In medieval Europe, the few overland trade routes became extremely dangerous for merchants due to noble knighthood, whose favorite pastime was banditry on the “high road.” Sea routes were much more attractive, so cities at that time were most often built on the shores of the seas. But despite all the obvious benefits of such a location, residents of coastal cities, be it in France, England, Italy, were in constant fear: what if large oared boats with rounded bows appeared on the horizon - and then do not expect mercy. The name of this horror, familiar to the inhabitants of the entire European coast, was the Vikings.