[quote]Archaeologists working in Trondheim in Norway are amazed by the discovery of a human skeleton in the bottom of an abandoned castle well. The skeleton provides evidence that confirms dramatic historical events mentioned in the Sagas. The location and contents of the well are mentioned in Sverre’s Saga, a chronicle of one of the kings of Norway, and one of very few historical manuscripts describing events in the Norwegian Viking age and medieval period. Scholars have questioned the chronicle’s trustworthiness as a historical document. But now, at least one part of the saga seems to hold truth – down to the tiniest detail.
In 1197 King Sverre Sigurdsson and his Birkebeiner-mercenaries were attacked and defeated in his castle stronghold, Sverresborg, by his rivals, the Baglers. According to the Saga, the Baglers burned down buildings and destroyed the castle’s fresh water supply by throwing one of King Sverre’s dead men into the well, and then filling it with stones. Now, following a trial excavation in the well, archaeologists can confirm this dramatic story.[/quote]
[url]http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/06/2016/body-in-well-confirms-viking-saga[/url]
"Birkebeiner Mercenaries" is the least dangerous sounding merc name I've ever heard.
[QUOTE=Crimor;50497865]"Birkebeiner Mercenaries" is the least dangerous sounding merc name I've ever heard.[/QUOTE]
I think it sounds badass though?
was excited when I read about this in the paper a few days ago. always found old medieval norway interesting.
[QUOTE=Lolkork;50497887]It sounds cool to me, I guess it's because I don't understand what it means.[/QUOTE]
It literally translates to "Birch Bark." They were a rebel group and the established party tried to spread propaganda that the rebels were so poor they had to make their shoes out of birch bark. They're most well known today for the fact that they escorted a two-year old Haakon Haakonsson, heir to the throne of Norway, to safety through dangerous territory.
By skis.
[img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Birkebeinerne_på_Ski_over_Fjeldet_med_Kongsbarnet.jpg/757px-Birkebeinerne_på_Ski_over_Fjeldet_med_Kongsbarnet.jpg[/img]
That's fucking metal
The sagas have always fascinated me, pretty cool to see one of them proven true.
[QUOTE=Paramud;50497897]It literally translates to "Birch Bark." They were a rebel group and the established party tried to spread propaganda that the rebels were so poor they had to make their shoes out of birch bark. They're most well known today for the fact that they escorted a two-year old Haakon Haakonsson, heir to the throne of Norway, to safety through dangerous territory.
By skis.
[img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Birkebeinerne_på_Ski_over_Fjeldet_med_Kongsbarnet.jpg/757px-Birkebeinerne_på_Ski_over_Fjeldet_med_Kongsbarnet.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]
gotta love how the artist made the guys the most grizzled he could, but the kid is completely lifeless and white
thats some DnD-esque lore right there
[QUOTE=Paramud;50497897]It literally translates to "Birch Bark." They were a rebel group and the established party tried to spread propaganda that the rebels were so poor they had to make their shoes out of birch bark. They're most well known today for the fact that they escorted a two-year old Haakon Haakonsson, heir to the throne of Norway, to safety through dangerous territory.
By skis.
[img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Birkebeinerne_på_Ski_over_Fjeldet_med_Kongsbarnet.jpg/757px-Birkebeinerne_på_Ski_over_Fjeldet_med_Kongsbarnet.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]
I want this on my wall
[QUOTE=Paramud;50497897]It literally translates to "Birch Bark." They were a rebel group and the established party tried to spread propaganda that the rebels were so poor they had to make their shoes out of birch bark. They're most well known today for the fact that they escorted a two-year old Haakon Haakonsson, heir to the throne of Norway, to safety through dangerous territory.
By skis.
[img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Birkebeinerne_på_Ski_over_Fjeldet_med_Kongsbarnet.jpg/757px-Birkebeinerne_på_Ski_over_Fjeldet_med_Kongsbarnet.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]
That's the single most amazing thing I've heard this entire month, yet it also makes so much [i]sense[/i].
brb reading up more on these guys
This is kinda hilarious in a morbid way
Join up right now. Relive the days
Really? Nobody is going to talk about [I]Baglers?[/I]
The [I]ones who bagel[/I]
[editline]11th June 2016[/editline]
I can't not pronounce it bagel and it is funny to me
[QUOTE=Crimor;50497865]"Birkebeiner Mercenaries" is the least dangerous sounding merc name I've ever heard.[/QUOTE]
Birk & Beiner Attorneys at Law
That's really cool. Given how unreliable verbal history can be it's impressive to see that ultimately a lot of Sagas and stories did have a basis in actual events.
I think its amazing actually how reliable verbal history has seemed to be in a lot of cases. Lots of examples from north american natives.
[QUOTE=Smeetin;50500126]I think its amazing actually how reliable verbal history has seemed to be in a lot of cases. Lots of examples from north american natives.[/QUOTE]
No doubting that, stories just have a tendency to change over time and it can make parts of human history incredibly unreliable. After all, we don't call them the Dark Ages because everything was dimly lit :v:
Although with as much emphasis placed upon stories and tradition I'm not surprised that native american verbal history hasn't changed much.
[QUOTE=RearAdmiral;50501310]No doubting that, stories just have a tendency to change over time and it can make parts of human history incredibly unreliable. After all, we don't call them the Dark Ages because everything was dimly lit :v:
Although with as much emphasis placed upon stories and tradition I'm not surprised that native american verbal history hasn't changed much.[/QUOTE]
tbh the term Dark Ages is a ridiculous term for an incredibly interesting period of history. They were far from 'dark'.
[QUOTE=Zeke129;50499885]Birk & Beiner Attorneys at Law[/QUOTE]
[I]"Order in the court!"
The furious judge bangs his gavel repeatedly as a throwing axe twirls end over end across the courtroom and sinks itself into the witness stand.[/I]
[QUOTE=Rowtree;50501327]tbh the term Dark Ages is a ridiculous term for an incredibly interesting period of history. They were far from 'dark'.[/QUOTE]
True, but it's easy to see how they got their moniker - it's a period of history sandwiched between two other periods that have very comprehensive written records - the Romans wrote everything down and as writing and literature became more prevelant in Europe they started keeping chronicles again as well.
That's not to say there isn't any written records - Bede's [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecclesiastical_History_of_the_English_People]Ecclesiastical History of the English People[/url] is one of the most valuable records we have of the period, but it's worth remembering in the grand scheme of things the amount of recorded information we have of that time period is incredibly limited, and what we do have tends to be incredibly biased (although this is pretty much true of most of recorded human history).
[QUOTE=Lawligagger;50498144]I want this on my wall[/QUOTE]
every semi-involved cross country skier has already beat you too it. This picture is like jesus on the cross to many U.S. XC skiers.
[QUOTE=Rowtree;50501327]tbh the term Dark Ages is a ridiculous term for an incredibly interesting period of history. They were far from 'dark'.[/QUOTE]
It really makes sense considering the tiny scale of combat in dark ages europe coupled with the poor record keeping. Obviously the dark ages only applied to europe, though. Like, roman battles were absolutely massive compared to medieval shit, many castles were only manned by 5-10 people when the lord wasn't in residence, and they'd hold out against armies of hundreds.
[QUOTE=Paramud;50497897]It literally translates to "Birch Bark." They were a rebel group and the established party tried to spread propaganda that the rebels were so poor they had to make their shoes out of birch bark. They're most well known today for the fact that they escorted a two-year old Haakon Haakonsson, heir to the throne of Norway, to safety through dangerous territory.
By skis.
[img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Birkebeinerne_på_Ski_over_Fjeldet_med_Kongsbarnet.jpg/757px-Birkebeinerne_på_Ski_over_Fjeldet_med_Kongsbarnet.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]
That's one of the most absurdly badass things I've ever seen
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