Month: May 2015
Bjorn Ironside and Hasting
Part of the process in recreating an historical event involves getting to know the background of the leaders who were responsible for the battle we are trying to recreate. In an attempt to touch upon some of the historical events leading up to the Siege of Seville I am going to list some of the history and a few personality traits of each of the military leaders for this battle.
This is not all inclusive, and if you find this interesting I highly recommend you using your google foo to search for more information on these historical people.
Bjorn Ironside,son of Lothbroc, also known as, Bjorn Ironside Jarnsida Ragnarsson.
Born 777, Denmark died 859 England.
Jarl Lothbroc drove Bjorn into exile so they could explore foreign countries. The fertile land in Denmark was becoming sparse, Lothbroc sent his son out to claim and settle new lands for his people. Bjorn and his men made their way west from Denmark, down the west coast of Europe, making their way through to the Mediterranean.
The tale of his name.
“And therefore he was called Ironside, because, when his shield did not protect him and when he stood unarmed in the battlefield, he, invulnerable, despised whatever force or arms, for his mother had him infected with very strong magic poison.’
Hasting, may or may not have been Norse, it is currently unknown. He was the tutor of Bjorn, but he was very deceitful. After the death of Bjorn, Hasting went on to support King Charles, who he had previously harassed.
Fun Fact: Interestingly, until today, while preparing to write up this quick little biography I had not realized that these Norse who invaded Seville in 844 AD are the very same Norse who are key characters on the History Channel Show Vikings.
Gerli, E. Michael. Medieval Iberia: An Encyclopedia. Routledge, 2013. goggle books.
The Heathen worshiper of many gods
During the reign of King Ramiro I, a “cruel people” never seen before in these parts attacked Asturia from the sea. It is said that these invaders were men of Hasting and Bjorn Ironside. They plundered heavily has they descended the Northwest coast of the Iberian Peninsula.
In northern Iberia these men were known by many names: hombre del norte, Nortmanni, Normanni, Nordomanni, Lordomani, Lormanes, Lordomani, Lotimani, Lothomani, Sons of Belial, wolves, barbarians, and later in history: Almojuces, Almozudes, Almonides.
In southern Iberia; in the Arab Umayyad Caliphate exiled in al-Andalus; under the rule of Abd al Rahman II, these cruel warriors were known by only one name, Madjus.
Madjus: magus; magician;worshiper of many gods; heathen.
The Norse who invaded al-Andalus reminded the Andalusians of the Zorastrians of ancient Persia. The Zoratrians believed in Magi, or Magicians, thus the connection was made.
The Siege of Seville, 844 A.D. 