WI: Normans in Iberia

Is it possible for the Normans to be granted land in Iberia just like in Sicily?, the POD is in the 10th century.
 
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Is it possible for the Normans to be granted land in Iberia just like in Sicily?, the POD is in the 10th century.

You know, that actually sounds pretty plausible. If the Normans could overthrow the Arab rulers in Sicily, I suppose they could do something similar in Spain. That would certainly be welcomed by other Europeans and they might even get volunteers. Perhaps this means we have a very different Christian Spain which has more time to develop in its own way. With such a distant POD, you'll have to rely on some serious speculation.
 

Delvestius

Banned
I love me the Normans!

Perhaps a Norman-organized coalition of Asturian lords that swore fealty to a Norman King, or a Coastal incursion of Lisbon... I like this idea very much.
 

Zioneer

Banned
I actually had a similar idea a while back, but it was with Croatia being invaded/settled by Normans, rather than Iberia. But yeah, Iberia is very doable, especially if you have them start in the less mountainous areas of Iberia, so that they can use their cavalry.
 
I love me the Normans!

Perhaps a Norman-organized coalition of Asturian lords that swore fealty to a Norman King, or a Coastal incursion of Lisbon... I like this idea very much.

Actually, the variation of this idea in my timeline A Cross For Sviatoslav are the Normans are Granted Galiza.
 
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I actually had a similar idea a while back, but it was with Croatia being invaded/settled by Normans, rather than Iberia. But yeah, Iberia is very doable, especially if you have them start in the less mountainous areas of Iberia, so that they can use their cavalry.

What? Cavalry? :eek:

My (very stereotypical) image of the Vikings is that they excelled in razing (and possibly invading) whatever town they could reach with their long ships.

Viking cavalry... now that's a scary thought... more than bear cavalry.

And about Viking kingdoms in Iberia, i think the most likely candidates would be either Galiza or Seville: territories where all the important points can be reached with long ships. That reminds me: there's a yearly celebration in a coastal town in Galicia, Catoira, where they reenact a viking landing. To make it more believable, that town twinned with Frederiksund, Denmark. The reenactment is just an excuse, though; the actual celebration is mostly about drinking a lot of wine :D
 

Delvestius

Banned
What? Cavalry? :eek:

My (very stereotypical) image of the Vikings is that they excelled in razing (and possibly invading) whatever town they could reach with their long ships.

Viking cavalry... now that's a scary thought... more than bear cavalry.

And about Viking kingdoms in Iberia, i think the most likely candidates would be either Galiza or Seville: territories where all the important points can be reached with long ships. That reminds me: there's a yearly celebration in a coastal town in Galicia, Catoira, where they reenact a viking landing. To make it more believable, that town twinned with Frederiksund, Denmark. The reenactment is just an excuse, though; the actual celebration is mostly about drinking a lot of wine :D

That type of Norman disappeared many years prior. While the original Normans were indeed Norse settlers from Scandinavia, they were quickly Christianized and integrated the political, linguistic and tactical aspects of western Europe, which included the use of a heavy mounted warrior elite as the backbone of a land army. By the time the Normans were invading things, they resembled their pagan ancestors very little.
 
That type of Norman disappeared many years prior. While the original Normans were indeed Norse settlers from Scandinavia, they were quickly Christianized and integrated the political, linguistic and tactical aspects of western Europe, which included the use of a heavy mounted warrior elite as the backbone of a land army. By the time the Normans were invading things, they resembled their pagan ancestors very little.
yeah, that's the folly of the vikings: they were conquerors, but not colonizers
 
And about Viking kingdoms in Iberia, i think the most likely candidates would be either Galiza or Seville: territories where all the important points can be reached with long ships. That reminds me: there's a yearly celebration in a coastal town in Galicia, Catoira, where they reenact a viking landing. To make it more believable, that town twinned with Frederiksund, Denmark. The reenactment is just an excuse, though; the actual celebration is mostly about drinking a lot of wine :D

Vikings tried to take Seville IOTL, but utterly failed at it.

I suppose the Normans could be granted some fief on the Muslim frontier. Of course, after something similar but with Burgundian knights lead to the separation of Portugal, I would expect Castile/Leon at least to be wary of more experiments.
 
Vikings tried to take Seville IOTL, but utterly failed at it.

I suppose the Normans could be granted some fief on the Muslim frontier. Of course, after something similar but with Burgundian knights lead to the separation of Portugal, I would expect Castile/Leon at least to be wary of more experiments.

The POD is in the 10th century, whereas IOTL Raymond of Burgundy-Ivrea was married to the heiress of León and Castille and was granted the county of Galicia, Henry of Burgundy (married to a bastard daughter of the king of León and Castille) was granted the (second creation) county of Portugal in the 11th century.
So ITTL there might be different experiments.

Furthermore it wasn't unheard of for Western crusaders to join the reconquista, like the houses of Ivrea and (Capet-)Burgundy did; so I can see Normans joining, especially if a Norman noble will be granted a border county or manages to carve one out for himself.
I do wonder, which area will be most likely for that; OTL (county of) Portugal?
 
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