Scandinavian-Britain

58. SCANDINAVIAN BRITAINplundering on French, British, and Irish coastsplaces which, at an earlier date, they had not venturedto assail.The Saxon war, begun in 772 (Eginhard), broughtthe people of Denmark directly into touch withWestern Europe. Sigfred, the Danish king, receivedWidukind, the Saxon chief, when he sought refugefrom Charlemagne's armies. In 777 an embassy wassent from Sigfred to Charlemagne, and though theDanes took no general part in the struggle, in 803Godfred, the successor of Sigfred, advanced with afleet to Sleswick to protect his land, and in 808, aftera raid across the Elbe, he built the first Daneworkin the hope of making invasion impossible. Thisearliest earthwork has been described by Mr. H.A. Kjaer in The Saga-book of the Viking Club (iv.pp. 313-325). The conduct of the war must haveopened the eyes of the Baltic folk to the opportunityof plundering in regions which, up to that time, theyhad regarded as beyond them in every sense. Theyfound that monasteries were wealthy and unprotected ;gold and silver, rich clothes, wine and dainties, cattleand captives to sell in the market, could be had for thetaking, in places which they had thought unassailableand impracticable. When once this new worldwas opened up, as in later ages America was opened,adventure was the obvious duty of every one whowished to better himself. But as we now-a-days findthat a war teaches us geography, so it needed theSaxon war to call attention to the wealth and weaknessof these western regions.