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The Vikings have mostly been remembered for being fearsome pirates and warriors. However, their wanderlust and yearning for adventure often manifested itself in more peaceful forms. If you saw the approaching sails of a Viking ship, they were just as likely to be merchants, as they were pirates. The Saga of Egil Skallagrimsson spoke of a King, who sometimes travelled as a viking, sometimes as a trader. His name was "Björn Farman".

The title of "Farman" had as much weight and prestige as Viking. Whilst "Viking" was attributed to powerful pirates or warriors, so too was "Farmathr" only bestowed upon the most reputable of seafaring merchants. As we saw in the example of King Björn Farman, it was sometimes granted as a name.

Sources
Gunnlaug Ormtungas Saga
Gisle Surssons Saga
Bandamanna Saga
Farmän, bönder och gotländskt borgerskap Dick Wase
Ship and Society Gunilla Larsson
https://www.lansstyrelsen.se/gotland/...

Image Sources
Av Pymouss Eget arbete, CC BYSA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...

0:00 Introduction
1:43 The Viking Economy
4:15 Farmen Ships
7:38 The Farmen on Gotland
11:27 Downfall
13:17 Outro

#vikings #history #vikingage