West of the Ocean

Most books about the Vikings in Britain end in 1066, with the death of Harald Hardrada at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. For Scotland, however, the Viking Age was only the beginning of a relationship with Scandinavia that would define the country for years to come. In the Late Norse period (c. 1058–1266), Scotland’s northern frontier was shaped by a distinctive society, blending elements of Scandinavian and Scottish material culture, architecture and legal customs. It produced castles and cathedrals, literary epics and formidable polities. As their strength grew, the Scottish and Norwegian kings sought to control these independent states, culminating in King Hákon of Norway’s expedition to Scotland in 1263. In this book, the Old Norse account of this pivotal event is translated for the first time since the Victorian era. This volume brings the people of the Norse–Scottish border to the fore, benefiting from the latest research on a topic often overlooked. On every level, Scotland was transformed by its relationship with the Norse. Prepare to see medieval Scotland in a completely new light.