Were the vikings and normans two different groups? what ended up happening with the vikings?

Answer 1

The name "Norman" means "north man". As mentioned previously, the Vikings raided NW France driving out the Franks. They liked the place so much they adopted its language (French) and its customs.

From: http://www.viking.no/e/france/foundation.html:

"The Viking colony of the Seine, largely Danish, had Rolf (Rollo/Rollon) as leader from around AD 887. He was the son of a Norwegian jarl. Without doubt, it was under his impetus that, from around the start of 10th century, the Scandinavians became attracted to the idea of settling on a long term basis in the area. In AD 911, Rollo started negotiations with the king, Charles the Simple, in order to formalise the Norman sovereignty which already existed de facto in the lower Seine territories. This resulted, in the same year, in the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte, in which the Frankish king gave up to the Vikings a territory corresponding roughly to the eventual French départements of Seine-Maritime and Eure.

In return, Rollo accepted Christianity and was baptised, and also undertook to prevent other Vikings from entering the River Seine.

This treaty was the foundation of the Norman state, with Rouen as a pivot, and Rolf as "Jarl of Rouen" (Rudhuborg Jarl). The term 'Duke' was not to emerge until around AD 1000. The prerogatives of the Jarl were those of a Frankish count, having most of the attributes of the royal power, what remained of the royal patrimony and control of the Church included."

See also - http://www.viking.no/e/france/beginnings.html
http://www.gitesandmore.co.uk/History%20of%20Normandy.htm

Answer 2

The Normans were descended from Scandanavians (i.e., Vikings), that raided up the Seine river in what is now France around the year 1000 A.D. These Scandanavians forced the French king at the time to cede territory to the raiders so as to avoid further bloodshed and conquest. The area they were ceded was what we now know as the Normandy region of France.

Though technically it was a part of the French kingdom at the time, it basically acted independently of the French king. So, it wasn't the French that conquered England, it was the Normans.

Answer 3

Heh. I like Maureen's answer!

Vikings were Norse invaders. They were looking for riches, but they also faced land pressure at home and many settled in the British Isles. The Normans were French; 1066 is the date of the Norman Conquest, when the French conquered England. Part of the richness of the English language comes from its Scandinavian and French influences. And don't forget the earlier Roman occupation. Thus we can go up the stairs in three languages: climb (Old English), mount or ascend (both from French via Latin).

Answer 4

Viking is not a race, it's a job description. To go a viking was to go raiding.
Rephrase as Norse vs. Norman, and you might get better answers. The Norse are people like Norwegians and Swedish; norman were French.

Answer 5

They were close by blood but not by culture. Vikings used a Norse language where Normans used the language that became French eventually. The vikings ended up in merchandise retailing, selling stationery by catalog.

Answer 6

Yes, in the sense that the people who were called Vikings and the people who settled in Northwest France were part of the great explosion of Scandinavians peoples.

By the time these folks are being called Normans they have adopted French as their language and are not readily distinguishable from other Western Europeans.

Answer 7

The Vikings were Norsemen - present day Sweden, Norway, Finland, etc. Normans are actually French, hence, Normandy.

Answer 8

The Vikings are from the twin ciities and Norman is in Oklahoma.