Hastein

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Hastein was a notable Viking chieftain who made several raiding voyages. Dudo of Saint-Quentin described him as cruel, harsh, destructive, troublesome, wild, ferocious, lustful, lawless, death-dealing, arrogant, ungodly and much else besides. The most famous of these was a voyage to the Mediterranean (859-862AD), where he attacked the city of Luna. Believing it to be Rome, Hastein had his men carry him to the gate and tell the guards he was dying and wished to convert to Christianity. Once inside, he was taken to the town's church where he received the sacraments, before jumping from his stretcher and leading his men in a sack of the town. As might be imagined, the veracity of this is much debated. On the way back to Scandinavia, he stopped off in North Africa where he bought several African slaves (known to the vikings as 'blámenn', blue men, possibly West Africans or Touaregs) who he sold in Ireland.