Israelites on Boats (20 December 2017, 2 Tevet , 5778)
Contents:
1. Differential Migration
2. Re-Populating Scandinavia and the Viking Movement
3. Lars Evensen identified the Vikings with the Jotnir and Vaner
4. William the Conqueror and his Jewish Mother
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1. Differential Migration
In our studies we have noticed two phenomenon worth noticing: One is the tendency for different peoples of the same Israelite Origins who had split apart from each other in the past to re-coalesce and to converge in the same areas. The other is for peoples of different origins to separate themselves off from other nations with whom they had been thrown together. This occurs when one of the two bodies is non-Israelite while the other is Hebrew. An example of this is to be seen in the Migrations from Germany to North America in the 1700s and 1800s. In this case Israelites whose forefathers had sojourned in Germany for centuries picked themselves up, left their non-Israelite neighbors, and went overseas to unite with other Israelites. Those who so migrated were different physically, ideologically, and socially from they who stayed behind. So too, migrants from Britain who moved to what became the USA usually came from specific areas and distinct social groupings within Britain. The differentiation within Britain allowed us to confirm inin general terms the identity of those who went to the USA as descended from Manasseh. They who remained behind pertained more to Ephraim. Similarly the Vikings came out of Scandinavia and invaded and settled in areas such as Ireland, England, Scotland, and Normandy in France. The Vikings were of Israelite descend but in part of different Tribal origin from those Scandinavians who did not join them.
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2. Re-Populating Scandinavia and the Viking Movement
Adapted from "The Tribes," chapter 6.
The Tribes of Naphtali and Dan and others including elements from Judah emerged from Scythia (i.e. the Russian area and neighboring regions) and entered Scandinavia. In the 500's and 600's CE Scandinavia received an influx of settlers from the east. This was shortly after the bulk of Naphtalites had embarked on their westward trek. In Norway during this period there was a rapid clearance of forests and the establishment of new settlements. Examination of graveyards revealed that the average height of the newcomers was taller than that of the previous inhabitants who became the Vikings. This however is contrary to popular conceptions. The previous inhabitants became the Vikings and the Vikings are usually depicted as tall and muscular. Their average height was about 5 feet eight which today is about average but then was relatively tall. It seems that human height went down progressively until ca. 1800 and then to began to go up again though there are variations from place to place. The entrances to households, doorways in general, etc, and the size of furniture indicate a diminishing stature (though this has been disputed) that culminated in Medieval Times. In Scythia, Naphtalites and Danites from Dan had been recorded together. At about this same time Denmark likewise received a large-scale immigration of people who had always regarded themselves as Danites, descendants of "Dan the Great", meaning Dan of Israel. The wealth in quantity and quality of iron products in Scandinavia during this era of New Settlement is outstanding, especially when compared to that known from the contemporary Franks and others in the south. The Naphtalites had departed from Serica east of Scythia which area had been world-famous for its mineral resources and iron. Metal working in the eastern Scythian region was associated with the ruling classes and the Sacae conquering peoples of Scythia, such as the Naphtalites and Khazars prior to their moving westward. In East Scythia and Serica, the working of metal has been ascribed to clans derived from, or attached somehow to, the Saka and Goths, with traits of shamanism reminiscent to the practices of Odin. Also names of products, such as "Solomon's swords" as well as other factors hint at Judaising tendencies such as are believed to have existed amongst the Naphtalites and which reached their logical conclusion in the conversion of the Khazars to whom the Naphtalites were related. The metallurgical activity of Serica and east Siberia seems to have ended fairly rapidly and may be directly traceable to the exodus of the Naphtalites. This metallurgical activity is taken up again almost without interruption in Scandinavia. Legends of Odin and Thor speak of the existence of kin and possessions in the east, in the lands of the "Turks", who have been identified as the Iyrcae neighbors of the Thyssagetae from Naphtali. The age was one of new found wealth and gold. The gold initially came from the east and was later supplemented obtained by Viking raids against western areas.
# The Migration Age was the great age of West Norway, with incredibly rich archaeological finds. In particular one cannot fail to note the amounts of gold. The gold that had been sparse, almost absent before that, now began to appear in large quantities # (Keth).
Eastern Scythia and Serica since the time of Herodotus had been famous as a source of gold. Scandinavian legend recorded their ancestors having been expelled from "Yda" (meaning "Yehudah") in east Scythia. "Yda" or "Yeda" was one of the names that had been applied to the Naphtalites as well as being the name of an area east of the Caspian in which they had settled. The influx of population seems to have been continuous and by the 700's CE Scandinavia appears to have become overpopulated. Consequently, the excess "Vikings" of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark began their oversea excursions that led to settlement in Ireland, England, Scotland, France, and elsewhere. English historians formerly held the opinion that the Vikings were coastal peoples who had been pushed out of Norway and Denmark by newcomers. This scenario fits the apparent migration of Naphtalites from the depths of Scythia, reaching Norway at a late date, and having played a part in triggering the Viking incursions westward..
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3. identified the Vikings with the Jotnir and Vaner
Lars Evensen posted a message to Quora:
If the Vikings were so strong, why were they annihilated so quickly?
https://www.quora.com/If-the-Vikings-were-so-strong-why-were-they-annihilated-so-quickly
The information given by Lars is similar to what we already knew or had supposed. There were a few additional points and it was summed up well.
The following notes are based on the posting by Lars Evenson paraphrased in our own words with some additional points.
During the 600s and 700s many newcomers moved in from the east. They came from what they referred to as Greater Scythia. Their own area in Sweden they referred to as "Smaller Scythia." The very name Scandinavia appears to be derived from a variant spelling of Scythia as may be seen from the different versions given by Pliny. The newcomers were characterized as bearers of the 'Battle Axe Culture' because they used a particular kind of battle axe. This increase in population caused "overpopulation". It resulted in internal migrations within Scandinavia. Fertile land was scarce for the increased population. In the Bronze Age the climate had been fairly mild. Grapes were cultivated in areas where there is ice and snow. These changes may still have been in progress in Viking Times.
Norse Mythology speaks of three different classes of "gods", namely the Jotner (Jotnir), Vaner (Vanir) and Aiser (Aesir). Lars Evensen identifies the Aesir with the newcomers. The Aesir were conquering lands from the previous inhabitants the Jotner and also from the Vaner. These were being pushed westwards. They became the Vikings. The Viking Ages is described as begun with an attack on a monastery on an island (Lindisfarne) off the northeast coast of England in 793 CE.
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4. William the Conqueror and his Jewish Mother
1. William the Conqueror (1028- 1087).
In the early 900s CE a group of Vikings mainly from Norway but also from Denmark and led by Rollo settled in Normandy in northwest France. They intermixed with the Bretons of the neighboring province of Brittany. These became the Normans. William of Normandy, known as the Conqueror conquered England in 1066.
Before the Norman Conquest about 20% of the population of England had the status of slaves. William freed the slaves and outlawed slavery. He introduced Norman Civilization which in many ways was more rational and advanced than that which it replaced.
The father of William, had been Robert-1, Duke of Normandy (reigned 1027-1035).
The mother of William, Hereleva, is usually reported as having been the daughter of a tanner who worked in animal skins. In those days the dung of dogs was used to treat leather. Consequently tanners had a low social status.
William (1028- 1087) had been born out of wedlock.
When William laid siege to the anti-Norman, pro-Anjou commune of Alencon, the Alenconians mocked his tanner-origins by hanging animal hides from the city walls. William’s riposte, after Alencon surrendered, was to have the jokers’ hands and feet cut off. He was sensitive about his mother. See: Oy Roi! | Joshua Gelernter | Standpoint
In those days there were many Jews in the area. Possibly as much as 20% of the population of Rouen, the capital of Normandy, were Jewish. Many worked in the leather trade and as tanners.
Later reports indicate that the family of Hereleva, the mother of William, were not of low status. Hereleva herself later married an important noble and bore him two sons who also become prominent nobles. If both accounts are correct, i.e. they had been tanners, and their status had been upgraded, then the family of Hereleva were probably Jewish who had converted. As Jews they would already have obtained the social connections, business acumen, educational literacy, etc, necessary to successfully carry off the transformation. Instead of low-class people coming up they would have been high-class ones who had previously been kept down. Indications exist that the Nobility of that time and place may have been less prejudiced towards a Christian of Jewish descent than they were in regard to a fellow Gentile from the lower classes.
William was also referred to as "William the Bastard." He was after all technically illegitimate so what else could they call him? Nevertheless we find the term "Bastard" applied in Jewish and Christian writings not as a legal term but rather as pejorative one for the son of a Gentile father and a Jewish woman.
cf.
# According to the 19th-century historian Edward Freeman, William the Conqueror, who was also known as William the Bastard, was sometimes known as "William the Mamzer." ... Mamzer is a Hebrew pejorative meaning the child of an illegitimate sexual relationship, such as adultery or incest. In Europe, it may have entered the vernacular as a pejorative for the offspring of a particular type of illegitimate relationship, one between a Christian man and a Jewish woman. . . . [Furthermore], in medieval Europe, tanners were frequently Jews. Did William the Conqueror Have a Jewish Mother?
When William conquered England he brought Jews with him from Rouen.
From the children of William his son Robert became Duke of Normandy (reigned 1087-1106). Two of the other brothers, William and Henry, became Kings of England.
Robert in Normandy persecuted the Jews leading a pogrom against them in 1096. Following this event William-2 of England, brother of Robert, took control of Normandy from him and Robert went off on a crusade to the Holy Land.
Source: The Death of William II
William Rufus who became King William-2 of England (1087-1100) had been the favorite son of William the Conqueror. He was good to the Jews in England protecting them from those who wished them harm. He even threatened his own clergy that he might consider becoming Jewish. William Rufus was assassinated and succeeded by his brother Henry.
Henry-I (c. 1068 – 1135),
#... retained Jews at court and continued the favourable Norman policy toward the Jews, issuing a formal charter reiterating their royal protection, and special privileges of liberty which fostered a 35 year period of Jewish prosperity and growth extending further out into the provinces. # The History of the Medieval Jews of England.
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