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yeah, yet another philological and historical digression....
Taljechin,
Your pronounciation of certain letters is reflected in the Scandinavian (Viking) influence on Russia. As you may know, the Varangians traded and civilized large portions of Russia. In fact, the very name is said to have come from Riurik, a Varangian (Viking) settler.
I know, it seems strange to think of the Vikings as traders and settlers, but that is where they left their greatest mark on Europe.
As an historian, one of my all time favorite stories is the true story of Harald Hadradi. (All the names and places are in English, so forgive me in advance if you know him aand others by other names.)
Harald was a nobleman who thought he deserved to rule what is now known as Norway. He was rebuffed and sent into exile. He travelled south through Russia, and soon ended up in the Varangian Guard of the Byzantine Empire. This was the elite of the elite, and protected the Eastern Roman Empire (BYzantium) for centuries. He rose to become the leader of the the Varangian Guard and gained the trust of the Emperor.
He used that trust to kidnap the Emperor's neice. He demanded and received a "king's ransom" under condition that he leave Byzantium and never return.
During his own lifetime, ballads were composed of his bravery and effrontry. He returned to Norway and bought the country with his ransom money!
As if that wasn't enough, he wanted more glory. He heard that a distant relative, Edward, king of the Angles, had died leaving no heir. Another distant relative, who was living in this kingdom, Harold Haroldson, took the throne.
A third distant relative, who had been born in a Viking area of France known for its Norsemen (Normandy) also had an eye on this throne. Nobody was really worried about the Norman since he wasn't even nobility, being a bastard of a nobleman.
Harald Hadradri invaded the island kingdom in the fall of 1066, after the crops had been collected and landed in the northern reaches of the country, known as the Danelaw. Harold Haroldson, now King Harold I, raised an army and marched north. After a forced march, Harold won a tremendous surprise victory at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, killing the legendary Hadradi and sending Hadradi to Oden's Hall. Harold, being a Christian, wasn't too concerned with that though.
He received news that the bastard, now a Duke of Normandy, was attacking his southern coast. In a feat of military brilliance that has been memorialized in word and pictures, Harold raced down to protect his capital and meet his cousin, William the Bastard and defend his throne again.
Harold was unable to reach the beaches in time to drive off the invaders, but set up a defensive front in the hills around a small town called Hastings. Harold and his weary men nearly staved off this foreign invasion, and William was even knocked off his horse and thought to be dead. William rose again, got another horse, and one of his archers' arrows pierced Harold through the eye, killing him instantly.
Thus, the great Battle of Hastings was decided, and the Angles learned to speak French. Well, some of them, anyway.
This is a great story, and it's made even better by being the truth!
Aint history amazing!!
It gets even better though: These Vikings, who had really cool long boats that could weather the Atlantic ocean or travel the Dnepr and Volga Rivers, were also handy as roofs of their churches. They would turn the boat upside down, and support it with arches that flew perpendicularly to the church. These "flying" buttresses and light roofs helped to create a style that was derisively known as the "Gothic" style, and Gothic cathedrals popped up in western Europe, where Viking influence took hold!
Wow. Vikings are cool.
Ok, back to the football!
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