The history of the Vikings is not, as you might think, the story of a band of sea-pirates who roved the sea in search of plunder. It is rather the story of a race of brave and hardy Northmen who became sea-rovers because the rights and freedom their fathers had cherished were being taken from them. Their fathers had lived on their own lands and had been freemen, but the sons were asked to become king's men and hold their land only at the king's pleasure. Rather than give up their ancient rights, many of the Northmen became Vikings, and to them the sea-roving life was a noble one, full of high enterprise and ambition. It was no easy matter to become a member of a Viking band. Even a great chief, before he could be admitted, must prove his strength and give an account of the deeds of prowess he had already done. Thus it was an honor to belong to a band of Vikings, an honor which spurred the lads of the North to bold deeds, to mighty feats, that they might be counted worthy to become members of one or another of the famous bands. It is of the customs and battles, of the lives and deaths of these wild Northmen that is told in this little book.
