Thorgils Skarthi facts for kids
Thorgils Skarthi (pronounced Thor-gils Skar-thee), whose name might mean "Thorgils with the Scar" (from the Old Norse word Skarði), was a famous Viking leader and a talented poet. He is especially known for helping to start the town of Scarborough, England.
Thorgils Skarthi was a very important figure in Viking times. He led his people and also created poems, which was a respected skill back then.
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Founding Scarborough
Thorgils Skarthi is believed to have founded a settlement called Skarðaborg around the year 966. This new town was located in what is now North Yorkshire, England. It was an important place for Vikings in the area.
A Town's Fate
Sadly, this new settlement did not last forever. It was later burned down by Tostig Godwinson. Tostig was a powerful English nobleman who held the title of Earl of Northumbria. He was also the Lord of the Manor of Hougun, meaning he controlled a large area of land.
Thorgils in Sagas and Stories
Much of what we know about Thorgils Skarthi comes from old Norse stories called sagas.
The Kormáks Saga
Thorgils Skarthi is mentioned in a famous story called the Kormáks saga. This saga is mostly about his brother, Kormákr Ögmundarson. Kormákr was an Icelandic skald, which means he was a special kind of poet who often performed for important people. Kormákr was a court poet for a Norwegian nobleman named Sigurd Haakonsson.
Other Tales of Thorgils
An English writer named Robert Mannyng of Brunne wrote a book called Story of Inglande in 1338. In his book, he mentioned two older stories, or "romances," about Thorgils Skarthi that are now lost. These stories suggested that Thorgils had another brother named Fleyn. If this is true, it's possible that Kormákr, his brother from the saga, might have also been known by the nickname Fleinn. Some people think that if Kormákr was called Fleinn, he might have helped found Flamborough in Yorkshire, which could have gotten its name from the Old Norse word Fleinaborg.
Viking Journeys
Thorgils and Kormákr arrived in England around 965. This was not long after a big trip made by King Harald Greycloak of Norway. King Harald had traveled to a place called Bjarmaland, which is now the area of Arkhangelsk in northern Russia. This shows that Vikings like Thorgils and his brother were great travelers and explorers, reaching many distant lands.
