Note 23 — Chapter I · The Early History—Before A. D. 843.

An. Ult. 793, 813. Sim. Dun. 793. Innes, Ap. No. V. Myln, Vit. Ep. Dunk. Ford, l. 4, c. 12. This is the earliest historical appearance of the Vikings on the Scottish coasts. The name has no connection with king, being derived from Vik a bay, Viking a baysman. By northern law, every freeman was bound to be enrolled in a Hafn, and to contribute towards building and manning a ship for the royal service, the office of Styresman being always hereditary in the family of an Odal-Bonder. Thus, the royal ship, authorized to kill, burn, and destroy in lawful warfare, sailed from the Hafn, whilst the rover on his own account, stigmatized in “degenerate days” as a pirate, put off from the Vik or open bay. He was as little likely to sail from a royal Hafn, as a Highland chieftain bent upon a creagh to issue from the royal castle of Inverness. Hence perhaps the name.