NORTHROP
117
NORWAY
had befallen so many of the cities of the West, and
" Micklegarth " had to pay Danegeld to the Norse
sovereign of a Russian army. The Varangian ships
are even said to have sailed down the Volga and across
the remote waters of the Caspian. There is, however,
a second stage of Norse enterprise as remarkable,
though for different reasons, as the first. The Nor-
man conquests of Southern Italy and of England and
in part the Crusades, in which the Normans took so
large a share, prove what the astonishing vitality of the
Northmen could do when they had received Chris-
tianity ami lrankish civilization from the people they
had ijlunilcrcd.
It is imi)us.sible to account for the irresistible activ- ity of the Northmen. It is a mystery of what might be called "racial personality". Their forces were rarely numerous, their ships small and open, suited to the protected waters of their own coasts, most un- suitable for ocean navigation, and there was no guid- ing jjower at home. Their success was due to the intioinitahlc courag(> of each unit, to a tradition of dis- cipline which niailc their compact "armies" superior in figliting qualities and activity to the mixed and ill- organized forces which Prankish and English kings usually brought against them. Often they are said to have won a battle by a pretended flight, a dangerous mana'uvrc cxi'i'iit with w('Il-dis(i]ilined troops. Until Alfred collcclcd a firct fur the pnitection of his coast they had the undisputed counnand of the sea. They were fortunate in the time of their attack. Their serious attacks diil notbegin till the empire of Charle- magne was weakened from within, and the Teutonic principle of tlivision among heirs was overcoming the Roman principle of unity. When the period of recon- stitution began the spirit of discipline, which had given the Northmen success in war, made them one of the great organizing forces of the early Middle Ages. Everywhere these "Romans of the Middle Ages" ap- pear as organizers. They took the various material provided for them in Gaul, England, Russia, Southern Italy, and breathed into it life and activity. But races which assimilate are not enduring, and by the end of the twelfth century the Northmen had fin- ished their work in Europe and been absorbed into the population which they had conquered and governed.
There is no complete history of the Northmen and their work in Europe. Keary, Vikings in Western Christendom, can be con- sulted with profit ; much is to be found in the histories of the coun- tries they attacked, especially in Palgr.we, England and Nor- mandy, I : cf. Helmolt, World's History, VI (London, 1907). The Saga literature is all of a later date and throws little trustworthy light on this early period of Norse history: cf. ViaFussoN, Pro- legomena to the Sturlunga Saga (Oxford, 1879).
F. F. Urqdhart. Northrop, Henry P. See Charlkston, Diocese
OP.
Norton, Christopher, martyr; executed at Ty- burn, 27 May, 1.570. His father was Richard Norton of Norton Conyers, Yorkshire, and his mother, Susan Neville, daughter of Richard, second Baron Latimer. Richard Norton, known as "Old Norton", was the head of his illustrious house, which remained faithful to the Catholic religion. Despite this fact he held positions of influence during the reigns of Henry VIII and Eilward VI, was Governor of Norham Castle under Mary, and in 1.568-69 was sheriff of Yorkshire. He had been pardoned for joining in the Pilgrimage of Grace, but he and his brother Thomas, his nine sons, of whom Christopher was the seventh, and many of their relatives hastened to take part in the northern uprising of 1.569. He was attainted and fled to Flan- ders with four of his sons, two of his sons were par- doned, another apostatized, Christopher and his father's brother having been captured proved them- selves steadfast Catholics, were hanged, disem- bowelled, and quartered. Edmund, who apostatized, and a sister are the subject of Wordsworth's "White Doe of Rylstone".
Sahtees, Hist, of Durham. I. clx; Linqahd, Hist, of Eng, fed.
1849), VI, 195; Records of English Catholics I, U.
Blanche M. Kelly. Norton, John. See Port Adgusta, Diocese op. Norton, John, Venerable. See Palasor,
Thomas, Venerable.
Norway, comprising the smaller division of the Scandinavian peninsula, is bounded on the east by Lapland and Sweden, and on the west by the Atlantic. The surface is generally a plateau from which rise pre- cipitous mountains, as Snahatten (7566 feet) and Stora Galdhi.ppigen (about 8399 feet). The west coa.st is deeply indented by fiords. In eastern and southern Norway the valleys are broader and at times form extensive, fruitful plains. There are several navigable rivers, as the Glommen and Vormen, and lakes, of which the largest is Lake Myosen. The nu- merous islands along the coast, some wooded and some bare, promote shipping and fishing; in the Lo- foten Islands alone twenty million cod are annually caught. The chmate is only relatively mild, with rain almost daily. Agriculture consists largely in raising oats and barley, but not enough for home consump- tion. Rye and wheat are grown only in sheltered spots. Bread is commonly made of oats. The culti- vation of the potato is widespread, a fact of much im- portance. There are in the country only about 160,- 000 horses; these are of a hardy breed. Cattle-raising is an important industry, the number of cattle being estimated at a million, that of sheep and goats at over two millions. Of late attention has been paid to the raising of pigs. The Lapps of the north maintain over a hundred thousand reindeer in the grassy pasture land of the higher plateaus. The most important trees are pine, fir, and birch; oak and beech are not so common.
Forestry was long carried on unscientifically ; con- siderable effort has been made to improve conditions, and wood is now exported chiefly as wrought or partly wrought timber. Silver is mined at Kongsberg, and iron at Roraas, but the yield of minerals is moderate. Coal is altogether lacking. The peasants are skilful wood-carvers, and in isolated valleys still make all nece.ssary household articles, besides spinning and weaving their apparel. The Northmen were always famous seamen, and Norwegians are now found on the ships of all nations. The merchant marine of about 8000 vessels is one of the most important of the world. Good roads and railways have greatly in- creased traffic. A constantly increasing number of strangers are attracted by the natural beauties. Al- though in this way a great deal of money is brought into the country, the morals and honesty of the people unfortunately suffer in consequence. The area is 123,843 sq. miles; the population numbers 2,250,000 persons.
The great majority belong officially to the Lutheran state Church, but on account of hberal laws there is a rapid development of sects. Catholics did not regain religious liberty until the middle of the nineteenth century. Reports as to their numbers vary from 1500, as given in the Protestant "Tagliche Rundschau", to 100,000, as given in the Catholic "Germania" (.see be- low). Norway is a constitutional monarchy, its ruler since 18 November, 1905, has been King Haakon VII, a Danish prince. The colours of the flag are red, white, and blue. The country is divided into 20 counties and 56 bailiwicks. Justice is administered by district courts {sorenskrif verier) . Eccleciastically the country is divided into 6 dioceses, with 83 provosts or deans, and 450 pastors. The largest city and the royal residence is Christiania (230,000 inhabitants), the seat of government, of the Parliament (Storthing), of the chief executive, of the state university, and of other higher schools. The- most important commer- cial city is Bergen (80,000 inhabitants), important even in the Middle Ages and for a long time controlled
