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- History Magazine
- Feature
After pillaging France and Spain, Viking raiders set their sights on Rome
Commanded by the fearsome Bjorn Ironside and Hastein, Viking longships headed to the Mediterranean in the 850s. Their mission? To capture the riches of Rome.
Ruling the waves
Albert Goodwin’s 19th-century painting reflects the deep impact the Vikings made on the European imagination. Throughout the ninth century, their raids expanded across western Europe, entering the Mediterranean in A.D. 859.
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