After this classic Viking, only legends of bloodthirsty pagans would remain.  History would forget that the Vikings were also great poets, gifted lawmakers, and talented artists.  It would forget that they explored distant lands, such as Iceland, Greenland, and North America; that they founded efficient, realistic states, such as the duchy of Normandy and the Russia of Kiev; opened productive new trade routes; and created vital new towns, such as Novgorod and Smolensk.

One lesson of the Vikings did pass on, however.  Just two days after the death of Harald the Ruthless, William of Normandy set sail with his armies for England.  A new page of history was about to be written, and England was about to suffer a new wave of attack in the best tradition of the Vikings.

Stephen Henkin, an Arts editor at THE WORLD & I, visited Oslo, Norway, on press assignment.  The assistance of OsloPro and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) in researching this article is gratefully acknowledged.