History of Vikings in Timeline

Vikings were Scandinavian seafarers who, from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries, engaged in raiding, piracy, trade, and settlement across Europe, venturing as far as the Mediterranean, North Africa, the Middle East, Greenland, and Vinland. This era is known as the Viking Age. They significantly influenced the political and social landscape of early medieval Northern and Eastern Europe, impacting England, parts of France, and laying the foundation for Kievan Rus'.

1929: Last Record of Elfdalian Runes

In 1929, the last known record of the Elfdalian Runes, a variant of the Dalecarlian runes found in Dalarna, was documented.

1962: Creation of Marvel's Thor

In 1962, Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby created the Marvel Comics superhero Thor, based on the Norse god.

1962: Excavation in Roskilde Fjord

In 1962, during an excavation in the Roskilde Fjord, the remains of the Skuldelev 2 ship and four others were discovered.

1963: Release of "The Long Ships" film

In 1963, the film adaptation of Frans Gunnar Bengtsson's novel "The Long Ships" was released, contributing to Viking-inspired creative works.

1993: Release of "The Lost Vikings" video game

In 1993, the video game "The Lost Vikings" was released, inspiring many video games.

1998: Sailing of the Snorri to Newfoundland

In 1998, the Snorri, a Skuldelev I Knarr, was sailed from Greenland to Newfoundland.

2002: Release of "Age of Mythology" video game

In 2002, the video game "Age of Mythology" was released, inspired by Viking culture.

2005: Publication of Thorgils Leifsson Trilogy

In 2005, Tim Severin authored a trilogy of novels about a young Viking adventurer named Thorgils Leifsson, further contributing to Viking-inspired literature.

July 2007: Sea Stallion voyage begins

In July 2007, the reconstructed Viking ship Skuldelev 2, renamed Sea Stallion, began a journey from Roskilde to Dublin.

August 2007: Sea Stallion arrives in Dublin

In August 2007, Sea Stallion arrived outside Dublin's Custom House, completing its voyage to test the seaworthiness of Viking longships.

2011: Release of "Thor" film

In 2011, the Marvel Studios film "Thor" was released, featuring the comic book character based on the Norse god.

2011: Release of "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim" video game

In 2011, the action role-playing video game "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim", heavily inspired by Viking culture, was released.

2012: Appearance in "The Avengers" film

In 2012, the character Thor appeared in "The Avengers" film and its associated animated series.

2013: Premiere of "Vikings" TV Series

In 2013, the History Channel's series "Vikings", directed by Michael Hirst, premiered, contributing to a resurgence of Vikings in popular media.

2015: Appearance in "Heroes of the Storm" video game

In 2015, the three Vikings from "The Lost Vikings" series appeared as playable heroes in "Heroes of the Storm".

2017: Release of "For Honor" video game

In 2017, the video game "For Honor" was released, featuring Vikings.

2019: Archaeological Discovery in Gamla Uppsala

In 2019, archaeologists uncovered two Viking boat graves in Gamla Uppsala, containing the remains of a man, a dog, and a horse, which provided insights into Viking death rituals.

2020: Genetic Study of Viking-era Individuals

In 2020, Margaryan et al. analyzed 442 Viking world individuals and found they were closely related to modern Scandinavians, confirming Norsemen settlers commonly married foreign women.

2020: Examination of Bodzia Warrior Burial

In 2020, Margaryan et al. examined an elite warrior burial from Bodzia, Poland, dating to 1010–1020 AD, revealing Scandinavian ancestry and links to Kievian Rus.

2020: Analysis of Salme Ship Burial Remains

In 2020, Margaryan et al. examined the skeletal remains of 42 individuals from the Salme ship burials in Estonia, revealing that the warriors came from central Sweden.

2020: Release of "Assassin's Creed Valhalla" video game

In 2020, the video game "Assassin's Creed Valhalla", set in 873 AD, was released, recounting an alternative history of the Viking invasion of Britain.